Luke’s purpose

12 Feb

This is the year of Luke. In addition to the daily readings set down by the Lectionary, I  have decided to follow a simple program of reading each chapter and recording my own immediate reflections upon it. It’s not in … Read More »

Getting into a storm

8 Feb

It’s been a long time since I posted, but now is a new year and I am ‘back on deck’: a phrase relevant to this post! This week I have been part of our annual Candidates’ Retreat, which is a … Read More »

A Secure Identity

8 Dec

Today I heard on the news that the new ‘secure’ form of passport, in which a tiny computer chip containing many things about one’s personal identity is placed within the document itself, has been breached. A computer hacker in the … Read More »

Going to church in Fiji

15 Oct

I promised to tell some more about the holiday in Fiji.It’s almost three weeks ago, and so quickly the benefit of a holiday is overtaken by busyness.This is a worry! But I do want to reflect on the experience of … Read More »

A change of skies

27 Sep

I haven’t written for a while. Mostly, just too busy. But in fact big things are on the agenda for me.This last ten days, I have been on leave. With my wife Merilyn and our daughter Felicity, I went to … Read More »

On the margins

18 Jun

Letty Russell’s book Church in the Round is one of the most valuable sources for thinking about what it means to be church today.Her basic image is that of a round table—a table where there is no priority, no place … Read More »

The Poor you have with you always

11 May

This week the Australian government announced its annual budget. With much fanfare, they have announced a spending spree. The government coffers are sloshing with money, and so there’s an income tax cut for everyone: for about 90% of workers, it  … Read More »

Doing the truth

3 May

Simon Moyle has pressed me to say more about what it means to be people of the truth, in the face of a culture of lies.I guess more than anything I am thinking of a prophetic life-style, as the most … Read More »

A culture of lies: commitment to truth

30 Apr

This post is about truth, in the context of a culture of lies. This last week has seen the most stunning revelation —if that is the right word—of deception in our public life.It goes on and on. In Australia, there … Read More »

Pastors are theologians

28 Apr

This week I have had several occasions to relate to local church pastors who are also seeking to do theological studies.It troubles me that for so many there has been something like Lessing’s ‘deep ugly ditch’ between ministry and theology.Constantly … Read More »