Keller on Theological Training

Theologically train lay people for public life and vocation

• In 'Christendom' you can afford to train people just in prayer, Bible study, evangelism--private world skills--because they are not facing radically non-Christian values in their public life--where they work, in their neighborhood, etc.

• In a 'missional' church, the laity needs theological education to 'think Christianly' about everything and work with Christian distinctiveness. They need to know: a) what cultural practices are common grace and to be embraced, b) what practices are antithetical to the gospel and must be rejected, c) what practices can be adapted/revised.

• In a 'missional' situation, lay people renewing and transforming the culture through distinctively Christian vocations must be lifted up as real 'kingdom work' and ministry along with the traditional ministry of the Word.

• Finally, Christians will have to use the gospel to demonstrate true, Biblical love and 'tolerance' in "the public square" toward those with whom we deeply differ. This tolerance should equal or exceed that which opposing views show toward Christians. The charge of intolerance is perhaps the main 'defeater' of the gospel in the non-Christian west.

The teacher and the simple mosque

The Rusila Mosque and madrasa (religious school) in Terengganu is not an “architecturally” designed building, as it simply grew from its original timber structure to a four-storey building.
The building’s ground floor is the main prayer space with ablution facilities, the madrasa, and a library running along one side. The first floor is a series of classrooms arranged around a central open space that is used as an “overflow” space for prayers. The second and third floors are dormitories for students.

The building exudes a quiet strength because of the way in which it is sited and because of its landscaping. The mosque has virtually no fence and just one gateway separating the building from the main roadway. It is surrounded closely on three sides by houses with hardly any demarcation.

As for “landscaping”, it consists mainly of sand thrown up by the South China Sea that is a mere 60m or so from the mosque. On Fridays, the space around the mosque is filled with a huge market that stops an hour before the commencement of prayers.

If there was ever a mosque that could be termed a “work house” for community development rather than a symbolic monument, it is this one. Other mosques hundreds of times more expensive than this one could never boast such a social contribution.

Abdul Hadi’s political idea of Islam has always been demonstrably true to the traditions of early Islam. Trained as a religious scholar, he ventured into PAS with the intention of creating, through education, a generation of Muslims who would not live separate secular and religious lives.

This focus ensured the Rusila Mosque remained in its unpretentious form that merely offers shelter for educational activities.

The ease with which one can enter the mosque and gain an audience with its founder is in line with the humble spirit of the Prophet in his own mosque. The building’s stark simplicity testifies to the idea that Islam abhors all kinds of wastefulness, even in the building of mosques – especially in the building of mosques.

The architecture of the Rusila Mosque is merely a backdrop to the important work of building a new generation. One certainly can’t say the builders of this mosque tried to manufacture an identity since its unplanned growth is its identity.

Thus, the Rusila Mosque demonstrates that, as a building, it is nothing more than a tool to be used for the purpose of national development without much care for a manufactured identity of Islam.

The Star

Te Mata Peak

Te Mata Peak, Hawke's Bay

Is God a Delusion?

Chastity

La Boheme

Arguably the most popular of all operas, La Bohème is much more than just another tragic love story. It's a timeless celebration of youthful rites of passage, the proletarian struggle against poverty and the artist's quest for integrity.

A group of bohemians live life to the full in Paris, despite the winter chill and limited funds. Into their circle comes the enchanting seamstress Mimì. Romance flowers, but the effect of poverty and hardship on these young lives is ever present. From the poignant moment when Mimi's light goes out in Rodolfo's garret, the characters strive to keep the flame burning. In Puccini's tour de force, audiences get the whole package - the tortured relationships, the resonant roles made memorable by the likes of Melba and Caruso, Gheorghiu and Pavarotti, and the famous arias. This new New Zealand production offers an exciting young cast. New Zealand audiences get their first taste of the Opera Australia star Antoinette Halloran as Mimì. Another Australian, Tiffany Speight, returns to New Zealand after her acclaimed performance in The Magic Flute in 2006. And the new glamour boy of international tenors, Jesus Garcia, plays Rodolfo.

Directing this production is Patrick Nolan, noted for his work in film, theatre and opera across the Tasman. Conductor Emmanuel Joel-Hornak made his mark here in 2006, during The NBR New Zealand Opera's Faust.

At The Name of Jesus

At the name of Jesus
Every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess him
King of glory now:
'Tis the Father's pleasure
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.

At his voice creation
Sprang at once to sight,
All the angels faces
All the hosts of light,
Thrones and Dominations,
Stars upon their way,
All the heavenly orders,
In their great array.

Humbled for a season,
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners
Unto whom he came,
Faithfully he bore it
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious,
When from death he passed:

Bore it up triumphant
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father's breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.

Name him, brothers, name him,
With love as strong as death,
But with awe and wonder
And with bated breath:
He is God the Saviour,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshipped,
Trusted, and adored.

In your hearts enthrone him;
There let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true:
Crown him as your captain
In temptation's hour;
Let his will enfold you
In its light and power.

Brothers, this Lord Jesus
Shall return again,
With his Father's glory,
With his angel train;
For all wreaths of empire
Meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess him
King of glory now.

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