Earlier this year we started a soup kitchen at Northern. It is coordinated by Tim Jeffries and is staffed mainly by work for the dole participants. The focus of the work for the dole program is hospitality and so each wednesday they prepare yummy soup and bread or scones.
So far we have just been calling […]

An interesting move by a presbyterian church to allow an atheist to become a member of their church.
The Austin Chronicle: News: Church Fight:
“Rigby and Jensen first became acquainted over lunch a few years ago, not long after Jensen’s 9/11 hubbub. Rigby invited him to visit the church. As Jensen became more active in political and […]

One of our commentators sent me a link to this article this morning by Daniel Pipes which reports how muslim populations are “divided by conspiracy and hate”.  I thought that some of the reported results were interesting, and at times shocking, so I thought I would go to the original report of the study.  And […]

Alan reflects on where God is in the midst of world cup soccer fever!
“Spare a thought for God as the world moves into the second round.
While mere mortals would not wish to suggest that God is not capable of ensuring who will take the Cup, we do suspect that it’s a might confusing for Him […]

In today’s paper, Judith Bessant argues against the proposal that Christian chaplains should be employed by public schools:
Employing Christian clergy in state schools also reflects a double standard in the way it contradicts the officially stated commitment by the same people who have been promoting the teaching of “Australian values”. Those values include “freedom” from […]

Yesterday I attended and Phil conducted farewell and celebration services for my Gran, who died last week at the age of 92.
I shared part of the eulogy on behalf of the grandchildren and began with the words “I loved, we loved, our Gran.  And she loved us.”  And there were a lot of us to love.  She […]

Jonny Baker posts up a great and challenging quote from howard snyder’s book liberating the church.
“The church gets in trouble whenever it thinks its in the church business rather than the Kingdom business. In the church business people are concerned with church activities, religious behaviour and spiritual things. In the Kingdom business people are concerned […]

Put up a church sign which describes your church as “Independent, King James, Old Fashioned, Fundamental & Missionary”
Makes me wonder what four descriptors I would put on a sign about Northern (or signposts for that matter).  Suggestions welcome.

Here is an article that I wrote for the Australian Christian introducing the forge (Vic) transition stream. It is reproduced here with permission as the full article is only available to subscribers. I encourage you to have a look at the other offerings of the Australian Christian and consider subscribing….
For much of Forge’s history in […]

Get on over and support the Getup petition!
Dear Senators,
We believe in the rights of all children. We call on you to reject the proposed new changes to Australia’s refugee laws, and to ensure no child who comes to Australia seeking asylum is put into detention.
Greens Senator Bob Brown: “I have no doubt that this 32,000 […]