Host Andrew Urquhart welcomes Dr Nathan McClellan from the Venn Foundation to discuss his new booklet "How to Vote Responsibly" ahead of the general election. Dr McClellan, an economist and theologian, wrote the guide for Christians - especially younger ones - who feel no party fully matches their values and are tempted to disengage from voting altogether.




Dr McClellan argues Christians should stop seeking a "perfect" party and instead vote for the common good, weighing policies, character and competence rather than self-interest alone. He encourages prayer, becoming informed, and having civil conversations with those across the political spectrum, warning against treating political opponents as enemies rather than fellow citizens with differing views




The booklet "How to .."  is available for purchase

([www.venn.org.nz](https://www.venn.org.nz)).



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Host Andrew Urquhart welcomes Dr Nathan McClellan from the Venn Foundation to discuss his new booklet "How to Vote Responsibly" ahead of the general election. Dr McClellan, an economist and theologian, wrote the guide for Christians - especially younger ones - who feel no party fully matches their values and are tempted to disengage from voting altogether. Dr McClellan argues Christians should stop seeking a "perfect" party and instead vote for the common good, weighing policies, character and competence rather than self-interest alone. He encourages prayer, becoming informed, and having civil conversations with those across the political spectrum, warning against treating political opponents as enemies rather than fellow citizens with differing views The booklet "How to .."&nbsp;&nbsp;is available for purchase([www.venn.org.nz](https://www.venn.org.nz)). Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Here you can catch up on all of the latest interviews from Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart.

Here you can catch up on all of the latest interviews from Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart.

Thoughts & Comments Interviews

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments Podcast

Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience, chatting with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments

How To Vote Responsibly

Professor Chris Holmes of Otago University's Theology Department joins Andrew Urquhart to mark the launch of Thoughts and Comments as a live TV simulcast, discussing the true nature and purpose of Christian preaching. He defines preaching as encountering the living Word of God through Scripture by the power of the Spirit, arguing it is far more than rhetoric or public speaking technique.



Professor Holmes warns against recycled or AI-generated sermons, insisting preachers must freshly and prayerfully engage each text for the specific congregation before them, drawing on the whole counsel of Scripture rather than comfortable favourites. He laments that preaching is becoming a "dying art", with many pastors padding sermons with attention-grabbing gimmicks out of a lack of confidence in the text itself, arguing congregations are more capable of sustained, thoughtful engagement than preachers often give them credit for.



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Professor Chris Holmes of Otago University's Theology Department joins Andrew Urquhart to mark the launch of Thoughts and Comments as a live TV simulcast, discussing the true nature and purpose of Christian preaching. He defines preaching as encountering the living Word of God through Scripture by the power of the Spirit, arguing it is far more than rhetoric or public speaking technique. Professor Holmes warns against recycled or AI-generated sermons, insisting preachers must freshly and prayerfully engage each text for the specific congregation before them, drawing on the whole counsel of Scripture rather than comfortable favourites. He laments that preaching is becoming a "dying art", with many pastors padding sermons with attention-grabbing gimmicks out of a lack of confidence in the text itself, arguing congregations are more capable of sustained, thoughtful engagement than preachers often give them credit for. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Preaching: A Dying Art In A Distracted Age?

Andrew Urquhart is joined by John Peachy from Think Farm to discuss whether New Zealand's public servants, unlike elected politicians, are held to account for poor decisions and misuse of taxpayer money. They contrast the New Zealand system, where senior civil servants often remain in place regardless of which government is elected, with the American model, where leadership changes wholesale alongside a new administration.



Peachy argues this creates a risk of "ideological capture," where officials pursue their own agendas rather than faithfully carrying out the policies of the elected government, citing Fire and Emergency New Zealand's referral to the Serious Fraud Office and the tragic case of a 12-year-old girl who died in Oranga Tamariki's care as examples of failures in character and accountability. He warns that while gaps in competence can be forgiven, gaps in character and a lack of genuine accountability cannot, and calls for public service leaders to face real consequences, including resignation or dismissal, when outcomes fail New Zealanders (thinkfarm.org).



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Andrew Urquhart is joined by John Peachy from Think Farm to discuss whether New Zealand's public servants, unlike elected politicians, are held to account for poor decisions and misuse of taxpayer money. They contrast the New Zealand system, where senior civil servants often remain in place regardless of which government is elected, with the American model, where leadership changes wholesale alongside a new administration. Peachy argues this creates a risk of "ideological capture," where officials pursue their own agendas rather than faithfully carrying out the policies of the elected government, citing Fire and Emergency New Zealand's referral to the Serious Fraud Office and the tragic case of a 12-year-old girl who died in Oranga Tamariki's care as examples of failures in character and accountability. He warns that while gaps in competence can be forgiven, gaps in character and a lack of genuine accountability cannot, and calls for public service leaders to face real consequences, including resignation or dismissal, when outcomes fail New Zealanders (thinkfarm.org). Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Civil Servants: Who's Really Running the Country?

Andrew Urquhart hears from Anna Hanyadi of Barnabas Aid about the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti, where gang control of much of the capital, political instability and repeated natural disasters have left over six million people needing aid and up to 250,000 children facing acute malnutrition.




The pair detail brutal violence against Christians and aid workers, including church massacres and kidnappings, and explain how Barnabas Aid partners with locals like civil engineer Bruce Robinson to deliver durable, sustainable solutions - proper buildings, irrigation and wells - rather than short-term relief, aiming to restore dignity as much as meet physical need. They point listeners to upcoming "Encourage" events across New Zealand in October featuring a Pakistan-based project coordinator, and invite support through prayer or donation ([www.barnabasaid.org](https://www.barnabasaid.org)).



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Andrew Urquhart hears from Anna Hanyadi of Barnabas Aid about the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti, where gang control of much of the capital, political instability and repeated natural disasters have left over six million people needing aid and up to 250,000 children facing acute malnutrition. The pair detail brutal violence against Christians and aid workers, including church massacres and kidnappings, and explain how Barnabas Aid partners with locals like civil engineer Bruce Robinson to deliver durable, sustainable solutions - proper buildings, irrigation and wells - rather than short-term relief, aiming to restore dignity as much as meet physical need. They point listeners to upcoming "Encourage" events across New Zealand in October featuring a Pakistan-based project coordinator, and invite support through prayer or donation ([www.barnabasaid.org](https://www.barnabasaid.org)). Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

How To Vote Responsibly

Thoughts & Comments Interviews

In 1 playlist(s)

Thoughts & Comments

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips