http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.pb.org.nz en-us Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:41:18 +1300 Rocketspark http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/161776/giving-up-for-others/ Often during Lent people talk about giving something up or perhaps even fasting (going without food) as they head towards Easter. The idea is that the sense of loss we feel by going without something, reminds us of the cost Jesus faced at Easter. Sacrifice isn’t normally part of our Western thinking, we are much more used to getting more and more, not less and less. This sacrifice that we do isn’t about trying to impress God or earn brownie points with God, instead we do it our of gratefulne... Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:04:31 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post161776 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/161228/learning-to-lament/ How do we respond when life turns sour and it seems as though God has left us at the very moment we most desperately need him? Sometimes we get angry, sometimes we sulk, sometimes we just give up. The people of God experienced wilderness events, times when it all seemed to have gone wrong. Psalm 13 is a Psalm of Lament and asks the question “Where are you God? How long will I have to suffer? Here’s how it goes.For the choir director: A psalm of David. O LORD, how long will you forget me? For... Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:53:57 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post161228 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/160588/mountain-tops/ A mountaintop experience is Christian jargon for a moment in time when a person encounters God in a particularly life-changing way and profound way.  It refers to a story told in the Gospels when Jesus took Peter, John and James to the top of Mt Tabor to pray. While there something happens, Jesus is transformed and two figures, Moses and Elijah appear. And then to cap it all off, God speaks proclaiming Jesus to be the Son of God.The disciples, understandably, were overwhelmed by what they h... Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:47:38 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post160588 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/160172/buyers-remorse/ This is the expression that covers the feeling we have when we regret a purchase or commitment we’ve made – often an expensive one. I always get it when I replace my car – Did I get a good deal? Did I pay too much? Is it mechanically sound? Why does it make that strange noise?Sometimes we regret voting for the party we voted for at the election. If I’d known they were going to do that, I wouldn’t have voted for them.It seems Jesus didn’t have a lot of time for people who suffered buy... Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:01:43 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post160172 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/159804/love-others/ One day a religious expert tried to test Jesus with some questions, one of which was ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The expert was looking for an out, a way to choose who they would care for. In response Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan and in doing so gave us a model of who and how we should care. Anyone who shows care and compassion to those in need is the good neighbour. And it almost always requires something of us – time, energy, resources. In other words, loving others requires us ... Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:31:11 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post159804 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/158178/advent-four--love/ This week we saw both hate and love displayed. The hate came in the form of two men who used their hate to gun down innocent children, women and men. It was a despicable act for which there is no justification. The love was shown by a shopkeeper, Ahmed al Ahmed, who tackled one of the gunmen and stopped him from firing at great risk to his own life. He was shot multiple times. People are calling him a hero. Jesus once saidThis is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. ... Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:57:26 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post158178 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/157891/advent-3--joy/ Not too long to go now for all those who find the ‘waiting’ for Christmas so hard.  I know my grandkids are keen for the big day to arrive. For them there is the excitement of presents, both the giving and receiving they are looking forward to. Even with the best of intention the story about a baby, fades to the background. And I wonder about us as adults. How easily do we get sidetracked with all the glitter and excitement and the story of the baby born to save the world, gets lost fro... Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:48:06 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post157891 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/157192/carols/ Come and join us as we celebrate the Christmas story with carols, fun and laughter.  All welcome.Sunday 14 December from 4pm... Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post157192 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/157287/advent-two--peace/ Almost 2000 years ago some shepherds heard angels singing and proclaiming, ‘good news’. The Messiah was born and this Prince of Peace, as the prophets called, had come to gift peace to all. Peace with ourselves, peace with others and peace with God. I wonder what it might mean for us to lay down our arms, our battles, our enmity and instead allow the peace of Christ to bring us together. This Christmas may you be the one who offers peace to those who desperately need to hear it.Got questions... Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:19:15 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post157287 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/post/156611/advent-one--hope/ This coming Sunday marks the beginning of the church year. Advent is about waiting and watching, something most of us are not very good at. For hundreds of years the people of God had waited, hoping for the birth of the promised Messiah. It was a long wait and over time some people began to wonder if it as ever going to happen.  Maybe God had given up on them, maybe it was just a pipedream. Until one night a messenger from God appears to a young woman and said the time had finally come – ... Wed, 26 Nov 2025 09:11:13 +1300 http://www.pb.org.nz/blog/#post156611