With this blog, I don’t focus that often on personal stuff about myself. It is more about gathering ideas and resources that I don’t want to lose and filing them under a set of labels where I can find them easily. But when I do become more personal they tend to be topics that soften me – because I am a bit of a sook. So here goes my final list, roughly in order of the millilitres of tears expended in their writing and reflection.
12th man dmin: the journey
Trying to exorcise the DMin was a long and painful journey. More perspiration, than inspiration – mingling with the sweat were a few tears as well.
#11 unforgettables from the nougthies
Making memories is a glue that holds families together. Remembering memories is one of the best ways to remain in a molten state. Here are one decade’s most memorable.
#10 pilgrimage
The way God has led the family in which I grew up – and now what he has asked of us within our own family – is to keep the focus on pilgrimage, with all its upsides and downsides.
#9 those unlike ourselves
A basic principle of living life well crystallised for me in the training of preachers. It is increasingly important. The compassion which flowed by engaging these two images will not be forgotten easily.
#8 a mother’s poem, a mother’s prayer, and a mother’s plea
This poetry has come to me through my mother, my grandmother and my daughter – and it is a largely sad little triumvirate that has greatly enriched my life.
#8 christchurch comfort
In listening to Sri Lankan pastors, in the land of the tsunami, pour out their hearts in prayer for my people most evenings – and then in reading Isaiah 40-60 early every morning – God drew near.
#7 mk musing
The experiences of the ‘missionary kid’ creates plenty of emotion. I am no exception. For example, as a child, those separations from parents were tough – but I’d not trade the life in for anything.
#6 pakistani scandals and the messiah over syria
Emotion is never far away when I draw near to the peoples of the world and listen to their stories. It happened both in moving among the people of Pakistan and in flying over the people of Syria.
#5 fifty not out
It will be a day in which I luxuriate for the rest of my life. Although I neglected to invite my own brothers (something I regret so much), the day opened up just as it did in my dreams.
#4 turning eighty (dad) and turning eighty (mum)
My parents are very dear to me. These were my tributes to them on their eightieth birthdays.
#3 subdued by obedience
My life is not my own. It is given over to serving Jesus my Lord in His mission in the world wherever he chooses – but that is not always an easy choice to make.
#2 path of blessing
Parents cannot guarantee how the kids will turn out. It doesn’t work like that. Who hasn’t wept over this one? But goodness, deary me – there is still a lot that can be done and prayed over…
#1 remembering dad with song
I miss my Dad. I just do. Nothing has helped me more with my grief than listening to him sing these simple, powerful hymns – particularly one night in the company of faithful and patient friends.
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…