Wayne's Blog: July 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

Colleagues List, August 2nd, 2020

Vol XVI. No. 5
Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019 http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com/

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

--

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
July 27th, 2020

"On Not Locking Our Doors"
https://tinyurl.com/y3eara4c

*****

NET NOTES - August 2nd, 2020

TRUMP'S UNHOLY ALLIANCES
Interview with Sarah Posner

Religion and Politics,
July 31st, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y23jfx63

--

FAITH LEADERS FEELING
PANDEMIC PRESSURE
Uncertainty is Stressful

Broadview,
July 22nd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y2wy6kwj

--

THINKING CAREFULLY
ABOUT OUR NEUTRALITY
Canadians Should Consider It

Christian Week,
July 24th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y4393bg2

--

ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE
IN FRANCE IS ON THE RISE
Numbers Increase Over 12 Years

The Christian Post,
July 29th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yylz5kb4

--

STIGMA AGAINST HUTTERITES DOES
NOT BUILD CANADIAN COMMUNITY
Health Ministry Urges Test Cooperation

CBC.ca
July 29th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y6z7fbrs

--

NAZI GUARD TRIAL SHOWS THAT
INDIFFERENCE AS DEADLY AS PASSION
German Courts Still Convicting Murderers

The Globe and Mail,
July 27th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y3o9tkbg

--

AMERICA HAS BEEN ADDICTED
TO WHITENESS FOR 400 YEARS
All Have a New Opportunity to Change

Sojourners,
July 27th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y6jxexct

--

ALMOST 3 BILLION ANIMALS HAVE
BEEN AFFECTED BY BUSH FIRES
Australian Disaster One of History's Worst

The Guardian, UK
uly 28th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yxmgepel

--

CHRISTIANS ARE CAUTIOUS AS
HAGIA SOPHIA OPENS AS MOSQUE
It's Been a Museum for Many Decades

National Catholic Reporter,
July 31st, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y5wj8vnq

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK - August 2nd, 2020

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:

I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice,
no matter who it's for or against.

- Malcolm X

--

Weary or bitter or bewildered as we may be, God is
faithful. [God] lets us wander so we will know what it
means to come home.

- Marilynne Robinson

--

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the selfsame
well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled
with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that
sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you contain.…

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you
shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that
is giving you joy.

- Kahlil Gibran

--

The boldest of the lot, Peter, was the very one who
cursed and denied him three times before the cock
crew. It was for traitors that Jesus died.

- Philip Yancey

--

How easy we find it to condemn structural injustice,
institutional violence, and social sin! All that is quite
real, but where are the sources of that social sin?

They are in the heart of every person. Modern-day
society is an anonymous society in which nobody
accepts blame but everybody is responsible. All of
us are responsible for what happens, but the sin
remains anonymous. We are all sinners, and we
have all contributed our grain of sand to this
mountain of crimes and violence in our country.

That is why salvation begins with the human person,
with human dignity, with freeing every individual from
sin.

- Oscar Romero

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Marianne Williamson

We must live for the day, and work for the day,
when human society realigns itself with the radical
love of God. In a truly democratic paradigm, there
is no love of power for power's sake.

(end)

*****

Friday, July 24, 2020

Colleagues List, July 26th, 2020

Vol XVI. No. 4
Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019 http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com/

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

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

This email is sent only to a voluntary subscriber list.
If you no longer wish to receive these weekly columns,
write to me personally - waholst@telus.net

*****

Dear Friends:

My Special Item this week is a new contribution to the
Orbis Spiritual Masters Series, focused here on Rabbi
Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. He began his spiritual
formation in Europe and matured it in America.

I also note the passing this week, of J.I. Packer. He was
born in the UK but contributed much through his long
career as an evangelical Anglican in Canada.

Hopefully, you will find items to your enrichment in
this issue of Colleagues List.

Wayne

NOTE A REMINDER - If a link, below seems to be dead,
cut and paste it into the address bar at the top of your
web page and it should work.

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice:

RABBI ZALMAN SCHACHTER SHALMI
Writings and Essential Teachings

Selected with an Introduction by
Or N. Rose, Netanel Miles-Yepez

Modern Spiritual Masters Series
Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY.
2020. 243 pages. Paper. $25. US $30. CAD.
ISBN #978-1-62698-363-2.

Publisher's Promo:

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (1924-2014) was one of
the most creative and influential Jewish spiritual teachers
in the late twentieth-century. Reb Zalman (as he is known)
made several distinctive and lasting contributions to Jewish
and inter-religious life in North America and beyond.

Originally trained as a Hasidic rabbi in the Chabad-Lubavitch community, he became a great teacher and translator of
Jewish mystical tradition. Weaving together strands of
Hasidism and Kabbalah with teachings from a wide range
of religious and wisdom traditions, including Christianity,
Islam, Buddhism, psychology, history, and the sciences,
he created the Jewish Renewal Movement, which seeks
to infuse contemporary Jewish life with greater spiritual
depth through increased attention to contemplative and
embodied practice along with joyous service to God, the
Jewish people, and the world as a whole.

--.

Introduction:

Zalman was a rabbi who focused on the riches of the
Jewish mystical tradition. He has helped many on their
faith journeys, no matter what their spiritual path.

He didn't care who you were: Jewish, not-Jewish;
committed Sufi; Christian monk or nun; Buddhist
practitioner - everyone was welcome in his community.

Zalman reached into the background sources of his
Lubavicher Judaism and sought to make it relevant
to modern spiritual seekers.

The Holocaust strongly influenced this thought and he
often referred to Jewish spiritual masters who had been
lost to the tradition. He sought to resurrect what he
could and open the doors of Jewish thought to the world;
and was influenced by other spiritual traditions in the
process.

The Hasidic Judaism of his formation was very important
to him and he sought to invite everyone to consider its
richness. This, above all, was his way of contending with
and overcoming the evil perpetrated by the Holocaust.

- interpreted from the Introduction by Arthur Green

--

Author's Bio: https://tinyurl.com/yyvluyp3

--

My Thoughts:

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi was one of those rare
spiritual leaders who, like Merton, Rumi, the Dalai Lama
and a few others, was able to transcend the barriers
between religions in order to draw a broad variety of
spiritual seekers into a shared mystical faith community.

Modern spiritual seekers are becoming more exposed
to the wealth of shared mystical meanings. At the same
time, guides like Shalomi demonstrate a strong allegiance
to their formative traditions. This does not cut them off
from others, but helps to contribute to a greater shared
richness.

Orbis books continues to offer a growing treasure trove
of spiritual guides. I have 71 different ones in my
collection (thanks to general editor Robert Ellsberg)
and I both treasure this set and recommend a book
like this for your edification.
______

Buy the book from:

Orbis/Maryknoll: https://tinyurl.com/y5f7n4py

Amazon.ca - https://tinyurl.com/y3wwk6g3

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Mark Whittall,
Ottawa, ON.

Sermons and Blog
July 16th, 2020

"The Alchemist"
  https://tinyurl.com/y5lwf78o

-

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
July 20th, 2020

"Sacred Permission to Feel Human"
https://tinyurl.com/y2kcppdf

--

Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log
July 21st, 2020

"White Privilege is Not About Guilt"
  https://tinyurl.com/y5e4ka7k
--

Philip Yancey,
Colorado

Philipyancey.com
July 20th, 2020

"The Surprising Gift of Solitude"
  https://tinyurl.com/y6tbne8l

*****

NET NOTES - July 26th, 2020

THE CHANGING HAGIA SOPHIA
Shift to a Religious Site is a Risk

New York Times,
July 22nd. 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y5cu32sx

--

J.I. PACKER DIES AT 93
Influential Evangelical Thinker

Christianity Today,
July 17th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y2cdlxwx

--

REMEMBERING J.I. PACKER
His Canadian Contribution

Regent College News,
July 17th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y452rowz

Wiki Bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._I._Packer

--

(Spiritual Travel)

PILGRIMS' BEST VIRTUE
IS PATIENCE
Postpone - is the Word

Catholic Register, Toronto
July 16th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y3drhttq

--

JOHN LEWIS -
AN AMERICAN TREASURE
American Evangelical Perspective

The Christian Post,
July 24th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y3ctxx9r

--

SWEDISH WOMEN PASTORS
NOW OUTNUMBER MEN
In a Progressive Church

Novena Europe News
July 18th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yyau2lqm

--

RUSSIAN COURT FINES
MONK VIRUS DENIER
Influential Voice Challenged

Religion News Service,
July 21st, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y4q8toot

--

IS MONUMENT DESTRUCTION
A RE-WRITING OF HISTORY?
Taking an Honest Look at the Past

Christian Century,
July 17th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yccve9q8

-

MOST AMERICANS DON'T
NEED GOD TO BE GOOD
But Conservative Christians Do

The Christian Post,
July 22nd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yxwbk3dy

*****

MOMENT IN TIME

Globe and Mail,
July 20th, 2020

July 20th, 1964

OSCAR PETERSON LAUNCHES "CANADIANA SUITE"

The Canadian jazz giant Oscar Peterson had good reason
to be satisfied in 1964. The year saw the release of his best-
known work, Canadiana Suite, a “musical portrait of the
Canada I love,” he said, with eight patriotic pieces each
inspired by a different region of the country.

The Grammy-nominated album begins with Ballad to the
East, journeying westward with melodious stops on a
conceptual railway journey at Laurentide Waltz, Place
St. Henri, Hogtown Blues, Blues of the Prairies, Wheatland,
March Past and Land of the Misty Giants. Such a cross-
country journey by rail would take five days. With trio-mates
Ray Brown (on double bass) and Ed Thigpen (drums),

Mr. Peterson made it in 35 minutes – first-class, naturally.

- Brad Wheeler

--
Wikipedia Bio:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Peterson

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:

Sometimes the best thing we can do for each other
is talk honestly about being wrong.

- Nadia Bolz-Weber

--

People say, what is the sense of our small effort?
They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time,
take one step at a time. A pebble cast into a pond
causes ripples that spread in all directions.

Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like
that. No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless.
There is too much work to do.

- Dorothy Day

--

In a very real sense not one of us is qualified, but
it seems that God continually chooses the most
unqualified to do his work, to bear his glory. If we
are qualified, we tend to think that we have done
the job ourselves. If we are forced to accept our
evident lack of qualification, then there's no danger
that we will confuse God's work with our own, or
God's glory with our own.

- Madeleine L'Engle

--

Let us go forward quietly, forever making for the light,
and lifting up our hearts in the knowledge that we are
as others are (and that others are as we are), and that
it is right to love one another in the best possible way –
believing all things, hoping for all things, and enduring
all things.…

And let us not be too troubled by our weaknesses, for
even he who has none, has one weakness, namely that
he thinks he has none, and anyone who believes himself
to be so perfect or wise would do well to become foolish
all over again.

- Vincent van Gogh

-

I have seen almost all the beautiful things that God
has made; I have enjoyed almost every pleasure that
God has planned for us; and yet as I look back I see
standing out above all the life that has gone four or five
short experiences when the love of God reflected itself
in some poor imitations, some small act of love of mine.

And these seem to be the things which alone of all one’s
life abide. Everything else in all our lives is transitory.
Every other good is visionary. But the acts of love which
no one knows about, or can ever know about –

They never fail

- Henry Drummond

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - John Lewis

Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and
get in good trouble.

(end)

*****

Friday, July 17, 2020

Colleagues List, July19th, 2020

Vol XVI. No. 3
Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019 http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com/

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

(end)

*****

Bio

I have spent the first half of my career as a pastor of the church, and the second half as a teacher in the university and the church. I experience much satisfaction working in both worlds. As I engage in ongoing research to support my third activity which is writing, I am constantly finding many interesting items on the net and from friends which I edit and share on my Colleagues List. That way, you too might enjoy information from the worlds of religion and culture. As of December 2019, this profile has received almost 2,500 hits. Thanks for your interest! .

Friday, July 31, 2020

Colleagues List, August 2nd, 2020

Friday, July 24, 2020

Colleagues List, July 26th, 2020

Friday, July 17, 2020

Colleagues List, July19th, 2020

Colleagues List, July 24th, 2022