Brief encounter of the thankful kind

9 Nov

Visiting St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane today, I emerged to stand on the steps where a woman of around my own age observed that the police had just entered. She sounded worried but I said to her: Perhaps they just … Read More »

To honour a great loser

2 Oct

Today is the 95th Birthday of President Jimmy Carter. He has to be one of the greatest ‘losers’ of our time. He was President of the United States of America for one term, from 1977 to 1980, and led his … Read More »

Prayers following the week …

18 Jun

Here is the text of our Community Prayers, shared at Box Hill Baptist Church this morning: Today I want to invite you into a time of prayer, as guided reflection. I will mention a number of matters, and invite you … Read More »

Refugees Welcome Here

6 Feb

Along with many other public groups and associations, the Baptist World Alliance has issued a statement urging us to welcome refugees, not create further barriers to their freedom. It’s quoted below. I think it is immensely important that we raise … Read More »

Goodbye to all that: 2. Timetable

24 Oct

After 26 years I am soon to finish at Whitley College, and there are some things I am happy to be leaving. Though not entirely leaving, in that I will take with me some of the lessons learned and habits … Read More »

Did you see the Pope?

2 Aug

When I returned from my short visit to Rome recently, a surprising number of people asked me, Did you see the Pope? Well, almost. On one afternoon we were shown around some parts of St Peter’s where the public generally … Read More »

Wanted: Prophets, not Profits

26 May

I have been reflecting on the prophetic dimensions of a faith-commitment. It seems to me that we now live in a time and situation where not just some individuals, but perhaps all people of faith are in some degree called … Read More »

The Long Littleness of Life: Lenten Reflections (2)

16 Feb

The poet Auden once wrote of the ‘long littleness’ of life. This remarkable expression draws attention to the extent to which we spend our time in what we might think are inconsequential things. Sometimes we come to the end of … Read More »