From Ben’s Desk

This is a very significant Sunday, as this Sunday marks the 100th year of the end of WW1. That dreadful war was supposed to last only a few months and end in glory. In reality it raged on over 4 long years, costing millions of lives, including 18 277 NZ men and women. True to…

This week we hold our AGM for 2018. This is an opportunity for us as a church family to stop and reflect on God’s grace and goodness over this past year. I do hope you will be able to spare the time to remain after this morning’s service to participate in our AGM. As I…

In my private devotional reading this month I am working through the amazing book of Proverbs. Most of them were written by Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, although that is questionable as he had 1000 wives. However, as you read through his wise sayings, you see that he repeatedly lays down many great…

It has always been my practice to try to be apolitical as a minister and thankfully I do not intend to change my position. Having said that, I could not help but notice the sad set of circumstances that has occurred this past week in our halls of parliament. It is not for me to…

This past month the ASB showground hosted a huge discount sale for the store Noel Leeming. I noted that the traffic was very heavy with the road log jammed with cars. As I looked at the confusion I thought to myself, “What are these 1000s of people after? Will the next electronic device or bargain…

This week in our study of Mark’s gospel, I have been forced to consider a very difficult passage that deals with marriage and divorce. Normally I would not go near a passage like this if I had a choice, but as it is the next passage in our study I feel compelled to look into…

This Sunday is a very important Sunday, recognised in churches around the world as Pentecost Sunday. This Sunday marks 50 days after the ascension of our Lord into heaven as He promised. It also marks the coming into the world of the Holy Spirit in a newer, fuller, and richer way than ever before. This…

I have just started to lead my home group through the N.T. books of 1 & 2 Timothy. Timothy was a young man in the N.T. who was taken under the wing of the Apostle Paul, to mentor, nurture and grow in the Christian life. We see that, despite the fact that he was timid…

We have just had another ANZAC day remembered in N.Z. As time goes by it would seem that these days of remembrance grow in popularity and interest. One look at the crowds at the various meetings show that people of all ages and all backgrounds flock to remember the brave men and women who fought…

This week at our men’s breakfast I spoke on a subject that is so needed today and is very close to my heart. It is the subject of contentment in a discontented world. Our materialistic society repeatedly churns out the mantra that what you have is inadequate, obsolete and past its use by date. It…