Together

Habits are part of our lives, whether we like it or not. They can either work for us or against us. I love the way Jesus was known and had a reputation that on the Sabbath, He was in church.

When I consider this proverb, I think it’s often overlooked that when you sharpen iron, be it a sword or some other kind of weapon, there will naturally be sparks. Sparks can indicate tension, growth, confrontation and honesty in any relationship, friendship or community.

Margaret and I moved to this beautiful city that sits on the crest of the Great Dividing Range some 20 years ago. Over the last two decades, we have seen the city change dramatically. There is a lot to love about the second biggest inland city in Australia.

I love most sports, and I love to watch a champion team do their thing in their arena. There is something captivating about how each player puts aside their own agendas, plans and desires for the greater good.

Have you ever been in a public setting, maybe a shopping centre, or an airport and over the P.A. system, you hear your name being called out? There are not too many of us that ignore that address, however, if it is someone’s else name, we go about our normal business.

Those that know me well enough, know that I am yet to fully embrace all of the technological advancements of the 21st Century. If you have ever seen me preach, I’ll always use an iPad but I’ll also have my paper copy (just in case). Technology is great when it works.

Margaret and I have been married for over four decades now. Over those years, we have experienced many ups and downs. One thing that has remained as a constant is the commitment from both of us to invest, value and nurture the relationship we have first with Christ, then with each other.

Conflict is inevitable and unavoidable in any community and in any relationship. The truth is, we all have been hurt, usually by the people closest to us.

Whenever we have staff meetings, one of our team members receives ‘The Civy Award’. This award highlights the efforts of someone who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in the team. They are given a gold plastic garland head piece that they must wear for the duration of the meeting. It’s a whole lot of fun.

Often, when we think upon the creation narrative set out in Genesis, we can easily allow ourselves to think God was alone before our planet and the universe were created. However, Genesis 1:26 appears to give us a contrasting view.