Categories
Quotes

Metrics of Modernist Ministry

Let’s face it, “The dehumanising metrics of modernist ministry” is not the snappiest title for a couple of blog posts. It is unlikely to draw the crowds who are looking for the next big secret for Christian ministry. However, if you don’t read Mark Meynell’s series you will be missing out. In two posts, entitled […]

Categories
Minority Language Translation

How I learned to Sing: A Story

I smiled nervously as the angel shook my by the hand and said “welcome to heaven. Let me show you around”. That first brief tour passed in a bit of a blur, there was far too much to take in, but the angel told me not to worry as I’d have plenty of time to […]

Categories
Observations

A Bit of Poetry

These lines from Gerard Manley Hopkins have been favourites of mine since my teenage years and I thought I’d reproduce them here. There is no great significance other than the fact that they express my sentiments far better than I ever could. What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and of wilderness? Let […]

Categories
Observations

Sound Track of My Life: Part …

I was saddened to learn, today, that Jon Lord, the keyboard player with Deep Purple has died. Heavy Rock isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve always had a great affection for ‘Purple’ since I first heard their Made in Japan album almost forty years ago. (Good grief, I feel old.) Although Deep Purple were […]

Categories
Mission

Mission: Unity and Diversity

The Nicene Creed includes the following line: We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. The wording may be slightly archaic, and some Protestants struggle at the use of the word “catholic”, but this phrase captures an important Biblical principle: there is one Christian Church. Across time and geography, the Christian Church, the bride […]

Categories
Methodology

It Ain’t What You Do, It’s the Way That You Do It

This is an edited version of my monthly letter to Wycliffe Bible Translators’ Staff (with added links and a Bananarama video!) As some of you will know, I’m rather allergic to some of the narrative about speed and progress that sometimes makes its way into discussions about Bible translation. It’s not that I’m allergic to […]

Categories
Observations Politics

The Global Economy Simply Explained

This is a brilliant explanation of some issues in world economics. It takes eight minutes, but it’s worth it. If aren’t interested in economics, just admire the use of a whiteboard.

Categories
Theology

Mission: The Trinity 2

In my last post in this series, I suggested (not for the first time) that the mission of the Church has its roots in the character of the Triune God. In this post I’d just like to take that concept a little bit further. One God in Three Persons. God is one and yet he […]

Categories
Do Not Use

Running Report June 2012

We are half-way through the year and I’m half way through my self-imposed challenge to run 750 miles during the year. The last three months have been rather mixed. I’ve had some weeks where I ran well over twenty miles and then a two-week period in Thailand where I didn’t run at all. During our […]