Breaking Down Walls: Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
Fitting in closely with the theme from my last post, I’ve been chewing over John 4 recently, where we read about Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman. Again, like all of John’s writing, this is packed full of significance and meaning. Yet right now, there is one aspect of this encounter which really stands out to me.
The very fact that Jesus talks with a Samaritan woman is astounding. Jesus breaks many societal norms and crosses many cultural barriers in order to have this life-changing conversation with the Samaritan woman.
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Once Upon a Time, In The Middle Of Nowhere
Here is a story which really moved me the first time I heard it. It’s a story about a young, English minister, based in Wilcannia, NSW just after the First World War – a man who was willing to go into the middle of nowhere, in order to share Jesus with whoever he found there.
I found myself thinking of this story again recently, as I have been sharing with quite a few people about ‘movement’ – being willing to move when God says ‘Go’. Continue Reading →
Are You Really Alive?
Last week I had three separate opportunities to talk to groups of people about what it means to be born again or born from above. I had been reading and praying my way through John Chapter 3, in particular the account of Nicodemus and his conversations with Jesus. There are loads of things that can be said about this passage, and lots of things which are still really relevant to our lives today. However, as I thought about this passage for a while, I got to thinking again about what it means to be born again, and how we can continue to live lives which have been transformed by Jesus. Continue Reading →
Spare Fish Anyone?
Last week, I was re-reading the story, found in John, Chapter 21, of Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish. It is a well-know story. Peter, John and some others have been out fishing all night. They catch nothing. Nothing strange about this!
And, as we know, they hear a voice from the shore telling them to put their nets out on the other side of the boat. When they do this, they catch so many fish that they are unable to pull the net in by themselves! John tells us that they caught 153 fish. Amazing!
If We Win, We Change The Game For Good…
"If we win, with this team, we change the game for good..."
Sometimes it is great fun, having vision, seeing what could be, what is possible, even when the current circumstances make you feel pretty hopeless. At other times it is no fun at all. Re-planting a church to be different from church as we’ve always known it – working to launch a network of missional communities that will bring hope and love to lots of hopeless, unloved, lonely people – is a great vision, and much of the time it’s great fun too. And at other times it is no fun at all.
I stumbled across a brilliant story about change just recently, when I watched the film, ‘Moneyball’ starring Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
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Leadership Lessons From a Half-Naked Guy Dancing on His Own in a Field
It can feel lonely – being a pioneer. One of the inevitable consequences of doing something new, is that – at least to start with – you are the only one doing it. Over the last week or so, I have had a couple of inspiring encounters, and conversations, with people who have reminded me that the lonely, pioneering stage of things, doesn’t last forever.
I’ve seen this video a few times now, but it really does do me good to watch it again. I was reminded of this video last week, while walking up a mountain with a good mate. It provided us with quite a few minutes of interesting conversation… Take a look,
Easter Reflections Part Four: Are We Evidence Of The Resurrection
Was Jesus really who he said he was? Did he really die? Did he really come back to life? Important questions that we think about especially at Easter – although they tend to crop up all year round!
We spent a bit of time this Sunday gone at Barney’s, thinking about the claims Jesus made about himself to be able to forgive sings, to be able to give everlasting life, to one day return to judge and redeem the world etc. and how if he did indeed die and rise from the dead, we need to take his claims as true. I touched on the argument made famous by C.S. Lewis, that Jesus is either a lunatic, a liar, or he is who he said he is – Lord.
Easter Reflections Part Three: Out of death, comes new life
This year, for the first time in my life, I have shown some interest in gardening.
Mainly the kind of gardening where you get food at the end – carrots, parsnips, potatoes etc..
I have experienced first hand how awesome, large, juicy, tasty tomatoes grow out of tiny seeds.
Which, in a small way, gives me new understanding what Jesus spoke about soon after arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey.
Easter Reflections Part Two: The Wrong Kind of King
Well, we’d been waiting there all day, since someone told us that Jesus was going to show up. This guy is the real deal. This Jesus, seriously, he raised a dead guy last week over at Bethany. Everyone saw it.
Now he’s coming here, to Jerusalem. My uncle reckons this is it for the Romans now. No more carrying their luggage around for them. Now more soldiers prancing up and down the streets pushing us around. This Jesus’ll show them.