Faith Of A Maker

"...Quirky and eclectic, this book provides a new perspective on the 'maker of heaven and earth' from one whose faith is entwined with his own making."Senior Professor Roger Lewis, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong What is making? How does it interact with faith to shape our lives? Is our existence the work of an infinitely powerful maker, or the result of an infinitely impossible chance? In this book, Dr. Phillip McKerrow discusses these and other questions as he explores reasons for believing in Jesus in many maker contexts, including the impact of faith in Jesus concerning his own making. To skilfully debunk some of the common myths and beliefs surrounding making and its multifaceted relationship with the Christian faith, the author draws upon many years of experience in the realm of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics).In each chapter, McKerrow dives into a different area of STEAM, offering novel and transformative ideas that have the power to fundamentally change your perspective on both making and faith in Jesus. Using personal anecdotes and creative stories, he provides a unique insight into the influence of the Christian faith on the life of a maker. To develop this insight, Dr. McKerrow explores a broad area of human thought about the existence of an infinitely powerful maker. To make this exploration of fascinating thinking a straightforward and engaging read, he also employs clear and concise language.

About the Author :
Dr. Phillip McKerrow is a retired Associate Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering. He taught robotics, multimedia and computer science at the University of Wollongong (UOW in Australia). He has a PhD in Computer Science, an M.E. in Electrical Engineering, a B.E.(Hons) in Electrical Engineering and an electrical trade.He spent a year doing post-doctoral research in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, where he assisted in the teaching of their post graduate robotics subject. Robotics was in its infancy, so it was possible to gain a comprehensive overview of the field. Using the knowledge he gained at CMU, he wrote a textbook in robotics titled: Introduction to Robotics which has been translated into Korean. Three years later, he spent six months in the AI Department at the University of Edinburgh.Prior to working at UOW, he worked as a control engineer for the steel processing company John Lysaghts Australia Ltd (now part of BlueScope Steel Limited) where he developed electronic instruments and control systems for steel mills. He wrote his Master of Electrical Engineering thesis on the control of the amount of zinc coated onto steel strip to make galvanised iron. He implemented this control on two galvanising lines.Dr. McKerrow is a maker. During the two years prior to the COVID pandemic, he built a Peeler Skiff wooden motorboat. He has made things all his life, ranging from microcomputer systems to steel mill motor controllers; from a wooden motorboat to mobile robot control software; and from multimedia productions to wood carvings. The design and construction of these systems has stimulated him to think about the relationship between engineering (the making of things) and his Christian faith and subsequent belief in Jesus.He is married to Ann and the couple have four living children and nine grandchildren. They worship at Figtree Anglican Church and minister to UOW students at Keiraville International Church (KIC). In his retirement, he has written a series of bible studies in simple English for use with international students at KIC. Prior to retirement, he also taught the Moore Theological College certificate course to bible study leaders at his church.