Wayne's Blog

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Colleagues List, July 12th, 2020

Vol XVI. No. 2
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:

I apologize for being several days late in mailing my
Colleagues List for July 12th. Only today did I receive
the link for my Special Item this week - my June column
for the Anglican Journal. It is written in support of many
hopeful New Canadians living in Quebec who have served
us well and whose status in our country has been tenuous.

I include other items in this mailing as usual, and plan
to provide a regular CL mailing for July 19th.

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

My Special Item this week picks up on a column written
in the Globe and Mail by Andre Picard. It is entitled"

"Will We Support Our Guardian Angels?"

https://tinyurl.com/ydgtdwct

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Elfrieda Schroeder,
Winnipeg, MB.

"In Transit" Blog
July 9th, 2020

"Beyond the Face of Fear"
  https://tinyurl.com/yb2q5rru

--

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site,
July 6th, 2020

"Deeper Things Under the Surface"
  https://tinyurl.com/y9z2dzzz

--

Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log,
July 5th, 2020

"Plague of Locusts ..."
  https://tinyurl.com/y6vhdvcz

*****

NET NOTES - July 12th, 2020

THE DALAI LAMA TURNS 85
Uncertain Future, Like Tibet's

Religion News Service,
July 6th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y9l75th8

--

VATICAN MUSEUMS ONCE OVERCROWDED
The Virus Seems to be Changing That

Religion News Service,
July 9th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/ya6qabv2

--

WHY IT WOULD BE TERRIFYING
TO OPEN THE CANADA/US BORDER
Canadian Cases Going Down, US Going Up

CTV.ca
July 6th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yde4zcjg

--

THE SPIRITUAL DANGER OF DONALD TRUMP
30 Evangelical Christians on Justice, Truth and
Moral Integrity, edited by Canadian Ron Sider

Englewood Review of Books
July 9th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y7h2wge8

--

AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM NEEDS A RETOOL
We're Like the Crazy Uncle Living in the Attic

National Catholic Reporter,
July 7th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y9nglwcf

--

BECOMING LESS DEFENSIVE OF WHITE PRIVILEGE
Some Tools for Dealing With Our Guilt and Fear

The Christian Century,
July 6th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yatteqkw

--

A MUSLIM APPEALS ON BEHALF OF HAGIA SOPHIA
"Preserve it as a Museum" is the Plea

Religion News Service,
July 8th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y7nmyvue

--

DOES SYSTEMIC RACISM EXIST
IN THE CANADIAN CHURCH?
Often, We Fail to Recognize It

Faith Today
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
July/August, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/ydyz2zgs

--

"IT'S LIKE NIGHT AND DAY"
TRUDEAU AND TRUMP CONTEND WITH THE VIRUS
Stoking Division Vs. Cultivating a Sense of Duty

The Guardian, UK
July 9th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y97lh85t

--

MANY U.S. CHURCHES WANTED A QUICK RE-OPENING
THE RESULT IS A SECOND WAVE VIRUS SURGE
A Lesson? Churches are Responsible for the
Health of Their Members and Others

New York Times,
July 8th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/ybas48le

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK - July 12th, 2020

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online -

In making a choice it is not so much a question of
choosing the right as of the energy, the earnestness,
the passion with which one chooses. This is how
personality is consolidated. Even if a person chooses
the wrong, he will nevertheless discover precisely by
reason of the energy with which he chose, that he has
chosen the wrong.

- Søren Kierkegaard

--

It is not how much we are doing but how much love,
how much honesty, how much faith is put into doing it.
It makes no difference what we are doing. What you are
doing, I cannot do, and what I am doing, you cannot do.

Only sometimes we forget and we spend more time
looking at somebody else and wishing we were doing
something else. We waste our time thinking of tomorrow,
and today we let the day pass, and yesterday is gone.

- Mother Teresa

--

Hope is subversive precisely because it dares to admit
that all is not as it should be. And so we are holding out
for, working for, creating, prophesying, and living into
something better — for the kingdom to come, for oaks
of righteousness to tower, for leaves to blossom for the
healing of the nations, for swords to be beaten into
plowshares, for joy to come in the morning, and for
redemption and justice.

- Sarah Bessey

--

You were created to do good work. Work that empowers
and inspires, liberates and transforms, restores and softens.
Yes, work can be hard – as it was meant to be. The verb
itself calls us into action, rejecting passivity and demanding
sustained effort. It provokes, agitates, and disturbs. But,
this work – the call for justice – is good work. It defends the
oppressed and frees the captive. It tears down walls and
destroys barriers. It is changing things. So, when you feel
weary, or hopeless, or spent, remind yourself that the
darkness is being flooded by marvelous light. Yes, this
is work. And it is good.

- Danielle Coke

--

Here is a letter we received today: “I took a gentleman
seemingly in need of spiritual and temporal guidance
into my home on a Sunday afternoon. I let him have a
nap on my bed, went through the want ads with him,
made coffee and sandwiches for him, and when he left,

I found my wallet had gone also.” I can only say that
the saints would only bow their heads, and not try to
understand or judge.…These things happened for our
testing. We are sowing the seed of love, and we are not
living in the harvest time. We must love to the point of
folly, and we are indeed fools, as our Lord himself was
who died for such a one as this

- Dorothy Day

--

The healthy body is being constantly renewed. This is
just as true mentally and spiritually. There is so much in
God’s Word about renewal of life that it is strange that
any conscientious Christian would be afraid of change
in his outlook on life or even in his religious ideas.

Of course, the fear is that change would mean loss of faith,
but this is never true if the faith is in the living God and not
in one’s ideas of God. God never changes, but our minds
must be open to new knowledge or grow stagnant. When
we quit growing we begin to die. Renewal can come to
anyone at any time by turning to God in faith

- Anna Mow

--

I ask all of you, dear brothers and sisters, to view these
things that are happening in our historical moment with a
spirit of hope, generosity, and sacrifice. And let us do what
we can.

We can all do something and be more understanding.If
we illuminate with Christian hope our intense longings for
justice and peace and all that is good, then we can be sure
that no one dies forever. If we have imbued our work with a
sense of great faith, love of God, and hope for humanity,
then all our endeavors will lead to the splendid crown that
is the sure reward for the work of sowing truth, justice, love,
and goodness on earth. Our work does not remain here; it
is gathered and purified by the Spirit of God and returned to
us as a reward.

- Oscar Romero

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Rabbi Yaakov Yitzhak of Lublin

The person who is coldly hostile will always find the
way closed. But one who can burn with enmity can
also burn with love for God.

(end)

*****

Friday, July 3, 2020

Colleagues List, July 5th, 2020

Vol XVI. No. 1
Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019 http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com/

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

David received his theological education in England and in Canada and has served for 38 years with The United Church of Canada. David’s previous lectionary-based, three-volume prayer collections – Prayers to Share, and Pastoral Prayers to Share – have been welcomed and widely used in North America. David is a prolific and well-received contributor to the worship leader’s resource Gathering, and has had prayers and hymns published in other ecumenical and national Worship publications. David and his wife, Kathy, live in Summerland, British Columbia.

--

Author's Words:

My thanks to those who have found my previous worship
books (Prayers to Share and Pastoral Prayers) helpful.

This series is the third in a three-volume set, involving
materials for both leaders and people. Public prayer is not
the exclusive preserve of the worship leader. but a dynamic
and responsive act that faithfully involves everyone. We are
all involved in this essential part of the service - praying to
God together!

In this series, I stress the value of a thematic format for the
service. I have also focused on the non-Gospel scriptures
emphasized in my previous books. This is done to broaden
the scope of your worshipful selection and attentiveness.

While the worship leader usually plans the prayers, I hope
those that are used on these pages will be changed, added to,
or simply used as inspiration or as a focus point for worship.

There is opportunity for silence and silent prayers in all
that I have laid out here. I hope that you will use these spaces
for individual use by members of the gathered community.

Please feel free to use internet imagery to enhance the
meaning of the words that appear.

"What does the Lord require of us" as worship leaders?
Only that we engage ourselves wholeheartedly in bringing
praise and glory to God, and that we are about the active
prayers of doing justice, loving kindness, and walking
humbly with the Holy One.

--

My Thoughts:

As with the previous books in this worship series, I
am grateful that David Sparks presents his material
as a guide for use by the whole People of God.

Many of our congregations are declining in numbers,
but worship leaders can indeed emerge for those
remaining. A book like this can help local congregations
who must find ways to worship without a specially
trained guide every week.

I am also pleased that David Sparks continues to follow
the Revised Common Lectionary readings. I grew up in
a tradition that respected the Common Lectionary and
am quick to notice when the worship leader drifts into
"hobby horse" thinking and focuses normally on special,
personal interest themes.

It takes effort to lead well the people in worship - at least
if one wants to do a responsible piece of work. This book -
and others in this series - can be a real asset to those who
take the worship privilege seriously as leaders and followers.

--

Buy the book -

From Wood Lake Publishers (Paper):
https://tinyurl.com/y8llvtnr

From Amazon.ca: (Kindle)
https://tinyurl.com/ycksnp9b

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

INTRODUCED BY DONALD SCHMIDT
Author of "Creation for Progressive Christians"
Presented here on CL June 7th, 2020
https://tinyurl.com/yc9fbe6t

Responded to by Colin Outtrim, CL June 28th, 2020
https://tinyurl.com/ybu7mhgp

June 27th, 2020

Donald Schmidt writes:

I did read the comments in the Colleagues List mailing.

While I find his points interesting, I also note that even the
Wikipedia article he refers to states that global warming is
not only a threat but also is what is wiping out the nation of
Tuvalu. I would also refer you to their own government
website which points out how little land they have left.

I point no fingers at any individual or corporation, but I
do get a bit tired of those who frantically try to pit details
against overwhelming scientific study. There’s lots of room
for conversation for sure, and I welcome it - but I also am
concerned when people hide behind any discipline to
deny obvious reality. There’s too much of that going on
these days about COVID-19; I find it concerning in other
arenas as well.

Thanks for passing this along.

Donald

(I connected Colin and Donald, hoping they continue discussion.)

Wayne

--

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS (Continued)

Isabel Gibson,
Ottawa, ON.

Personal Mailing:(June 27th, 2020)
Scientific American (undated article)

"What Would Happen if Everyone
  Truly Believed Everything is One?
https://tinyurl.com/yafeertj

--

Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC

Personal Weblog
June 28th, 2020

"Don't Waste My Wife's Last Sacrifice"
  https://tinyurl.com/ybp6cu66

--

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Website
June 29th, 2020

"Praying When We Don't Know How"
  https://tinyurl.com/y972gybz

*****

NET NOTES - July 5th, 2020

HALTING THE HAJJ
A Significant Decision

Sightings,
July 2nd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y9vptqrd

--

THE FIVE DOCTRINES
OF EX-MORMONISM
A Personal Report

Religion News Service,
June 30th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y8vchuzc

--

TREATMENT BETTER
FOR EGYPTIAN CHRISTIANS
Current Government More
Attentive to Religious Minorities

Christian Post,
July 2nd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y6ur3nx7

--

C OF E SHOULD RECONSIDER
PORTRAYING JESUS AS WHITE
Welby Wants Review of Statues

The Guardian, UK
June 26th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yaoykz5z

--

BRAZIL'S MASSIVE REPLICA
OF THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON
Pentecostals Think Big Biblically

The Christian Century,
June 15th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yawttp3x

--

THE GIFT OF NURTURING SMALL
THINGS DURING ISOLATION
A Good Way to Spend the Time

The Christian Century,
June 15th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/ycqxhf2o

--

AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON
I IDENTIFY WITH BLACK STRUGGLES
A Canadian Minority Group Perspective

Broadview,
June 25th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y9m8kb7j

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK - July 5th, 2020

Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof

All that you touch / You Change. / All that you Change /
Changes you. / The only lasting truth / is Change. /
God / is Change.

- Octavia Butler

--

Here is the mystery, the secret, one might almost
say the cunning, of the deep love of God: that it is
bound to draw on to itself the hatred and pain and
shame and anger and bitterness and rejection of
the world, but to draw all those things on to itself
is precisely the means, chosen from all eternity
by the generous, loving God, by which to rid his
world of the evils which have resulted from human
abuse of God-given freedom.

- N. T. Wright

--

I always begin my prayer in silence, for it is in
the silence of the heart that God speaks. God is
the friend of silence – we need to listen to God
because it’s not what we say but what he says
to us and through us that matters. Prayer feeds
the soul – as blood is to the body, prayer is to
the soul – and it brings you closer to God. It also
gives you a clean and pure heart. A clean heart
can see God, can speak to God, and can see the
love of God in others

- Mother Teresa

--

Put your sword back! These are the last words –
a definitive rebuke – the disciples hear from Jesus
before they run away. If ever there was a moment
in God’s eyes when violence would be justifiable,
this is it! But Jesus is clear: Put your sword back!

His followers are not allowed to respond with violence.
They are not allowed to kill. They are not allowed to
harm others. They are not allowed to threaten others.
They are not permitted to “deter” violent crime with
the use of violence.

- John Dear

--

True individuality is measured by this: how long or
how far one can endure being alone without the
understanding of others. The person who can endure
being alone is poles apart from the social mixer.

This person is miles apart from the one who manages
successfully with everyone – the one who possesses
no sharp edges. God never uses such people. The
true individual, anyone who is going to be directly
involved with God, will not and cannot avoid the
human bite. The true individual will be thoroughly
misunderstood. God is no friend of cozy human
gathering.

- Søren Kierkegaard

*****

MOMENT IN TIME

Globe and Mail
July 3rd, 2020

Americans Invade Canada
July 3rd, 1814

In 1814, during what would later be known as the War of
1812,the United States wanted to invade Upper Canada
near Kingston. However, British ships had command of
Lake Ontario, so the invasion was switched to the southern
part of the Niagara Peninsula. On this date in 1814, U.S.
troops from Buffalo crossed the Niagara River for an attack
on the heavily fortified Fort Erie, which the Americans wanted
for a staging point.

Under the command of Major-General Jacob Brown, U.S.
forces landed brigades north and south of the fort. Fort Erie,
with its 137 British soldiers under the command of Major
Thomas Buck, fired only a few meager shots toward the
advancing Americans. Brown, whose total forces numbered
about 4,500, gave Buck an ultimatum – two hours to
surrender.

Without another shot, and with no loss of life, the British
capitulated. (Buck’s boss, Lieutenant-General Gordon
Drummond, later had Buck court-martialled for his rapid
surrender.)

The Americans held the fort another four months before
abandoning it. Now, showing there are no hard feelings,
the crossing between Canada and the United States, about
a kilometre from the old fort, is via the Peace Bridge.

- Philip King

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Curtis Ramsey-Lucas

Justice is not something we form or fashion.
It is woven by God into the very fabric of creation.

(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! .

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Colleagues List, July 12th, 2020

Friday, July 3, 2020

Colleagues List, July 5th, 2020

Colleagues List, July 24th, 2022