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A recent post revisited this vexed area of what we sing as part of our worship of God. I tried to make a case for re-introducing some hymns into the playlist of the contemporary church. Outside of a well-worn 3 or 4 (Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Great is Thy Faithfulness…) – we do…
READ MOREIn the search for truth, that pursuit of a certain and perfect knowledge of what is really real, I like the way DA Carson uses the image of an asymptote. IF the x-axis measures the passage of time and the y-axis measures how far our understanding is removed from the reality of the thing itself,…
READ MORENike has done it again. Another great advertisement (and far better than the Tiger Woods one at the time of the Master’s last month!)… But I suffer from a compulsive behaviour disorder. I love reading cultural texts theologicially. When I do so four observations surface. the indispensable word Amidst the staccato imagery and the throbbing…
READ MOREWhile I am one step removed from Kiwi pastors in my new job, I still enter into many a conversation with them. Unfortunately a common thread in these conversations still continues on from year to year. It is the sad state of ‘worship’ – as expressed, primarily, in our Sunday services in those minutes not…
READ MOREIn today’s climate when a book is endorsed by both Keller and Kimball, Driscoll and Bell you do tend to take a second look. In my case I decided to read it. Jim Belcher, Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional (IVP, 2009). As always seems to be the case nowadays, the subtitle…
READ MOREIf you have a spare $20 and an extra 2 hours to go with it I have a great idea on how to use that cash and time. Buy and read Tim Keller’s little book, The Prodigal God. I read it on a return flight to Wellington last week. It has been around for a…
READ MOREToday is ANZAC Day in New Zealand. It is when we remember those who have died in wars – with a particular focus on Gallipoli (Turkey) in World War 1. My mother’s Uncle Edgar is one of those who died in Gallipoli. Today I heard my mum read a poem written by Edgar’s mother Maria…
READ MOREI am so loving this new picture of my son Stephen. I just had to post it with a few comments… Stephen finished his BA/LLB(Hons) and immediately headed off to Uganda to work as a Volunteer with the Refugee Law Project at Makerere University in Kampala. It will be twelve months in a couple of…
READ MOREYou know a book has got under your skin when you go on thinking about it weeks after you finished reading it. Usually novels do this. That Poisonwood Bible … or, that Life of Pi … or, the other week – The Children of Men. Ugh! But this time it isn’t a novel. It is…
READ MOREIn the week that Steve Price retired (from rugby league) and Tiger Woods returned (to golf) … [and the week in which a bride/groom gave me a Black Caps jersey with “P-Dub” written on the back – how cool is that? – thanks so much Jess/Chris – I slept in it last night] … I…
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.