We are nearing the end of a teaching series in our Sunday, 9:30am Bible Class. This series extended over several months. Here are the key resources we have made use of as we have wrestled with the subject, “Ageing to the Glory of God”. Joe’s full set of teaching notes can be accessed here. Most of these sessions were recorded.… Read more →
Ethics
Primer: AI & The Christian Life
Here are some items/resources for any Christian who is wanting to start thinking carefully about living life in a world with increasing access to and use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools. (Disclaimer: By linking an article or website here, I am in no way giving approval to everything on the linked website or everything written/said by the linked author. The… Read more →
Conversion Practices Prohibition Law Bill – Verbal Submission
At 1:20pm I will give my Verbal Submission to the Select Committee on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Law Bill. Here is what I plan to say. Thank you for giving your time to read my written statement and hear today’s verbal submission regarding the recently proposed “Conversion Practices Prohibition Law Bill”. You will have noticed from my written submission that… Read more →
Vaccine Certificates/Passports and the Church
Sermon: Covid – Romans 14 – Loving One Another When We Disagree General Concerns: Verifiability of data: Up to now when a person in NZ receives their vaccine, no proof of identity is required. The individual administering the vaccine simply asks for the person receiving the vaccine to confirm their name and date of birth (in some cases their address). This is… Read more →
Select Committee Submission: Conversion Practices Prohibition Law Bill
Dear Prime Minister Ardern, Minister Faafoi, and Members of Parliament, Thank you for giving your time to read and consider the following statement with regards to the recently proposed “Conversion Practices Prohibition Law Bill”. I have read the proposed piece of legislation and have grave concerns. Concerns for two fundamental principles of Liberal Democracy: 1. Freedom of Speech and 2.… Read more →
Recent NZ Legislation: Conversion Therapy Ban & Hate Speech
In recent weeks here in New Zealand, we have seen our government propose new legislation along with changes to existing legislation which together present a shift virtually unprecedented in Western Liberal Democracy. Specifically, we are addressing suggested proposals to what is generally referred to as “Hate Speech Laws” (Proposals against the incitement of hatred/hostility) along with new legislation under the… Read more →
Join this Chariot: A Biblical, Exegetical, Theological, Historical Response
On 14 June 2021 InsideOut released a 72 page PDF document titled Join this Chariot: Christian Schools Supporting Rainbow Students’ Wellbeing. (A link to this PDF will not be provided here. It is found quite easily with a simple Google search!) This is a biblical, exegetical, theological, historical response. Let’s start with some definitions. Biblical: This response will aim to… Read more →
A Christian Perspective on Euthanasia
Living in a Land Where Same-Sex Marriage is Legal
Beginning this Sunday in our 9:30am session at church we are continuing our series on ethics as we begin to look at the subject of homosexuality from the Scriptures. I wrote the following series of articles in 2013 when same-sex marriage became legal in New Zealand. I am linking to them here, now as they are applicable for our current… Read more →