From Ben’s Desk

Last Sunday night our church hosted the regional youth meeting. There were about 200 young people and their leaders drawn from the youth groups in the Presbyterian churches around Auckland. Tala and her team of young people led the program of praise and worship. There was lively worship, a drama, worshipful dance, a mission presentation,…

Today’s message is on a timely subject for us all as we all seem to be busier than ever before. I will be preaching on the call from Scripture to be heavenly minded, to have our hearts and minds and attention on heaven and the things of God. As I come to work each day…

This Mother’s Days I want to take a moment to say a loud thank you to all the mothers in our church. You do an amazing job that is demanding, extensive and often goes unnoticed. I have been reminded of a mother’s service, love and commitment to her children yet again as I have watched…

Today I will be speaking from our next passage in the study of Colossians which deals with forgiveness. I have called the message beautiful forgiveness. God’s forgiveness of us through the finished work of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, can only be called beautiful. I am not for a moment failing to acknowledge the…

As ANZAC Day draws closer and we reflect on the sacrifice and heroism of those who gave so much for our country, I have been reading some of their stories. One particular family caught my attention. Of the 4 sons who went and fought in the war, 3 died and the only son to return…

As I have prepared devotions and sermons for this wonderful time of the year, I have been reflecting on the importance of the resurrection in God’s message of Easter. There is no doubt at all that Jesus’ death on the cross is so very important for our salvation. After all, if he had not given…

As we draw closer to Easter and remember all that our Lord did for us in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, I have been reflecting on our Lord’s tender care for his own. Those last days must have been ever so hard for our Lord, as all that lay ahead of him started to…

It is hard to believe that we are in the month of April already and just 12 days from Easter. As our minds turn to Easter it is my prayer for you and myself that this Easter would be a time of spiritual renewal and refreshment. I am aware that my own spiritual life needs…

On Friday we had the funeral of Barbara Wakelin at our church. Barbara had been a regular worshipper at G.P.C. for over 20 years. In recent years she had been at a rest home and unable to attend regularly. As we reflected on her life we remembered Barbara’s generous spirit. She was not a wealthy…

One of my favourite Old Testament stories is found in Numbers 13. It tells of how 12 spies were sent into the promised land to spy it out and bring back a report to Moses and the nation. 10 of the spies came back with a message of fear and defeat. They said that the…