Articles, thoughts, essays, and content from Brian as well as students – our budding theologians.
When Faith Turns Ugly… An interview
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that my next book When Faith Turns Ugly: Toxic Faith and How to Avoid It (Paternoster, 2016) is due out in a few weeks. As with several of my other books, each chapter finishes with an interview which tries to earth some of what the chapter has been speaking about. I think each interview greatly enhances the book, and as you read this interview with Deborah Hurn, you will probably understand why. Her experience is poignant and raises more than a few unsettling questions. I am grateful to...
read moreReflections on being made in the Image of God…
In addition to my role as principal at Vose Seminary, I serve as pastor at large for the Carey group, and this Sunday I preached the treble there (twice at Harrisdale, once at Forrestdale). We are working on a series from Genesis, and my task was to explore how Gen 1:26-31 and 2:19-25 help us to understand what it means to be made in the image of God. Here are the notes I preached from… One of the most basic questions we ask ourselves in life is ‘who am I?’ When we are children, we try to get a sense of what group we belong to…...
read moreManaging Monday… with Karl Barth
We continue our Managing Monday insights with more quotes from the person usually rated as the greatest theologian of the 20th century, Karl Barth (1886-1968). “When we are at our wits end for an answer then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer. But how can he give us an answer when we are still well supplied with all sorts of answers of our own?” Karl Barth “In the church of Jesus Christ there can and should be no non-theologians.” Karl Barth “The theologian who labours without joy is not a theologian at all....
read moreColliding Truths: Living with Paradox
Back in 2006 I published an article Colliding Truths: Embracing Paradox in Ministry in the British journal Ministry Today. Ten years later, I think that most of the points remain relevant, so here, with just a few minor changes and updates, is that essay. While the focus is on how pastors deal with colliding truths and paradox, I think that the relevance is far wider than for those who are pastors, and am sure that with just a little imagination you will be able to transfer the insights to your setting. I can still remember him saying it. It...
read moreWhen Faith Turns Ugly… A new book
My next book, When Faith Turns Ugly: Understanding Toxic Faith and How to Avoid It, is due out in a few weeks. Rather than write about it and tell you why I think it is important, I will let the preface speak for itself. Hopefully it will whet your appetite for more (and the book is available for pre-order from Koorong and Authentic Media). Here is a taster from the preface… It was an unexpected encounter at an art gallery and it left me unsettled and concerned. Rosemary and I had been admiring the entries for the Mandorla Art Award,...
read moreManaging Monday… with Karl Barth
Ask who the greatest theologian of the 20th century was, and the consensus is likely to settle on Karl Barth (1886-1968). Over the next few weeks we ponder a few significant Barth quotes. Here are three to help manage this Monday… “Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way.” Karl Barth “God has not revealed himself in any religion, including Christianity. He has revealed Himself in his Son. In Jesus Christ, God has spoken for himself, and we must hear...
read moreIs grey the new green?
On my flight back from New Zealand I got to watch The Intern. To be honest it is largely forgettable, but in my opinion it did have one memorable line – ‘grey is the new green’ – that in explanation of the companies decision to employ elderly interns as a gesture of social responsibility and as a way of recycling former abilities. What do you think? Is grey the new green? It is becoming an issue in the political landscape. A few radio talkback programmes this week explored the question of the employability of seniors,...
read moreKa Mua, Ka Muri – Walking backwards into the future
I am back in Perth after a wonderful week catching up with friends from our New Zealand days and lecturing at Auckland’s Laidlaw College. We attended the Good Friday service at Mt Roskill Baptist Church where I once was pastor, and the recently arrived Senior Pastor of the church Ed Karlsen reminded us of the Maori proverb, Ka mua, Ka muri – we walk into the future backwards. There are many thought provoking Maori proverbs and sentiments – the one I find most meaningful probably being that we are guardians (kiatiaki) of the earth which we...
read moreQuotes for Easter Monday
Some quotes to ponder this Easter Monday… Let all that I am wait patiently before God, for my hope is in Him – Psalm 62:5 (NLT) The resurrection of Christ is the most important article of our faith, and without it the hope of eternal life is extinguished – John Calvin One who has hope lives differently – Pope Benedict XVI The practice of resurrection is an intentional, deliberate decision to believe and participate in resurrection life, life out of death, life that trumps death, life that is the last word, Jesus life...
read moreA post for Good Friday…
Not the day for lengthy ponderous thoughts… just a day to wonder at the depth of God’s love – demonstrated and proved so dramatically at Calvary. Why not read the biblical accounts of the crucifixion, and then perhaps add to them the words of this once greatly loved but now not so often sung hymn, When I survey the Wonderous Cross (Isaac Watts, 1707) When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,...
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