Towards Understanding

Clayton chatted with author, critic and lecturer, Richard King, who talked about his newest book, 'Here Be Monsters: Is Technology Reducing Our Humanity?'. He spoke deeply about the fact that we are in the midst of a technological revolution and is this, therefore, changing what it means to be human? Richard challenged us, as modern societies, that we need to develop a more critical attitude to new and emerging technologies. We need, he suggests, to rethink our relationship to our tools from both individual and societal perspectives. It is not enough to let the market decide which technologies are good for us. We need to ask what we want from technology. And the question of what we want is a question about who we are.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip Yancey is a familiar name in Christian households. Known for his many books, Philip spoke openly and honestly to Clayton about his recent diagnosis of Parkinsons Disease and how he still trusts a good and loving God who often chooses to reveal those qualities through his followers on earth. He has written many words on suffering and is now being called to put them into practice.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David is passionate about the rescue and long-term wellbeing of children. In January 2010 David and his wife Andrea, along with their children, moved to Thailand where David served with ZOE for over 11 years.  During this time David worked to prevent the trafficking and exploitation of children (as well as being involved in rescues). David now heads up the ZOE Foundation Australia and has some radical, creative and unique solutions to solve the issues for the most vulnerable foster care children in Australia.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A collective of faith-based organisations have joined together to create the Christian Foster Care Network, and to bring the issue of foster care into focus during that week. Heather Packett's organisation, ARK is a part of this network. Heather shares why you should be involved in Foster Care - and the support Ark is providing to carers. For videos and resources for churches to use to highlight foster care and have a website dedicated to Foster Care Sunday check out www.fostercaresunday.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Father's Day, Clayton spoke to Wayne Alcorn, the author of "My Father's Son", and head of the ACC church in Australia. Wayne explained he has seen God's love heal and transform men’s lives – his father’s, his own and the countless men across Australia he has talked to and helped heal.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Syrstad is the creator, director, and executive producer of Testament, a bold reimagining of the Book of Acts set in an alternate modern world still ruled by the Roman Empire. While training as an actor at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, he discovered a calling for storytelling behind the camera and creating one of the more spectacularly dynamic visual telling of a book of the Bible.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rush Witt, Author of ‘Want to Escape’ is a pastor and counsellor who has some encouraging things to talk to Clayton about how to battle the desire to 'escape' during life.  As you listen, you may find yourself reflecting on the 4 D's that you might escape to and how to combat them.  Oh, and yes, Clayton asks if Rush is his real name!!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Ogilvie is Professor of Language and Lexicography at the University of Oxford. Her latest book is ‘The Dictionary People: the unsung heroes who created the Oxford English Dictionary’. The creation not only was remarkably universal in its work - but has long lasting impact on our language and culture today!  Sarah, as a lexicographer, has been an editor at the Oxford English Dictionary and was Chief Editor of Oxford Dictionaries in Australia. As a technologist she has worked in Silicon Valley at Lab 126, Amazon's innovation lab, where she was part of the team that developed the Kindle.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melissa chatted to Clayton about the documentary about her life - Return to Palau. After her whole family was tragically murdered, Melissa returned to Palau many years later and miraculously met with her family's killer, and her abductor, who left her for dead in a ravine.  The impact on both Melissa's life and the entire population of Palau is truly amazing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Ming Wang, a Chinese immigrant who defies all odds to become a world-renowned eye surgeon in the United States joins Clayton to talk about the so called 'Cultural Revolution' in the 1960's & 70's that destroyed Dr Wang's childhood education. He shares about his journey to America, his development of ground breaking eye technology that he gifted to the world (now worth $5billion). And shares how his Christian faith guides his life, but also his work as one of, if not the, leading eye surgeon in the world. Dr Wang's story is told in the recently released movie, Sight.

“I am overwhelmed that a movie is being made about my life. Living through the many dramatic events that I experienced, I never expected them to be told to the world, especially in such a poignant way. I hope this movie might pave the way to inspire more untold stories to be heard and to inspire others to persevere and follow their dreams,” said Dr. Ming Wang.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.