Last week, President Obama spoke at the graduation ceremony of Notre Dame university. This was made controversial by the 24 hour media, as they pointed out that Obama is "pro choice" and Notre Dame is Catholic, opposing abortion. I don't want to deal with that particular issue in this blog. But I do want to say that I think the President hit exactly the right note in HOW he dealt with the issue. He did not sweep it under the carpet. He did not step down from his own position. But he did show how we can still talk, even when we don't agree. He showed that there is a way to engage in which we honour all viewpoints, and work towards outcomes that make sense for everyone. You can read a transcript here. And you can watch it on YouTube, starting here. In Part 1 on YouTube, notice how he deals with the hecklers (and notice how none of the students heckled!!). The best bit about faith and love is in Part 3. Read more

It's been a while since I have blogged here at FutureChurch. I have continued to do my business blogging at my Connection Economy website, and continue to Twitter short updates and links to important trends. I hope you follow those thoughts and insights. Last August, I moved my family from Johannesburg to London, UK. This was for work purposes. The problem has been that work I moved disappeared with the credit crunch that started with the 15 September 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers. Many of my clients are in the financial services sector, and have been hugely affected by the recession. They stopped using consultants, stopped having conferences and stopped traveling. I think they're wrong - see an article I wrote about that here. It's been a tough few months. Lots of pounding London's streets, knocking on doors and sending emails. And praying, too. Times are tough here in London, but it seems as if the worst is over for my family. I am most grateful for that! The upside is that in tough times you learn things about yourself, about the world, and about God that can't be learnt any other way. The downside of the last few months is that I have been stripped of time and creative energy. And so this blog has been dormant. It isn't going to spring back to life now either, but hopefully a few drips will start to flow again... Thanks for your patience. And for some of you, thanks for your support, too.

A person I recently connected with quite serendipitously on Facebook sent me this excellent poem. He wrote it in one sitting after a deep conviction about his role as a keynote presenter. But his words have meaning for any preacher, teacher or public speaker. They certainly gave me reason for pause. See the poem at his website here, or read them below: Read more

If you've done any reading on the emerging church, you'll probably know the name Mark Driscoll. He has distanced himself from "Emergent", the voice of emerging church in the USA. But he nevertheless still considers himself as "emerging", although he prefers the label "Reformed Missional" or "Emerging Reformers".

The video can be found at YouTube (click here). Or see below.

I think he is overly critical of the "fourth lane", which he labels the "Emerging Liberals". He is incorrect about Rob Bell, for example, who does NOT say that we can get rid of the virgin birth. It's interesting. Driscoll says in this video below that "they are asking questions that no pastors should be asking". Maybe that's the big difference here. Reformed guys think that some issues should not be discussed, and that all Truth (with a capital T) has already been discovered (i.e. we are not wrong on any major issues right now in the history of the church). Anyone who is open to having conversations about this is labelled a liberal, and is seen as dangerous.

You decide.

But, here, at least is Driscoll's video. I don't buy into his analysis of the "emerging liberals", but it probably fairly represents the concern most people have with the "emerging church". Read more

I am an avid reader the New Scientist magazine. This magazine is obviously pro-evolution, and anti-creationism. Well, that's what you'd think. They actually present very balanced articles on creation and religion, but have very little time for unthinking fundamentalist religion that poo-poos science. Or is just anti-scientific.

I believe that there is a way to harmonise science and religion. I believe that there are great questions that Christians can ask scientists that help us all have excellent conversations about God, creation, eternity and so on. But the way in which many Christians approach science is counter productive, and unhelpful.

Maybe I'll come back to this issue sometime soon and talk about how I think we can harmonise science and religion. For now, for those of you interested in becoming better acquainted with science and creation, you may find the 24 myths and misconceptions about evolution to be very helpful. This is available from the New Scientist website - click here.

At very least, it will help you stop sounding like a moron when you speak to people who have done some work in scientific fields.

The myths and misconceptions deal with include: Read more

I don't agree with the political leanings of The Spectator magazine in the UK, but it certainly contains the finest writing in the English language of any magazine in the world. I read the mag regularly, just to experience excellent English. It also contains the type of opinionated columnists I enjoy. They get you thinking, and they're inteliigent.

In their Christmas edition, there was an excellent analysis of what the official religious institution of England (The Church of England) should do. I need to think this one through in more detail, but I hope it sparks as much thought for you as it did for me.

The original article can be found here, or read it below.

The C of E should follow John Milton’s lead

by Theo Hobson, Friday, 12th December 2008, The Spectator

Milton was a great poet but an even greater theologian, says Theo Hobson. His vision of tolerant Christian liberalism should be our template for the future Read more

The Times (UK) published a thought-provoking article last week, by an avowed atheist who is often critical of organised religion and Christianity. Yet, his thoughts on what is needed in Africa are refreshing and exciting for those of us who believe there is a different way of being and doing Christian in the world today.

This is worth a read. The original is online here.

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset
by Matthew Parris

Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it's Malawi, and The Times Christmas Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work.

It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God. Read more

Greetings to everyone arriving at this blog site for the first time...

This site is run by two guys who have a passion for Christ, His church and making His Kingdom "on earth as it is in heaven". Roger and myself are South Africans, although I now live in London (see more about me at . We are both theologically trained (in different ways), come from strong evangelical backgrounds (which we would both still affirm, although we distance ourselves from some of the evangelical right wing), find excitement and challenge in the so-called "emerging church" stream of Christianity, are NOT in church leadership, and are distressed at the witness of many self proclaimed mouthpieces of the Gospel in the world today.

This blog is a space for us to think aloud (I actually wrote "think allowed" when I was first writing that: nice!). Not everything we post here is fully thought through (although most is). Almost nothing here is "the final word" on the issue. We welcome and encourage and dialogue (although Roger is way better at that than I am). We hardly ever compare notes, we almost never meet up with each other, and we don't necessarily condone what the other guy says. Sometimes we're just a bit random.

Now, many of you might have come here to check out the discussions we've been having about homosexuality. To help you navigate where we are at the moment (November 2008), here is a brief summary. I hope it helps. Read more

I was up way too late last night, watching the American election results circus fuelled by the 24 hour news channels and their really self-absorbed analysis and so-called "technical wizardry". In between flicking through news channels, I flipped across to some of the Christian satellite channels, such as Daystar, TBN and God TV. Most of these were showing live broadcasts tracking the elections.

It struck me that the religious right (fundamentalists and evangelicals in "red states" of the USA) has put their entire might and energy behind McCain (not so much McCain, as behind the Republican party and the conservative agenda). And they have lost. Not just lost - the American people have spoken with a loud voice and delivered a crushing blow to Christians who think the biggest issues in the world are abortion, gay marriage and gun ownership!

Barack Obama's victory speech was masterful last night - it should be studied (and probably will be in the future). He asked towards the end what America - and the world - might look like if his daughters lived to see the next century. He talked of change and the need to do things differently. I hope America is really ready for this, for I fear that the conversative Christian agenda will become ever more militant and shrill.

But today, they are smarting from a crushing victory. Lord, give me strength not to gloat.

Book Launch

Future-proof Your Child by Nikki Bush and Graeme Codrington

Penguin Books is pleased to invite you to the launch of Nikki Bush and Graeme Codrington’s Future-proof Your Child, an essential book for 21st-century parents.

“Stop the world, I want to get off!” is the regular refrain of time-pressured parents today. “Give me an experience and I’ll promise you a relationship,” is the mantra of their children. The world has changed. The future has changed. Childhood is changing. Raising children has never been more challenging – or potentially rewarding.

Here’s a book purpose-built to help you take control.

Proceeds from sales at the event will go to the Play with a Purpose foundation. We’ll see you there!

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday, 29 October 2008
• Time: 7:00 PM for 7:30 PM
• Venue: The Auditorium, Indaba Hotel, William Nicol Drive
  Fourways, Johannesburg | Map
• Refreshments: or add your own
• RSVP: Leanne, leanne.douglas@za.penguingroup.com, 011 327 3550

Book Details

• Future-proof Your Child by Nikki Bush and Graeme Codrington
  Book Homepage
  EAN: 9780143025801
  Find this book with BOOK Finder!