Saturday, May 25, 2013

Colleagues List, May 26th, 2013


Vol VIII No. 31

****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net

*****

Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com

Canadian Anglicans Google Groups Web Site:
http://tinyurl.com/ohr84gx

"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.

*****

Dear Colleagues:

I am happy to note that my article
in last week's Colleagues List on
the highlights of our Turkey Tour
had received more than 600 internet
hits as of my writing this today.

It's great that people seem interested.

Special Item:

This week I am pleased to share notes
taken at the Calgary Wisdom Centre from
a lecture entitled:

"Fashion Me a Church " (Presentation One)
 by Colleague Herbert O'Driscoll

Thanks to colleagues Anna and Don at
St. Laurence Anglican, Calgary for
bringing Herb from Victoria to a city
where he has had a significant impact.
Hopefully, these colleagues will add
notes from subsequent talks given this
weekend to future Colleagues List issues.
I continue to find Herb very
stimulating, after 30 years of listening
to his presentations and sermons!

http://www.wisdomcentre.ca/index.html

--

Colleague Contributions this week are from:

Harry Winter, Martin Marty, Ron Rolheiser
Lorna Dueck and Jim Taylor

http://tinyurl.com/nevexug
http://tinyurl.com/ngngyop
http://tinyurl.com/nuxhclp
http://tinyurl.com/nlhxfxk
http://tinyurl.com/q9u4rt3

My thanks to all of you!

--

Net Notes:

"Sticky Faith" - here are current
insights into congregational youth
ministry by an alert practitioner
(The Christian Century)
http://tinyurl.com/pt6cyg7

"My Bright Abyss" - this weekend
a new book is reviewed about 'faith
healing' that will reach a large
secular audience around the world
(New York Times Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/ptfbvhw

"Background Check" - as the new pope,
Francis I, settles into his new office -
two early books on his previous life
and influence appear (America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/nocrqsk

"The Rule of Taize" - traditionally,
Christian communities would develop
'rules' to guide their live together.
Here is a look at a modern community
through its guidelines
(Englewood Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/ntb2cg3

"Heaven for Atheists?" - this
week I offer two articles on
a changing view of atheists
from a religious perspective
(Huffington Post Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/qhf9bf3

"'Til Faith Do Us Part'" - another
review that will be widely read
this week is on the impact of
interfaith marriage in America
(New York Times Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/o84yvcg

"Saying "I Do" Without God" - many
June weddings are in the works and
still on the marriage theme, this
article deals with the creation of
new wedding liturgies for humanists
(Religious News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/p755r3o

"College to Operate Another Year" -
an Anglican  school of theology in
Saskatoon is facing survival difficulties.
A few months ago, the Lutheran School
of Theology there entered emergency mode
(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/ns7c7h2

"Woolwich Provokes Anti-Muslim Feelings"
- in the wake of a gruesome UK killing
the general public is greatly upset by
the circumstances (The Telegraph, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/ns98l52

--

Wisdom of the Week - is offered by
the following:

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Bill Quigley
and Derrick Bell

--

On This Day:

Provided from the archives of the
New York Times:

Truman Doctrine Aids Greece and Turkey
http://tinyurl.com/nmdpq9a

First Trans-Atlantic Flight by Lindbergh
http://tinyurl.com/ptzlqho

Scopes Indicted for Teaching Evolution
http://tinyurl.com/d9jtz

--

Closing Thought - Pope Francis I

(end)

*****

Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4

This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

*********************

SPECIAL ITEM

FASHION ME A CHURCH (Presentation One)
by Colleague Herbert O'Driscoll

Wisdom Centre,
St. Laurence Anglican Church, Calgary
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

http://www.wisdomcentre.ca/index.html

Octogenarian O'Driscoll is still a very
sharp and insightful presenter, in spite
of the fact he declared himself "in
the springtime of my senility."

Thanks to our colleagues at the Wisdom
Centre for bringing Herb to Calgary
this weekend.

This is the first of several presentations
he gave. We hope to publish notes from these
additional talks as they become available.

Each presentation included the congregational
singing of hymns or the musical contribution
of a backup group that contributed modern
songs from such artists as Lennon/McCartney
and Leonard Cohen. This helped to create
what O'Driscoll does best - integrating
the traditional with the contemporary.

--

In 1250 in Paris, Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
began to reintroduce Aristotelian philosophy
to the western world, helping to infuse
medieval Catholicism with the support
of classic thought via Arabic scholars who
had preserved Greek thinking during a low,
barbaric period in the history of Europe.

http://tinyurl.com/npo9d4u

In 1687 at Cambridge, Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
published "Principles of Mathematics," - an
early signal of the advancing scientific age
that came into full flower during the European
enlightenment period that followed.
.
'Reason' was a strong theme in hymns that
were written during this time.

http://tinyurl.com/g6v7x

In 1738, after a profound spiritual experience
at Aldersgate, London, John Wesley (1707-1788)
initiated an evangelical revolution out of a
moribund Church of England - later known as
Methodism. His work emphasized the power of
personal, evangelical, experiential religion
and the opening of doors to new life for people.

http://tinyurl.com/jjts7

All this leads us to ask in terms of our day:
"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?"
"Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"

--

We live in a time when we are forced to expand
our minds constantly. We live in a confusing moment
of being "pushed" forward by our culture.

Neuroscience is causing us to better come to
understand the wiring of our brains, but we
have a lot to learn about this.

We find ourselves at the juncture of both
dead ends and great possibilities. Which of
these will win out over the long term?

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) wrote presciently:
"Our times are more powerful than our brains."

O'Driscoll then suggested a number of hunches
and meanings he has drawn from the following
modern developments, among others:

- the exponential growth of knowledge
- the recognition of new sub-atomic worlds
- the relational transformation of the sexes
- the increasing human ability to manipulate
  reality within and beyond itself.

One byproduct of all this is the loss of wonder
and awe in the lives of many people. Traditional
religion has been deeply affected, as has the
way it tends to work for many.

Why has this happened? The Enlightenment Project
has extracted the sacred from our culture and
relegated it to institutions. This has had
both positive and negative affects.

The institutionalization of life has led to
the growth of the sciences and the arts. But
the end result for religion is that, in the
minds of many moderns - "it doesn't matter much."

Still, surprisingly, the culture itself has
been developing a spirituality (spiritualities)
and new ways of seeing the world with awe, wonder
and mystery. We live in a time of instant
information, but also of new kinds of hymns.

Secularization is searching for new forms
of spirituality today. Margaret Sommerville
has said that environmentalism, for example,
is becoming a religion in our time.

The maddening contradiction of our era
is that while western culture has seen
religion as inadequate, it has begun to
develop new forms of religion for itself.

--

At the same time, another major global
phenomenon has been emerging.

Western culture is facing a great migration
today. This has not occurred to such an
extent since the 5th century barbarian
invasions of Italy.

Old religious traditions have revived
in the global South and East. This is
true for both Christianity and other
faiths. Modern secular assumptions are
being profoundly challenged by these
developments.

We live in a multicultural, multifaith era
supported by world-wide communications
and travel.

The West tends to view these emergenses
as "old, outdated cultures" but to those
who believe in them, it means much. In
the West, religion is private and personal.
In other parts of the world, it is very
openly expressive and public.

The great religions challenge secular
Christianity as they still do in places
like Turkey.

How will these revivals shape our global
future?

--

Christian faith has resources to respond
to these challenges. Let's not isolate
ourselves in defensive postures. For
many in our world, Christian faith means
a great deal and will continue to do so.
Here are examples of this:

- the revival of Russian Orthodoxy
- the emergence of Christianity in China
- the massive growth of the church in Korea

Remember that all of the above places of
modern Christian emergence are scientific
cultures much like our own.

The question we need to ask now is this:
"Does modernism inevitably result in
secularization as we in the West view it?"

--

Here are signals of spiritual power in
the midst of our modern secular societies:

- Taize and Iona
- Pilgrimages
- Hospice movement
- Christian thinking linked to modern psychiatry
- Classical music
- Cosmology (pre and post-Hubble)

Where does Herb go for spiritual experiences today?

- an art galley
- a hospice
- a cathedral
- a planetariumm
- a park
- the theater, symphony and opera

These are places a Christian can find much
meaning and spiritual revitalization in
our time, O'Driscoll concluded.

(end of presentation one, more to follow)

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

HARRY WINTER
St. Paul, MN

"Catholics Welcome Anglicans and Lutherans
 in the Spirit of Cardinal John Henry Newman

http://tinyurl.com/nevexug

--

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, Il.

Sightings,
May 20th, 2013

"Evangelicals Bring Christ to the Ivy League"

http://tinyurl.com/ngngyop

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio TX

Personal Website
May 26th, 2013

"Our Fundamental Option"

http://tinyurl.com/nuxhclp

--

LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON

Globe and Mail Panel
May 19th, 2013

"Faith as Cure for Terrorism?"

http://tinyurl.com/nlhxfxk

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log
May 22nd, 2013

"Exercises"

http://tinyurl.com/q9u4rt3

*****

NET NOTES

STICKY FAITH
What Keeps Kids Connected to Church?

The Christian Century
May 17th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/pt6cyg7

--

MY BRIGHT ABYSS
Modern Faith Healing Story

New York Times Book Review
May 26th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ptfbvhw

--

BACKGROUND CHECK
Two Early Francis Books
America Magazine
June 3, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/nocrqsk

--

THE RULE OF TAIZE
Life in Community

Englewood Review of Books
May 24th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/ntb2cg3

--

HEAVEN FOR ATHEISTS?
Pope Sparks Debate

Huffington Post Canada
May 22nd, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/qhf9bf3

--

"TIL FAITH DO US PART"
Interfaith Marriage is Changing America

New York Times Book Review
May 26th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/o84yvcg

--

SAYING 'I DO' WITHOUT GOD
Humanist Weddings Increase

Religious News Service
May 17th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/p755r3o

--

COLLEGE TO OPERATE ANOTHER YEAR
Emmanuel-St. Chad Find More Life

Anglican Journal
May 24th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/ns7c7h2

--

WOOLWICH PROVOKES ANTI-MUSLIM FEELINGS
Murder of Brit Stirs Deep UK Resentment

The Telegraph, UK
May 25th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/ns98l52

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online

I cannot say whether things will get better
if we change; what I can say is that they
must change if they are to get better.

- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

--

Every good law or case you study was once a dream.
Every good law or case you study was dismissed as
impossible or impractical for decades before it
was enacted. Give your creative thoughts free reign,
for it is only in the hearts and dreams of people
seeking a better world that true social justice
has a chance.

- Bill Quigley

--

We live in a system that espouses merit,
equality, and a level playing field, but
exalts those with wealth, power, and
celebrity, however gained.

- Derrick Bell

*****

ON THIS DAY
Provided from the archives
of the New York Times
May 20th - 25th

TRUMAN DOCTRINE AIDS GREECE AND TURKEY
http://tinyurl.com/nmdpq9a

FIRST TRANS-ATLANTIC FLIGHT BY LINDBERGH
http://tinyurl.com/ptzlqho

SCOPES INDICTED FOR TEACHING EVOLUTION
http://tinyurl.com/d9jtz

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT

POPE FRANCIS I

Today, and it breaks my heart to say it,
finding a homeless person who has died of...
is not news. Today, the news is scandals,
that is news, but the many children who
don't have food — that's not news. This
is grave. We can't rest easy while things
are this way.

(end)

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Colleagues List, May 19th, 2013


Vol VIII No. 30

****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net

*****

Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com

Canadian Anglicans Google Groups Web Site:
http://tinyurl.com/bg29svu

"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.

*****

Dear Colleagues:

Our tour of Turkey was filled with many
good experiences and much learning. Our
travel group got on well and friendships
were formed and/or enhanced.

To help me review that opportunity, and to
share some highlights with you, including
web links to special places, I send you
as a Special Item this week::

"Reflections on Our Tour of Turkey"

Special Sites:
http://tinyurl.com/ykk5q44
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/357
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJIofU-0jC0
http://tinyurl.com/cu59qdu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya

--

Colleague Comments this week are from -

Reginald Bibby, Lethbridge, who shares an
article he wrote for the Globe and Mail
on the current state of religion in Canada.
Thanks for continuing to do this, Reg.
http://tinyurl.com/c3sehc9

Rob Fennell, Halifax, who announces the
start of a new blog "Creedal and Loving It"
in which he and Ross Lockhart describe what
being "creedal" means in the United Church
of Canada. Most intersting.
http://creedalandlovingit.wordpress.com/

--

Colleague Contributions this week are from
faithful providers Martin Marty, Jim Taylor
and Ron Rolheiser -

http://tinyurl.com/b6e7kw5
http://tinyurl.com/ydsyqsq
http://tinyurl.com/b4wbkls

--

Net Notes:

"Why Hymnals Matter" - hymnals may come
and go from our churches over the years,
but the treasures they contain, survive
(The Christian Century)
http://tinyurl.com/adjn23p

"C.S. Lewis - A Life" - UK Anglican
evangelical Alistair McGraw writes a book
on C.S. Lewis, an evangelical hero
(The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/b9qztt5

"A Post-Catholic Ireland?" - Two articles on
religion in Ireland after the great societal
reaction to abuse and victimization there
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/ak6xnx4
http://tinyurl.com/b84vl8c

"CPJ Celebrates Fifty Years" - Citizens for
Public Justice continues to be one of
Canada's most effective religious lobbies
(Christian Week) http://tinyurl.com/aap5y75

"St. Paul's Missionary Methods" - a
classic missiological text is retreaded
for modern students of mission
(Englewood Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/cptb5yc

"Resurrection - Just a Metaphor?"
A debate on the meaning of resurrection
for Christians developed in the British
press after Easter this year
(The Telegraph, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/a9ouwh5

"Catholics Grow in Global South, East"
Reflecting similar Protestant trends,
global Catholicism is expanding greatly
(International) http://tinyurl.com/bdeb464

"Early Christian Persecution Debunked"
The persecution of members of the early
church has long been accepted as fact.
A modern scholar questions this
(Religious News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/bdb4wae

"More Canadians They Aren't Religious"
It is becoming more socially acceptable
in Canada to declare "no reigion" in
response to census questions
(National Post)
http://tinyurl.com/cqd3mjw

German Christians Optimistic about Francis
Participants in the popular German Kirchentag
(or "Church Days") showed a very positive
attitude to the new pope Francis I (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/d4lzg8f

--

Wisdom of the Week - is offered by
the following:

C.S. Lewis, Jane Addams, Jessica Dovey,
Leo Tolstoy, Jacques Ellul, Richard Foster,
and Thomas W. Ogletree

--

On This Day:

"War Ends in Europe"
http://tinyurl.com/a6rcoqm

"John Paul II Shot, Seriously Wounded"
http://tinyurl.com/ajc7tf3

"State of Israel Established"
http://tinyurl.com/a4eqx

"Mount St. Helens Erupts in Washington"
http://tinyurl.com/bfyhulx

*****

Closing Thought -

Native American Proverb

Wayne

*****

Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4

This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

*********************

SPECIAL ITEM

REFLECTIONS ON OUR TOUR OF TURKEY
Seventeen Days of Great Experiences
April 23rd - May 9th, 2013

Marlene and I co-hosted this special
activity with colleague John and
Brenda Bailey of Coquitlam, BC.
A total of 26 persons participated.

Early on,I suggested four main themes
for the itinerary and reflection booklet -

Ancient and Classical Cultures
Early Christianity
Interfaith Encounters (and)
Natural Beauty.

All of these we found in abundance!

Turkey is certainly a rich and blessed land
in spite of its challenges. We traveled in
the western region only, feeling very safe.
Our tour host Yasar Uslu was very helpful in
introducing us to the best of all four themes
and, as a Turk himself, blended these theme
very creatively for us.

In terms of spiritual travel, major interests
for us were archaic or primitive religion,
(Antiquities) Greco-Roman, early Christian
communities, Islamic traditions of various
kinds, and an Interfaith Centre - the House
of the Virgin in Ephesus.

Beauty was part of all regions we visited -
the sea, the mountains, agriculture and
fruit-growing areas - blended perfectly!

My Three Most Meaningful Places Visited:

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
http://tinyurl.com/ykk5q44

The first day of our tour brought us to
this marvelous World Heritage Site. It
had beautiful parks surrounding it, and -
taken together - was well worth the visit.
The building is no longer a church or a
mosque. It is now a museum. Still, it
provided us with a helpful introduction
to Islam which we encountered extensively.

We discovered a plethora of minarets and
five daily calls to prayer.

The first began at 5 AM!

--

Goreme National Park and the Rock Sites
of Cappadocia. This included extensive
exploration of the Underground Churches
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/357

Another World Heritage Site was located south
of Ankara in Central Turkey. We physically
navigated underground passages in an area
that housed many thousands of people. Here,
esarly Chrisitians created places to eat, sleep
and work, as well as to worship - all out
of reach of their enemies for lengthy periods.
We learned that these sights were used during
several eras at times of persecution. The
artwork in the churches here remains awesome.

--

Ephesus was yet another World Heritage Site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus

This great city is classical, Jewish and
Christian, together. Paul preached in the
great theater here (Romans 19:21-40) and I
had a special feeling while sitting in a
place where Paul himself spoke - much to the
chagrin of the local silversmiths who made
their living by creating worship aids for
"the goddess Diana of the Ephesians"
(see especially verse 27.)

The Great Library of Celsus (at one time
holding 240,000 scrolls) was breathtaking
to behold. It included a menorah symbol,
indicating Jewish presence here as well.

In addition, the Whirling Dervishes, a Sufi
sect of Sunni Muslims centered in Konya,
provided us with a spiritual highlight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJIofU-0jC0

--

Three Other Valuable Experiences:

The House of the Virgin in the eastern part
of Ephesus was hosted by a Franciscan monk.
We relished the peaceful nature of this
pilgrimage center. It attracts both Muslim
and Christian pilgrims - since both honor
Mary/Meryem. We lit candles here to
remember our families back home.
http://tinyurl.com/cu59qdu

The Natural Beauty of the Turkish Riviera
at Antalya on the Mediterranean Coast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya

Looking out our hotel window on two
consecutive mornings at sunrise were
beautiful moments of our sojourn.

Also, listening as our tour host Yasar Uslu  who
spoke passionately of his national hero Ataturk,
and of his hopes and concerns about the current
political direction of his homeland, was very
poignant.

--

If possible, I want to keep "spiritual travel"
as an important adult ministry at St. David's
United, Calgary. The more we cultivate this
ministry, the wider our engagement with a broad
range of people within and beyond our congregation.

We will be listening for new tour suggestions,
perhaps for 2015!

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

REGINALD BIBBY
Lethbridge, AB

May 16th, 2013

Hi Wayne!  Hope and assume (!) you had a great
time in Turkey.  Will be good to hear more about
the trip.

Just got back from five days away at a conference
in England on "implicit religion."  In the waning
hours before I left, I wrote a short commentary
for the Globe & Mail on the latest "census" findings
on religion (literally, as you know, from the
National Household Survey).

Reg.

Globe and Mail
May 9th, 2013

"Religion in Canada is Changing
 but it is not Being Abandoned"

http://tinyurl.com/c3sehc9

--

BOB FENNELL
Halifax, NS

Hi Wayne,

Not sure if this fits your list, but my
colleague Ross Lockhart and I have started
a new blog that may be of interest to you
and others:

Regards,

Rob

The Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell
Atlantic School of Theology
Halifax, NS

http://creedalandlovingit.wordpress.com/

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago. IL

"Faith, Grace and the Arts"

Sightings,
May 6th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/b6e7kw5

--

JIM TAYLOR,
Okanagan, BC

"Losses"

http://tinyurl.com/ydsyqsq

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Website
May 5th, 2013

"Boldness With God"

http://tinyurl.com/b4wbkls

****

NET NOTES

WHY HYMNALS MATTER
Books Change, Hymns Survive

The Christian Century
May 1st, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/adjn23p

--

C.S.LEWIS - A LIFE
By Alistair McGrath

The Tablet, UK
May 18th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/b9qztt5

--

A POST-CATHOLIC IRELAND?
Envisioning the Future

America Magazine
May 20th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/ak6xnx4

"Ireland's Catholic Future"
A Nation Needing Missionaries

America Magazine
May 9th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/b84vl8c

--

CPJ CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS
Advocacy Group at Half-Century

Christians Week.org
May 8th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/aap5y75

--

ST. PAUL'S MISSIONARY METHODS
A Classic Revisited for Today

Englewood Review of Books
May 18th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/cptb5yc

--

RESURRECTION - JUST A METAPHOR?
Debate Over Death of Jesus

The Telegraph, UK
May 3rd, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/a9ouwh5


CATHOLICS GROW IN GLOBAL SOUTH, EAST
Decline in Europe and America

International
May 9th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/bdeb464

--

EARLY CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION DEBUNKED
Scholars Views it as Myth

Religious News Service
May 14th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/bdb4wae

--

MORE CANADIANS DENY BEING RELIGIOUS
Largest Numbers Since Census Began

National Post
May 13th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/cqd3mjw

--

GERMAN PROTESTANTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FRANCIS
"Church Days" Provide Endorsement for Pope

Uca News
May 8th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/d4lzg8f


*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners Online:

I think each village was meant to feel pity for
its own sick and poor whom it can help and I doubt
if it is the duty of any private person to fix his
mind on ills which he cannot help. This may even
become an escape from the works of charity we really
can do to those we know. God may call any one of us
to respond to some far away problem or support those
who have been so called. But we are finite and he
will not call us everywhere or to support every
worthy cause. And real needs are not far from us.

- C.S Lewis

--

In the unceasing ebb and flow of justice and
oppression we must all dig channels as best we
may, that at the propitious moment somewhat of
the swelling tide may be conducted to the barren
places of life.

- Jane Addams

--

I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious
lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one,
not even an enemy.

- Jessica Dovey

--

[People] of our time believe that all the
insanity and cruelty of our lives, the
enormous wealth of few, the envious poverty
of the majority, the wars and every form of
violence, are perceived by nobody, and that
nothing prevents us from continuing to live
thus.

- Leo Tolstoy

--

One thing, however, is sure: unless Christians
fulfill their prophetic role, unless they become
the advocates and defenders of the truly poor,
witness to their misery, then, infallibly,
violence will suddenly break out. In one way or
other 'their blood cries to heaven,' and violence
will seem the only way out. It will be too late
to try to calm them and create harmony.

- Jacques Ellul

--

We have real difficulty here because everyone thinks
of changing the world, but where, oh where, are those
who think of changing themselves? People may genuinely
want to be good, but seldom are they prepared to do
what it takes to produce the inward life of goodness
that can form the soul. Personal formation into the
likeness of Christ is arduous and lifelong.

-Richard Foster

--

Sometimes, when what is officially the law is wrong,
you try to get the law changed. But if you can’t,
you break it.

- Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Ogletree

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the Archives
of the New York Times:
(May 7th - 18th)

WAR ENDS IN EUROPE
May 7th, 1945

http://tinyurl.com/a6rcoqm

--

JOHN PAUL II SHOT, SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
May 13th, 1981

http://tinyurl.com/ajc7tf3

--

STATE OF ISRAEL ESTABLISHED
May 15th, 1968

http://tinyurl.com/a4eqx

--

MOUNT ST HELENS ERUPTS IN WASHINGTON
May 18th, 1980

http://tinyurl.com/bfyhulx

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT -

We do not inherit the earth from our
ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

- Native American Proverb

(end)



Sunday, May 12, 2013

Colleagues List, May 12th, 2013

Vol. VIII No. 29

*****

We have returned from a wonderful
adventure in the land of Turkey. 

A new Colleagues List edition
will appear next weekend. 

Stay tuned!

Wayne