Northern Community's Podcast

We live in an age of astonishing medical advancement. Diseases once thought untreatable are more manageable, and genetic technologies promise possibilities that previous generations could barely imagine. Yet these breakthroughs also raise difficult questions—not just about what we can do, but what we should do. This is not just a medical conversation—it is a deeply spiritual one. A message by Davi...

I wonder what brought you to live where you live?  For some, it can be for work. A new job requires a change of location. A new relationship has you move to be with the one you love. For others, it is upsizing or downsizing. Often, there are times in our lives when we long for a fresh start. A relationship has gone sour, so to clear the air and create some space, we move to a new location. Perhaps...

According to Transparency International, Australia is ranked the 10th least corrupt country in the world. So, to what degree should our Local, State and Federal Governments be transparent. Today, our guest Speaker Mike explores the role of a government under God and its responsibility according to the Gospel. A message by Mike Southon

Is responding to climate change necessary or is it a luxury that perhaps we just cannot afford at the moment? What should our response be to the environment, and at what cost? Today, our guest speaker Julia explores how the sacred wisdom contained within the Bible can help us think through and respond to Climate Change in a manner consistent with being followers of Jesus and how it can enrich our...

The cost of living affects us all with the food prices affected by the drought or floods, increases in the petrol prices caused by the war in the Middle East, rises in the interest rates and so on. However, the impact of these rising costs varies at different stages of life. For example, young families with children experience financial pressures differently from retirees, as their needs and lifes...

When politics and the desire for popularity collide with best practice, what is a faith response to community safety? Today, we explore the challenges and tensions around community safety, justice and grace with Phil Simpson, Barrister with 20 years of experience.

Andre, our guest speaker with expertise in community development and theology, examines how our environments, cultural myths, and unconscious biases shape our attitudes toward immigrants and refugees.  His sermon challenges everyone to move beyond viewing immigration as merely a numbers or policy issue, and instead to recognise the common humanity in all people created in God's image.  A mess...

Recent events across the globe have created tensions around local action and global responsibility. What should be Australia's response to its citizens within a global framework and what role do we, as Christians, place in this? A message by Rev Dr Tim Costello 

In 1992 400m Sprinter Derek Redmond from Great Britain was in Barcelona ready to make his Olympic dream come true. Unable to compete four years earlier due to injury, he was determined to capitalise on a run of good health and good form. He ran a personal best time in the quarter-final to easily win his heat, and if he could produce a similar run in the semis, he would be on his way to an Olympic...

We understand that as people and as followers of Jesus, our decisions matter – they are important and we want to live life well and part of that means we need to learn to choose well. We make decisions and then, as we choose - our decisions make us. The challenge is many of us, we're not great decision-makers. Pre-deciding is focussing on intentionally selecting our values and attitudes and g...

God is generous, and the Bible is full of examples of people, motivated by goodness, to emulate this - King David poured out gifts from the national  treasury and then from his personal reserves.  A poor widow gave everything she had.  A woman prepared a room for a traveling prophet.  A group of impoverished Macedonians gave more than they dreamed they could.  This morning, we will examine Ruth’s...

To say Australia is a land of extremes sometimes seems like an understatement. With extreme heat in the Southeast and Eastern Australia, on Tuesday, Mildura is predicted to nudge up to 50 degrees and Melbourne in the low 40s. Up north WA, they are wrestling with a cyclone. It is part of the reason why Government and emergency response agencies encourage people in areas prone to natural disasters t...

"I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway." These are the words the apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome. He is describing what management theorists and life coaches call the Knowing-Doing gap.  The Knowing-Doing gap can apply to individuals, to organisations or systems and it refers to the...

Devotion sets direction. What we are devoted to quietly shapes the path we take—not usually in one dramatic moment, but little by little over time. The things we give our attention to, the things we return to, and the things that fill our thoughts and our time shape our priorities, our values, and the way we live. That’s why devotion matters so much to God. Today, I will talk about how devotion gu...

In the words of the philosopher, Dr Seuss, " Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!" "You have brains in your head, You have feet in your shoes, You can steer yourself in any direction you choose." "You won't lag behind because you'll have the speed. You'll pass the whole gang, and you'll soon take...

Love is a many splendored thing.  Love lifts us up where we belong.  All you need is love. Or in the words of Anna from Frozen – "Love is an open door." There are countless songs that centre on Love – love for children or siblings, love for friends, romantic love. And probably just as many that speak about heartbreak.  But what is Love, really? And how do we receive it and pass it on as...

If you were to survey a group of parents, chances are that the highest response to the question, " I just want my child to be ..."  would be "I just want my child to be -happy". So today, if you find yourself chewing on life's gristle, then, according to the Life of Brian, "give a whistle" and "always look on the bright side of life". Or perhaps if we r...

2000 Years ago, the world was far from a peaceful place. Herod the Great, the cruel king of Judea, died, sparking a frantic struggle by his sons, those who had survived their father's murderous tendencies, to fill the power vacuum. But 2000 years ago, something else happened. A child was born. This child had a vision. A vision that threatened the oppressive systems of the day. One that priori...

What does hope look like for you? For some, hope looks like a lottery ticket or a Scratchie. For me, hope looks like McLaren in Formula 1. Bruce McLaren, a Kiwi racing driver, founded McLaren F1 in 1963. I became a fan, being introduced to F1 and the team by the Melvins, who attended the first church I pastored at Enoggera in QLD in the late 90s. That was perfect timing because it also coincided w...

This morning, we begin with a well-known story, and it goes like this: Once upon a time there was a hare who lived in the forest. He was a speedy runner and loved to race others to prove he was the fastest. “I’m so fast, no one can beat me” He would say to anyone that would listen. One day, Hare was boasting about his talent when a small voice said,  “You’ve never raced me.” It was Tortoise. “YOU,...

For around 9 months of the year, we might like to see magpies as fun and playful. Then, for the other three months, some of us experience the magpie, like Max Sherwood did at Lake Illawarra, NSW, a few years back - filmed by his dad. The Magpie, Australia's angry bird! With the unfortunate reputation of menacing people who dare step out of line, leading to some losing an eye or worse. And whi...

Let's test your associations between colours and emotions. While there is some variation, there are general common or popular views around the various colours and our feelings." Red- passion or anger Blue-sad or depressed (Beyond Blue) Yellow- joy Orange-loneliness (as per the tv series Big Bang Theory) nothing rhymes with orange Green- with envy Interesting to note that the logo here is...

Australia- where we turn nicknames into an art form, especially on jobsites. Hopefully, you have never been called one of these: Morphine - slow-moving dope. Lantern - not really bright and always has to be carried. Bushranger - always holding others up. Mastercard - takes the credit for someone else's work. Perth - always 3 hours behind everyone else. Wheelbarrow - only works when pushed. Wi...

This morning, we are looking at Greed vs Charity. And, just as a way to get our thinking engaged- and I'm looking for answers to this question-what country in the world, as a percentage of the population, do you think has the most people who give financially? A message by Samantha Barlow

"Food, glorious food! Hot sausage and mustard! While we're in the mood--Cold jelly and custard! Please pudding and saveloy!  What next is the question? Rich gentlemen have it, boys- - In-di-gestion! Food, Glorius food! We're anxious to try it. Three banquets a day -- Our favourite diet! Just picture a great big steak- - Fried, roasted or stewed. Oh, food, Wonderful food, Marvellous...