Colleagues List, May 29th, 2022

Vol. XVII, No. 30 

Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019                                          http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca                                            http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com

Current archives listed on this page

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 at - waholst@telus.net

*****

Dear Friends:

This week I am pleased to introduce "New Testament Women for Progressive Christians (vol. 1)" by Robert Schmidt. This is but the latest of many Schmidt's books that I have been happy to promote.

I hope you will find other material of interest in this issue of Colleagues List as well.

Please note - 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.

Wayne

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice -

NEW TESTAMENT WOMEN

FOR PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS

(Vol. 1) by Donald Schmidt

(a six session study guide) 

Wood Lake Publishing, Kelowna. BC.

May, 2022. Paper $14.95 CAD. 

ISBN #978-1-177343-524-4

Publisher's Promo:

Although women often play a crucial role in the most significant events in the Bible, they are typically cast as secondary characters who are less important than the male lead. Or they are are presented as bit players who aren’t even named. Yet these are strong women and we do an injustice to the biblical narrative and a disservice to ourselves if we gloss over them. 

This guide takes an intriguing look at some of the women in the New Testament (a second volume is planned), including Mary the mother of Jesus, Anna and Elizabeth, Mary and Martha, Thecla and Junia, the female disciples (including Mary Magdalene), and women who are healed or set free from their burdens – women who helped shape and were shaped by Jesus and the early Christian community.

Outside of Ephesus, in modern-day Turkey, an intriguing discovery was made in 1906. It was of a cave, and inside was found a painting of a man and a woman. There were two especially significant things about the painting. The first was the identity of the pair; they were Paul and Thecla, a woman of the ancient church and probable travelling companion of St. Paul, at least for part of his ministry. The other significant fact was that Thecla’s eyes had been scratched out, and her hand – raised in the traditional stance to suggest one speaking with authority – had been smudged out.

It is a telling image on a number of fronts, not least of which is the desire of some early vandal to attempt to remove the woman’s ability to see or speak. There has always been in Christianity a concerted effort on the part of men to silence women, to obliterate them, to remove their ability to speak or to act with any kind of authority. Yet when we look at the New Testament we can also clearly see the presence of women with Jesus, that they were integral to his everyday life and ministry. If we look a little harder, we will see that women played significant roles at the centre of the early Christian community, including as preachers and teachers. 

Donald Schmidt -

Author's Bio:

Whenever he can choose what to do, Donald Schmidt likes to spin wool, knit, and weave. In his spare time, he also works in ministry in a variety of settings. He has served parishes in Quebec, New York, Vermont, Washington, and Hawai‘i. He has also worked as an Associate Conference Minister with the United Church of Christ, and is a retired United Methodist minister. Perhaps his favorite ministry has been as an editor and writer of church resources, for worship, education, and church revitalization. He has published 3 books, and has had a few pieces of music appear in various collections around the world. He also loves to travel, finding that visiting anywhere new and different can open us up to learn new things about others and, in the process, ourselves. More recently Donald has served with the United Church of Canada, and was Minister for Worship and Leadership Development at First United Church in Kelowna, British Columbia. He lives in the Okanagan Valley of BC. He is a grandfather of 8, and father of 3. 

--

Author's Words:

There is no such thing as unbiased history. Different people notice different things and the things they notice fit with their understanding of the world.

Sometimes people add things that are clearly meant to lead us one way or another. We may not even notice.

Those who write might not think they are giving a biased story; they are simply reporting what they felt was important. And they want to make sure we understand it the same way.

All this is true about the stories of the New Testament, and in the Bible as a whole. All the writers of these books had their own biases.

The fact that there has always been bias against women since the church's early days is not news. It shows up in both obvious and subtle ways. There are many ways the scriptures clearly demonstrate the denigration of women.

As serious students of the Bible we can take this as a challenge. We need to flesh out the stories of women because we are often given so few details. In other words, we add things to stories all the time and doing this to biblical stories should not upset us.

We have to look beyond the text to see what the biblical writers actually meant. When we do this we are not "changing the Bible" but are being more honest with it.

I am a man. I am a man writing a book about women and obviously I am going to approach this differently than a woman might. But my goal has been to present the stories of women in the New Testament as accurately as possible and invite your to notice, to explore and to celebrate the role of women there. I have tried to lift up stories of women whose lives have helped to shape and form my own life and my own faith journey.

I have had to make choices about what characters to include in this guide and plan to add a second study to involve more women.

In conclusion, I delight always in exploring the Bible - despite its quirks and variances - and in finding there powerful stories that guide me each day.

- edited by Wayne from the Introduction

--

My Thoughts:

I value study groups - of the Bible and otherwise - that involve both male and female members. I also like to co-teach with women as well as men. It is often amazing what a single story, phrase or word, conveys to a woman as a man. In earlier years my studies constituted persons of one gender, but fortunately, that is no longer the case.

As we study together, we realize just how limited our approach to scripture has been when we have maintained (often unknowingly) the male bias of the material we are reading.

I value the work that Robert Schmidt is doing with various bible studies as he reveals (in new ways) novel approaches to understanding the holy scriptures.

As we grow more mature and experienced in life, it is amazing what new insights come to us as we engage the same material we have studied in times past.

As always, I am happy to introduce and promote the latest in Wood Lake Publications studies. 

_____

Buy the book from Amazon.ca

https://tinyurl.com/2uyptd4a

Buy the book from Wood Lake:

https://tinyurl.com/5b383jas

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Herb and Paula O'Driscoll

Victoria, BC

Anglican Church of Canada

"Online Launch of the O'Driscoll Forum"

  https://tinyurl.com/3uhsxnt9

--

Philip Yancey,

Colorado

Philipyancey.com

May 26th, 2022

"Why Go Back?"

  https://tinyurl.com/5953zezr

--

Mark Whittall,

Ottawa, ON

Sermons and Blog,

May 21st, 2022

"Scrambling to Catch Up"

   https://tinyurl.com/kwax6ue5

  

--

Jim Taylor,

Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log,

May 19th, 2022

"The Wasp Who Lives With Me"

  https://tinyurl.com/2mdy3zaj

-- 

Ron Rolheiser,

San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site

May 23rd, 2022

"Naming the Present Moment - Some Metaphors"

  https://tinyurl.com/3r82wcsp

  

*****

NET NOTES

POPE FRANCIS TO VISIT CANADA IN JULY

He Will Visit Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit

Religion News Service,

May 13th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/38xhsrnr

--

ROSEMARY RADFORD RUETHER DIES AT 85

Groundbreaking Catholic Feminist Theologian

National Catholic Reporter,

May 24th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/3jkxcru9

--

LET GRATITUDE SHAPE YOUR TOMORROW

Take Risks Daily in New Ways of Living

Broadview, May 4th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/muces5z5

--

HOW I LEARNED TO LIVE WITH GHOSTS

Insights from Korean Ancestor Worship

Religion News Service,

May 26th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2p954bmc

--

THE FALSE DIVIDE OF SPIRITUAL AND RELIGIOUS

A Divide that Should Really Not Exist

by Sr. Helena Burns

Catholic Register, Toronto

May 20th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2xsxwhtj

--

WILL THE WCC EXPELL PATRIARCH KIRILL?

The Orthodox are Very Important to Us

Religion News Service

May 3rd, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2p8v99p4

--

SOUTHERN BAPTIST LEADERS MISTREATED

ABUSE SURVIVORS FOR DECADES

Major Report Now Made Public

Religion News Service

May 22nd, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/t2ckee2r

--

WILLOW CREEK CHURCH CONTINUES TO DECLINE

Post Hybels and Covid-19 Struggles

Religion News Service,

May 19th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/mr3wusn8

--

WORLD NEEDS GOLDEN RULE'S POSITIVE RAYS

Poster Has Challenged and Inspired Many

Catholic Register, Toronto

May 12th, 2022

 

https://tinyurl.com/4zmz9mb6

--

ARCHEOLOGISTS FIND ANCIENT UNDERGROUND CITY

Located in Turkey - Where Christians Hid from Romans

Christian Week

May 19th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2p8k97p7

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:

Faith is a force for good particularly when people are feeling beleaguered and in need of hope.

- Margaret Atwood

--

I was born with the same gift from God we are all born with—the impulse to reach out and lessen the suffering of another human being.

- Anthony Ray Hinton

--

Humility is poverty of spirit and meekness. Humility inspires an attitude of listening and of seeking out those who can give good counsel. Humility welcomes correction. A humble person is not proud or arrogant. Humility is not a denial of my value as a human being but rather seeing myself in relationship to God. Humility results from being in a state of gratitude rather than envy, resentment, or bitterness.

- Jim Forest

--

We have to cross the infinite thickness of time and space – and God has to do it first, because he comes to us first. Of the links between God and man, love is the greatest. It is as great as the distance to be crossed. So that the love may be as great as possible, the distance is as great as possible. That is why evil can extend to the extreme limit beyond which the very possibility of good disappears. Evil is permitted to touch this limit. It sometimes seems as though it overpassed it.

- Simone Weil

--

It is possible even in the contradictions and confusions of this life to keep the center of your being calm and undisturbed. It is possible even in this life to go through one hellish situation after another with strength and confidence of spirit. It is possible to endure physical pain and suffering while the mind and heart are filled with peace and joy. That’s what I mean by being in paradise even while you are still part of this earthly scene of chance and change.

- Howard Hageman

(end)

Colleagues List, May 15th, 2022

 Vol. XVII, No. 29

 Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019                                          http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca                                            http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com

Current archives listed on this page

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 at - waholst@telus.net

*****

Dear Friends:

I write a brief meditation on what it means to be connected to soil and lawn at this time of year. Hopefully, this connects with many of you.

Hopefully, you will find other parts of this letter of help to you too.

Please note - 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.

Wayne

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

A REFLECTION ON THE EARTH AT SPRINGTIME

The following note was sent to the people of St. David's Church, my local Christian community - and I would like to share it with you now...

Dear Friends:

Holy is the soil we walk on,

Holy everything that grows,

Holy all, beneath the surface,

Holy every stream that flows,

May new life emerge within you this spring,

and may you see that it too, is holy.

Blessings from the St. David's staff (all signatures).

--

Marlene and I spend a lot of time and energy preparing our yard and gardens during these weeks of springtime. It is something we cherish, and - while we may not always think about our activities in spiritual terms - that is not far removed from what we actually think and do.

Over the years, Marlene has invested much in her gardens. Before we met and married I yearned to live in a place that had a yard I could mow.

Garden and yard have continued to provide spiritual reserves for us from spring through autumn of each year that we have been together and we have continued doing this for a score of years.

As we grow older, we wonder if we will have the energy to continue our earthly tasks. So far, we have been able to do so.

Perhaps, after reading the poem quoted above, we might be asking the wrong question. It might be wiser for us to ask - are we spiritually strong enough to remain connected to the efforts of garden and yard? If this connection is no longer possible - with what might we replace it?

I thank God for this timely reminder.

Wayne

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Elfrieda Schroeder, Winnipeg, MB.

"April Fool's Month"

https://tinyurl.com/nham7a4y

--

Jim Taylor, Okanagan, BC

"The Gap Between Cause and Correspondence"

https://tinyurl.com/2p8r3tyw

--

Ron Rolheiser, San Antonio, TX

"Spirituality - A Place Where All Believers Can Come Together"

https://tinyurl.com/443xbks8

--

Mark Whittall,  Ottawa, ON.

"The Recognition Problem"

https://tinyurl.com/ycxhh9nf

*****

NET NOTES

REQUIEM FOR UKRAINE

Catholic Register, Toronto, May 6th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/vtrx56d4

--

EASTER HOPE RISES IN UKRAINE

Catholic Register, Toronto, April 28th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2p96hv77

--

RUSSIAN PROTESTANTS PRAY FOR UKRAINE

It is a Dangerous Stance in the Larger Community

Christian Week, Christian Media, April 29th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2p9a7prv

--

WHY IS THE CHURCH FAILING IN THE WEST?

Many Signs Point Downward

Religion News Service, May 10th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/htk9836u

--

ROE VS WADE CAN'T CHANGE CANADA'S LAWS

But U.S. Demise Will Create a "Feast for Lawyers"

Catholic Register, Toronto, May 11th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/mvm9kxt2

--

OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY ENTERS NEW ERA

It is no longer a Capital of Anti-Semitism

Religion News Service, May 9th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/hptc9shh

--

CANADIANS SUPPORTIVE OF HOW GOVERNMENT

IS HANDLING THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE

Angus Reid Institute, May 9th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/2p9yc72t

--

CANTERBURY'S APOLOGY TO CANADA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Anglican Journal, May 2nd, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/35sh52jk

--

POPE FRANCIS SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE FOR ALL ELDERLY

He Proves that Old People Have Lives Worth Living

Crux, May 11th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/3vpsjrm3

--

TO STOP RUSSIAN MANIPULATION,

FRANCIS MUST MAKE VATICAN STANCE CLEAR 

National Catholic Reporter, May 9th, 2022

https://tinyurl.com/fs9s6spk

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online: 

May the God who mothers each of us be a source of life for all who long for hope.

- Emmy Kegler

--

As human beings, we are co-sustainers with the rest of creation to ensure the abundant life for all creation the Creator intended. And God said that is good.

- Randy Woodley

--

If I am afraid to speak the truth, lest I lose affection, or lest the one concerned should say, “You do not understand,” or because I fear to lose my reputation for kindness; if I put my own good name before the other’s highest good, then I know nothing of Calvary love.

- Amy Carmichael

--

We should all be angry. Anger has a long history of bringing about positive change; but, in addition to being angry, I'm also hopeful. Because I believe deeply in the ability of human beings to make and remake themselves for the better.

- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

--

The chief biblical analogy for baptism is not the water that washes but the flood that drowns. Discipleship is more than turning over a new leaf. It is more fitful and disorderly than gradual moral formation. Nothing less than daily, often painful, lifelong death will do. So Paul seems to know not whether to call what happened to him on the Damascus Road “birth” or “death” – it felt like both at the same time.

- William H. Willimon

--

There is often more wisdom to be found at the edges of life than in its middle. Life-threatening illness may shuffle our values like a deck of cards. Sometimes a card that has been on the bottom of the deck for most of our lives turns out to be the top card, the thing that really matters. Having watched people sort their cards and play their hands in the presence of death for many years, I would say that rarely is the top card perfection, or possessions, or even pride. Most often the top card is love.

- Rachel Naomi Remen

--

That a good man may have his back to the wall is no more than we knew already; but that God could have his back to the wall is a boast for all insurgents forever. Christianity is the only religion on earth that has felt that omnipotence made God incomplete. Christianity alone has felt that God, to be wholly God, must have been a rebel as well as a king. Alone of all creeds, Christianity has added courage to the virtues of the Creator. For the only courage worth calling courage must necessarily mean that the soul passes a breaking point – and does not break.

G. K. Chesterton

--

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one...Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell.

C.S. Lewis

--

I understand more than that. I understand that God does not wish people to live apart, and therefore he does not reveal to them what each one needs for himself; but he wishes them to live united, and therefore reveals to each of them what is necessary forI knew before that God gave life to humankind and desires that they should live; now  all. I now understand that though it seems to people that they live by care for themselves, in truth it is love alone by which they live. He who has love is in God, and God is in him, for God is love. 

- Leo Tolstoy

--

Every day and every hour, every minute, walk round yourself and watch yourself, and see that your image is a seemly one. You pass by a little child, you pass by with ugly and spiteful words, with wrathful heart; you may not have noticed the child, but he has seen you, and your image, revolting and godless, may remain in his defenseless heart. You don’t know it, but you may have sown an evil seed in him and it may grow, all because you were not careful before the child, because you did not foster in yourself a careful, actively benevolent love. Love is a teacher; but one must know how to acquire it, for it is hard to acquire, it is dearly bought, it is won slowly by long labor. For we must love not only occasionally, for a moment, but forever.

- Fyoder Dostoyevsky

(end)