In recent decades we have seen a dramatic increase in online shopping. It doesn’t seem too long ago that most of the goods we purchased were bought in local stores with shop assistants helping us. Especially during the COVID pandemic when people in Australia and across the world were confined to our homes, we began... Continue Reading →
An Extravagant Offering (John 12:1-8)
It's very important for people living in our time and place to smell good. It’s probably more important that we don’t smell bad, some might even say it’s essential, but smelling good is still a pretty high priority for most people. To achieve this, there is a wide range of personal hygiene products, body sprays,... Continue Reading →
Giving Thanks in Good and Bad (Philippians 4:4-9)
It has been a tough year for farmers and grape growers in the Barossa Valley. Poor seasonal rain, a couple of severe frosts and challenging market conditions has made life really difficult. Over the last six months or more I’ve heard stories of people having almost nothing to show for the year’s work as they... Continue Reading →
Life Now and Forever (John 5:21-29)
In a few weeks we will be celebrating Christmas. One thing most people look forward to at this time of year is the exchanging of gifts. While our society can fall into an unhealthy consumerism when it comes to giving and receiving gifts, it’s important for us to remember that gifts can convey a deep... Continue Reading →
A Hearing Heart (1 Kings 2:10-12,3:3-14)
If God offered to give you anything, what would you ask for? An offer like this can present us with almost endless possibilities. We could ask for our mortgage to be paid off, to travel around Australia or the world, or a holiday home where we can spend winters in a warmer climate. Or we... Continue Reading →
God’s Will For His People (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)
At this time of year people might be making a few different lists. There can be lists of work we need to complete before we get some time off over Christmas and New Year, things we need to do to prepare to celebrate Christmas, grocery shopping lists for the food we need to get for... Continue Reading →
God’s Fair Grace (Matthew 20:1-16)
Being fair is something that a lot of people think is really important. In Australian culture we value giving someone a ‘fair go’. What we usually mean by that is that all people should have the same opportunities. If people are disadvantaged in some way, they should be able to give something a go to... Continue Reading →