After 24 years of hanging-out with NZ Baptists I was farewelled as Principal of Carey Baptist College at last week’s Baptist Assembly.
Me ol’ mate Andrew Picard was one who gave a speech using various cricketing jargon to get his point across. A fellow cricket fan, Andrew had even contacted the Black Caps (the NZ cricket team) in Bangladesh and got them all to sign a T-shirt for me and send it back to NZ. GULP?! He then presented it to me on the night… how cool is that? I even have photos to prove it!
These might be the best available images of the Black Caps for the next few weeks as they are about to take on the might of a wounded Australia. Just as well I am over here in rural Ohio for two weeks (speaking at a missions’ conference in my father-in-law’s church) with limited access to news… Still – I reckon they’ll offer a shock or two along the way.
nice chatting
Paul
About Me

the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
Awesome! Very jealous. We’ll probably need Howe to score another couple of 170+ scores to be in with any chance of toppling the mighty canary yellow.
Enjoy Ohio 🙂 We will miss ya tonight at home group!
Hi Paul,
as an avid cricket follower i couldn’t help but comment. 214 all out on day one of the first test! that’s australia by the way. maybe they have been inspired by you : 0
one writes this now knowing that things may not be so good by the end of the day! But that is the nature of NZ Cricket and we must take glory in the small things before they return to normal.
SHannon
Day one to NZ by a country mile. A day and a half of good batting and something amazing could happen… It must be the shirt!
Yes, I only manage to catch updates on the internet intermittently – but I see some of my predicted shocks have already occurred 🙂
The greatest shock of all would be if our batting line-up could chase down 200+ tomorrow. I ain’t holding my breath – but I wouldn’t mind watching it!!!!!
great to hear from you all
a lonely cricket-fan all alone
[although my cell-phone is finally working and so if any of you feel prompted by the Spirit – or a spirit, any spirit, for that matter – to txt me little updates, I will remember you in my will]
well…. NZ is doing well at rugby union and league. Perhaps we’re allowed a cricket slump. after all, none of us are good at everything (except A. Picard),,, 🙂