thinking honestly about life and faith
Mahatma Gandhi once described seven dangers to human virtue: 1. Wealth without work 2. Pleasure without conscience 3. Knowledge without character 4. Business without ethics 5. Science without humanity 6. Religion without sacrifice 7. Politics without principle As we reflect … Read More »
This weekend I began teaching my class on Lives of Faith. It’s one of the most interesting topics in all the things I’ve taught. The unit is based on the methodology of James McClendon who wrote a book Biography as Theology, … Read More »
It’s just too easy to use the word ‘community’ without much idea of what it really means. Bonhoeffer wrote about it with the title Life Together. Perhaps we also need to re-order the words, to say together-life. I read this … Read More »
Some time ago I saw this helpful post on Facebook from Sue Fitzmaurice, about ‘unsuccessful strategies’ in life: and it’s fundamentally so right. Of course, the fact is that many of these ‘strategies’ can be helpful and appropriate, at times, or to … Read More »
There’s a brilliant, ancient poem called ‘A Celtic Rune of Hospitality’. The basic idea is profoundly challenging. It suggests that when we offer hospitality, food and shelter to a stranger, it just might be that we are serving Christ himself. … Read More »
What do we mean by confidence? Here’s a reflection I wrote on this last year: I listened today to a radio discussion about confidence, including about how parents can encourage children to be confident and what experiences might strengthen, or … Read More »
As Australian people await the outcome of the judicial processes in Indonesia and the likely execution of convicted drug dealers, the question arises as the fundamental basis of our views of human life. What right has anyone to take another … Read More »
As we launch into a new year of study, teaching and growth in community—and in this season of Lent, when it is time to take stock, to name some regrets and to be deeply conscious of how God forgives and … Read More »
I’m really enjoying Randall Balmer’s biography of Jimmy Carter, Redeemer. This semester I am going to be teaching a course on biographies and I’m halfway through this new one about the life of a truly impressive person. I say impressive not … Read More »
This week I am noting 5 years since my surgery for cancer. I am so grateful to be alive and for the wonderful gift of health I enjoy. Health is not just a physical state. More than anything, it’s a … Read More »