Friday, May 29, 2015

Colleagues List, May 31st, 2015

Vol. X.  No. 42

*****

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:

I write this issue of Colleagues List from
Northern Alberta where Marlene and I
are visiting with family here. Four years
ago this month, Slave Lake was devastated
by a major forest fire. Today, it would be
hard to detect that a fire had occurred,
except for the large areas of burnt trees
that are visible from east and west entries
to the community. Slave Lake today is a
proud symbol of human resilience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slave_Lake

My Special Item this week is a book
notice for "Learning to Walk in the Dark"
by Barbara Brown Taylor whose titles
I have introduced here before.
http://tinyurl.com/pncmzec

I hope you find her new book interesting.
http://tinyurl.com/l9qupu9

*****

Colleague Comment this week is from:

Martin Marty (Chicago IL) who writes -

"Progressives Look Forward"
  http://tinyurl.com/nvoc84o

--

Marjorie Gibson (Vancouver BC) who
shares past remembrances - 

"The Memories Life Triggers"
  http://tinyurl.com/nwcwum7

--

Jim Taylor (Okanagan BC) who

provides two columns this week -

"Earthquake"
  http://tinyurl.com/orfhkf8


"Deciphering Bible Codes"
  http://tinyurl.com/nqrz5l6 (and)

--

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio, TX)
who also offers two selections -

"Inordinate Attachments" and
"Contemporary Spiritual Writers"

http://tinyurl.com/psdm4dl

Thanks to all four of you!

*****

Net Notes are my special web discoveries -

"God's Not Dead" - reflections on the church
in Canada from an evangelical Protestant
perspective and Angus Reid poll information
(Christian Week Online)
http://tinyurl.com/pq9ovbx

--

"Refugees at Sea in SE Asia" - the migrant
story opposite the Mediterranean reflects a
long history of regional ethnic oppression
(Christian Week Online)
http://tinyurl.com/pbbogcr

--

"John M. Templeton Jr. Dies" - until his death
this last week, he headed a major foundation
in support of spiritual contributions to people
around the globe (New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/pdkemxw


--

"Islamic State Takes Palmyra" - two a
articles on what that event means for history
and on the ancient ruins terror can't destroy
(Fusion and the New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/pwcr6pv
 http://tinyurl.com/po9wpoj

--

"The Gospel is Not About Prosperity" -
many of the world's poor are misled by
this misreading of the biblical message
(Washington Post via UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/q58d9gh

--

"Alberta Creationist Promotes Evolution" -
'it's all how you interpret the evidence' --
an interesting contradiction as a creationist
appears with university scientists 
(Calgary Sun) http://tinyurl.com/o3nryvh

--

"Church Ponders Future After Irish Vote" -
a collection of articles with Catholic hierarchy
in state of disconnect with the people of Ireland
(New York Times, National Catholic Reporter,
The Tablet, UK, The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/p9k64hd
http://tinyurl.com/oz9j3h4
http://tinyurl.com/od8j8ca
http://tinyurl.com/pnfqpnl

--
 
"Salvadorans Flock to Honor Archbishop" -
here is the story of a church that is deeply
connected to the people via their martyr
Oscar Romero (New York Times, National
Catholic Reporter, America Magazine video)
http://tinyurl.com/pjn7o7l
http://tinyurl.com/oz6n959
http://tinyurl.com/np3q9qe
http://tinyurl.com/opqahox

--

"Jean Vanier: Prophet for the 21st Century" -
an assessment of the contribution of the
recent recipient of the Templeton Prize
(Sojourners Online)
http://tinyurl.com/on6tmuo


--

"Anglican Church Head Pays a Visit to China" -
Archbishop of Canterbury Welby seeks to build
ties with Christians in China (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/prsaut9

--

"Prince Charles Makes Plea for Healing in Ulster" -
amazing photos this week showing Charles shaking
hands with former IRA terrorist Gerry Adams, and
here, speaking to the people of N. Ireland (BT News)
http://tinyurl.com/ps2vxmz

--

"Remarkable Moment in American
Religious Publishing" - the book publishing
industry is a bell weather of a major shift in
American cultural history (Publisher's weekly) http://tinyurl.com/nusoqxr

*****

Wisdom of the Week - is provided via Sojourners
and the Bruderhof online:

Desmond Tutu, Chief Seattle, Dom Helder Camara,
Madeleine L'Engle, Aldous Huxley, Corrie ten Boom,
Etty Hillesum, Søren Kierkegaard, Dietrich Bonhoeffer
and Dorothy Day.

Please scroll down to read them.

*****

On This Day -

Comes from the archives of the New York Times

"Lindbergh First to Fly Solo Across Atlantic"
  http://tinyurl.com/ptzlqho

"Jawaharlal Nehru, First PM of India, Dies"
  http://tinyurl.com/lrqs6h3

"T.E. Lawrence of Arabia Dies in England"
   http://tinyurl.com/oxpxnca

"Mt. Everest Conquered by
  Edmond Hillary and Tensing Norkay"
   http://tinyurl.com/lxhjbee

--

Closing Thought - Thornton Wilder

Please scroll to the end of the blog
to read his words.

(end)

For those interested in our developing
program for the summer and fall of this
year, please scroll to the end of the blog:

Our New Program Planning Season Begins -
Autumn 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs through St. David's

United and the University of Calgary

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice -

LEARNING TO WALK IN THE DARK
by Barbara Brown Taylor
HarperOne: Toronto, ON  Paperback.
March, 2015, 200 pages. $13.50 CAD.
ISBN #978-0-06-202434-3.

Publisher's Promo:

From the New York Times bestselling author of
An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor's
Learning to Walk in the Dark provides a way to
find spirituality in those times when we don't
have all the answers.

Taylor has become increasingly uncomfortable
with our tendency to associate all that is good
with lightness and all that is evil and dangerous
with darkness. Doesn't God work in the nighttime
as well? In Learning to Walk in the Dark, Taylor
asks us to put aside our fears and anxieties and
to explore all that God has to teach us "in the
dark." She argues that we need to move away
from our "solar spirituality" and ease our way
into appreciating "lunar spirituality" (since,
like the moon, our experience of the light waxes
and wanes). Through darkness we find courage,
we understand the world in new ways, and we
feel God's presence around us, guiding us
through things seen and unseen.

Often, it is while we are in the dark that we
grow the most.

With her characteristic charm and literary wisdom,
Taylor is our guide through a spirituality of the
nighttime, teaching us how to find our footing in
times of uncertainty and giving us strength and
hope to face all of life's challenging moments.

--

Author's Words:

When I look around the world today, it seems clear
that eliminating darkness is pretty high on the
human agenda - not just physical darkness, but
also metaphysical darkness, which includes
psychological, emotional, relational, and spiritual
darkness...

Most people do not know what they mean by
"darkness" except that they want to stay out of it...

If you decide to read the rest of this book, you will
learn plenty about what darkness means to me.

Most of the books on the New York Times "How to"
bestseller list are about how to avoid various kinds
of darkness. If you want to learn how to be happy
and to stay that way, how to win out over your
adversaries at work, or how to avoid aging by
eating the right foods, there is a book for you.

If you are not a reader, you can always find
someone on the radio, the television, or the web
who will tell you about the latest strategy for
staying out of your dark places...

I wish I could turn to the church for help, but
so many congregations are preoccupied with
keeping the lights on right now that the last
thing they want to talk about is how to
befriend the dark. Plus, Christianity has never
had anything nice to say about darkness.
From earliest times Christians have used
"darkness" as a synonym for sin, ignorance,
spiritual blindness, and death.

(Much Christian spirituality) deals with darkness
by denying its existence  or at least depriving
it of any meaningful  attention... (Christians
are encouraged to) strive to be positive in
attitude, firm in conviction, helpful in relationship,
and unswerving in faith... Who would not like to
dwell in the light 24/7?

(But what happens) when darkness falls in your
life, which can happen in many unsurprising ways:
you lose your job, your marriage falls apart, your
child acts out in some attention-getting way, you
pray hard for something that does not happen,
you begin to doubt some of the things you have
been taught about what the Bible says...

Christian teaching thrives on dividing reality
into opposed pairs: good/evil, church/world,
spirit/flesh, sacred/profane, light/dark... 

If there is any truth to the teaching that spiritual
reality is divided into halves, it is the truth that
those pairs exist in balance, not apposition...

What can light possibly mean without dark?

(I invite you to walk with me as we learn to
walk in the dark... and at various stages of
life this can take on different meaning.)

I am especially aware of how many old-time
Christians are looking into the dark right now.
Attendance is down; debt is up. Plenty of
smaller churches are closing or at least putting
their buildings up for sale... Learning to walk
in the dark is an especially valuable skill in
times like these...

Meanwhile, here is some good news you
can use; even when light fades and darkness
falls... God does not turn the world over
to some other deity. Even when you cannot
see where you are going, and no one answers
when you call, this is not sufficient proof that
you are alone...

Here is the testimony of faith: darkness is not 
dark to God; the night is as bright as the day.

--

Author's Bio:

Barbara Brown Taylor's last book, "An Altar in the
World" was a New York Times bestseller that
received the Silver Nautilus Award in 2012. 
 
Her first memoir, "Leaving Church" received an
Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers
Association and won the Theologos Award for best
general interest book of 2006. Taylor spent fifteen
years in parish ministry before becoming the Butman
Professor of Religion at Piedmont College, where
she has taught world religions since 1998. She
lives on a working farm in rural north Georgia
with her husband Ed.
 
Wikipedia bio: http://tinyurl.com/l9qupu9

--

My Thoughts:

Twenty-five years ago, Toronto-author and
educator Mary Jo Leddy wrote a book which
she entitled "Say to the Darkness - We Beg
to Differ." That title succinctly implied a
profound defiance of dark and evil forces.

Brief Leddy bio: http://tinyurl.com/pajn539

"Learning to Walk in the Dark" by Barbara
Brown Taylor takes a more nuanced approach.
It recognizes that evil darkness exists, but it
also sees there is value to be gleaned from
the "shadowlands" and the possibility of
learning from them.

Both books take evil darkness seriously.

Leddy's volume focused strongly on issues of
justice within her own Catholic church at the
time.

Taylor's effort is a venture in personal growth 
and follows in the classic spiritual tradition of
writing on "the dark night of the soul."

Twenty-five years ago, many of us were quite
sure we knew what was right and wrong about
the gay issue, assisted suicide, marriage,
abuse in male/female relations, etc.

Today, we are probably not so sure and many
of us have moved 180 degrees from stances
strongly taken in the past. Confusion continues.

I believe that Taylor's book is especially 
helpful for people who are inclined to be
ambivalent, pessimistic, or at least overly
cautious by nature.

If you are inclined to react to our times
with a defensive, rather than an open
spirit, I think Taylor can speak especially
to you. She does not ignore or deny the
evil darkness of the world, but she helps
us to confront it and "live through it."

In truth, Taylor is not really different
from Leddy a quarter century ago. Both
"beg to differ" with the darkness; but
they "differ differently" - and both have
an important message to convey.

-----

Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/pncmzec
 
*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago IL

Sightings
May 25th, 2015

"Progressives Look Forward"
  http://tinyurl.com/nvoc84o

--


MARJORIE GIBSON
Vancouver, BC

Marjorie Remembers Blog
May 28th, 2015

"The Memories Life Triggers"
  http://tinyurl.com/nwcwum7

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan BC

Personal Web Log
May 24th and 27th, 2015

"Earthquake"
  http://tinyurl.com/orfhkf8


"Deciphering Bible Codes"
  http://tinyurl.com/nqrz5l6

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
May 18th and 25th, 2016

"Inordinate Attachments" and
"Contemporary Spiritual Writers"

http://tinyurl.com/psdm4dl

*****


NET NOTES


GOD'S NOT DEAD
Neither is the Church

Reflections on the church in
Canada from an Evangelical
perspective and Angus Reid

Christian Week Online
May 12th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pq9ovbx

--

REFUGEES AT SEA IN SE ASIA
A Long History of Oppression

Christian Week Online
May 25th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pbbogcr

--


JOHN M. TEMPLETON JR. DIES
He Headed Foundation that Honored
the Spiritual Dimension of Life

New York Times
May 19th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pdkemxw

--

ISLAMIC STATE TAKES PALMRA
What This Means for History

Fusion
May 21st, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pwcr6pv

New York Times
May 23rd, 2015

"The Ancient Ruins Terror Can't Destroy"
   http://tinyurl.com/po9wpoj


--

THE GOSPEL IS NOT ABOUT PROSPERITY
Pernicious Message Attracts the Poor

Washington Post via UCA News
Mary 26th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/q58d9gh

--

ALBERTA CREATIONIST PROMOTES EVOLUTION
He Does This in Spite of His Beliefs

Calgary Sun
May 25th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/o3nryvh

--

CHURCH PONDERS FUTURE AFTER IRISH VOTE
Reflection on Disconnect With the People

New York Times
May 24th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/p9k64hd

National Catholic Reporter
May 25th, 2015

"Vote a Reality Check for Irish Church"
  http://tinyurl.com/oz9j3h4

The Tablet, UK
May 28th, 2015

"Clear Challenge to the Church in Ireland"
  http://tinyurl.com/od8j8ca

The Guardian
May 26th, 2015

"Vatican Diplomat Calls the
  Irish Vote Defeat for Humanity"
  http://tinyurl.com/pnfqpnl
 
--

SALVADORANS FLOCK TO HONOR ARCHBISHOP
Romero on Way to Sainthood, Already a Saint

New York Times
May 23rd, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pjn7o7l

National Catholic Reporter
May 26th, 2015

"Romero a Brilliant Star of the Church"
  http://tinyurl.com/oz6n959

National Catholic Reporter
May 20th, 2015

"Violence, Culture of Impunity
  Continue to Plague El Salvador"
  http://tinyurl.com/np3q9qe

America Video
May 25th, 2015

"Romero Through Salvadoran Eyes"
  http://tinyurl.com/opqahox

--

JEAN VANIER: PROPHET
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Spirituality for Our Times

Sojourners Online
May 26th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/on6tmuo

--

ANGLICAN CHURCH HEAD
PAYS A VISIT TO CHINA
Seeks Better Ties with
Chinese Christians

UCA News
May 29th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/prsaut9

--

PRINCE CHARLES MAKES PLEA
FOR HEALING IN ULSTER
Calls on the People to
Not be Imprisoned by History

BT News
May 22nd, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ps2vxmz

--

REMARKABLE MOMENT IN AMERICAN
RELIGIOUS PUBLISHING HISTORY
The Gay Wave Has Come

Publisher's Weekly
May 22nd, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nusoqxr
 
*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners and
the Bruderhof online:

If you are neutral in situations of injustice,
you have chosen the side of the oppressor.
If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a
mouse, and you say that you are neutral,
the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.


- Desmond Tutu

--

How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth
of the land? The idea is stange to us. Every part
of this earth is sacred to my people. Every shining
pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the
dark woods, every clearing and humming insect is
holy in the memory and experience of my people.
We are part of the earth and it is part of us."
 

- Chief Seattle

--

Without justice and love, peace
will always be the great illusion.
 

- Dom Helder Camara

--

How often we children have been unwilling:
unwilling to listen to each other, unwilling to
hear words we do not expect. But on that first
Pentecost the Holy Spirit truly called the people
together in understanding and forgiveness and
utter, wondrous joy. The early Christians, then,
were known by how they loved one another.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people could say
that of us again? Not an exclusive love, shutting
out the rest of the world, but love so powerful,
so brilliant, so aflame that it lights the entire
planet – nay, the entire universe!


- Madeleine L'Engle

--

Every moment of our human life is a moment
of crisis; for at every moment we are called
upon to make an all-important decision – to
choose between the way that leads to death
and spiritual darkness, and the way that leads
towards light and life; between interests
exclusively temporal, and the eternal order;
between our personal will, and the will of God.


- Aldous Huxley

--

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow,
it empties today of its strength.

 
- Corrie ten Boom

--

That is why I must try to live a good and faithful
life to my last breath; so that those who come
after me do not have to start all over again.


 
- Etty Hillesum

--

Worry about making a living, or not making a
living, is a snare. In actuality, it is the snare. 
No external power, no actual circumstance,
can trap a person. If we choose to be our own
providence, then we will go quite ingenuously
into our own trap, the wealthy as well as the
poor. If we want to entrench ourselves in our
own plot of ground that is not under God’s care,
then we are living, though we do not acknowledge
it, in a prison.


 -  Søren Kierkegaard

--

Those who love their dream of a Christian community
more than they love the Christian community itself
become destroyers of that Christian community even
though their personal intentions may be ever so honest,

earnest, and sacrificial.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

--

We may be living on the edge of eternity – but that
should not make us dismal. The early Christians
rejoiced to think that the end of the world was near,
as they thought. Are we so unready to face God?
Are we so avid for joys here, that we perceive so
darkly those to come?


- Dorothy Day
 
*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the archives of the New York Times

"Lindbergh First to Fly Solo Across Atlantic"
  http://tinyurl.com/ptzlqho

"Jawaharlal Nehru, First PM of India, Dies"
  http://tinyurl.com/lrqs6h3

"T.E. Lawrence of Arabia Dies in England"
   http://tinyurl.com/oxpxnca

"Mt. Everest Conquered by
  Edmond Hillary and Tensing Norkay"
   http://tinyurl.com/lxhjbee
 
*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Thornton Wilder

Without your wound where would your power be?
The very angels themselves cannot persuade the
wretched and blundering children on earth as can
one human being broken on the wheels of living.
In love’s service, only the wounded soldiers can
serve.

(end)

*****

Our New Program Planning Season Begins -
Autumn 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs through St. David's

United and the University of Calgary:

MCDOUGAL STONEY MISSION SOCIETY
SPRING SERVICE AT THE MORLEY CHURCH

Sunday, June 14th, 2015 at 3:00PM

Speaker: Sarah Harvey

Theme: "Women of the West"
140th Anniversary of the Founding
of the McDougal Stoney  Mission Church

"Elizabeth Cantler, Elizabeth Boyd -
  Wives of George and John McDougall"

Come to learn more about the rich history
of the oldest Protestant Church in Southern
Alberta holding continuous services.

Our May 2015 Newsletter:
http://tinyurl.com/nfkl3jp
 
*****

ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS'
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR


"Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths"
  October 16th - 31st, 2015


http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo

Hardcopy tour details brochure
is available at the church


Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary
Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst
Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry
Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council


Talk with or write to Marlene and Wayne
(403-286-7416)waholst@telus.net
marleneaholst@gmail.com

This tour is filled up with 30 registrants.
Waiting List is open.


*****

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Colleagues List, May 24th, 2015

Vol. X.  No. 41

*****

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 Colleagues:

Since the beginning of the year, I have mailed
you weekly editions of Colleagues List - a total
of twenty-two issues!

Now that summer is approaching, I plan to
reduce my mailings to one issue every two
weeks during June through August. That
schedule will begin next week - May 31st
through August 23rd.

Regular weekly editions will commence the
first Sunday of September, the 6th.

To those in the Northern Hemisphere,
I hope you have a good summer!

Wayne

*****


Saturday, May 16, 2015

Colleagues List, May 17th, 2015

Vol. X.  No. 40

*****

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:

My Special Item this week is a reflection
on some serious activity going on in our
home lately. It is entitled:

"Spring Cleaning - Good for the Soul"
  
It is my Anglican Journal column for May
and I hope it speaks to you too.
http://tinyurl.com/ow7xsro.

--

Colleague Comment  this week is from:
Malik Muradov, executive director of the
Interfaith Dialogue Institute of Calgary -
a most creative Canadian Islamic Centre
and with whom we at St. David's have
been experiencing growing relations.
http://calgary.interculturaldialog.com/

Please scroll down to read his comments
about my book notice on "Islam's Jesus"
http://tinyurl.com/kuc5wjo

--

Colleague Contributions - are from:

Marjorie Gibson (Vancouver BC)

"Flash"
  http://tinyurl.com/ls2mlhv

--

Jim Taylor (Okanagan BC)

"Delhi Traffic:
  Anarchy Doesn't Equal Chaos"
  http://tinyurl.com/qcsdwxv

--

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX)
"Artificial Light"
  http://tinyurl.com/qeo8ke4 and

--

Martin Marty (Chicago IL)
"Sioux Suicides"
  http://tinyurl.com/qjgueu7

For more detail, please scroll down.

--

Net Notes - my collection of interesting
web links for the week are as followings:

"The Francis Miracle" - interpreting the Pope
  is an helpful interview with John L. Allen
  former Vatican correspondent for National
  Catholic Reporter (Sun Rise Morning Show)

http://tinyurl.com/mbbekn9

-

"Search for Authentic Evangelicalism" -
  Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners, writes of
  his remarkable recent visit to Korea
  (Sojourners Online)

http://tinyurl.com/kvrhxtz

-

"Americans Prefer Gay to Evangelical President" -
  A recent Pew Research Poll finds growing gay
  endorsement to the degree where citizens
  would vote for a gay, before an evangelical
  Christian. Most ironic (The Christian Post)

http://tinyurl.com/ld2hpkc

-

"Best 2015 National Geographic Travel Photo Pix"
  - a collection of magnificent pictures from
  around the world (Atlantic Online)

http://tinyurl.com/o3aaz85

-
 
"Religious Conservatives, Nones, Interfaith 
 Dialogue" - a helpful article on their deeper
 social impact on American society  (Sightings)

http://tinyurl.com/nj8ovgl

-

"Canadian Tulip Festival Blooms in Ottawa,
Gatineau" - a special time of year in our nation's
capital, thanks in large part to the Netherlands,
eternally grateful for their WWII liberation by
Canadian forces in 1945 (CBC News)

http://tinyurl.com/kb8alpf

-

"Vatican to Sign First Accord on Recognizing 
 Palestine" - after recognizing Palestinian
 rights two years ago, the Vatican is moving
 to formalize its statehood and sovereignty,
 to the chagrin of Israel, but world support.
 (New York Times, AFP News, UCA News)

http://tinyurl.com/n5lrsx6
http://tinyurl.com/kft768p
http://tinyurl.com/lbgp9tv


-

"Christian Secular Media Takes New, Deeper
 Direction" - Colleague Lorna Dueck moves
 to enhance her Christian Canadian perspective
 on secular news analysis (Christian Week)

http://tinyurl.com/mkoaee6

-

"American Christianity Crumbles -
 Evangelicals Stable" - the Pew Study noted
 above reports the continuing loss of mainline
 church influence in American life
 (Christianity Today, Pew Research Center)

http://tinyurl.com/nuwd7qb
http://tinyurl.com/ldnxabw
 

-

"Beautifully Ambiguous Apologetic Renews
 the Mainline" - evangelicals in the US, moving
 to the mainline, shows the fluidity of religion
 in that nation. Their concerns? Evangelism not
 evangelicalism, faith not fundamentalism
 (Medium Blog)

http://tinyurl.com/oqqnm4h
 

-

"Catholics/Protestants React to China Church
  Restrictions" - our continuing attention to
  religious developments in China sees a
  growing ecumenical resistance to government
  pressures in that land (UCA News)

http://tinyurl.com/pglk26k

--

Wisdom of the Week - comes to us from:

Diana Nash, Jean Vanier, Basil of Caesarea
Maya Angelou, Mother Teresa and
Martin Luther King Jr.

Please scroll down to read them.

--

On This Day -

Is provided from the archives
of the New York Times:

"Israel Recognized as Independent State"
  http://tinyurl.com/a4eqxjm

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

"Axis Forces in N. Africa Defeated in WWII"
  http://tinyurl.com/nmjgmfp

--

Closing Thought this week is from - Anaïs Nin

Scroll to the end of the blog to read her.

Wikipedia Bio:
http://tinyurl.com/9gnwerw

(end)

If you are interested in our developing program,
please scroll to the end of the blog.

Our Fall Program Planning Begins -
Autumn 2015 Adult Spiritual Development -
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's United
and at the University of Calgary


*****

SPECIAL ITEM

My Anglican Journal
Column for May

"Spring Cleaning - Good for the Soul"
  http://tinyurl.com/ow7xsro

*****


COLLEAGUE COMMENT

Malik Muradov
Intercultural Dialogue Institute
Calgary, AB

http://calgary.interculturaldialog.com/

May 13th, 2015

Hello Wayne,

I finally had time to read your notes and
information about the Islam's Jesus book.
 
Colleagues List - April 12th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/kuc5wjo

You are very good on taking notes and
summarizing events and even books. I
want to recognize the gift that God gave
you.

I fully agree with everything you wrote.

Only small correction could be about the
belief about 'Jesus in Islam' part. He is a
bringer of peace, and one of five prophets 
recognized by Islam - Noah, Abraham,
Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad

This might indicate that Islam does not
recognize the rest of the prophets which
would not be correct. Those five prophets
are (Ulul'azm Anbiya) Arch-Prophets. They
are highly praised. Muslims believe in all
the rest of the (Hebrew Bible) prophets as
well as one of the 6 pillars of the Islamic
faith is believing the prophets.

You might want to say: (Jesus) one of five
prophets highly recognized by Islam

Sincere regards and respect,
 
Malik
 
*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Marjorie Gibson
Vancouver, BC

Marjorie Remembers Blog
May 14th, 2015

"Flash"
  http://tinyurl.com/ls2mlhv

--

Jim Taylor
Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log
May 10th, 2015

"Delhi Traffic:
  Anarchy Doesn't Equal Chaos"
  http://tinyurl.com/qcsdwxv

--

Ron Rolheiser
San Antonio, TX


Personal Web Site
May 10th, 2015


"Artificial Light"
  http://tinyurl.com/qeo8ke4

--

Martin Marty
Chicago, IL


Sightings
May 11th, 2015


"Sioux Suicides"
  http://tinyurl.com/qjgueu7

*****

NET NOTES


THE FRANCIS MIRACLE
Interpreting the Pope
Interview With John L. Allen

Sun Rise Morning Show
May, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/mbbekn9

--

THE SEARCH FOR AN
AUTHENTIC EVANGELICALISM
Jim Wallis in Korea

Sojourners Online
May 15th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/kvrhxtz

--
 
AMERICANS WOULD PREFER A GAY
TO AN EVANGELICAL PRESIDENT
Poll Finds Growing Gay Endorsement

The Christian Post
May 14th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ld2hpkc

--

BEST 2015 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
TRAVELER PHOTO PICTURES

Atlantic Online
May 15th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/o3aaz85

--
 
RELIGIOUS CONSERVATIVES,
'NONES' AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
Making a Deeper Social Impact

Sightings,
May 14th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nj8ovgl

--

CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL IN BLOOM
IN OTTAWA, GATINEAU
Annual Event, Gift from the Netherlands

CBC News
May 11th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/kb8alpf

--

VATICAN TO SIGN FIRST ACCORD,
AFTER RECOGNIZING PALESTINE

New York Times
May 13th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/n5lrsx6

AFP News
May 14th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/kft768p

UCA News
May 15th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/lbgp9tv

--

CHRISTIAN SECULAR MEDIA FOCUS
TAKES ON NEW, DEEPER DIRECTION
Lorna Dueck's Context Voice Develops

Christian Week,
May 13th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/mkoaee6

--

AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY CRUMBLES
EVANGELICALS REMAIN STABLE
Current Pew Study Revelation

Christianity Today
May 11th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nuwd7qb

Pew Research Center
Religion and Life
May 12th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ldnxabw

--

BEAUTIFULLY AMBIGUOUS APOLOGETIC
RENEWING THE PROTESTANT MAINLINE
Evangelism But Not Evangelicalism
Faith But Not Fundamentalism

Medium Blog
May, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/oqqnm4h

--
 
CATHOLICS, PROTESTANTS REACT TO
CHURCH CROSS RESTRICTIONS IN CHINA
Claim Acts are Ridiculous, Discriminatory

UCA News
May 14th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pglk26k

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners
and the Bruderhof online:

There is a source of power in each of us that
we don't realize until we take responsibility.

- Diane Nash


--

To love someone is not first of all to do things
for them, but to reveal to them their beauty
and value, to say to them through our attitude:
'You are beautiful. You are important.

I trust you. You can trust yourself.'

- Jean Vanier


--

The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry;
the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to
those who need it; the shoes rotting in your closet
to the one who has no shoes. The money which you
hoard up belongs to the poor.

- Basil of Caesarea

--

Many believe that they need company at any cost,
and certainly if a thing is desired at any cost, it will
be obtained at all costs. We need to remember and
to teach our children that solitude can be a much-
to-be-desired condition. Not only is it acceptable
to be alone, at times it is positively to be wished for.
It is in the interludes between being in company
that we talk to ourselves. In the silence we listen
to ourselves. Then we ask questions of ourselves.
We describe ourselves, and in the quietude we may
even hear the voice of God.

- Maya Angelou

--

God cannot fill what is full. He can fill only
emptiness – deep poverty – and your “yes”
[to Jesus] is the beginning of being or
becoming empty. It is not how much we
"really have” to give, but how empty we
are, so that we can receive fully in our life
and let him live his life in us. In you today
he wants to relive his complete submission
to his father – allow him to do so. It does
not matter what you feel, but what he feels
in you. Take away your eyes from yourself
and rejoice that you have nothing – that
you are nothing – that you can do nothing.


- Mother Teresa

--

Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you
want to be important, wonderful. If you want
to be recognized, wonderful. If you want to be
great, wonderful. But recognize that he who is
greatest among you shall be your servant.

That’s your new definition of greatness. And
this morning, the thing that I like about it, by
giving that definition of greatness, it means that
everybody can be great. Because everybody can
serve. You don’t have to have a college degree
to serve. You don’t have to make your subject
and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to
know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You
don’t have to know Einstein’s theory of relativity
to serve. You don’t have to know the second
theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace. A soul
generated by love. And you can be that servant.

- Martin Luther King Jr.

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the archives
of the New York Times:

"Israel Recognized as Independent State"
  http://tinyurl.com/a4eqxjm

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

"Axis Forces in N. Africa Defeated in WWII"
  http://tinyurl.com/nmjgmfp


*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Anaïs Nin

"Life shrinks or expands
  in proportion to one’s courage."

Wikipedia Bio:
http://tinyurl.com/9gnwerw
 
(end)

*****

Our Fall Program Planning Begins -
Autumn 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's United
and at the University of Calgary:


ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS'
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR


"Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths"
  October 16th - 31st, 2015


http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo

Hardcopy tour details brochure
is available at the church


Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary
Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst
Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry
Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council


Talk with or write to Marlene and Wayne
(403-286-7416)waholst@telus.net
marleneaholst@gmail.com

This tour is filled up with 30 registrants.
Waiting List is open.


*****