It is often the small acts of kindness that stand out.

Tuesday night I was heading home late.  I knew the next bus was not for nearly 30 minutes and the walk home was only 15-20 minutes.

After walking the first 5 minutes I began to realize how tired I was and I came to another bus stop on my way home and decided to double check the printed timetable.

As I stood reading the bus timetable a bus came along the road with its “Not in Service” sign on.  Despite the sign the bus pulled up alongside the stop.  The door swooshed open and a young woman hopped off.

The driver leaned across smiled and said, “Jump in!” He asked, “Where are you going?” I answered and he said, “I still have to get to the depot.”

I went to swipe my card “Don’t worry about that!” he intervened.

As we drove along he spoke highly of the Uni students he met on the route he drives and how polite everyone is. The worst problem he ever had was sometimes they were a bit noisy when they are heading out, “but we were all young once weren’t we”.

As I hopped off a couple of minutes up the road and watched the bus receding into the night with its “Not in Service” sign emblazoned across the back it struck me just how ironic the sign was – not in service? the best bus service in Brisbane by a mile. Thanks!

When have you experience a moment of kindness or random service you were not expecting? When have you gone the extra mile?

It never ceases to amaze me how vitriolic the comments are which are made by people claiming to be Christians below posts on websites, on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and other avenues for cyber communication.  The comments are often filled with hate, fear and self-righteousness.

There are comments which attack other Christians, atheists, Muslims, refugees, the young, the elderly,  people with different understandings of their sexuality, the unemployed, the poor, the wealthy, those of different race… the list appears to be endless.

What does it mean to acknowledge God as creator and God as love?

As Jean Vanier suggests each person is sacred!

First and foremost we are created and loved beings of God.  Beyond all of our differences we are human and being human is about our unity with one another in our life as God’s beautiful creations.

When you see someone or meet someone what is your starting point? Do you see a wonderful creation of God? Do you see your common humanity?  Or do you judge them for how they are different to you? What does it truly mean to love one another? How might it change how we speak about one another face to face or within cyberspace?

When Jesus calls the disciples to follow him he calls the disciples away from following another journey and direction in their life.  They had been followers of a way of life by the sea, working to provide sustenance for their life and community.

Following a way of life, following a culture, following people comes as  naturally and unconsciously to us as breathing.  From our very birth we are conditioned to follow, to listen, to learn, to copy others, to give our allegiance to groups.

Sometimes we are quite deliberate about our choices in following others, sometimes we respond out of pressures or insecurities, sometimes we give our allegiance away without to even realising it.

Just as Jesus invited the disciples to rethink the life they were following the message that has been handed on the church is that Jesus continues to invite us to make a conscious decision to follow him.  To follow Jesus though does mean becoming more aware of who else and what else we are following.

Whether a sports team, a career path, a brand, a TV show, a family tradition, or the culture in which your are embedded we all following things.

Who or what do you follow? How does Jesus call on your life challenge the other things you follow?

There is something entirely wonderful about watching generations fishing together. There is a certain delight that a grandfather takes in teaching a young grandson or granddaughter to rig their line and bait their hook.

It seems for some things we know how to share across the generations but for others we struggle to do the same.  Imagine if a grandparent took the same delight in sharing their relationship with God – how to pray or read the Bible or even to share their faith.

When Jesus called the fishermen Simon and Andrew to follow him he said that he would make them fishers of men.  Fishing was their trade but even back in their day fishing was a family event because a son would learn the trade from his father.

Having a living and active faith, following Jesus, means learning the trade and then passing it on.  We learn first from Jesus and also from those in leadership in the church but we should also share it with one another as a family – we should pass it on.

This is one of the reasons I find great joy in having a mix of generations in worship together rather than segregate based on life stages and interests – the family of God can share across the generations and learn the trade of being  fishers of men, women and children together.

Who taught you to be a “fisher” following Jesus?

Who are you teaching to be a “fisher” and follower of Jesus”?

Last Sunday night we gathered, we sung carols and we heard the ancient story of hope that comes to us from our Christian heritage.  We gathered around the theme: Finding hope in a World of Darkness.

On Monday morning we heard the surreal news of what was occurring in Sydney: hostages taken, fear, confusion, lives at risk.  Darkness descended on our nation. Tragically this darkness deepened as  we awoke on Tuesday to discover the lives of two of the hostages had been lost: Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson.  Our nation mourns with those who have lost their loved ones and we uphold them in our thoughts and prayers.  Our prayers also continue for those injured both physically and mentally by this terrible ordeal, including not only the hostages but those police officers, officials, ambulance officers and hospital staff involved.

Sadly, once again we see how devastating the actions of one disturbed person can be.  A man who stands for nothing but the violence within him.  In no way should we honour his misguided political or religious claims, he honoured no God, no state and no religion in his actions.  I pray the reporting of the incident reflects this and does not give air space to the agendas of this individual, misguided as they were.

As we all grapple with this loss of life and the infiltration of fear into the community it is heartening to see the response of a multitude of people around Australia and the world.  The multi-faith prayer gatherings which began as the incident unfolded. The response to condemn the actions of the man by the Australian Islamic community has been decisive. And the amazing Twitter #illridewithyou response which has gone viral.  As well as the olive ribbon campaign that shows a commitment of solidarity among those of different faiths. In the midst of the tragedy that has occurred this response is a reminder that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.

Today the Christ candle burns in our church as we pray for peace, salaam, shalom in our troubled and darkened world.  We pray for comfort and for hope and for the knowing of God as love.

Ezekiel  34

18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your  feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet?

October once again followed the continuous trend of breaking records for high temperatures around the globe. Despite the evidence that climate changing is happening more rapidly than expected Australian newspaper for two days in a row has run reports attacking President Obama’s speech at the University of Queensland when he laid down the gauntlet to the Australian government to pick up our act.

It appears the priority of the coal driven Queensland somehow trumps Obama’s call as we worry about our job security and lifestyle.

In the face of this Ezekiel’s ancient word of prophecy speaks a confronting word to us.  Not simply in the matter of climate science but also in the reality that in the West we have been embedded in exploitative capitalism, given ourselves permission through our obsession with growth .

Like Ezekiel, Clive Hamilton and Paul Gilding the Pope has recently issued a rather dire prediction that whilst God might forgive the earth will not. Ezekiel’s word of prophecy suggest that fouling the crops and water that others need will bring consequences.  It would appear that these consequences are coming home to roost on a global scale.

In Australia we have got rid of the carbon tax and said we will not do more until others do, we have ‘protected our borders’ and we have ‘protected our industry and jobs’ but at what cost? Ezekiel declares judgement, Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide. 

As an Australian I am bemoaning my sore flank and shoulder and my scrapped horns as I begin to realise the inequity and injustice we perpetuate. I know I am embedded in these systems so I continue to ask what can I do?  What contrition? What advocacy? What hope can I offer? How will i ever respond to Jesus words?

‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’

On this my resume is not great…