Energy Minister, Josh Fryndenberg, and Opposition front bencher, Joel Fitzgibbon’s awkward stoush in the halls of Parliament House last Tuesday morning delighted the media pack who are always on the prowl for a controversial story. But the finger-pointing and an eagerness to play the “blame game” on the issue of national energy policy troubled me. […]
“Grey winter hath gone, like a wearisome guest, and behold, for repayment, September comes in with the wind of the West and Spring in her raiment!” The poet, Henry Kendall, lived on the Central Coast and his works are obligatory for people like myself who attended Gosford’s Henry Kendall High School. Kendall’s poem “September in […]
What kind of buildings around the world serve to inspire you? What kind of buildings leave you breathless because of their sheer magnificence and beauty? The Taj Mahal in Agra, India, left me stunned and awe-struck as I rounded a curve after an arduous trip by car from Delhi. Then there was Sikh Golden Temple […]
Last Monday night I had the opportunity to share some of my experiences in North Korea with Men’s Fellowship. North Korea has made a significant impact on me. It’s a brutal, sombre, totally isolated place. And here I deeply yearn for the 20 million people who are trapped there in a most miserable existence. Today […]
Last Tuesday I decided to take public transport between my home in Blacktown and West Epping. It was a pleasant journey with a fast nine minute train trip between Blacktown and Parramatta and then a sluggish but comfortable ride on the M54 bus up the hill to Carlingford. But the return trip was a nightmare. […]
The pointless, futile death of an unarmed Sydney woman in Minneapolis just over a week ago has stunned many people. Local police opened fire on Justine Damond after responding to a call to investigate a possible assault. Such incidents simply don’t make sense. Why Justine died such a violent, premature death is something we may […]
Today we view the new manse. The project is just about complete as Radhika and Adrian prepare to move in. Moving is an occupational hazard for ministers. During our married life Laurel and I have moved, on average, every four years. It’s a real chore. I must admit the presence of a cardboard carton or […]
In an interview Donald Trump commented he does not regret ever asking God for forgiveness. This is partially, the President says, because he “doesn’t have much to apologize for.” Donald Trump’s forthright comments make big headlines. There are many examples, especially with the President’s current run-in with the media. But we are mistaken if we […]
Have you ever thought God asks too much of you? I must admit there are times when I think so. The pressures of ministry means I often go to bed of a night burdened with the thought of so many uncompleted tasks. Here God seems pretty tough. Then there are the tragedies of life. We […]
One of the things I really appreciate about the Uniting Church is our commitment to being an inclusive community. Our focus is on the reconciliation of people with one another and with God. Here everyone is valued, everyone is nurtured. Everyone has a place. With this in mind I have been keenly interested in the […]