thinking honestly about life and faith
In the past year or two, one could be forgiven for asking, (to paraphrase a gospel text), 'Can any good thing come out of Rugby League?' Sex scandals and all kinds of violent acts, reported with such relish by the … Read More »
Today's Age newspaper had a short editorial piece recognizing Father's Day, but more interestingly with a few good words for the situation of fathers in our all-too-hectic world: I felt encouraged, though not by the last two sentences!
Another death. This is the third week in a row when a friend or relative has died. Two of them women who have died from cancer, too young. It causes me to think a lot, mostly in gratitude but also … Read More »
After months of silence, I am now writing to share a truly extraordinary experience. It has taken me many weeks to process it, emotionally and spiritually. There was some physical effort as well!It has been my privilege to save another … Read More »
It’s some years now since I reviewed Marion Maddox’s study of the influence of religion and religious values on the second Howard government in Australia. (Marion Maddox, For God and Country: Religious Dynamics in Australian Federal Politics, 2001.) Since then … Read More »
Leadership: reaching for the possible future Last year I heard this definition of leadership and it made a lot of sense to me.Leadership is so much more than management. Managing makes things happen, but within the existing frame of expectations. … Read More »
Laughter: it's the best medicine, as the saying goes. In theology, a small number of works have explored the theme of humour and God. Recently I discovered Robert Darden’s book, Jesus Laughed: the redemptive power of humor, (published by Abingdon, … Read More »
One of the superb insights I found in Marilynne Robinson's latest book Home (London: Virago Press, 2008) concerns the character of a life of faith.I mean here to make a basic distinction between the many activities which are called 'faith' … Read More »
I've just finished reading Marilynne Robinson's recent novel simply called Home.(London: Virago Press, 2008)It's a superbly written exploration of the idea of being at home, both in its ordinary, human sense and the deeper spiritual sense indicated by Augustine in … Read More »
I preached a sermon for Pentecost Sunday: Here are some of the key ideas: The scripture text was Acts 2. 1 – 24. Pentecost is decisive for the life and mission of the church, and is in many ways the … Read More »