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The contemporary equivalents to the “altar with an inscription” (Acts 17.23) and “some of your own poets” (Acts 17.28) has always been a fascination to me. The Apostle Paul was flexible enough to commence his preaching from ‘texts’ in his culture — and then he was creative enough to move from there to Jesus.…
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I often dream of travelling back in time. I love history and think it would be so cool to pop in, here and there. However, right now, sitting in Auckland’s strictest lockdown yet, it is memories, not dreams, that fill my imagination. I’ve been reflecting on the great privilege of my working life — spending…
READ MORELyrics for Living has been more about resuscitating hymns — oldies, but goodies — than it has been about providing further exposure to contemporary songs. However, as my French teacher used to say, “always expect an exception”… and that exception has arrived: Phil Wickham’s Hymn of Heaven. Let’s start by having another listen to…
READ MOREWinter. Spring. Summer. Autumn. I do enjoy the beauty in each season. Whether it be these familiar four, or tropical twosomes like Wet and Dry, Hot and Less-Hot — there is always beauty to be discerned in each season. Yes, it is even true with those Hot and the Dry climates. Over the years I’ve…
READ MOREI’ve never really been a podcast person — until I was introduced to The Rest is History by my friend, Mark. Barby and I no longer drive those long distances, but when we did, I would download a few episodes and we would partake — from the signature tune, to the sparkling rapport between the hosts…
READ MORELast week I had the privilege of opening the Word of God at a pastors’ conference (link here). A room with an (early morning) view — MICamp, Waitetoko, Lake Taupō With the sad and shameful stories that have grabbed headlines and hurt people, I tried to address the topic of character-driven leadership. Learning to lead…
READ MOREIt is 500 days (exactly) since we left Bangalore, with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. What a week that was, back in March 2020. After five months without any international travel for Langham (my longest period out of the skies), I had five complex trips planned in the following three months — and I…
READ MOREThe hijack of the word ‘evangelical’ by a bunch of right-wing political fundamentalists, largely in the USA, is one of the sadnesses of our times. That evangelicals, authentic evangelicals, could be identified with a person with a character and legacy like Donald Trump is scarcely imaginable. And yes, I hear them say, all with one…
READ MOREMy first brush with Ernest Shackleton did not end happily. I was on one of those long, lonely trips — and feeling so inadequate as a leader. With me to read, I had Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer. But I felt battered by it. It made things worse. I don’t do heroic…
READ MOREBack in February, at the end of a post in which I engaged with Alan Kreider’s The Patient Ferment of the Early Church (link) I invited people — anyone, anywhere — into a conversation. With our life in the mission of God as the context, I wanted to consider whether it is enough to target being relevant,…
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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.