There’s been a fair bit of back and forth on the web about Ross Douthat’s Bad Religion: How we became a nation of heretics. Tim Keller gives some detailed interaction with the book here and here. Although the book is obviously American in its orientation it does seem to make significant points about the decline of Christianity in the broader Western or Western-influenced culture. Discussion on its applicability to South African Christianity would be interesting.
The passing of Chuck Colson has been all over a bunch of different sites. There have been some amazing testimonies and tributes to what clearly appears to having been an amazing life. There have also been some fairly poor postmortem assessments of his life. I thought this one from the Daily Maverick was particularly bad. I’ll be honest, I’ve been rather disappointed by the unbalanced stream of reporting on religion or faith-based issues that has come from the Daily Maverick recently.
Neil Powell has a great summary of a talk that Tim Keller recently gave on the 5 things that keep his ministry strong. A very good reminder.
I enjoyed these thoughts by Daniel Kirk on how abstinence is being (wrongly) pitched in contemporary evangelicalism.
Here’s something you probably didn’t know: According to the Global World Cities Ranking, Cape Town is the 16th (level with 5 other cities) most prominent city in the world where English is the Lingua Franca (English is not necessarily the most widely spoken language in each of these cases but it is the language on which each [...]
This is something exciting that I’ll be involved in next week… VOX Intensive: One of our key identities at VOX City Church is that of ‘learner’. We aim to be a community that is constantly coming before God and his word and attempting to learn how we might better serve him in our city. In [...]
“This City Visual Art Exhibition” puts on display the works of a number of artists from a wide range of disciplines. The title doesn’t so much refer to a particular subject or topic but rather headlines a collective of artists who have been gathered for this short, eclectic show – artists, who may not normally [...]
More on joy. Some quotes, old and new on the grand theme of joy (emphasis mine): “Joy, in the full Christian sense of the word, is a supreme contentment, a supreme peace, a supreme concentration on the source of joy, and a supreme happiness at the way things are for one.” – JI Packer “The [...]
1. We don’t understand the depth of our sin. 2. We don’t understand the breadth of God’s love. 3. We don’t understand the cost of Christ’s death in our place. 4. We only understand intellectually, not at a heart level. 5. We don’t nurture our affections for Christ through spiritual disciplines. 6. We don’t understand [...]
I spend most weekday mornings in the inner city of Cape Town. It’s probably my single most favourite place in South Africa, maybe the world. Where else can you experience the buzz and excitement of a vibrant city and at the same time be at the foot of a majestic mountain? I spend a lot [...]
In the build up to Christmas I thought I’d have a go at two sermons on the doctrine of the incarnation. In the first sermon I explored a little bit of just exactly what the incarnation is and why its so important, in the second sermon I looked at how the incarnation completely changes the [...]
And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die [...]
I drove through Ravensmead on the way to work a few mornings ago. It’s not my usual route but I had an early morning airport run and so the chance to drive through parts of the city that I normally don’t. You often hear people talk about places where there’s a church on every corner. [...]
The really great people at Redeemer City to City have just launched their new website which gives interested people a comprehensive view of what City to City does around the world. There are loads of great resources from Tim Keller, City to City staff members and other church planters. The site also has great videos [...]
Just a quick shout-out for my friend and colleague Lenny Long (follow him on twitter) who is taking a small bunch of people off and planting The Vine Church in the Burgundy Estate area of Cape Town. They have two main informal gatherings at the moment on Sunday morning 10am and then on Wednesday evenings [...]
On Friday Robin and I head off to Johannesburg and Durban for two weeks. The first purpose of our trip is to get a bit of rest time in. Church planting is busy work and its been full steam ahead since the beginning of the year. The second purpose is to continue raising the profile [...]
Here’s something you probably didn’t know: According to the Global World Cities Ranking, Cape Town is the 16th (level with 5 other cities) most prominent city in the world where English is the Lingua Franca (English is not necessarily the most widely spoken language in each of these cases but it is the language on which each [...]
A church planter based in Cape Town. Husband to Robin and father of Genevieve. I am captivated by the hope of the gospel and I constantly dream about seeing it at work in my city. Dream with me.
