Ever noticed how in our younger student years we gravitate towards the issues and debates which surround 1 Corinthians? They really heat us up as we identify in various ways with the grocery-like list of church-problems which these pages contain…
Then after life is lived for awhile, the ups and downs of ministry experienced, 2 Corinthians comes into focus as a close companion with understanding and empathy for the situations we face as we live for Jesus in this world.
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…
I find myself gravitating to 2 Cor 4 vs 7-9 – especially at this time of the year – it is timely to recognise that apart from God we can do nothing – we need to be malleable in the potter's hands -poem below
2 Corinthians 4 vs. 7-9 We Have This Treasure in Earthen Vessels
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels
That the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us
At times we struggle with life, with its ups and downs we wrestle
We get wrapped up in the stress of every day life, over it we fuss
In the midst of this we need to turn to Jesus and in him nestle
It’s not for us to do things in our own strength, to God second guess
We need to allow God to shape us, to us be the mortar, him the pestle
Open so God may mold and shape us, our lives be in God and not of us
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed
But not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed
For in these things God can build our character, of this I am convinced
That as we open ourselves to him, his Spirit in our lives can be employed
Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, of his love he will us remind
For he to us gives good gifts, and a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
Mark Maffey, August 2007
(NKJV)