Articles, thoughts, essays, and content from Brian as well as students – our budding theologians.
Managing Monday with Desmond Tutu – Take 3
Desmond Tutu (1931-), Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, anti-apartheid and human rights activist, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, and chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has consistently championed the cause of the vulnerable, being willing to speak truth to power in a wide range of circumstances. This is our third and final look at some of his insights… Do your little bit of good where you are; it is those little bits of good put all together that overwhelm the world. Desmond Tutu All of our...
read moreManaging Monday with Desmond Tutu – Take 2
Desmond Tutu (1931-), Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, anti-apartheid and human rights activist, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, and chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has consistently championed the cause of the vulnerable, being willing to speak truth to power in a wide range of circumstances. Here is a second look at some of his insights… If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor. Desmond Tutu Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all...
read moreThe noisy table…
Deciding a visit to the UK would not be complete without a meal at the local pub, last night Rosemary and I took advantage of the two for one pricing of the mixed grill, and prepared for a new experience. Downstairs was super busy so we retreated to an upstairs corner. Only four tables were occupied – one with four older people, another with a middle aged couple, a single person at yet another, and then the two of us made up the fourth. We thought it would be ideal – not too noisy, a place for a pleasant conversation debriefing on...
read moreManaging Monday with Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu (1931-), Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, anti-apartheid and human rights activist, winner of the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize, and chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, has consistently championed the cause of the vulnerable, being willing to speak truth to power in a wide range of circumstances. Here are a few of his many notable insights… Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace. Desmond Tutu I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown...
read moreManaging Monday with Alan Paton – Take 2
This is a second look at some of the thoughts of South African author, human rights advocate, Christian thinker, and educator, Alan Paton (1903-1988), who is best know for his book Cry, the Beloved Country. It’s a haunting book on the tragedy of race relations in South Africa, and one which shaped much of my thinking during my late teenage years. I still remember the opening two sentences of the book – perhaps because the countryside remains etched in my memory… There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills....
read moreAbout a Sabbatical and a Flight on a Dreamliner…
At present Rosemary and I are in London, where I am serving as a visiting international scholar at Spurgeon’s College. The picture is of their very impressive stained glass window in the main building of the College with their motto Et teneo, Et teneor (I hold and am held). I am owed more Sabbatical leave than I can take, and the good folk at Vose Seminary, where I serve as principal, said that it really was time that I started taking some of it, so I am here for 12 weeks. I have several goals for the time… Getting to know the...
read moreManaging Monday with Alan Paton
South African author, human rights advocate, Christian thinker, and educator, Alan Paton (1903-1988) is best know for his book Cry, the Beloved Country. It’s a haunting book on the tragedy of race relations in South Africa, and one which shaped much of my thinking during my late teenage years. I still remember the opening two sentences of the book – perhaps because the countryside remains etched in my memory… There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are...
read moreManaging Monday – with quotes for Easter…
Rather than focus on a specific person and their insights, on this Easter Monday I thought it helpful to look at some general quotes for Easter from a range of thinkers… Easter was when Hope in person surprised the whole world by coming forward from the future into the present – N.T.Wright, Surprised by Hope Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song – Pope John Paul II Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime –...
read moreThe birth of hope and death of death…
I always enjoy preaching at my home church, Carey, and this morning got to speak at the Easter service. I spoke on the theme of “Easter as invitation” and this is roughly what I said… Invitations. Have you ever had a discussion with friends about who has had the most impressive invite in your group? I took part in that discussion once and quickly realised I was completely outclassed when two British friends started to argue amongst themselves as to whether his invitation to have dinner with the then British Prime Minister...
read moreLove So Amazing… Good Friday Questions
Here is a reflection for Good Friday from my book, Could this be God? Don’t know if you have ever been face to face with a little child in the three to five year age range who insists on asking “Why?” No matter what answer you give, it is immediately followed by yet another “Why?” I feel a little like that when it comes to Easter. You can’t but scratch your head and ask in amazed bewilderment, “So why did Jesus love me so much that he would die for me?“ No matter how good a theologian you are, it is a question that can’t really be answered....
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