February 18, 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent lecture addressing the relationship of Islam to public law ‘touched several raw nerves in our culture’, commented the popular evangelical Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, at the London School of Economics last Thursday. When that happens at the dentist, he suggested, we know it’s going to be painful but we […]
February 11, 2008
A miracle is unfolding in Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light district, following the prayers and actions of many in recent years. Supported by two-thirds of the city’s inhabitants and all but two of his city council, Mayor Job Cohen is driving through a bold plan to replace brothel windows and sex-bars with fashionable stores, galleries, cafes, […]
February 4, 2008
Thirty-four years ago today, I left the shores of my homeland for the first time. I suddenly recalled this personal benchmark during a special lunch today with family and friends back in New Zealand, to celebrate my mother’s 85th birthday. As we shared happy memories around the table, honouring my mother Shirley for her spritely […]
January 28, 2008
In the last of three short articles, YWAM’s International Director of Urban Missions, Tim Svoboda, challenges the mission’s leadership to strategize for effective urban outreach. His challenge can be adapted by other missions and denominations. Tim led the YWAM urban work in Chennai, India, where he pioneered city-wide networks and diverse ministries. He recently received […]
January 21, 2008
Here is the second of three short articles by Tim Svoboda, YWAM’s International Director of Urban Missions. This comes to you as Romkje and I are travelling to New Zealand, returning to Europe early March. Tim led the YWAM urban work in Chennai, India, where he pioneered city-wide networks and diverse ministries. He recently received […]
January 14, 2008
Over the next three weeks, I will be sending on to you short articles from Tim Svoboda, YWAM’s International Director of Urban Missions. For two reasons: one, Romkje and I leave this weekend for New Zealand to be with family there, returning early March, and this saves me extra work! More strategically, what Tim has […]
January 7, 2008
‘Hope’ seems to be bubbling up all over Europe this year as a theme for national strategies, city-wide evangelism and inspirational events. Young evangelical leaders in Poland, for example, are spearheading an initiative they pray will gain momentum across denominations under the banner, Realna Nadzieja (Real Hope). Their vision embraces the whole Christian community across […]
December 3, 2007
Sometimes I think the Pope must be reading my mail! Recently I suggested in an editorial for HOPE magazine that a good companion volume to Benedict’s book, Without Roots, would be Without Hope. The first book portrayed a Europe that had forgotten the source of her values. The second, I proposed, could describe a Europe […]
November 26, 2007
When Liviu Mocan went to renew his driver’s license sometime after 9/11, the city official behind the desk began to panic. For the sculptor’s swarthy complexion and grey-flecked bushy beard gave him a remarkable resemblance to the world’s most wanted man: Osama bin Laden! Yet this man is a revolutionary of sorts. Through his sculptures, […]
November 19, 2007
“As a climate scientist who has worked on this issue for several decades, first as head of the Met Office, and then as co-chair of scientific assessment for the UN intergovernmental panel on climate change, the impacts of global warming are such that I have no hesitation in describing it as a ‘weapon of mass […]
November 12, 2007
Can Tolerance and Christianity go together? Many outside the church view Christianity as the root cause of much intolerance in Europe, while many believers see tolerance as a mark of our relativistic society! How can those committed to Biblical absolutes condone tolerance? And yet this week, British Christians are being challenged to examine their tolerance […]
November 5, 2007
Last week I had my chance to find out why churches in England have taken seriously the challenge of our spiritual age in ways not yet obvious elsewhere in Europe. A few weeks ago I shared how puzzled I was that churches on the continent seemed to lag far behind their British counterparts when it […]
