christian mind
Here are ten reasons why you should have a garage sale in order to raise money to buy this book for every Christian young adult you know. Timothy Keller, The Reason for God; Belief in an Age of Skepticism (Dutton, 2008). Keller is pastor of a church in Manhattan. One over-indulgent (!) Keller fan has…
READ MOREWith the surge and surgical strike of these previous posts there is something else on my mind. I continue to be alarmed at how often I hear people having a ‘faith-crisis’ or moving into a ‘post’ space of some kind where the faith-stuff they once held close no longer holds much significance for them. It…
READ MOREWhen the Americans went into Iraq the first time they left the English language with a phrase – “surgical strike”. In this second invasion new significance seems to have been poured into the word “surge”. Well this past week I escaped to an iconic Kiwi bach (cottage) for a writing ‘surge’. Sleeping and writing was…
READ MOREI note that this morning’s list of ‘Today’s Most Viewed’ news stories on the http://stuff.co.nz/ website goes like this: 1. George Clooney held at gunpoint2. Shakira ‘sex tape’ an April Fool’s Day hoax3. Family claims largest ever Lotto prize4. Croc Hunter hid pain and suffering, father says5. Comedian convicted on drink-drive charge6. Professor calls for…
READ MOREThis week I had a friend ask my opinion on home-schooling. His little family is reaching that stage where a decision needs to be made. Knowing that Barby and I had chosen to public-school, he wanted to hear some reasons for doing so. The arguments can go on forever. I realise that. Our view is…
READ MOREThe deepest divisions among the people of God in our nation have nothing to do with denominations. They have nothing to do with political loyalties. No – the deepest divisions cut through the life of individuals. Take the time to listen to Christians talk. I do this all the time. Let me tell you what…
READ MOREI grew up with Robin Hood. My Dad is a big fan of the 1938 movie version starring Errol Flynn. We watched it as kids. The storyline has grafted into my heritage. Then there was the 1991 version with Kevin Costner as Robin Hood. And now … on Monday nights the phone gets ignored and…
READ MOREMaybe someone can help me with one of the great mysteries of church life in NZ for me. Why is it that within the ‘protestant’ scene (particularly the Baptist one, for me) the word “Calvin” seems to be a dirtier ‘C’ word than the word “Catholic”? On which side of the Reformation did we actually…
READ MOREI’ve just entered a new chapter in my life. I have started teaching ‘spirituality’ in our BAppTheol curriculum at Carey Baptist College. It’s going to take me a few years to feel confident with the material – but, hey, you gotta start somewhere! On the first day we did an exercise where students put 30…
READ MORERecently I visited the Blue Penguin Colony in Oamaru. Having been ushered through the Visitor Centre 50 of us gathered in a little grandstand to wait and to watch – and to listen to an expert tell us about the blue penguin. She knew her stuff! She described what the blue penguin looked like and…
READ MOREAbout 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.