You are visitor number to
this page since 26 April 1998.
An essayist is a lucky person who has found a way to discourse without being
interrupted.
- Charles Poore
Published works are indicated by the name of the journal and date of publication.
Note that the monthly Shaker became the bimonthly Today's Christian in May 1988, and this combined with the Reaper to form Reality in 1994. I hold the copyright on these pieces, and anyone wishing to reproduce them should contact me in the first instance.
My heartfelt thanks to the editor of these publications, Chris Benge, who has given me help and encouragement far beyond the call of duty since I began writing for him as a naive 19-year-old. He was also gracious enough to provide soft copies of my early articles, which I had written on a manual typewriter, when I caught up with technology in 1991. (Hence, these early pieces will be as published, while later ones, taken from my own soft copies, may differ slightly from the published versions.)
Symposium was my own occasional, now defunct self-published zine, with substantial input from other members of Think-Link, a network of Christian thinkers in New Zealand.
Some of my theological opinions will be more or less offensive to some charismatics (I've even been accused, I think unjustly, of "charismatic-bashing"), so I've done a self-rating system to warn you. Where there is no rating this issue is to be presumed irrelevant.
This works as follows:
0: Churches that believe (and teach) that charismatics are of the devil
1: John MacArthur (who may believe it but doesn't quite teach it)
2: Dallas Theological Seminary
3: Michael Griffiths
4: Billy Graham or Chuck Colson maybe
5: Michael Green's I Believe in the Holy Spirit
6: A pre-Toronto charismatic Anglican
7: A pre-Toronto charismatic anything else
8: John Wimber
9: Toronto Vineyard
10: Would get you chucked out of the Toronto Vineyard for being too charismatic.
A two-part consideration of Bill Subritzky's ministry and other similar ministries, comparing them to ancient occult practices.
In fairness to Bill, here's a link to his site. You'll notice that it is much more visually exciting than mine, but nothing like as well punctuated - which tells you something about the differences in our approaches. :-)
CSR: 1.5-2.
A comparison of extreme charismatic practices for 'discovering the will of God' with occult divination. CSR: 1.5.
An article which traces a young man's journey from fanatical pray-er through disillusioned non-pray-er back to a new and deeper understanding of prayer.
A practical aid to prayer and meditation, used in a number of religious traditions. I've put my own spin on them (there's a surprise).
See also Christian Thought.
(I now disown the opinions expressed in this article regarding 'calling'; see the article 'Responsible Christianity: An Outline'.) CSR: 7.
Has the church overdone its emphasis on the family - to the point that singles are marginalised and the truly central aspects of the Gospel are compromised?
See also the singles site which I co-administer with Fern Horst.
Reflections on unity in the church.
The basic functions of a church, as set out in Acts 2:42-47 teaching, fellowship, prayer, social action, worship and evangelism. (See also 'For the Sake of Compassion'.) CSR: 5.
Examines the differences between the 'theological Church', the 'practical Church' and the 'institutional Church' and the implications of this for our participation in church life.
Which of these are we striving for as we seek 'revival' in the Church?
Rather than the imitation of Christ, what about the imitation of Paul - a self-confessed weak and sinful man? (See also 'The Imperfect Apostle' for a balance to this article.)
How to respond appropriately to emotions.
A how-to emphasising attitude and theological truth.
Based on Jonah chapters 3 and 4, an exploration of how these two things can coexist in one individual.
The foolishness of imports without exports and pyramids built point downwards in human relationships.
Did Paul break down under the stress of his ministry?
The way you do things may not be the only godly way.
Based on work by Edward de Bono, Stephen R. Covey, Roger Fisher and William Ury, and D. Gareth Jones.
How we make up our minds and keep them unchanged. CSR: 3.
The philosophical and moral importance of decisionmaking, and its political and educational implications.
The difference between two philosophical/theological positions or personal commitment positions.
Based on Jonah chapters 3 and 4, an exploration of how these two things can coexist in one individual.
A discussion of what heaven and hell are really like.
Questions whether 'power evangelism' and 'church growth' miss the point of Jesus' miracles. CSR: 2.5.
Reflections based on the book of Hebrews.
The difference between two philosophical/theological positions or personal commitment positions.
Is the Bible myth or fact? Is this even a meaningful (or important) question?
Attempts to steer away from an 'overspiritualised' Christianity to something which makes sense to rational believers and unbelievers - with members of Think-Link vigorously at work to keep it from becoming too rationalistic. Parts of these articles were also adapted for 'A Bigger Ghetto or a Brighter Bride?'. CSR: from 2 to 6 depending on who's writing.
Mainly to do with the intellectual refit needed by Christians in order to prepare for encounters with secular ideas and their proponents. CSR: 3.
A debunking of the idea that 'discernment' should be produced by the same means as the claims to 'revelation' or divine authority which it judges. CSR: 2.
See also Prayer and Other Contacts with God.
A necessarily sketchy look at, and Think-Link discussion of, the concepts of Reliability, Revelation, Inspiration, Infallibility, Authority, Sufficiency, Canon and Interpretation.
Why should Christians be involved in creative writing?
[http://default/8392/footer.html]