The Chuck Colson Interview
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
Rethink Your Thinking on Suffering
We take pills to ease it, hold prayer meetings to heal it, develop strategies to avoid it and do research to remedy it. We may even doubt the existence of God because of it. But there is one aspect of pain that us moderns rarely consider: That suffering could be part of God's purpose for
An Easter Parable
Imagine for a moment that you’re a member of an organised crime ring with connections to corrupt city authorities. Imagine that you discover someone who knows your gang’s every deed—every scheme, every secret, every deal, all the money trails. One night you decide to round him up. He has to be silenced.
The Meaning of Life? Here’s a 5th Option
What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of *my* life? In Part 1 of thise series I outlined four popular answers to the question, as seen in our films, books and stories. Here I offer a fifth option. Because, it is my conviction that God gives our lives meaning in at least
The Meaning of Life? 4 Options in 4 Video Clips
Each month around 550,000 of us search the phrase 'meaning of life' on Google. And we're not all looking for the Monty Python film. Does my life have any meaning? we ask. Our culture offers four main answers to the question, as reflected in our books, stories and films.
The Rowan Williams vs Richard Dawkins Debate
On February 23, 2012 Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and atheist biologist Richard Dawkins debated the origin of life and humanity at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre. Here is the full video with some personal reflections and suggestions for further reading and viewing.
Our Little Submissions
Cameron Semmens is an Australian performance poet. When he asked me to contribute a chapter for his new book I heartily agreed. 'I'd like you to address the theme of submission,' he said. As it turned out, the topic was timely for me. Here is the chapter in full, including his poignant accompanying poem about
The TD Jakes Interview
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
A New Earth. A New You
Can changing your name change your life? Yes and no. The Christian vision offers something even deeper: a new earth and a new you with a new name thrown in too. Episode 7 in the Unseen Footprints article and podcast series.
God, Altruism and Natural Disasters
Why risk one’s life for a stranger? Why show kindness to another? What motivates human compassion, sacrifice and love? Richard Dawkins suggest 'selfishness'. I suggest 'God'. Queensland's catastophic floods in January 2011 revealed the best in humanity and showed us something of the divine. As rescuers, neighbours and even victims engaged in costly acts of