ORDINARY MIRACLES

Thank you, Jesus, for ordinary miracles, thanks for seasons and birds in a line.
We keep wanting escape to another place — you say this place is just fine.

Thank you, Jesus, for average humanity, thanks for making the people I know. When we're tired of our humble reality, come and drop in, say hello.

Some say you're up in the sky, in a cloud, but you put your feet on the ground.
Help us to love what we are,
being human — colour, action, sound!

Thank you, Jesus, you startle the centuries: stepping into our bloody affairs.
Your solution to so much calamity —
up on the hill in the air.

Thank you, Jesus, that life is a mystery; any moment's adrenalin time.
Lead us into the way to prosperity — you are the treasure we find.


Britpop — represented especially by groups like Oasis and Blur — was big when I wrote this. I was trying to write songs that would communicate with the younger crowd, thinking especially of our long-running student service at St Stephen’s. I was also preoccupied, in a more conscious way than previously, with what I perceive as escapist religion. Whether it be in traditional or modern dress, it always seems to be popular. One of the central pillars of Christianity is the incarnation of God as Jesus and the implications that follow. So although we may see God in extravagant religious experiences — and people continue to do so — Jesus reveals a God who is found in ‘ordinary miracles’.


 

ALWS 29/5/24

In May 2023 we travelled to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia, seeing work supported by Australian Lutheran World Service. Dorothy and I are Ambassadors for the ALWS programme, Lives You Touch. We are encouraging people to leave money in their will for the work of ALWS. We committed to leave a third of our will many years ago and hope many others can touch lives in this way.

Last year we visited churches in SA, Vic, Qld and WA with Jonathan & Julie Krause promoting the cause of ALWS.

Coming up soon:

* Nuriootpa (St Petri) Saturday June 22, 4 pm

To be confirmed:
Bordertown July 28,
Everton Park (Qld) August 17,
Canberra August 24 

Looking forward to seeing you at one of these events