Rev's Ramblings

Sun 6 Nov

During the course of this year, a number of Presbyterian Churches in our area celebrated significant anniversaries. Essendon, Flemington, Wyndham and Clifton Hill to name just a few. What was society like when these churches were established? Did they face persecution as they sought to establish the light...

Sun 30 Oct

Around the world, Christians are coming under increased attack. Such attacks range from physical attacks to emotional and mental pressure. Many attacks go unreported, or not even dealt with by governments who often turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians and other minority groups under the...

Sun 23 Oct

Peter boldy opens his first letter with the statement, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.” Such a statement gives us hope. Why? We tend to pass over such statements as of little importance in order to get to the teaching of the letter.But consider where Peter has come from. He had denied he even knew...

Sun 5 Jun

This morning we take a part in the Lord's Supper and remeber what God has done for his people in sending Jesus to die on a Roman cross for us. Each time we take part, we are reminded that Jesus left the glories of heaven, came to earth, suffered, was nailed to a cross and shed His blood so we could be...

Sun 15 May

For the lovers of books, in recent years there has been a tendency to release books with titles such as "Ten Easy Steps To A Healthy Life" or "Six Keys To A Debt Free Life". You read the book and you come away wondering if such steps or keys will work for you. Hosea, in Chapter 4,...

Sun 3 Apr

If you seek wisdom, who do you go to? James would say if you lack wisdom, then ask God who gives generously (James 1:5). In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus provides wisdom for those who are weighing up what it means to follow Him. Jesus has given words of wisdom on what to do when you worry. How do you...

Sun 20 Mar

Palm Sunday is a day when the Christian church traditionally remembers and ponders Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter. Up until this point in time Jesus had told those whom He had helped or healed in some way, not to tell others who He was. But now the...

Sun 21 Feb

In a land of fast food and "I want it now" mentality, fasting is an outmoded practice reserved for monks living in austerity. Or so we think! This was not the situation in the first century when Jesus spoke on this subject to His would be followers. The Jews fasted at various times during the...

Sun 14 Feb

Valentine's Day is usually celebrated by giving a card or flowers or a gift so that the one you are giving to will know you like them, even love them. You seek to get their attention and their heart. When Jesus looks at the religious practice of giving, he turns Valentine type thinking on its head. When...

Sun 7 Feb

When I was taken to church in the 1960s, one of the things that was drummed into me was the Lord's Prayer. At a particular part of the service, the minister would recite the Lord's Prayer and the people in church would follow his recitation by saying the Lord's Prayer themselves. I was on of those who...