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A New Name for a New Season
A New Name for a New Season Earlier this year I shared with you some of the things Church Council have been thinking through and praying about over the last 12 months, including the possibility of changing our name. When we first relocated from Stafford to our current location we were known as Bray Park Reformed Church. This made sense at the time because we belonged (and still do) to the ‘Christian Reformed Churches of Australia’ denomination and we were located (and still are) in the suburb of Bray Park. However, given the declining relevance of denominational affiliation to the average Australian, the term ‘Reformed’ was dropped and we became Bray Park Community Church. Now, for a number of reasons, we believe the time has come for a new
The Husband’s Calling
The Husband’s Calling I was listening to a podcast the other day where the two speakers were talking about cultivating a healthy marriage. They were speaking specifically to the unique challenges of pastors but what they said applies to all Christian husbands. As I was listening, they brought up Ephesians 5:25, where it says ‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her’. This verse has remained on my mind over the past few days. On the one hand, I love how straightforward it is. I don’t have a huge list of things that I need to remember in order to be a Godly husband. Instead, I have an example. Jesus loved the church by laying down his life for her, now
A Prayer for Valentine’s Day
Prayer for Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day is celebrated by many, ignored by some, and painful for others. It’s not a day that is usually recognised on the Christian calendar and its history and origin are uncertain. Despite the differences we might feel about this day, I think it’s a great opportunity for us to be united in prayer. Specifically, to pray for marriages, for singles, and for the fruit of love in our lives. Prayer for Marriages One of my favourite events to attend are weddings. I love the atmosphere and anticipation while people wait for the bride to arrive, the look on the groom’s face when the bride walks down the aisle, watching shaking hands as rings are exchanged. It’s a beautiful occasion. But we all know that
Musings from the Middle East: Jericho
Cypriot Bichrome Pottery. It seems like an unnecessary technical term, and it is hard to imagine why it might be important. But many have claimed that it can be used to prove that the Old Testament is not historically accurate. What is Cypriot Bichrome Pottery, you might ask? It is a type of pottery made in Cyprus (Cypriot) with a distinct two-color (bi-chrome) style. This pottery was all the rage around the time that the Bible says that the Israelites conquered the Promised Land. In fact, Cypriot Bichrome Pottery was so popular among the wealthy, that archaeologists look for it as a key way of telling whether a city was active in this time period. Cypriot Bichrome Pottery then was like Nike apparel or Apple devices are today. So,
What John Stott Did Every Morning
What John Stott Did Every Morning What is your morning routine? What are the first few things you do when you get out of bed in the morning? Maybe you get up early and retreat to a quiet spot to spend some time reading your Bible and in prayer. It might be that you have to jump straight into the day; get dressed, eat breakfast, make lunches, and so on. Maybe you’re at a different stage of life and you can go at a somewhat slower pace. Apparently, John Stott (1921–2011), world-renowned church leader, author, and Bible teacher, would do the same thing each and every morning when he woke up; he would pray the following prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your
Gratitude and Lament
Gratitude and Lament I’m really looking forward to gathering together this Sunday. Of course, I look forward to every Sunday, but this week we have a little something extra planned. We will not only—as we always do—sing to our God, come before Him in prayer, open up His word, and encourage one another. We will also pray for our leaders, hear where God is leading us this year, find out about ministries that are kicking off, have an opportunity to sign up to serve, and then celebrate together at our ‘Summer Party’ after the service with a sausage sizzle, ice-cream, face painting and games for the whole family. That’s a whole lot of good things packed into one Sunday! I hope to see you there. Not to mention the
Story Behind the Song: ‘10,000 Reasons’
Story Behind the Song: ‘10,000 Reasons’ What does it look like to ‘bless someone, with all that is within you?’ It’s a rhetorical question, but one that I consider when I read Psalm 103. ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!’ (Psalm 103:1). God alone is worthy of such praise. That is what the Psalmist, David, means when he said ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul’. He is telling himself to bless (praise) the Lord, with all that is within Him! It is this beautiful Psalm that we are exploring this week in the sermon, which also inspired the song ‘10,000 Reasons’ by Matt Redman that we will be singing in our services. The story behind the song, ‘10,000 Reasons’,
The Humanness of Jesus
The Humanness of Jesus Recently I was reading through the Gospels (the accounts of Jesus’ life), and I was struck by the humanity of Jesus. I was reading these verses, ‘John’s disciples came and took his body (i.e. John the Baptist’s body) and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place…’ (Matthew 14:12-13). Did you take that in? When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place…’. What struck me was Jesus’ desire to get away when he heard the news. It’s as if he felt the need to take a break in that moment from whatever he was doing, and simply process this loss. I think Jesus
