Former Nixon aid, prisoner reformer, and evangelical statesman Charles Colson has died. Gaoled in relation to the Watergate scandal of 1974, Chuck went on to found Prison Fellowship and become an astute thinker on the Christian worldview. In this interview, one of the last conducted with him, Chuck and I discuss his part in the Watergate affair, the emotional events leading to his discovery of faith, and how the Christian worldview makes sense of life. More…
Marilynne Robinson doesn’t believe in sequels and never uses an idea she knows the origin of. She waited a staggering 24 years to release her second novel. If you love her books or want to learn how to write, this interview with the Pulitzer Prize-winning wordsmith is a must-listen.
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What comes to mind when you think of the word ‘celibacy’? Monks, nuns, robes and rosary beads? The forced lifestyle of the ‘dateless’ or a relic of yesteryear morality? According to author Christine Colon, celibacy isn’t just about sex and singleness isn’t a life stage to be endured until the real thing (marriage) comes along.
TD Jakes’ first church had 10 members. Today his Potter’s House Church in Dallas, Texas sees over 30,000 attend its services each week. Jakes has been praised for his service to the poor, the imprisoned, the drug addicted and abused, but critics worry about his mansions and tailored suits, and whether his beliefs put him at odds with historic Christianity. In this interview he responds to those criticisms. More…
The collapse of the energy giant Enron in 2001 was one of the most spectacular in corporate history. Sherron Watkins was the employee who blew the whistle on Enron’s ‘creative’ accounting practices and corporate fraud. As you’ll hear in this interview, it was a gutsy stand that cost Sherron greatly, but one which came with unexpected benefits. More…
I’m often asked to name a favourite radio interview I’ve done and this 2001 conversation is always on the list. Adrian Plass is a British writer, speaker, poet and humorist. In this interview we talk about finding the funny side of life and church and, in his usual way, Adrian answers my questions with hilarious stories before delivering some profound lessons on life, faith and God. More…
Friends, I may not have been fully up-front with you. Yes, I’m moving to the UK. But the real reason why is this: the end of the world is coming. It’s coming soon and I’m hoping Britain fairs better than Australia! According to US radio preacher Harold Camping, the final Judgement begins on May 21 and doomsday is scheduled for October 21. In this Open House interview, theologian Ross Clifford and I explore the claims. More…
Sadly and tragically, David Wilkerson, founder of New York’s Times Square Church and the worldwide drug rehabilitation movement Teen Challenge, has died in a car crash in East Texas. I never had the opportunity of interviewing Wilkerson personally. I have, however, spoken to the man who felt his sacrifice the most – Nicky Cruz. In this interview you’ll hear how a young, scared David Wilkerson walked into Nicky’s life, and the single sentence David spoke that changed it forever. More…
William ‘Paul’ Young’s book The Shack has been a publishing phenomenon. Originally written for his kids, the book went viral and has since sold millions. Its tale of Mack losing his daughter Missy and meeting God to discover an answer to suffering has been hailed by many as life-changing. The book has also caused much debate. I spoke to Paul about the personal story behind The Shack on Open House in 2008 and put the criticisms to him. It was a fascinating discussion. More…
In part 2 of my extended interview with The Shack author William ‘Paul’ Young, Paul shares the personal story behind the book, including some details not published elsewhere: his childhood abuse, his later addictions, his drive to please people and God to find affection, and the event on January 4 1994 that turned his life upside down. More…