This week we get to learn more about Christopher Ash, author of Discovering the Joy of a Clear Conscience.

• Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what do you do in your spare time, etc.

I was born and brought up in London, England. My mum and dad still live in the house in London where we moved when I was seven. My dad landed with the first wave of Allied troops on D-Day and is still alive (nearly 95). When I was 17 I came to faith in Christ through a friend at school who invited me on a Christian summer houseparty; I am so grateful to the leaders there for their faithful teaching and prayers, and the way they modeled Christlike love.

Carolyn and I married in 1982 and have been entrusted with three sons, a daughter, two daughters-in-law, and two grandsons. We thank God for them all. We used to have a very dim but lovable dog called Perkins (named after the Elizabethan Puritan), but he has now gone to wherever dogs go.

After studying Engineering at University, I worked briefly for a telecoms company before moving into school teaching, where I taught math for twelve years, in Dorset (SW England) and Edinburgh (at the school where James Bond was supposed to have gone, according to the books!). Then I trained for ordained ministry and served as an assistant minister at a church called St.Andrew the Great in Cambridge, under a fine pastor called Mark Ashton. That fellowship sent us off in 1997 to lead a kind of church plant to a nearby village, so I was the Rector of All Saints, Little Shelford, until 2004, when David Jackman asked me to move to London to pick up responsibility for the Proclamation Trust’s Cornhill Training Course. I have been serving there for the past ten years. I miss local church pastoral leadership, but it is a tremendous privilege to serve our students and to watch and pray as so many of them go on to bible teaching and preaching service of the Lord Jesus afterwards.

• What inspired you to write this book, about this topic?

I was preaching through Romans 14 and 15. Although the word “conscience” is not used in those chapters, the idea of conscience is very prominent. I was grabbed by the strange idea that an action may be at the same time right and wrong: that is, even if it is actually ok, if I think it is wrong to do it, then for me it is wrong! This intrigued me. But when I tried to read around the subject, I found that since Puritan days very few reformed evangelicals have written much about it. So I thought I would have a go, and here it is. It is a really practical and inspiring subject.

• Do you have a specific spot that you enjoy writing most?

God has been very kind to us, and we own a house on the Gower Peninsular in South Wales, where we escape and I write wherever I can. It is close to the sea and hills, with lovely coastal walks. Very quiet. The polar opposite of central London, where we live during Cornhill term-time. I particularly enjoy swimming in the sea, which is pretty bracing. I took some dips this year in March and my family think my head needs seeing to.

• Other than the Bible, do you have a favorite book?

I realize it’s not very original, but I do hugely enjoy The Lord of the Rings. I read it to our sons when they were young, and then read it again to our daughter when she was old enough. I am now reading it to Carolyn at bedtime. Good though the films are, the books are much better – beautifully written and soaked in truth, wonder, and grace.

• Do you have a favorite movie? What is it and why?

I love Sabrina Fair, partly because of nostalgia for old black and white films, partly because Audrey Hepburn is so marvelous with Bogart, and partly because the timing and humour is so good. (Far better than the Harrison Ford remake!)

• What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Don’t – if your motive is to become well-known or respected

Don’t – unless you really are burning to say something you think justifies adding another book to over-full Christian shelves.

Do – if you can set aside time to do thorough study and preparation and really contribute something that other books do not

Do – if others encourage you that you can write decent English and communicate engagingly and clearly. This is not the same as being able to speak in public.

• Do you have a favorite sport?

Yes, I love tennis. I used to play a fair bit, although living in central London I am not able to play now, which is sad. In my teens and early 20s I used to queue and stand to watch both finals days at Wimbledon for five years running. In my view the greatest tennis player ever was Rod Laver; I remember watching him on No.1 Court with my dad.

• Do you support a sports team?

Yes, Swansea City Football Club, the first Welsh side to reach the English Premiership. Hoping not to be relegated this season.

• What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

Winston Churchill. I was born on his birthday when he was Prime Minister; an uncle of mine was a Member of Parliament and persuaded him to autograph a book for me. I bore my family with Churchill stuff. But he was a great man.

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Interested in learning more about Christopher Ash and his work? Visit www.proctrust.org.uk.

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Barbara Duguid, author of Extravagant Grace, has been kind enough to take the time to answer some questions so we can all get to know her a little better.

• Tell us a little bit about yourself.

“I grew up as a missionary kid. I was born in Nigeria, and lived in various countries in South America until my family moved back to the US when I was 10 years old. From then on I was a Pastor’s kid and lived in New Jersey for a while and then moved to Michigan. I studied at Radford University, in Radford, VA, and finished my Medical Technology degree at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. I returned to Africa to work as a Med Tech at the ELWA Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. While there, I met my husband, Iain, who is a British citizen. Our relationship got off to a very rocky start due to cultural differences and stereotypes run amok. However, God first showed me that my heart is no problem for him when he caused me to fall madly in love with this charming young man and led us to be married in 1984.

Together Iain and I have lived in Philadelphia, Cambridge and Oxford, England, Jackson Mississippi, Escondido, California, and Grove City, PA. We have 6 outstanding children who are a joy and delight to us and have rapidly become our best friends as they have grown to adulthood. We have planted 3 churches, the first of which did not survive past the first 3 years. God has blessed Iain with the dual calling of pastor and professor, and this has been a great benefit to him and to our whole family. I consider it my greatest joy and honor to be a helper to my husband in all of his work as father, husband, professor, and minister of God’s word.

My husband and I love to watch movies and TV shows of all different kinds. One of the ways we like to enjoy our kids is by entering their worlds by watching their favorite shows with them, laughing with them and understanding what they love about each. We love to welcome people into our home, to eat with them and get to know them, so hospitality is a bit of a hobby for us. I love to cook and bake in spite of the occupational hazards which accompany these activities.  I also love to eat, so this can be a problem!”

• What made you want to write this book?

“I am a very reluctant author. For many years my husband, and many others, encouraged me to refresh Newton’s thoughts in modern English. Although I enjoy writing, such a project seemed daunting to me and I preferred to refer interested folks to the writings of John Newton himself. However, I came to the growing awareness that Newton’s Olde English is a problem for many people, and I was more and more persuaded that these precious truths had great power to encourage weary believers.

When God brought my newest and oldest son, Wayne, into our lives, I watched with joy as these very doctrines gave hope and strength to this remarkable young man. Wayne also has the power of persuasion, and he urged me convincingly to write this book. Interestingly, it was when I lost my job at the local hospital that God cleared a pathway in my life to write. As a Medical Technologist, I prayed each day when I went to work that I would not make an error that would hurt someone. There came a day when God did not answer that prayer as I’d hoped. I made an error in reporting a test result, and it was the first in several errors, on the part of several medical professionals, which led to a woman being admitted to the hospital unnecessarily. By God’s grace she was not hurt or treated before the error was caught, but I lost my job and felt sad and embarrassed. It was a special time to lean upon the truths I had taught for many years, and to believe that God ordained this mistake for his mysterious purposes. As I look back, I can say quite confidently that I would never have written the book if I had not lost that job. I would never have had the time!”

• Who are your favorite authors?

“I love to read many of the great Puritan authors. For some reason, most contemporary Christian books just don’t come close to these writings in depth and impact. I also love reading the commentaries written by reformed pastors/scholars. I feel blessed by the knowledge which diligent scholarship brings to the scriptures, and I love the heart impact that comes from a strong pastoral application of the text.  I love the writings of my own hubby, Iain Duguid, as well as every book that D. Ralph Davis has ever written.

Mystery and historical fiction are my 2 favorite genres in secular literature. I have particularly enjoyed the Lymond Chronicles, by Dorothy Dunnett. She was a brilliant author and native of Scotland who weaved fictional characters through historical events with stunning character development and astonishing plots! I still haven’t found another author who comes near to her in academic and literary skill.”

• Do you have an interesting writing quirk?

“My interesting quirk is that I love to write when my husband is nearby. For some reason, his presence inspires me and makes the process really fun. This can be a bit tedious for him, poor guy, but he is gracious to me and stoops to my weakness! We love to plan writing get-aways together when we sneak off to enjoy time alone, time writing together, and a few fun sites to visit.”

• What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

“I have been surprised by the overwhelmingly good response I have received toward the book. There have been one or two very negative reviews, but since I expected many more, I remain speechlessly delighted. I am still waiting for the big question, the one that makes the arguments fall apart, but so far have not discovered if there is one or what it is. I am not invested in persuading people of the value or truth of this book since I believe that is the Holy Spirit’s job. I believe I have met John Newton’s own burden of proof regarding truth claims. This book exalts Christ and humbles man, and so I am confident of its value to the church regardless of individual critiques.”

• What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

“I get a huge kick out of spending time with my kids. We love to sit around and talk, and we never lack for things to discuss. The kids keep us laughing and more engaged with the fun aspects of modern culture than we would otherwise be. It has been my greatest joy and privilege to be their mom and to participate in their physical and spiritual growth. It still takes my breath away!

I don’t like watching sports, which is unfortunate. My husband is a Rugby referee, but I fail to understand this game no matter how hard he tries to explain it. I love football one Sunday of the year, on Superbowl Sunday. I’m more interested in the food, commercials, and people, than I am in the game, but I do look forward to a good Superbowl party!

I love manicures and pedicures. I can’t really explain this phenomenon very well, but I get a ridiculously huge kick out of painted fingernails and toenails. What can I say? It’s not so easy to feel sexy when you’re 54, but Manis and Pedis help!

I love watching movies of many different genres. I love action films, romantic comedies, and mysteries. Two of my favorites are screen productions of Oscar Wilde plays, The Ideal Husband, and The Importance of Being Ernest. These are good for a laugh and can lead to some deeper discussions as well. I enjoy some modern adaptations of Shakespeare such as Twelfth Night, with Helena Bonham Carter, and Much Ado About Nothing (starring Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branaugh). I enjoy the genius of clever writers!”

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Barbara Duguid is a counselor and ministry assistant at Christ Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Grove City, PA where she crafts the weekly liturgy. She is a pastor’s wife and the mother of 6 children, and she holds an advanced certificate in biblical counseling from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) in Glenside, PA. Her husband, Iain Duguid is also a P&R author; we publish 7 of his books.

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