Learning to follow Jesus in 21st Century Australia
On the last Saturday in September this year, the Brisbane Lions football club won their third Australian Football League (AFL) premiership in a row. Achieving the three-peat hasn’t been easy for the club. Ten years ago, they were sitting at the bottom of the AFL ladder with poor membership numbers and low attendances at their... Continue Reading →
Most church communities have something that they are known for. For example, a lot of churches in the Barossa Valley are known for having old, beautiful buildings. The reputation of other churches can be based on a particular worship style, a ministry, a musical instrument like a pipe organ, or other things they have or... Continue Reading →
Do you ever change your mind? We all make lots of decisions in our lives. Some of these might be small things about what we will eat, what we will wear, or how we will spend the day. Other decisions can be more significant and shape the course of our lives such as what careers... Continue Reading →
Some people might think that Christian communities should be places where everyone is happy, people get along perfectly, and there are never any problems in our lives or in our relationships. The reality is far from this idealised picture of how some people think churches should be. Church communities are full of flawed, imperfect people... Continue Reading →
Transformers is a media franchise that includes toys, animated television shows, comics and movies which feature robots in disguise. These robots have the ability to change or transform into other things such as cars, airplanes, animals and even dinosaurs. Transformers began with a line of toys in the mid-1980s that you could change from their... Continue Reading →
A long-standing tradition in a lot of church communities is the shared lunch. Many of us will remember halls full of people with long tables overflowing with casseroles, sandwiches, and homemade pies, pasties and sausage rolls, followed by delicious cakes, slices and cream-filled desserts. They were times when people would connect, talk about their lives... Continue Reading →
As I drive around the Barossa, at times I see people who are driving towards me raise their hand to acknowledge me. It’s something I’ve often seen motorcycle riders do over the years. They often give each other a wave or a nod to express solidarity and camaraderie to others who share their passion for... Continue Reading →
In 1981, two big names in the popular music scene of that time collaborated to write a song that described the stresses of life a lot of people were facing. Under Pressure, written and performed by the band Queen and solo artist David Bowie, became a big hit for the musicians. Its lyrics resonated with... Continue Reading →
In our Bible readings over the last couple of weeks, we have been hearing Jesus promise his disciples to send them the Holy Spirit. Two weeks ago, in John 14:15-21 Jesus told them, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit,... Continue Reading →
There are a lot of movies and television shows set in courtrooms. For example, classic movies such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Twelve Angry Men all include a courtroom scene. More modern courtroom movies include A Few Good Men, My Cousin Vinny, Primal Fear, Legally Blonde, Big Daddy, just about anything by John Grisham,... Continue Reading →
