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In the C S Lewis classic (Screwtape Letters), senior devil whispers to his apprentice: “one of our greatest allies at present is the church itself”. Screwtape is aghast that Wormwood’s patient has become a Christian, but he encourages his junior devil by saying that the church is in such a mess that “it matters very […]

From Edinburgh to Lusaka: could there be a sharper cultural shift? I moved from one sister church in the mother country to another in central Africa. I entered Zambia to be greeted with the warm embrace of a close friend. The Presbyterians in Zambia (referred to as CCAP, Zambia Synod) consider the Presbyterian Church of

Jesus asked: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12). Your Moderator-General has been doing the family thing … visiting the relatives. And, for a

Burying my aunt – the senior member of the Wilson clan – focussed my mind sharply. Our family met last week in a medieval Cotswolds church, and these words rang out clearly: ‘in sure and certain hope of the resurrection from the dead’. As we laid my aunt to rest alongside her long-deceased husband, and

I love our political process and I love the freedom we have in Australia to engage in it. There are many places in the world where old men cling to power without regard to the people. By comparison, Australia’s democratic governance is transparent, consultative and accountable. Mind you, it’s not always easy to understand what’s

I engage in the strangest pursuits. On tour through Germany last year, in the old-town section of Worms, I counted roof-tiles, wondering how many I could see. Back in 1521, Martin Luther was on his way to Worms to be tried by the Emperor and the Catholic bishops. Luther had been called to answer for

“One faith, one Lord, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4). My diary entry for 27 August … Words cannot adequately describe the exquisite experience of worshipping God with PCA’s partner church in central Africa – alongside beautiful, warm-hearted, faithful Malawian Christians at CCAP Mawira (on

I live in Sydney, a beautiful city, what a pleasure to show friends from overseas around the harbour, the beaches and the mountains. And yet, like all believers, my home is the eternal city which is above. The writer of the Hebrews reminds his readers “For here we do not have an enduring city, but