thinking honestly about life and faith
A tsunami is a sudden tide of water: but with that tide of water there came so much more. Literally, rubbish of every imaginable kind, including plants, coral, smashed up buildings, furniture, people's belongings, and the contents of the sewerage … Read More »
Samoa is a beautiful place. It has been called 'paradise' because it and its people are so beautiful. But for us, death and destruction came to paradise. How can this be?
It's been one hell of a year. Here, in brief, is the story of what happened when we went for a holiday in Samoa. I want to write a series of reflections on this experience, but here first of all … Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »