Colleagues List, February 3rd, 2013

Vol. VIII No. 18

*****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net

*****

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

Canadian Anglicans Google Groups Site:
http://tinyurl.com/bdadm5y

Now "Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog, as in the past.

*****

Dear Friends:

I hope you will enjoy the rich cache of
articles, reflectiosns and opinions I have
found for you this week.

My Special Item:

Book Notice -

"Marrow Turned to Soul" a book of
poetry by colleague Faith Nostbakken

--

Colleague Contributions are from:

Marjorie Gibson of Vancouver
http://tinyurl.com/afk2mdp

Jim Taylor of the Okanagan
http://tinyurl.com/3m3alz8 (and)

Ron Rolheiser of San Antonio
http://tinyurl.com/a2cax45

--

Net Notes:

This week we are introduced to the
following stories from the internet -

"Philosophy of Pi" - here is a reflection
on the current movie which I have also
promoted here (Sightings)
http://tinyurl.com/a2gx9v7

"Who is In and Out?" - believe in hell,
and even in heaven, is going through some
major transformation today (The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/aekknaa

"Early Christians Were Rich?" - an
interesting article on the economic
status of many early Christians
(America) http://tinyurl.com/a55zers

"Interview With Iris Murdough" - an
English newspaper goes back fifty years
to interview an now-deceased author
(The Guardian) http://tinyurl.com/a738sro

"Tsunami of Anger Rises Globally" - the
violence against women issue we have been
following since December has now become
a global phenomenon (The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/a3n7b5g

"Ring the Bell on Domestic Violence" -
coupled with the previous story, a related
concern to stop domestic violence is growing.
Here is a visual from the developing world
(Christian Century) http://tinyurl.com/bzdyzvf

"Christopher Hitchens on 'Mortality'" - the
famous atheist wrote a book on his pending
death from cancer (Englewood Review)
http://tinyurl.com/ayh8dxq

"US Scouts Admit Gays, But Not Atheists"
- a major change in scout admission policy
was announced this week (Washington Post)
http://tinyurl.com/bd8zcb2

"LA Archbishops in Open, Public Conflict"
- the child abuse crisis facing the Roman
Church will not go away and it is causing
some unhappy high-level, internal, but very
public conflict (National Catholic Reporter)
http://ncronline.org/node/44136

"'Les Mis' Strikes Universal Mission Chord"
- the recently released movie based on the
book by french author Victor Hugo with its
theme of struggles with poverty is gaining
world wide attention (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/aer97fp

--

Wisdom of the Week:

Here are insights from people
both living and dead, provided
by Sojourners online -

Anne Frank, Paulinus of Nola
Madeleine L'Engle and William Law

--

On this Day:

January 27th - February 2nd

Provided from the archives
of the New York Times

Robert Frost Dies in Boston
http://tinyurl.com/bz6cnlg

Gandhi Murdered by Hindu Extremist
http://tinyurl.com/atcwj7u

Black Students Begin Sit In in Greensboro
http://tinyurl.com/bx4v8nu

US congress Abolishes Slavery
http://tinyurl.com/b7clx3l

--

Closing Thought -

Again by colleague Isabel Gibson of Ottawa

Isabel's Blog:
http://www.traditionaliconoclast.com/

--

Lent approaches quickly.

Have a good week,

Wayne

--



******

ST. DAVID'S AND UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS

St. David's and ACTS Ministry Announce -

Our Spiritual Travelers Tour for 2013
TURKEY AND THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH

DEADLINE FOR SIGN-UP HAS PAST! -
JANUARY 23RD.

26 people have paid to take the tour.
April 23rd - May 9th, 2013

Our major tour themes are: Classic Greek and Roman,
Early Christian, Muslim-Christian and the beautiful
scenery of the Mediterranean coast of SW Turkey.

*Enjoy Istanbul (Constantinople) - long a link
between East and West.

*Classical cities like Troy will be visited and
intriguing ancient sites will be revealed.

*Pilgrims from many of the regions we will visit
were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost - people
from "Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia" -
(Acts 2.)

*Saint Paul founded churches in many of the centers
of central and western Turkey and we will spend
quality time in places like Ephesus.

*We will come to know cities mentioned in the
Book of Revelation (chapters 1-3) by Jobn.
Cities like Pergamon, Thyatira, Philadelphia,
Sardis and Smyrna

---

The tour book will include reflection pages
with the itinerary as well as answers to many
traveller's questions.

Your tour hosts:

Marlene and Wayne Holst
waholst@telusplanet.net (or)
marleneaholst@gmail.com
403-286-7416

*****

OUR WINTER AND SPRING 2013 PROGRAMS

With more to be announced -

AT ST.DAVID'S UNITED CHURCH

"WELCOMING THE STRANGER" WEEKEND AT ST. DAVID'S

Friday March 1st - Sunday, March 3rd (confirmed)

Special Guest:
Mary Jo Leddy, Romero House, Toronto.

Mary Jo's presentations will take place
at St. David's church.

Other guests are presently being secured for
panels, workshop and as seminar leaders. These
activities will be held on the university
campus.

Watch for new information on this
special weekend focused on Canada's
policy for welcoming new Canadians
and how Christians might respond.

*****

MONDAY NIGHT STUDY

THIS SERIES HAS BEGUN!!

From Monday, January 14th
through Monday, March 26th.
7:00 -9:00 PM TM Room.

Study Book:

"Radical Gratitude" by Mary Jo Leddy

Review of book links:
http://tinyurl.com/bemfdms
(Western Catholic Reporter)

http://tinyurl.com/awu94eq
(Gospel and our Culture)

Cost of the course: $50.00
Buy only the book: $20.00

The course and books are now
on sale at the church lobby.

*****

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

"Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs"

Thursday, January 17th - March 28th, 2013

THIS SERIES HAS BEGUN!!
Drop-ins welcome.

All welcome. No cost.

*****

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

THIS COURSE HAS BEGUN!!

Tuesday Night University Study sponsored
by the Faculty of Continuing Education:

HERESIES AND HERETICS - The Real Story of
Early Christianity. Cont Ed Course 198-001

Ten Sessions - Jan. 22nd - Mar. 26th, 2013

Click this link for books, costs and details:
http://tinyurl.com/77xuwnu

---

Faith and Spirituality Centre Winter Study
Sponsored by the Christian chaplains of
the University of Calgary

TWELVE STEPS TO A COMPASSIONATE LIFE
A Study of Karen Armstrong's latest book.

Fridays - March 1st - April 5th
12 noon - 1:00 PM

Six Weeks - Native Centre Board Room,
McEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary.

12 noon to 1:00 PM: Cost of the book: $15.

*****

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4

This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

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

SPECIAL ITEM:

Boon Notice -

MARROW TURNED TO SOUL
Self-published by
Faith Nostbakken, 2012
Edmonton, AB.

Author Bio:

Faith Nostbakken is a spiritual director,
companioning people on their faith journeys
out of the Providence Renewal Centre in
Edmonton, Alberta. She has a PhD in English
Literature and a Master of Theological Studies
degree. She has been challenged by a
debilitating chronic illness since 1990,
an experience that has greatly shaped her
soul and informed her poetry.

Selections from her book:

Storytelling

This is how each story gets told:
You have to be ready in order to receive it;
You have to be still in order to hear it;
You have to hear it in order to say it;
You have to say it in order to believe it;
You have to want it enough in order to accept it;
Then let it transform you from the inside out
like the birth of a mystery that finds its own voice,
suspended in space, sucking in air and singing
the wildest song from the shock of your lungs
because it's the only one you know;
It's your heartbeat touched with breath;
It's the fingerprint of your tongue;
It's your truth to be shared;
It's marrow turned to soul.

--

Unveiling

Once I thought that revelation was
the marvellous unveiling of truth
but now I see it otherwise as
the partial unveiling of mystery:
all answers dissolve into pure questions
as I touch lightly on the pulse of grace
yet draw from it, like electric sparks,
the lifeblood of sustaining eternity.

--

Taste and See

Bitter is the dark taste
in my mouth whose source
cannot quite be named
except to say that losses
accumulate over decades
and rather than let them go
the jaw keeps chewing
on their flavourless absence
as if some nourishment were there.

Why not instead bite
into even that one small
purple berry exactly ripened
for today and let it stain
the tongue vibrant
like a brand new syllable
ready to break into singing
because a single note is always
just the beginning that yearns
to hear the rest of the song.

--

Grieving

There has been more grieving in my bones
than swollen tears would hold
and when I finally felt the marrow
splashing salt over the brim
then I knew that dry bones breed new life
once dead stalks drop their seeds
in the dance that follows the rain.

***

My Comments:

The Nostbakken family is well known in
Western Canadian Lutheranism, especially
Saskatchewan. There have been generations
of church leaders from that family
and I have come to know a number of them.

Faith Nostbakken, however, was new to me
until some weeks ago when a relative
suggested I read her recently self-published
book of poetry. I'm glad I have begun to
come to know her through the forty poems
she has released with this book.

She has a special capacity with words and
the turning of a phrase. One can literally
dance on the spot, or feel deep sorrow
through an encounter with her work. She
must certainly spend much time seeking
the right way to express a thought or
feeling.

I am pleased that she has learned from
the Catholic sisters who have helped her
become a spiritual director and I hope
that her experience will become common
for many others in the Canadian Lutheran
community from which she has emerged.

Thank you, Faith!

Faith has given me permission to share
her contact information. If you find
the few poems I have offered here inviting,
please feel free to approach her.

To connect or to order a copy -

Email: fnostbak@gmail.com
Phone: 780-435-6262
Address: #314 -2620 Millwoods Road E.
         Edmonton, AB. T6L 5K6

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMUNICATIONS

MARJORIE GIBSON
Vancouver, BC

Marjorie Remembers
Blog Site
Feb. 1, 2013

"Still On the Path"

http://tinyurl.com/afk2mdp

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Web Log
Jan. 30, 2013

"Losers Don't Get to Tell Their Stories"

http://tinyurl.com/3m3alz8

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Web Site
January 28th, 2013

ECUMENISM - OUR NEGLECTED MANDATE

http://tinyurl.com/a2cax45

*****

NET NOTES

PHILOSOPHY OF PI

Sightings.
January 31st, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/a2gx9v7

--

WHO IS IN AND OUT?

Views of Heaven/Hell Changing

The Tablet, UK
February 2nd. 2013

http://tinyurl.com/aekknaa

--

EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE RICH?
'Through the Eye of a Needle' Reviewed

America Magazine
February 1st, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/a55zers

--

INTERVIEW WITH IRIS MURDOUGH
Guardian Talks with Famous Author
Fifty Years Ago

The Guardian, UK
February 1st, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/a738sro

--

TSUNAMI OF ANGER RISES GLOBALLY
Against Violence Toward Women

The Guardian, UK
January 27th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/a3n7b5g


RING THE BELL RE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
International Fight Growing

The Christian Century
February 1st, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/bzdyzvf

--

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS ON 'MORTALITY'
Englewood Review of Books

February 2nd 2013

http://tinyurl.com/ayh8dxq

--

US SCOUTS ADMIT GAYS, BUT NOT ATHEISTS

Washington Post
January 29th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/bd8zcb2

--

LA ARCHBISHOPS IN OPEN PUBLIC CONFLICT
Current Leader Removes Predecessor

National Catholic Reporter
February 1st, 2012

http://ncronline.org/node/44136

--

'LES MIS' STRIKES GLOBAL CHORD FOR MISSIONS
Film Based in France Speaks Universally

Uca News
Feb. 1, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/aer97fp

***

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners Online:

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait
a single moment before starting to improve
the world.

- Anne Frank

--

We have no right to our possessions;
they have been entrusted to us for the
good of all. Let us then invest with
the Lord what he has given us, for we
have nothing that does not come from
[God]: we are dependent upon [God] for
our very existence. And we ourselves,
who have a special and a greater debt,
since God not only created us but
purchased us as well; what can we
regard as our own when we do not
possess even ourselves?

- Paulinus of Nola

--

We are all asked to do more than we can do.
Every hero and heroine of the Bible does
more than he or she would have thought it
possible to do, from Gideon to Esther to Mary.
Jacob, one of my favorite characters, certainly
wasn't qualified. He was a liar and a cheat; and
yet he was given the extraordinary vision of
angels and archangels ascending and descending
a ladder which reached from earth to heaven.

- Madeleine L'Engle

--

All that is sweet, delightful, and amiable
in this world, in the serenity of the air,
the fineness of seasons, the joy of light,
the of sounds, the beauty of colors, the
fragrancy of smells, the splendor of
precious stones, is nothing else but Heaven
breaking through the veil of this world.

- William Law

--

ON THIS DAY

January 27th - February 2nd

Provided from the archives
of the New York Times

Robert Frost Dies in Boston
http://tinyurl.com/bz6cnlg

Gandhi Murdered by Hindu Extremist
http://tinyurl.com/atcwj7u

Black Students Begin Sit In in Greensboro
http://tinyurl.com/bx4v8nu

US congress Abolishes Slavery
http://tinyurl.com/b7clx3l

***

CLOSING THOUGHT -

Colleague Isabel Gibson:

Did you hate math class?  OK,
you econometrics, engineering,
IT, math and physics majors reading
this (all five of you!) are excused
from answering this one. You arts,
education and business types—how did
you feel about math class? Endless
hours of tedious, incomprehensible
and purposeless stuff, right?

What a shame. Worse, what a failure of
imagination—if not in individual math
teachers then in curriculum designers.
Mathematical concepts can clarify our
day-to-day thinking in areas as diverse
as public policy discussions and proposal
writing.  Join me in celebrating just
two such…

The 'necessary but not sufficient' construct,
in which we distinguish between conditions
that are surely required, yet not by themselves
enough, to bring about a desired outcome. How
much argumentation about social problems and
solutions could be avoided by adopting this
simple phrase and, by extension, admitting that
complex problems often do not have single
solutions?

The 'disjoint set', in which we carve up the
universe of things into mutually exclusive
categories that cover all instances. Think
of the 'animal, vegetable, mineral' of the
Twenty Questions game we played as kids
(And who knew those categories originated
with Linnaeus?  Thanks again to Wikipedia!).
Simple categorizations help us cover all the
bases, while keeping 'like' with 'like' and
'different' somewhere else!  To see the
quintessential example of a non-disjoint
set (albeit likely an artificial one),
check out this supposed ancient Chinese
taxonomy of animals, and contrast it with
what Linnaeus did.

No matter where we find its tools — even
in math class — may we treasure the gift
of clear thinking.

--

Isabel's Blog:
http://www.traditionaliconoclast.com/

(end)