Category Archives: I like this quote!

The pastor as leader

8 Mar

Just a few snippets from some recent thinking about the pastor as leader. Recently a friend shared these thoughts he had found in his journal from some years ago. He had written down these lines from an article in Leadership … Read More »

Theological Compost (2) Biographies give life

16 Nov

One of the big influences in my teaching and my theological work has been a passion for life stories, biographies. Jim McClendon’s Biography as Theology has been an inspiration. I’ve found lots of people respond most to life stories as … Read More »

Where do I belong?

21 Sep

I was asked to write a short piece on the subject of belonging, and turned again to a book I have enjoyed for a few years, but never quite gotten around to writing about: it’s George Stroup’s Before God(Eerdmans, 2004) … Read More »

Theology for the people

22 Aug

I am now into the second volume of Hans Küng’s memoirs, Disputed Truth. In the first chapter there are two sections I’d like to mention, as they indicate his approach to theology and something I share. It’s the conviction that … Read More »

A Broad Place, Again

3 Jun

Months ago I promised more on Jürgen Moltmann's autobiography A Broad Place. (Fortress Press, 2009). It is such a good book. I am hoping and praying to come again to that broad place of which he speaks. The image is … Read More »

Beyond Religion (1)

15 Apr

I've been reading a lot in the critique of religion which has been given fresh oxygen lately. It's not really anything new. In fact, in work I am currently writing, I'd like to argue that the critique of religion lies … Read More »

God and Humour

29 Jun

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 »

Pentecost preparation

26 May

Next Sunday is Pentecost. I have a sermon to preach, at an Ecumenical Service. More of that in a later post.I love Pentecost. I love the creativity and dynamic sense of the Spirit with us. One of the rich resources … Read More »

Prayer of Ignatius

21 May

Millions of Christians know a prayer written by Ignatius of Loyola (16th century): I like it very much: but only if we get the sense of it right. Otherwise, it could bring us down!