How did you come to Christ?
Various ‘Scripture’ teachers taught me over the years in my local public school. In Year 6, a wonderful lady named Mrs Round explained to me the great truth that Jesus’ death on the cross means that I can have complete forgiveness and an assurance of a relationship with God forever. At that point, I put my life in the hands of Jesus.
How do you occupy your time?
Sitting in cafés with my lovely wife Bronwyn (she changed her name from Leonie), and playing with my three young kids is a great joy. I’m a minister at St Michael’s Anglican Church, Wollongong, Australia, where I have the privilege of praying and sharing God’s word with people from all walks of life.
Could you tell us a bit about your background and your other interests?
I love jazz and science. I worked for a few years as an engineer, helping researchers make solar panels. I heard the other day on a science show podcast that one of my old research ‘bosses’ at my solar energy company is now the richest man in China through income from his solar panel company! I wonder if he remembers me …
What are you reading now?
Two books: a medieval murder mystery called Monk’s Hood and Con Campbell’s groundbreaking little book Verbal Aspect, the Indicative Mood, and Narrative (for those Greek Geeks out there).
What are five books that really helped you grow as a Christian?
- Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by JI Packer
- Knowing God by JI Packer
- You, Me and Jesus by Cliff Richard (through which my mum, then my dad, became Christians a few years after me!)
- Guidance and the Voice of God by Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne
- And recently, Donald Robinson’s Selected Works.
What are three books you’d recommend as ‘must reads’ now?
- Guidance and the Voice of God by Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne
- Knowing God by JI Packer
- According to Plan by Graeme Goldsworthy.
What (would your friends say) are your hobby horses?
The awesome scope of the Book of Isaiah, and the importance of the correct punctuation of the words ‘its’ and ‘it’s’.
What is something that makes you angry?
Men who abuse women.
Who is someone who inspires you?
Donald Robinson, former New Testament lecturer at Moore Theological College (and, more recently, Archbishop of Sydney).
What is your ideal day off?
A long bike ride up the New South Wales coastline on a sunny day, followed by a coffee with my wife and reading the paper.
Give us your top five musicians.
- JS Bach
- Miles Davis
- Herbie Hancock
- John Scofield
- Ben Pakula.
Wow – Ben is in exalted company : -)
If you’ve heard Ben play, you’d agree! : -)
I am amazed who Mozart, Handel, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Purcell, Stravinsky, Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, Angela Hewitt, John Williams [both of them] et al were beaten by!