Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Colleagues List, January 26th, 2014

Vol IX No. 22

*****

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net

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

"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog. 

*****
 

Dear Friends:

This week I share two sets of notes
taken during interesting sessions -
the first was our Interview with Richard
Rohr last Monday evening, and the second
my Interfaith Dialogue Report on "Green
Faith" sponsored by the Calgary Muslim
community, recorded on Wednesday evening.

Both proved stimulating, and I hope you
don't mind that I have only text records
to share of these special events.

Thanks to colleagues Richard Rohr and
Malik Muradov for your efforts!

--

Colleague Comment:


This week we have three Canadian
comments to share with you based
on last week's issue of CL:

Karen McKeown (Calgary AB)
speaks about Ian Barbour
http://tinyurl.com/ke38aky
http://tinyurl.com/nxtwzqc

Dan Haugen (Prince Albert SK)
reflects on whether the church
makes any difference in our society

Gary Nickel (Ft. Saskatchewan AB)
expresses an OK to our new CL format

--

Colleague Communications:


Three trustworthy writers appear
again in this issue -

Martin Marty (Chicago IL) on
Ian Barbour, religion and science
http://tinyurl.com/la6a3tt

Jim Taylor (Okanagan BC) on

leadership and trust
http://tinyurl.com/lzp35xs

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX) on

the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
http://tinyurl.com/msbuygw

--

Net Notes:


"Pentecostal Drift" - growing numbers
of Catholic migrants to the UK are
joining Pentecostal churches there.
Find out why (The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/kkmjr5r

"The Modern Spirit of Asia" -
here is a substantive book that
describes how the West is having
a profound affect on India and China
(Princeton U. Press, UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/m3kbtbc
http://tinyurl.com/qhghokk

"UCC Clergy Form Own Union" -
past attempts to unionize have proved
futile, but read of another effort
(Metro News Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/mqotf5j

"40 Must-See Photos of the Past" -
looking at these pictures makes one
aware of how things have changed,
and not (Atlantic Monthly)
http://tinyurl.com/n5futzw

"How Inactivity Changes the Brain" -
we naturally believe this to be true,
now there is scientific proof - so
get with it!! (New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/l5238zj

"Biblical Era Cache Found in Basement" -
a story of another interesting find in
Galilee that connects to biblical times
(Huffington Post Canada Religion)
http://tinyurl.com/l7xet5x

"Advent  Hope Lights Post-Holiday Blues"

- Canadian evangelical writer reflects on
carrying hope into a depressing time of year
(Christian Week Online)
http://tinyurl.com/le97os5

"9 of 10 Bangladeshi Women Suffer Abuse"
- surprizing and tragic news about the status
of women in Bangladesh (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/kmfflfw

"In India - Leprosy Declines, Stigma Remains"
- here is another example of how a dreaded
disease is being conquered in India, with
residual implications (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/lllw8t8

"Church of England is Cautious Re Investments"
- concern about fossil fuel emissions is mute,
but church is hesitant to pull funds, gives reasons
(Reuters Faith World) http://tinyurl.com/krepqza

--

Wisdom of the Week is provided by

Sojourners and Plough Press -

Marilynne Robinson, Martin Luther King, Jr,
Daniel José Camacho, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
and Jürgen Moltmann share their insights.
--

On This Day:

January 19th - 25th

Reported by the New York Times
as these events occurred -

VIETNAM WAR ENDS WITH ACCORD
http://tinyurl.com/4funvav 

LENIN DIES AT AGE 54
http://tinyurl.com/a7f9ha7

CHURCHILL DIES IN LONDON AT 90
http://tinyurl.com/nae7hu7

Closing Thought - Teilhard de Chardin

(end)


Church and University Classes Just Beginning

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

SPECIAL ITEMS

RICHARD ROHR INTERVIEW
Notes by Wayne Holst

This past Monday evening, a group from
St. David's gathered to participate in a
conference call interview with Father
Richard Rohr, Franciscan, and founder of 
the Centre for Contemplation and Action 
in Albuquerque, NM. He is the author of
many books, the most recently published
being "Immortal Diamond."

(Soon to appear will be - "Embracing an 
Alternative Orthodoxy Participant's Workbook:
Richard Rohr on the Legacy of Saint Francis.")

A number of participants had questions to
ask of "Richard" as he prefers to be called.
Since I was moderating, it was hard to do
that and take notes at the same time.

Here, however, are some notes attempted
from some of the major themes of the 
discussion:

The "true" and the "false" self.

This is a key distinction in the book. 
The true self is neither God nor human. 
The true self is both at the same time, 
and a total gift to those who become 
aware of it and claim it.

I took this to mean that we can neither
claim that God resides solely in us, or that
God is totally distinct from us. This helps us 
to avoid the classic difficulties of both 
this-worldly and other-worldly thinking.
I am not God, but God does indeed dwell
in me.

--

The value of icons. 

Icons mirror the divine gaze.  While words 
can be argumenative, religious art and 
symbol invite us into a spiritual freedom 
and irenic openness. 

Rohr suggested diplomatically that one of
the dangers of the Protestant focus on
the Bible as the Word of God, and on the
importance we place on preaching is that 
we can get caught up in words and become
conflicted by them, while symbol can carry
us beyond words into mystery.

--

Abuse of fear in the Christian tradition.

"Don't be afraid" is a major biblical theme,
and yet most of us have been abused by the
use of fear in the church. Rohr said that we
might place the emphasis on "creation" and
not "redemption" because the former opens
us to the "bible" of nature; while the latter
has been fraught with "atonement" theologies
that tend to turn Jesus into something he is not.

Jesus did not become incarnate in human form
to appease an angry God, but to celebrate the
creation of humans and non-humans alike.

Rohr said this in the spirit of the Franciscan
theological tradition. 

--

Redemption does not imply a problem
to be solved, but the greatness of God's 
love and our ability to participate in it.

--

We are coming into a time when - after
a long period of mutual alienation - science
and faith are again converging. We all need
evidence of what we observe and claim to
be true, both spiritually and scientifically.
The universe is relational.

Einstein, for example, honored mystery
and so do both mature religion and
science. In this, both seek meaning in
the universe and not mere facts.

--

Most participants stayed to reflect on
what had been discussed and were very
impressed with the conversation.

Thanks Richard!
  
*****

INTERFAITH DIALOGUE NOTES
ON "GREEN FAITH"

This Wednesday evening, Marlene and I
were the invited guests of the Inter-faith
Dialogue Institute, an Islamic organization
having a number of centres located across
Canada, with one situated here in Calgary.

http://tinyurl.com/nx5qfv8

The theme of the evening was "Green Faith"
and it brought together representatives from
the Aboriginal, Jewish, Christian, Muslim and
Buddhist communities. RC Bishop Fred Henry
gave opening remarks and Dr. Tinu Ruparell
head of the Religious Studies Department at
the University of Calgary gave some closing
comments.

This event was initiated and funded by the
Muslim community - something to celebrate.

We were welcomed by colleague Malik Muradov,
the director of IDI Calgary.

Guests were treated to great hospitality. An
interesting blend of participants was seated
at each table. The generosity of our hosts was
impressive, as well as their obvious integration
into the Calgary community.

Evidence of this was that the evening was MC'd
by Darrel Janz. Janz, a Mennonite by background, 
is a 40 year veteran as CTV Evening News anchor
and a respected Calgary community media figure.

I took  a few notes of comments made by all
participants and share some of them below.

Darrel Janz:

"I'm pleased to serve as master of ceremonies
tonight. The IDI serves as a welcome platform
for interfaith discussion in our city. It offers
tours from our country to Turkey to help
Canadians know this Islamic nation better.

Frederick Henry - Opening Comments

"Who is listening to the cry of the earth?" We
are aware of an increase in pollution, and growing
numbers of storms and floods; of deforestation and
temperature extremes. Religious leaders are now
raising their voices, but who is listening? Business
and political leaders seem focused on immediate -
not long term - concerns. The rest of us seem numbed
by our need to preserve and increase our consumer
comforts. At the heart of it all is an energy problem
based on the sun and fossil fuels. Technology has
done us much good, but it has also polluted the
earth. We Calgarians are at the hub of a big issue.

"Canada is 15th of 17 leading nations in the creation
of waste and greenhouse gasses.

"In many ways, people are moving ahead of their
governments in attempts to deal with the problem.
Community groups in many places, including here,
are working on a conversion of traditional mindsets.

"Many faiths are united in their concern for the
poor and others in need. Let us heed the cry of the
earth and respect what nature is trying to tell us -
the earth belongs to the One who loves us all."

Alvin Manitopyes (Aboriginal)

"Our traditional spirituality is becoming more
valid and meaningful for modern humanity. Our
laws of life have always been based on natural
laws. Our sacred objects like sweetgrass and the
pipe are used in ceremonies to link nature and
human life. Nature is a great teacher whom we
need to listen to and respect."

Yisroel Miller (Jewish)

"As people of faith, we have some noble choices
to make. God cares about the earth and so must
we. But this noble sentiment must translate into
concrete action. Like planting trees for those
who come after us.

"Still, truly righteous people can do bad things.
For example, the environmental laws we believe
need to be enforced can sometimes hurt the poor.
How many people lose their jobs because of some
of these laws? We need to realize that there are
times when what we believe to be a good thing
is actually not good for others. What then?


"In some ways, what I chose to do is more
important than governmental laws. People
of faith need sometimes to be subversive and
suffer popular rejection for our stand."

William Phipps (Christian)

"All through the Judeo-Christian scriptures there
are geological statements telling us that the
earth is God's creation and we are the gardeners.
The Hebrew prophets and Jesus himself have
statements containing natural images. The cry
of the earth and the poor are one. Christian
history has been a mixed bag of exploitation and
care for the earth. That dichotomy continues
into our own times. Our words are often great
but our actions leave a lot to be desired..

"We need a holistic interfaith witness to a green
faith. (Bill concluded with a wonderful image of
hearing his three year old grand-daughter
express joy at the beautiful world we inhabit.)

"Hopefully, that is the kind of world we are
working to bequest to her but we need to take
seriously the problems we are perpetuating."

Fayez Tilly (Muslim)

"The world is sufficient for our need but
not our greed. A Canadian in his or her first
six months of life wastes what many others
in the world waste in a lifetime.

"Islam, which began in the desert, has always
been concerned about water stewardship.
Two and a half billion people live today in
regions that are water deficient. It is our
challenge to protect and nurture trees because
trees help to attract and maintain water and
create oxygen. We need to cut down the
forests of desire in our lives, not the trees.

If we destroy the soil, we destroy ourselves.

"Every time we shower in Canada we use
7.5 gallons of water per minute. We consume
a total of 329 litres of water per day. We need
to discipline ourselves to use less water.

"Rumi said - take care of Mother Earth and
Mother Earth will take care of you."

Sensei James (Buddhist)

"I speak as a Buddhist, not for Buddhism.
It is a personal thing for me.

"We need to recycle, reuse, reduce.

"We are all part of the web of life.
Everything I do affects everything else.
If we protect the environment, we protect
ourselves. Appreciate all the world's
colors, not just the color green."

Tina Ruparell (Religious Studies,  U of C)
Closing Comments on the Value of Dialogue

Important religious issues have been
discussed this evening. Ecology and religion
are inter-related and we have much to
learn from each other. We are dealing with
complex issues not easily addressed with
responsibility.

"We need to approach these difficult
issues humbly, since only through humility
can we be taught. We have a fundamental
need to "listen" as well as to "speak" but
above all, in these matters, we need to
listen.

"We have agreement and difference on
many of these matters. Let us celebrate
uniqueness and the dignity of difference.

"Events like tonight reflect a lot of good
will, but they are incomplete. What of
those who are not here as part of the
dialogue - because they are afraid, or
numb?

"We need to come to a new meaning
of the word "sacrifice" for our time.
Sacrifice is a common religious theme
and all of our traditions have tried to
master it. I believe we need to focus
more on sacrificing ourselves in matters
of green faith in order to provide more
options for others.

"We need to become the change we want
to see in the world {Gandhi)"
_____

Questions to the speakers from the floor were
ably moderated by colleague Adriana Tulissi 
of the Faith and Spirituality Centre, at the
University of Calgary.

Here are some good discussion statements -

"Don't allow our desire to do good to blind us
from heeding differing views among us."

"Our world is out of balance. We may already
be past the point of no return. We need to
heed the wisdom of Indigenous people before
it is too late."

"We must not wait for governments to do what
needs to be done. We need to take responsibility
on an individual level."

"At the same time, corporate and political
action must also take place in matters of
concern that involve societies as a whole."

"Canada is one of the most well-placed of any
nation on earth to do something."

But we hesitate.

*****

Turkish Calligraphy - a remarkable demonstration
of Islamic writing and design was presented.

A group picture was taken of those attending.

--

Malik Mirodov has been invited, with his associates,
to speak and host a "Noah's Pudding" luncheon at
St. David's United, Calgary this winter.

Welcome Malik!

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENTS

KAREN MCKEOWN
Calgary, AB
January 19th, 2014

Re: Your NYT Notice of Ian Barbour Death
       Colleagues List January 19th, 2014

Hi Wayne,
I watched a Youtube video that was entitled,
‘Conversation with Ian Barbour’.  I thought it
was a good intro into his life work(s).
http://tinyurl.com/ke38aky

I liked the ‘Balance Between Faith & Science’
article in the NYTimes as well.  Had not heard
of this amazing man before but found him
sooo interesting.

Jan. 12, 2014 NYT (repeat)
http://tinyurl.com/nxtwzqc

I believe he worked up until his 90th B-day! 
That’s pretty amazing too!
Thank you very much for the introduction!!!

Karen

--

DAN HAUGEN
Prince Albert SK
January 19th, 2014

Wayne,

I have not been able to read every
posting you make, but I do read most
of them.  I am always impressed at
the breadth of the material presented.  
That is not a common quality anymore.

I was quite taken by the article on

Global War on Christians.  I have known
this exists, but indeed I view it with
great distance.  Maybe one of the reasons
churches in the western world view it
with great distance, is because we have
so blended into the cultures in which we
live, that we know very little about
persecution.  It would seem strange
for our cultures to view us with much
hostility since we have blended in so
well and do more to ratify the culture
than challenge it. An interjection:  

(Just had a surmised thought . . . I must
confess that I sometimes find listening to
the CBC is like listening to many of our
church leadership these days . . . Many
of the same topics . . . same ideologies.)  

Not that it is all bad . . . But the church
certainly becomes quite unnecessary. . .
CBC does it quite well.

Is it even possible that when we hear

of persecution we assume those Christians
must be radicals or too fundamentalistic. . .
and it helps push the issues aside for us.  
(Maybe that thought is not very gracious
for me . . . One of the many ways to shed
issues).  

I want to think more about this ...

Reading your collections is always stimulating

for thought.  Thanks for this faithful contribution
and stimulus for God's people.

Dan


--

GARY NICKEL
Fort Saskatchewan, AB
January 19th, 2014

Hi Wayne,

Thanks for the usual very good CL. I thought
I'd share that I like the present kind of type
and bolder print which for me, makes it easier
to read, than earlier format. Not that it wasn't
easy to read, but this works better for me.]

A Blessed Epiphany Season,

Gary

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL

Sightings
January 20th, 2014

"Barbour"
http://tinyurl.com/la6a3tt

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log
January 22nd, 2014

"Leadership"
http://tinyurl.com/lzp35xs
--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
January 19th, 2014

A Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity Reflection

"The Imperative for Wholeness
  Inside Christ"

http://tinyurl.com/msbuygw

*****

NET NOTES

PENTECOSTAL DRIFT
UK Catholic Transition

The Tablet, UK
January 23rd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/kkmjr5r

--

THE MODERN SPIRIT OF ASIA
Book Examines Emerging China, India

Author: Peter van der Veer
Princeton University Press
http://tinyurl.com/m3kbtbc

Brief description of the book
UCA News
Jan 21st, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/qhghokk

--

UCC CLERGY FORM OWN UNION
A First for a Canadian Denomination

Metro News
January 21st, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mqotf5j

--

40 MUST-SEE PHOTOS FROM THE PAST
Most Contrast Greatly with Now

Sojourners Online
January 24th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/n5futzw

--

HOW INACTIVITY CHANGES THE BRAIN
Current Study Validates Common Wisdom

New York Times
January 22nd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/l5238zj

--

BIBLICAL ERA CACHE FOUND IN BASEMENT
Galilee Region Yields Riches by Chance

Huffington Post Religion
January 21st, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/l7xet5x

--

ADVENT HOPE LIGHTS POST-HOLIDAY BLUES
Advent Meaning Can Continue Thru the Year

Christian Week
January 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/le97os5

--

9 of 10 BANGALDESHI WOMEN SUFFER ABUSE
Dramatic Statistics Revealed this Week

UCA News
January 23rd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/kmfflfw

--

IN INDIA - LEPROSY DECLINES STIGMA REMAINS
Another Tragic Disease is Disappearing

UCA News
January 24th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/lllw8t8

--

CHURCH OF ENGLAND HESITATES RE INVESTMENTS
Slow to Stop Fossal Fuels Support - Gives Reasons

Reuters Faith World
January 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/krepqza

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

If we are to consider the heavens,
how much more are we to consider the
magnificent energies of consciousness
that make whomever we pass on the
street a far grander marvel than our
galaxy?"

- Marilynne Robinson

--

"Whatever affects one directly, affects all
indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be
until you are what you ought to be. This is
the interrelated structure of reality."

- Martin Luther King, Jr

--

"Race is not so much an idea we hold in our
worldview, but something that has seeped
deeply into our imaginations and desires.
As such, race is more like a habit that is
inculcated in us through practices in a
life-long formation process."

- Daniel José Camacho

--

Humanly speaking, we could understand
and interpret the Sermon on the Mount in
a thousand different ways. Jesus knows only
one possibility: simple surrender and obedience,
not interpreting it or applying it, but doing and
obeying it. That is the only way to hear his word.
But again he does not mean that it is to be
discussed as an ideal; he really means us to
get on with it.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

--

"Christianity is wholly and entirely confident
hope, a stretching out to what is ahead, and
a readiness for a fresh start. Future is not just
something or other to do with Christianity. It
is the essential element of the faith which is
specifically Christian."

- Jürgen Moltmann

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the archives
of the New York Times
January 19th - 25th

VIETNAM WAR ENDS WITH ACCORD
http://tinyurl.com/4funvav 


LENIN DIES AT AGE 54
http://tinyurl.com/a7f9ha7

CHURCHILL DIES IN LONDON AT 90
http://tinyurl.com/nae7hu7

*****


CLOSING THOUGHT - Teilhard de Chardin:

Some day,
after mastering
the winds, the waves,
the tides and gravity,
we shall harness for God
the energies of love.
And then,
for the second time
in the history of the world,
man will discover fire.


Source: Toward the Future

(end)


*****

CLASSES JUST BEGINNING AT THE CHURCH
AND UNIVERSITY - WINTER SESSION, 2014
 
Contact Wayne Holst 403-286-2416
waholst@telus.net

At the Church:

ACTS MONDAY NIGHT STUDY - WINTER 2014
 

NEAR DEATH - ETERNAL LIFE
A Spiritual Reflection on Life After Life

Team Taught with Jock McTavish

Books Titles - "The Light Beyond"/"Eternal Life" 

Book Authors - Raymond Moody and John Spong

Ten Monday Evenings - January 27th - March 31st
TM Room 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Registration, books and hospitality - $50.00
48 sets of the study books including 32 full

course registrations have been sold to date.

---


At the University:

LENTEN FRIDAY NOON FACULTY,
STAFF AND STUDENT STUDY

"In Search of Deep Faith" -
  A Pilgrimage Among People and Places of Europe
  by Jim Belcher, IVP, paperback. 2013.


February 27th - April 3rd, 2014
Six Fridays, 12-1PM. Native Centre Board Room,
Mac Hall.

Co-sponsored by St. David's United and the

U. of C. Faith and Spirituality Centre.

More information to appear shortly.

*****

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Colleagues List, January 19th, 2014

Vol IX No. 21

*****

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net

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

"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog. 

*****


Dear Friends:

Working through my Holiday communications
I discovered restored connections with old
associates. It made me realize that tending
to this weekly Colleagues List mailing is very
important to my well-being.

Scroll down to read "Looking at My Life" -
my Special Item for the week.

--

COLLEAGUE COMMENT - we hear from three

people who have not appeared here before -

Pat Cashion  (Calgary) Scroll down, please.

William P. Shantz (Thunder Bay) 
http://tinyurl.com/n38vqqn

John Badertscher (Winnipeg)
http://tinyurl.com/kn798jm

--
 

COLLEAGUE COMMUNICATION - the following
appear here with a certain regularity -

James Wall (Chicago) 

http://tinyurl.com/m3qsq9q
 
Jim Taylor (Okanagan)
http://tinyurl.com/lzp35xs 

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio)
http://tinyurl.com/mr3e37x

All write weekly columns that I often share.

--

NET NOTES - come from a variety of sources:


"Obama to Visit Pope" - it was inevitable
that Obama would pay his respects and
the announcement came this week
(CNN Politics) http://tinyurl.com/ljw56l4

"The Church as Wikipedia" - a perceptive

article on how the ministry of the local 
congregation is evolving as a result of
the social media (Alban Weekly)
http://tinyurl.com/kjydwbc

"Ian Barbour Dies at Ninety" - a 

pioneer in the engagement between
modern science and religion has died
(New York Times) 
http://tinyurl.com/lsajd89

"Rome Faces Serious Grilling" - here

is a story of accountability to humanity
now faced by the Catholic Church, and
a welcome endorsement by the pope
(UCA News, Huffington Post Religion)
http://tinyurl.com/qesrwol
http://tinyurl.com/khfvpkc
 
"UN Declares India Polio Free" - here
is some good news this week from a
country with many serious challenges
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/knvl8mf

"The Global War on Christians" - an

English review of a new book on an
important subject by John L Allen
(The Tablet, UK) 
 http://tinyurl.com/nyq9ft5

"How Pastors Counsel SS Couples" -

a new field of pastoral care is opening
for the churches, and here is an
introduction (The Christian Century)
http://tinyurl.com/l5y3ue2

"5.3B People Face Religious Restrictions" -
many of the human population live under
significant faith challenges in our time
(National Catholic Reporter, RNS) 
http://tinyurl.com/jvmrjg6

"FEMIN Activists Provoke Mass Worshipers" -

strange antics, but will these demonstrations
result in positive changes? (Sightings)
http://tinyurl.com/myywnzb 

"Canadian Christian Advocacy Faces Hard Times"
- from the evangelical Protestant community
an important call for a change in approach
(Christian Week Online)
http://tinyurl.com/kqc3eu3

-- 



WISDOM OF THE WEEK comes mainly from
Sojourners Online. We hear insights from 
Chinua Achebe, Paul Farmer, Oscar Romero,
Cynthia
Bourgeault, Mollie Rogers and
Brian McLaren. 


Scroll down to read this.


--

ON THIS DAY is provided this week from

The New York Times and Englewood
Review of Books -

Albert Schweitzer Birthday Jan 14th

http://tinyurl.com/7zdgx

 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Jan.15th
http://tinyurl.com/mcaw8db


*****

MY CLOSING THOUGHT this week is from -
Alexander Solzhenitsyn retrieved from
the Bruderhof Community website.
 

-- 

Thanks for joining me for this issue of
Colleagues List, second of the new year!

Wayne


(end)


Appearing Only as the New Course Season Opens -

MY TEACHING AT THE CHURCH AND UNIVERSITY
WINTER SESSION, 2014
 
Contact Wayne Holst 403-286-2416
waholst@telus.net

At the Church:

ACTS MONDAY NIGHT STUDY - WINTER 2014
 

NEAR DEATH - ETERNAL LIFE
A Spiritual Reflection on Life After Life

Team Taught with Jock McTavish


Books Titles - "The Light Beyond" and "Eternal Life" 

Book Authors - Raymond Moody and John Spong

Ten Monday Evenings - January 27th - March 31st
TM Room 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Registration, books and hospitality - $50.00
45 sets of the study books have been sold to date.

---

ACTS THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY -

WINTER 2014

"From Jesus to Christ - Early Christian Faith

 Development" - A Study of the Gospel of Luke
 and the Acts of the Apostles

Series One -
 
Thirteen Thursday Mornings - January 16th -

April 10th, 10:00 - 11:00 PM. TM Room. No cost

This study will continue during the Autumn of 2014

---

ACTS AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD ROHR
Live discussion with the author of "Immortal Diamond"

Monday, January 20th 7:00-9:00 PM

All are Welcome! Hospitality donation only.


*****

At the University:

TUESDAY NIGHT CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE

"Religious Peace Between the Faiths and Science" 

Tuesdays, January 28th - April 4th, 2014. 7-9PM

Text: "The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright
             Bay Back Books, paperback. 2010.

For more information and registration, click -
http://tinyurl.com/oeywse7

---

LENTEN FRIDAY NOON FACULTY,
STAFF AND STUDENT STUDY

"In Search of Deep Faith" -
  A Pilgrimage Among People and Places of Europe
  by Jim Belcher, Inter-Varsity Press, paperback. 2013.

Six Fridays, 12-1PM. Native Centre Board Room, Mac Hall.

Co-sponsored by St. David's United and the U. of C.
Faith and Spirituality Centre.


 ________________


SPECIAL ITEM

LOOKING AT A LIFE - CONNECTING THE DOTS
How Colleagues List Helps Me Integrate Things

During the Holiday Season just past, we received
many wonderful greetings from friends and 
associates - in both electronic and hardcopy form.

We are grateful.

As much as I prefer the traditional cards, I must 
admit that  I am of the generation that must try
hard to recognize the fact that if we want to hear
from some people at all, we are going to have to
settle for communication via the internet.

I have worked, over the years, to create
and maintain a traditional "Christmas Card 
Mailing List." Marlene and I have integrated 
what she had with mine and it seems to work 
out quite well - with some effort.

But a growing number of greetings and new
seasonal contacts are coming to me as emails.
With Canada Post significantly hiking its rates,
my hardcopy list will probably shrink and my
electronic list will inevitably expand.

I have attempted to link my friendships from
over the years with a creative update on
what I am thinking and writing just now.

Colleagues List has helped to to connect with
a wide community around the world as well
as closer to home. Over the years, I have kept
building my email address list with people who
seem to have some interest in what Colleagues
List has to offer.

I think that regular contact is invaluable. Even
if many read only a small part and others, only
periodically, of what I send them weekly, 

When you get your  CL mailing I hope you will
actually believe that "Wayne is thinking of me
again today." That's why I never want this
blog to get too big and too impersonal. I say
this in spite of the fact that I keep enhancing
my mailing list and watching my blog stats.
That's also why I keep inviting people to share
their stories and personal discoveries, like I do!

Creating and maintaining my networks helps 
me "listen to my life" to quote the insightful
words of Frederick Buechner.

To "listen to my life" and to "connect the dots"
from seven decades of experience has become
an important part of the "integrating" process
that Carl Jung speaks of when he describes
the important personal growth process of the 
latter stages of life.

Wisdom - if there is anything like that coming
periodically from me - results largely from
what I have been learning through integrating
my thoughts and discoveries with yours. 

--- 

I want to draw attention to the three people
who this week have contributed to the 
"colleague comment" section of this issue.

Bill, Pat and John have become part of my
"network" - for some time, or only recently -
because of the internet. 

One saw my name in a book and, wondering if 
I was the "Wayne Holst" he had known from 
high school days, he tried to reach me. 

One sent a lovely, unexpected letter thanking 
me for what appears on Colleagues List and 
saying that she invites others to thoughts she 
has collected there (a great idea!)

One was a friend early in my  pastoral career
and we didn't have much contact for decades
until his daughter, now here in Calgary, thought 
we should get back in touch.

The miracle of looking at my life and connecting
the dots happens most every day for me. I think it
makes me a better person - more open and aware -
at a time of life when many might be inclined to turn 
inward and focus primarily on the challenges of 
aging (like health problems and the loss of friends.)

It's important for me to learn how a person's 
career and philosophy of life have evolved since 
we first knew each other. It's worthwhile to learn 
that friends of friends can also become my friends.
It's great to see that people of my age or older 
are contributing to their world in new ways after
leaving earlier careers.

I am coming to terms with the possibility that
I may have much more life ahead of me than
I had ever thought possible. I want to make
the most of the time I have at my disposal.

Gradually, I am freeing myself from the belief
that only hard copy and phone communication 
works. I'll endeavour to reach at least some of you 
in the traditional way. But I will also be maximizing
the new forms of electronic contact available to me.


*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

PAT CASHION
Calgary, AB

January 12th, 2014

"A particularly worthwhile group of links this week.

Thank you for continuing to do this important and 

valuable work"

--


WILLIAM P. SHANTZ
Thunday Bay, ON

December 20th, 2013

Wayne,
Are you the Wayne Holst who attended Rockway 
Mennonite High School in Kitchener? 
Your name came to mind when I saw it recorded 
in a copy of Akenson's Surpassing Wonder: The 
Invention of the Bible and the Talmuds that 
I purchased used from Amazon.ca

Bill

You may wish to check out my writings -

"Philosophy of Heterosexuality" Blog
http://tinyurl.com/n38vqqn

--

JOHN BADERTSCHER
Winnipeg, MB

January 12th, 2014

I would be glad for your comments on my -

"Blogs from the Pews" 
United Church in Meadowood, Winnipeg,
http://tinyurl.com/kn798jm

--

 COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

JAMES WALL
Chicago, IL

Wall Writings Blog
 January 14th, 2014

"Ariel Sharon Dies after 8 Years in a Coma"

http://tinyurl.com/m3qsq9q

-- 

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Web Log
January 12th, 2014

"The Long Route Taken by a Word"

http://tinyurl.com/lzp35xs

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Website
January 12th, 2014

"The Non-Violence of God"

http://tinyurl.com/mr3e37x

*****

NET NOTES

OBAMA TO VISIT POPE
"He's Looking Forward To It"

CNN Politics
January 14th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ljw56l4

-- 

CHURCH AS WIKIPEDIA
Acknowledging Unique Spiritualities

Alban Weekly
January 12th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/kjydwbc

-- 

IAN BARBOUR DIES AT NINETY
Worked to Engage Faith, Science

New York Times
January 12th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/lsajd89

-- 

ROME FACES SERIOUS GRILLING
UN Challenge Over Child Abuse

UCA News
January 16th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/qesrwol

Francis Fires Attack on 
Those Who Have Shamed the Church

Huffington Post Religion
January 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/khfvpkc

-- 

UN DECLARES INDIA POLIO FREE
Major Milestone in Reached

UCA News
January 14th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/knvl8mf

-- 

THE GLOBAL WAR ON CHRISTIANS
Review of Book by John L. Allen

The Tablet, UK
January 16th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/nyq9ft5

-- 

HOW PASTORS COUNSEL SAME-SEX COUPLES
New Issues and Concerns are Encountered

The Christian Century
January 5th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/l5y3ue2

--  

5.3B PEOPLE FACE RELIGIOUS RESTRICTIONS
Many in the World Live Under Threat for Beliefs

National Catholic Reporter/Religion News Service
January 14th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/jvmrjg6

--

"FEMEN" ACTIVISTS 
PROVOKE MASS WORSHIPPERS
Germany the Scene of Latest Developments

Sightings
January 16th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/myywnzb

--

CANADIAN CHRISTIAN ADVOCACY 
FACING HARD TIMES
Anger and Tribal Thinking 
is No Longer Working

Christian Week
January 10th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/kqc3eu3

*****


WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online

"[Jesus] proposed a transformative vision of God. 
God isn't the one who condemns to poor and weak. 
God isn't the one who favors the rich and righteous. 
God isn't the one who ordains the rich to be in the 
castle and the poor to be in the gutter. God is the 
one who loves everyone, including the people the 
rest of us think don't count."

- Brian McLaren 

--

"As long as one people sit on another and are 
deaf to their cry, so long will understanding 
and peace elude all of us."

- Chinua Achebe 

--

"The secular world needs to understand that what 
would "free us from anxiety" is opening up to the 
poor and otherwise marginalized the chance to 
flourish. This cannot happen if there is hunger, 
unfair political arrangements, ongoing assaults 
on the environment, and no safety net to protect 
the sick, the unemployed, and the frail."
 
- Paul Farmer 

--

"It is wrong to be sad. Christians cannot be pessimists. 
Christians must always nourish in their hearts the 
fullness of joy. Try it, brothers and sisters; I have tried 
it many times and in the darkest moments, when slander 
and persecution were at their worst: to unite myself 
intimately with Christ, my friend, and to feel a comfort 
that all the joys of the earth do not give – the joy of 
feeling yourself close to God, even when humans do 
not understand you. It is the deepest joy the heart 
can have."

- Oscar Romero

--

"What is missing in Christianity is the real understanding 
that practice doesn't just mean people going inward to do 
their own little spiritual trip. It is a way of repatterning the 
whole physical, neurological, emotional, devotional animal 
so that it understands what it is doing."

- Cynthia Bourgeault 

--


"Love, work, prayer, and suffering will sustain us in the 
future as they have in the past. All who are here now, all 
who will come after us, will have no other tools than these 
with which to build."

- Mollie Rogers 

--

"[Jesus] proposed a transformative vision of God. 
God isn't the one who condemns to poor and weak. 
God isn't the one who favors the rich and righteous. 
God isn't the one who ordains the rich to be in the 
castle and the poor to be in the gutter. God is the 
one who loves everyone, including the people the 
rest of us think don't count."

- Brian McLaren

*****

ON THIS DAY
Provided from the Archives of
the New York Times and from
the Englewood Review of Books

ALBERT SCHWEITZER BORN Jan. 14th
Dies at 90. His Obituary Follows
http://tinyurl.com/7zdgx
 
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BORN Jan.15th
15 Memorable Quotes
http://tinyurl.com/mcaw8db

*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

If the world has not approached its end, it has 
reached a major watershed in history, equal in 
importance to the turn from the Middle Ages to 
the Renaissance. It will demand from us a 
spiritual blaze, we shall have to rise to a new 
height of vision, to a new level of life where 
our physical nature will not be cursed as in the 
Middle Ages, but even more importantly, our 
spiritual being will not be trampled upon as in 
the Modern Era... No one on earth has any 
other way left but upwards.

Everything will depend on whether or not the 
last hour finds us a generation worthy of greatness.

From commencement address at Harvard University,  
June 1978


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