One of the toughest verses in the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances.” It is always easy to give thanks when one is the recipient of great news – like the birth of a baby. On the other hand, how does one give thanks after the loss of a loved one or something like the Christchurch or Japanese earthquake? It seems a naive and self-indulgent attitude in the face of the reality of life’s struggles. What is Paul driving at? Is he for real? Read More...

God has a way of disrupting – at least it feels that way from a human perspective! – our lives. Think of Mary and Elizabeth, meeting in a house somewhere in the hill country of Judea, centuries ago. Two women. One very elderly. Married and unexpectedly pregnant. The other very young. Unmarried and unexpectedly pregnant. Read More...

Where is the big map, the overarching story to trust and give us understanding of what is true, beautiful and good? There is no such story, screams the philosophical, cultural and educational orthodoxy of our day. Yet the boy from West Auckland kicked in the ribs by his father, dragged into the lounge and told to "piss off" longs to know a story of love and goodness.  Read More...

Christians should be green because we are made of green stuff, cells and water and oxygen and other by-products of the death of stars. We share kinship with all life and we believe all life is God-breathed. Therefore we must respect all life as coming from God, as participating in God, as being turned towards God.  Read More...

A few days ago I paid my water bill. It was relatively expensive, but I am pleased to have clean, good quality water piped into my home 24/7. I think Watercare do a great job in Auckland. My mind went back to the recent tragic explosion in a water-pipe not far from my home when a Watercare employee lost her life and her colleague was left with a serious disability. My mind also went back to my visit to the West Bank in 2010.  Read More...