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
It was my very first training seminar with Langham Preaching. April 2009. We were based at the OMF Guest House in Chiangmai, Thailand. As I wandered the property, I came across this striking quotation on one of the walls: So striking, in fact, that I stopped to take its photo! But is it really true?…
Ten years ago, Ode to Georgetown was my response to being surprised by grief when the only church I had ever pastored closed its doors. Last week brought the news that the theological college which I attended, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS), was to close most of its Chicagoland campus. I have been feeling a…
I am neither painter nor poet, musician nor actor. With Art and Music and Drama classes at school, I was present in body—but absent in spirit and skill. However, as a teacher, there has been the occasional flare of creativity in the crafting of assignments. One of my favourites is one of my first ones.…
John Stott was the first one to help me see the tension in Jesus’ teaching on salt and light. They are pictures for how his disciples are to live in society. Salt pulls them in, keeping them involved. Light holds them back, keeping them distinctive. Being light responds to ‘the danger of worldliness’, while being…
We loved this, thanks Paul. And because of my love of all things banjo, I particularly enjoyed singing along to that version over breakfast 🙂
I was introduced to this great hymn way back in the '60s by The Edwin Hawkin Singers. I remember once laying in bed at night with headphones on and singing along to this exuberant rendition… until my mother interrupted with a "what the h—'s going on in here"!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHPPpW6IFn0
It's on my funeral list!
I am glad the banjo could bring a blessing, Liz 🙂
Loved it, Fred.
… and I loved the image of you as a lad, lying with your headphones on, belting out this hymn to the consternation of your mother.
In fact, I am going to add this link to Edwin Hawkins Singers version to the blog itself. Thanks for your help as my Research Assistant.
Paul
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