Category Archives: Holy Spirit

Waiting

Posted on December 1, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Happy Advent everyone. Rob here. The season of Advent is a season of waiting. We’re all waiting for something it seems: a vaccine, racial justice, political change, a job, love, a miracle, you name it. What are you waiting for? … Continue reading →

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Shaken but Strong

Posted on September 29, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Hello everyone. Rob here. It’s my daughter’s birthday today and my son’s next week. They are growing up and their parents are growing older. It’s a reminder, once again, that life is constant change and transition. 2020 has been one … Continue reading →

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Naming the Grief

Posted on September 15, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Hello everyone. Rob here. There is a sense right now that the world is grieving. We are seeing the stages of grief being played out in the public sphere – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – as we come … Continue reading →

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Good Trouble

Posted on September 1, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Hi everyone. Rob here. In Christianity we often talk about becoming Christlike. We think that becoming more like Jesus is to become nicer or calmer, more serene. The reality is that becoming more like Jesus is to become a righteous, … Continue reading →

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Building Resilience

Posted on June 30, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Hi everyone. Rob here. Ancient Israel was always a nation in transition. Moving from being wandering ex-slaves in the desert to a nation-state is a difficult move. Moving from a tribal model to a monarchical one is also a big … Continue reading →

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Rethinking Church: Get Radical

Posted on May 22, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Hi everyone. Rob here again. In the last blog I introduced the idea of 12 step recovery groups being a potential model for a new way of doing church. They travel light, stay committed to their message and every member … Continue reading →

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What Are We Waiting For?

Posted on April 11, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Hi everyone. Rob here. I’m writing this on Easter Saturday. It’s the in-between day. The day of waiting. It sits between death and life; despair and hope; the past and the future; the old and the new; darkness and dawn. … Continue reading →

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Let’s Be Wholehearted

Posted on January 14, 2020 by brandnewheartnz

Happy New Year everyone. Rob here. The transition from holidays to work is always a difficult one, isn’t it? On holiday you slow down, you spend time in God’s glorious creation, you get away from commercialism and noise, you give … Continue reading →

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Intimate Obedience

Posted on December 11, 2019 by brandnewheartnz

Seasons greetings everyone. Rob here. One of my favourite parts of the Christmas narrative is when Mary and Elizabeth come together in Luke 1:39-56. They are a study in contrasts. Mary is a young virgin, probably just a teenager. Elizabeth … Continue reading →

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Hiding Places

Posted on October 16, 2019 by brandnewheartnz

Hi everyone, Rob here. A close read of Genesis 1-3 reveals so much of what we need to know about the human condition and how we relate to God. One of the most startling scenes is this one in chapter … Continue reading →

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