Church

This is the cutest church I've ever seen, on Coochiemudlo Island, Qld. Lucky I had my phone to take a photo! Inside it's only as big as my lounge room. I'd go to this little one over a megachurch any day!

The pastor there (a good friend and mentor) is setting up a retreat centre, for people to go and rest and spend time with God. I'm going to try and go there as much as I can. The critical question then will be, "What will I sacrifice from my schedule to do it?" Guaranteed it will be something that costs me to give it up, but that's how it usually works, doesn't it?

Great Barrier Reef

Snorkelling at the outer reef just out from Cairns, on our honeymoon!

Singing

If there is going to be a revival, it's going to be chasing a wave of singing.

Wedding

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who is in heaven
Where is that exactly?
Hallowed be your name
Does that mean you're... big?
Your kingdom come, your will be done
Down here, like it is up there

Give us this day our daily bread
Or give it to someone who really needs it
Forgive us our sins
Though I know that's a big ask
And God help us to forgive each other
Cos that's an even bigger ask sometimes
Lead us not into temptation
And please lead us out when it happens

For thine is the kingdom
The universe is yours
The power and the glory
All light and love
Forever and ever
And longer, and further

Amen.

a new story begins...

This is something written by a good friend of mine, Dennis Camenzuli. I love his writing!

---

for many years ... decades
I have lived in a dream

the dream of a community of love, freedom and mutual support.

the millions of people milling around in my dream were healthy
happy and without a care in the world.

their hearts never suffered the pain of reflection or question
there was abundant blessing poured forth on them

their only want was to dream of a want that was not already provided to them in abundance ...

they danced
clapped and were joyous

for indeed
they had been smiled upon
and were richly blessed ...

oh the land of milk and honey
how sweet you are ....


as I walked in my dream
I slowly became aware that the faces in my dream were constantly changing

the music was always strong and beautiful
and indeed the power of joy oozed from all in celebration

but then
at the turn of the head

another face was gone

and then another ...


I turned from the crowds
and walked in search of these lost faces ....

and there they were before me

smiling and clapping with sadness in their eyes
a hollowness behind the thin veil that I had never before seen ..

a paleness in their skin
whiteness almost bloodless
dark rings around their eyes ...
brighter than the glistening diamonds and gold of their kings ...

now

beneath their thin garments
could be seen
their shattered bones
their torn hearts and
their hopeless minds
trapped in cages

you are unwell ...

you are unwell ...

then my own reflection screamed at me

you are unwell ....



and I sought help from my leaders
from the healers
from those who held the keys
from the elders and the kings of the land

yes
we see they replied
we can

and seek the holder of all for guidance
and for wisdom ...

how the cancer progresses
how the leprosy devours

but we have no solution
only platitudes
only weak comforts to offer

and we value the sick and the dying far too much to offer them a semblance of raw and untested hope
we dare not contaminate them with an idea of acceptance and embrace
should we fail them
oh no
we love and respect the sick too much to hear their speechlessness
we value them to much to destroy their pride

better to let them suffer till they are humbled ...

better leave them till we have resourced the best of hospitals
the best of surgeons
to attend their needs

but see
our own needs lie before us
and that which lies before us
lies more important then the needs of those who have greater needs...

our hearts are good
see how we have been blessed
for indeed we are well
we are rich
we do not hunger
or worry

no we trust
and because we trust we have no needs
or is it because we have no needs we trust ...

be off with you ...

we have no time for this

sing
clap
be joyous
as you wither and die in anguish
we have not yet found
the right way of administering the soothing oils

so we will not administer any soothing

till we can make it perfect

till we can find a way to honour God with it

till we can find a way to honour us before God ...



Be away with you

to the back of the crowd
where the sick and the needy and the hungry
where the misfits
the difficult
the troubled and the troublesome
can be forgotten
or at least contained ...

move away from me
for you make me uncomfortable

take the mirror from my heart
that I might not see how hard it has become
and that I might still believe that I am still human
still righteous
and still worthy.

Anniversary Countdown

Grace & Hope

Christmas

Another Christmas.

We hung some decorations for you. I wish you both were still here.

You would have loved the tree. The lights are so pretty. They make me think of you. You would have been beautiful too.

Can you see it, my daughters?

You would have liked Christmas.