While I am by no means a Latin expert, there is a Latin phrase I love. Given you’ve seen the title of the post, it won’t come as a surprise that it’s “coram Deo”, which essentially claims that all of life takes place in the sight of God. We live and move and have our […]| Brian Harris
It’s interesting how some Bible verses get emphasised in one era, are then almost forgotten about in the next, before making a bit of a comeback. 1 Cor 6:19-20 fits into this category: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received […] The post Towards a Theology of Personal Development (4): Because the Body is a Temple… appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
I’ve met several people who have said words to the effect of: “I would really like to believe, it’s just that I don’t. And even with the best will in the world, that doesn’t seem likely to change. I have so many questions that seem to annoy those who believe. I find people of faith […] The post Refresh: When Faith is a Quest… appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
As a child I often heard the ditty, “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never harm you.” Much as I loved my childhood, this was an untruth I have had to recognise. Far closer to reality is a sign I saw in military barracks where the Sergeant Major had above his […] The post Towards a Theology of Personal Development (3): 7 Pointers to Shaping Words as Gifts appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
I can never get enough of Eugene Peterson, so this post was always going to make it to the Refresh page. Perhaps you can shape some time to explore how subversive you could be by being unbusy enough to listen to and notice others… Refresh: Unbusy, Subversive, Apocalyptic – Three Big Eugene Peterson Words One […] The post Refresh: Unbusy, Subversive and Apocalyptic – Three Big Eugene Peterson Words… appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
Ever been lost in thought and had someone ask, “A penny for your thoughts”? Ok, realistically anyone under 60 is not likely to express it this way, but they might well ask, “You look lost in thought. What’s on your mind?” It can be a confronting question. After all, our thoughts are private, and even […]| Brian Harris
Dr Brian Harris is the Principal of Vose Seminary and is Pastor at Large for the Carey Group, a church, school and community centre planting movement based in Perth, Australia, where he also chairs the board.| Brian Harris
I recently watched a YouTube talk in which David Brooks discusses his new book How to Know a Person – which explores listening to and seeing others well. It is filled with deep insights, but one especially struck me. Brooks asks if we are essentially illuminators or diminishers in our conversations. Naturally he elaborates. He […]| Brian Harris
It’s a fractious age. Politics has always been divisive, but oh my, that has gone to new levels. Religion has been our second great divide, but even here, the arguments have sharpened and tolerance levels are low. While denominational divides are no longer seen as important, defining the kind of Christian you are is starting […]| Brian Harris
With AI racing away and already impacting our lives more than we likely imagined, today’s Refresh from January 2022 has a fresh pertinency. As I re-read it I thought, “Oh yes, this is genuinely important.” So here is a repeat of some thoughts on blending Amish and the 21st century… Refresh: Blending Amish and the […] The post Refresh: Blending Amish and the 21st Century appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
I’m about to start an ambitious project – mapping out a theology of personal development. Now some may scoff that it’s impossible, and that the focus on us each developing to be the best version of our self is a reflection of Western individualism, and that it has little to do with the world of […] The post Developing a Theology of Personal Development (1): Inner Work First appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
I’ve sat in many postmortems, dissecting meetings or events to learn from what went wrong, and to consider repeating what went right. More recently I have been part of a few pre-mortems, predictive meetings where we answer the question, “if something goes wrong, what is it likely to be, and what should we do now […] The post Refresh: Four Flavours of Regret appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
How do you react when someone gives you some negative feedback? Do you swing into self justification? “Well thank you very much, but actually, this is what you don’t understand…” Or perhaps you go in the opposite direction, taking everything said on board, and then amplifying it, making it far more critical than was ever […]| Brian Harris
As AI gallops forward, many are wondering about the future of work, and there are many unknowns. This Refresh post originally appeared in Aug 2016, and explores the difference between job, career and calling through a biblical lens. I think it remains relevant in the important conversation which is starting to emerge. Refresh: Redeeming Work […] The post Refresh: Redeeming Work – Job, Career or Calling appeared first on Brian Harris.| Brian Harris
The old quip goes, “When all is said and done, far more is said than done.” It’s true. sometimes it works that way in faith as well. We claim huge things… we are set to change the world. But back at the ranch things are a little different. Sometimes faith is more about our aspirations […]| Brian Harris
If you are reading this on the date of its first appearance, 13 July 2025, it’s my birthday. Happy birthday me – all 68 years of me! While 68 is in many ways an annoying age, marking no special milestone (it’s not a zero birthday nor even a “last year in your 60’s” birthday) it […]| Brian Harris
I think it’s Brené Brown who said that “no” is just an invitation to a different conversation. That’s a helpful reminder to dive into opportunity thinking, rather than to assume all is lost when faced with a rejection. But how might this look in practice? There is an intriguing Latin phrase, “numinibus vota exaudita malignis,” […]| Brian Harris
Today’s Refresh post is the other side of last weeks. This time we look at not when to be silent, but when to speak up. It’s an important topic, and was first published on the blog in Nov 2015. Refresh: A Time to Speak – 10 Reasons to Speak Up The last post looked at […]| Brian Harris
I’m not certain where the obscure title of today’s post comes from (it’s often attributed to Jamie Anderson) but I’ve been pondering it ever since I heard it as a throw away comment in the wonderful Three Pines mystery series. “Grief is love with no place to go“. Profound, isn’t it? I think it is […]| Brian Harris
I enjoyed rereading todays refresh post. Number 5, “Silence releases us from the oppressive bondage of always having to have the last word” resonates with me, and I think it has something to say to us during challenging times. It’s a short post. Hope you enjoy it. Refresh: 10 Reasons why Silence is Golden We […]| Brian Harris
I’m part of AVENIR Leadership Institute and was recently in Brisbane helping a client devise their strategic plan for the next 5 years. Their CEO, Matt Vandepeer, started one of our days with a beautiful devotion based on Genesis 2:15, “the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to […]| Brian Harris
Back in 2016 I wrote a post, Adam Raised A Cain, reflecting on the sadness of the Genesis 4:1-16 account where we discover that the worlds first parents raised a murderer, and that the worlds opening story of two brothers is of the one killing the other. It’s not a promising start, and reflects the […]| Brian Harris
