New blog

Yes, I know there's been very little published on this blog over the last couple of years. But this serves to formally notify my faithful readers (both of them) that any future content will be found here.

On being a student

Some advice to his colleagues on what to read from Lesslie Newbigin (Church of South India Bishop from 1947 to 1974):

1. Always try to have one big book on which you are working. It may have to be read a few pages at a time over many months. You may have to read each page several times. But just as the physical needs of the body cannot be met by a continuous series of snacks, so your mental and spiritual needs cannot be met by a continual series of little devotional books, sermons and booklets.
2. Try to read original works rather than summaries and digests. Read the people who were really struggling to say something fresh, even if you finally disagree. You will learn far more by doing so than by reading the second-hand opinions of those who came after.
3. Always keep some Bible work going. Try to take one book of the Bible and work through it with commentaries slowly and thoroughly.
4. Keep on always reading something which is not theology. Salt needs to be in the food and theology needs to be in contact with the secular. Have some secular interests of your own which you keep up and develop. Your theology will be kept fresh if you do so.

(The Good Shepherd - meditations on Christian ministry in today's world)