Missions Conference highlights a Third Way regarding indigenous missions and new expressions of church.

December 29th marked the culmination of a great international missions conference. Highlights were a Christmas morning resolution, drafted by the Japanese and Chinese delegates and adopted unanimously, and a long series of talks that dealt with, among other issues, the increasing interest of the gospel among Muslims, Muslim secret believers, indigenous churches, relating to other…

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Ninety Mile Beach

We just got back after 6 weeks on the road, driving up to the top of New Zealand’s north island. The highlight for us was Ninety Mile Beach, a deserted wild beach on the West Coast that is actually about ninety kilometers in length.  We drove the whole beach which was exhilarating and memorable. Keep…

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My role in The Hobbit: I was the Fairest of the Elves

The Hobbit premieres tomorrow. My daughter Elizabeth attended a special opening event in Wellington but we are all waiting for the real thing to release. I think most people would agree that my role was pivotal to the success of the movie and, indeed, I was the fairest of the Elves.  But before I tell…

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Hanging with the Brethren Church

We visited my old Brethren church yesterday which is now called Orewa Community Church. I attended the youth group here as a teenager and a few people remembered me. I have been away overseas for 30 years so I thought it would be just POLITE to return and say hi, and thanks. Good Bible teaching, as always.…

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Catholic Worker Community in Hokianga

We are spending a few days up in the north with the Catholic Worker community who are spread over various low-tech farms in the Whirnaki/Opononi area of the Hokianga harbour, a site famous for the entry of Methodist and Catholic missionaries into New Zealand in the 1700’s. Great people. Some of them are fourth generation…

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PassionFest 2013

Passionfest is one of our favourite micro-festivals and there is always a strong emphasis on justice from a Christian perspective. I have been asked to speak at the next one along with Dave Andrews and Alison Robinson. Feb 22-24, 2013. Bring your tent.

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Blog Action Day: The Power of We

Today is Blog Action Day when bloggers from 100+ countries post something on the changing the world. You may remember my earlier posts on the themes of poverty (2008) and water (2010). This year’s theme is “The Power of We”. No urination jokes, thank you very much you Australians, even though I am sure it probably…

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Living Simply in a Complex World

UPDATE: Living Simply in a Complex World – Videos on YouTube are here: Part 1, 2, 3, 4. If you are interested in buying the DVD, please contact the people at www.franciscanthirdorder.godzone.net.nz ORIGINAL POST: Susan Pitchford was in town recently, at the invitation of the Third Order Society of St Francis, and I was asked to video the…

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Pizza Yodero for the Mennonites

25 Mennonites will arrive today and stay for the weekend. Tonight is pizza night so I thought about creating a pizza that will reflect Mennonite influence.  Sparse, strong, thrifty but satisfying in a non-epicurean way. But puhleeezzeeeeeee NO BEANS because that would be just plain WRONG! The leaders of this group are Jim and Kathy…

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Wedding in the family

HUGE family news: Our number one son Samuel, who goes under the identity David Lightning, got engaged to Jenna White this week. We are very very very happy. Jenna spent time with us in Scotland, and travelled with us last year through Hungary and Romania (in red dress below). She is from North Carolina and we…

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Following Francis

UPDATE: First video is up here and others will follow.  ————————- This weekend I will be with the Franciscian Third Order. The main speaker at their convocation is Susan Pitchford from the USA who is the author of Following Francis: The Franciscan Way for Everyone. They have asked me to do the media – video/podcast, etc. I will upload a few…

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Jesus Fresco Messed Up

Hey if you don’t get the joke currently on September’s banner, read the story of the Spanish lady who volunteered to “restore” a fresco of Jesus in a Spanish cathedral. Apparently 30,000 people have turned up to see “Behold the Monkey”. It’s a shame about the fresco, but it turned out to be a potential…

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Mr Mullet found guilty of hair-cutting attack

“The defendants invaded their homes, physically attacked these people and sheared them almost like animals”. Amish Sect Leader Guilty of Crimes, NYTimes I thought this story was a joke but it turns out to be sadly true. New York Times puts it this way . . . “Samuel Mullet Sr., the domineering leader of a…

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Thoughts on that silly video

No I haven’t seen the Innocence of Muslims video and I don’t intend to watch it. The fallout is enough. Here’s some thoughts: – Terry Jones should NOT have promoted or shown the movie. It shows the same lack of judgement that caused him to attempt a Koran burning 2 years ago – something that…

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Cool Projects

Heres a shout out to my creative friends with cool projects worth supporting: – DJ Kenny Mitchell released a new track called Don’t Wait. – Design geek Swiss Miss (hi Tina!) is building a resource base for the Creative Morning movement.  – Steve Lawson released an album called Invenzioni – Charlie Peacock has 9 new songs…

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UK men forgotten how to act like Gentlemen

Email newsletter this morning from Mark Hall, Director of Socked. ———————————————- A recent study by socked.co.uk, the black sock subscription service for discerning gentlemen, highlighted the distant lack of manners in today’s society. 46% of men admitted to spitting in public Only 40% of men held doors open for ladies on a regular basis Only a shameful 4%…

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Back to Bali for Transform World

Today my official acceptance letter for the Transform World Global Challenges Summit came through. It will take place in Bali, November 6-9. Some of my good friends from Lausanne Congress will be there. Should be interesting. Yeah Bali! If you remember, we were in Bali the same time last year, spending time with young Indonesians who…

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Mary’s Son, Isa (Blog a Koran Day)

Sep 11 is Blog a Koran day, a tradition on this blog that I started a few years ago when someone stupidly threatened to burn a copy of the Koran. My post in 2010 was Water For Pilgrims My post in 2011 was Jacob in the Koran Today I want to blog a passage from Koran 19:15-21which…

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