Thieves and robbers – hmmm, made me think. Went to church on Sunday, and the sermon was based on John 10 about what Jesus said about sheep pens, thieves, and robbers. Jesus actually told the Pharisees the following story as… Read More ›
God
Regardless of Persecution
Don’t you love liquidambar trees? They are really beautiful. We loved our liquidambar tree. It was pretty big. It wasn’t always big; it had been a little squirt of a plant, and we put it in the lawn just to… Read More ›
Sheep and Goats
Ever thought about sheep and goats? I haven’t, not really. It wasn’t that long ago that one of my blogs referenced sheep, and I mentioned how big sheep stations are in Australia. It was then that I thought about sheep… Read More ›
Let’s not waste what God has given us
Let’s not waste what God has given us. I guess we all have different talents and things we can do. My son-in-law is absolutely crippled after huge operations to remove cancer, but has he given up on life? He certainly… Read More ›
The murders of Peter and Paul
Nero, as mentioned in one of our recent blogs, was the emperor of the Roman Empire and was responsible for a highly decentralized system of authority. Nero eventually killed himself. He was born on December 15th, 37 AD, and committed suicide… Read More ›
Nastiness can be nasty
While Jesus was physically here on earth, he told many stories, or parables, as they were known then, and one of those parables, recorded in Matthew 13, was about a sower or a plowman sowing seeds. In those days, the sower… Read More ›
With or Without Him?
When I was a little guy, we had a big tree in the back garden. I wasn’t sure what that tree was. I think it may have been an apricot tree. I remember it well. Apparently, my big brother and… Read More ›
Builders
WOW! I am overwhelmed today at the very cost of building a new home – I know when Sue and I were to build this house of ours all those years ago, we first had to buy a block of… Read More ›
Wineskins and Old Clothes
The old and the new – don’t we love it – the old sometimes is good when it’s gone, and the new usually is pretty good. Lots of weird and strange things happened in the old times, and lots of… Read More ›
How many mistakes will I make in this life of mine?
How many mistakes will I make in this life of mine? It never seems to cease. Every single time, even when I’m not expecting it, these sins and mistakes keep bursting into my life in ceaseless and never-ending sequence. Amazing,… Read More ›
Where are you with Christ right at this moment?
Caleb was born to a young couple who weren’t ready to have their son yet. Robert and Viola, when they moved into their unit in Newcastle, NSW, were pretty excited. Robert had just started his new job, and so had… Read More ›
Singapore, Australia, World War 2 and Radji Beach
It was 12 February 1942, and Singapore was in the grip of a mighty Japanese invasion that would see hundreds of people scrambling onto the wharves to flee. Among those were 65 Australian Nurses serving their country through the last… Read More ›
Jonah!
Well, what can one say – our Grandson Sam – now a full-time primary teacher at a special school here in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. He is so good at teaching that he specialises in kids who have all sorts of… Read More ›
Convict
Mary was a convict! She was arrested in England for stealing a horse. BUT she didn’t really, her little boy Oscar lay sick with a ghastly fever, and she had to get a doctor fast. She had no way of… Read More ›
Which Way?
Gabrielle’s home was across the street and down half a block from the federal courthouse. On her way there, she called in to see Scott, her solicitor, who was going to represent her this morning. Here she was all ready… Read More ›
Save or Kill
Connor Schmidt happily drove the 12-to-8 shift on the city bus line that travelled along the Pacific Highway in Sydney, New South Wales. He was absently whistling one of the Beatles’ old songs as he piloted his bus through the… Read More ›
Making Every Day Count
My friend David contracted MND, and sadly, he passed away – he was so young to have died. Motor Neurone Disease is horrible and can be so devastating to a family David was an accountant and lived with his wife… Read More ›
There’s not a cloud in the sky
Life is just so beautiful – every day is just so wonderful – there is just nothing that can change the way we live and what we do – it just gets better and better as we go along. Enjoying… Read More ›
Psalm 139:1-18 – Part One
By Greg Holt “1 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my… Read More ›
Log into My Account
How many times have I seen this on the computer – I am so (very often) bewildered by it all. Go to pay your bill and have to press the key which says “Log in to my account,” so there… Read More ›
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
This is an actual case registered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority… “Around 9pm, on Monday, 29 September, a Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance and asked to plan for a winch extrication of a passenger suffering a… Read More ›
GONG!
What is a GONG? This from Wikipedia “Suspended gongs are played with hammers and are of two main types. The gong has been a Chinese instrument for millennia. Some gongs are loud enough to be heard from up to eight kilometres (five miles) away.” … Read More ›
A murmur of surprise went up from the watching crowd
A murmur of surprise went up from the watching crowd – no one was expecting this – Cameron looked as startled as anyone – he was the one who actually did it – but Ned was the one who now was… Read More ›
Gabby
Gabby dabs her eyes with a tissue. She looks at Jennie. It’s been a lot to process, you know. Jennie nods. You’re doing great. Wish I could be really helpful. Poor Gabby, losing her boyfriend Nate in a disastrous car… Read More ›
Why Do I Keep on Sinning???!!!
At the time of our accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour – we were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. God replaced our old hearts and our old longings which were always rebelling against Him and put inside… Read More ›
Nothin is gonna stop me now!
Jimbo was completely and surely adamant when he blurted out that absolutely nothin ABSOLUTELY NOTHIN on God’s earth is ever gonna stop me!! Oh, that can be so sad – Jimbo was determined and absolutely adamant that he should be… Read More ›
The Armour of Light
“I’ve given up on Jane,” – Gav said sourly. Tossing his head to get all the hair out of his eyes – “Or rather she’s given up on me.” This was important news for Phil – “What happened?” Gav’s handsome… Read More ›
Downwardly mobile
Well, we all know about “Upwardly Mobile” – the definition of which the English Dictionary describes as “(of a person or social group) moving or aspiring to move to a higher social class or to a position of increased status… Read More ›
Denying What is Plainly Evident
Going through our bookshelves this week, I came across the Family Bible and once again sat intrigued by its history – the underlined passages by people long gone, the little notes in the margins as ‘prompts’ for us to consider,… Read More ›
Oh No! I’ve Done it Again
“I’ve done it again – I should have learned to keep my big mouth shut. I’ve caused so many problems, it’s totally unbelievable.” Not keeping our mouths in gear often hurts not just one person, but sometimes a lot of… Read More ›