culture
With 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 MORETwenty years ago – as a young pastor – I was captured by the writings of Kenneth Bailey on the parables of Jesus. He wrote a book in 1976 that lay dormant for years. I discovered it in the mid-80s (published in the same cover with a second book) and had it by my side…
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 MOREDoes anyone else take exception to the way that whenever there are global statistics related to standard of living in our media, New Zealand seems to be always and only compared with the OECD? [The NZ Herald published a weekload of such articles/rankings earlier this month in a special series]. It might be about house…
READ MOREI have just come from my TV. A few weeks ago I discovered Christian programmes running on four different channels all at the same time. I lingered with each one for awhile. I moved on to the next one. But each time my response was the same – sad, to the point of grief. My…
READ MOREA couple of Sundays ago I received an early morning email from Zambia. I had been there last year speaking at a pastors’ conference alongside a delightful Zambian man called Albert. We (my son Martin was with me) grew close to Albert. We’ve kept in touch … except that in August we received an email…
READ MOREA 2005 song from Chris Martin (Coldplay) contains these lyrics: My song is love Love to the loveless shown And it goes up You don’t have to be alone … My song is love, unknown But I’m on fire for you, clearly… You’re the target I’m aiming at And I’m nothing on my own Got…
READ MOREThe inexplicable has happened – again! Going into their fourth straight World Cup rugby tournament as overwhelming favourites NZ’s All Blacks were yesterday knocked out, this time earlier than ever before. If the inexplicable keeps happening when will it cease to be called inexplicable? My mind goes to the Good to Great book by Jim…
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 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.