Gilbert Keith (G. K.) Chesterton, renowned Christian author and theologian, was born in London on 29 May 1874. His younger brother, Cecil, arrived 5 years later. At Cecil’s birth, the precocious Gilbert reportedly announced, “Now I shall always have an audience.” If Gilbert was hoping for a quietly passive younger brother, he was to be shocked. As soon as Cecil could speak, he refused to merely listen to Gilbert. He insisted on debate. And as the boys grew up together, they disagreed about everything.  Read More...

As is not unusual, our political scene is a bit messy at the moment. The big talking point is the Kim Dotcom-John Banks donation scandal. The situation has emerged because allegedly John Banks asked Dotcom to split a $50,000 donation into two $25,000 donations and then declared them anonymously when he should have named the donor. So now there is a he-said, she-said type of situation with Banks denying wrongdoing and knowledge, and the wolves gathering to prove he did. It sounds a little messier today with John Banks having lobbied Maurice Williamson over Dotcom’s proposed purchase of his Coatesville home. Read More...

What is going on in NZ Local Councils? First, according to reports, the Christchurch Council award CEO Tony Maryatt a $68,000 pay rise (14%) taking his annual income to just over half a million dollars per year. While he turned it down, the damage was done with a strong reaction from the people including recent protests. Now we have the Kapiti Council giving an 18% pay rise of $44,000 to CEO Pat Dougherty. This is setting off a similar strong reaction from the people of Kapiti. After the pay rise, this took Dougherty’s salary to a tidy 285,000, nice! Mind you, if I were Pat I might be querying why I don’t get as much as Tony? Poor Pat?  Read More...

So the election is over, the nation has spoken, National, with the help of a few friends, have another three years. As Christians who believe that governments are called by God and his servant (whether they realise it or not), we can accept this decision of the people knowing that God is in sovereign control.  Read More...

What a difficult choice we face as we go to the polls later this week. There are really pressing issues facing New Zealand and the world – the global economic problem, the disparity between rich and poor, ongoing social issues, the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake, and more. What a job it is to be a politician in these times!  Read More...