Thursday, June 5, 2014

Colleagues List, June 8th, 2014

Vol. IX.  No. 37

*****

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. 

Note that not all items here have links.


*****


Dear Friends:

D-Day occurred seventy years ago. No one
should miss the opportunity to tour the
famous beaches of Normandy where much
of the action took place.

Marlene and I visited a number of the sites
and cemeteries three years ago, and it left
an indelible impression.

Wayne Dreyman - a colleague friend of a
colleague friend - has asked about including
local study group members in my Colleagues
List mailings. I am very happy to oblige, so
please send me your names and email
addresses (see Colleague Comment below)

--

My special item this week is a study guide
by Richard Rohr entitled:

"Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy -
  on the Legacy of St. Francis" 

It offers a new look at some old teachings
as well as some new ways of approaching
them.

http://tinyurl.com/owehs5q
http://tinyurl.com/nexcyam

--

Colleague Contributions are from:

Molly Worthen - Chapel Hill NC
Molly reviews two Jimmy Carter
titles appearing this weekend in 
the New York Times Review of Books.
http://tinyurl.com/mlskacy

Martin Marty - Chicago IL
Marty writes about Roma (Gypsies)
and Christian movements among them.
http://tinyurl.com/nreywsl

Jim Taylor - Okanagan, BC
Jim suggests that "weeding" can
be a form of meditation.
http://tinyurl.com/ml9j5lh

Ron Rolheiser - San Antonio, TX
Ron talks about social media and 
how it affects us psychologically
http://tinyurl.com/phf6v2z

Net Notes:

"Tutu Slams Our Oil Sands" -
the archbishop made some
offhanded and - to my mind -
unfortunate comments this week
(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/lp2wsx4

"Philip Jenkins' New Book" -
a book on WWI and some of
its religious ramifications by a
colleague and historian
(Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/kupusjq

"Surprising Grace of Alzheimer's" -
caring for a victim of this dreaded
disease can be a spiritual blessing
(National Catholic Reporter) 
http://tinyurl.com/pt8e5ej

"Evangelicals Struggling with SSM" -
an honest look at same sex marriage
that admits it is a big challenge to
evangelical Christians today
(Christian Week)
http://tinyurl.com/kcru8f2

"Christians Under Siege in Nigeria" -
stories from Nigeria today suggest
that many Christians there face a very
great ordeal (Christian Week)
http://tinyurl.com/ksrdvj8

"Thousands Attend Tienanmen Vigil" -
on the twenty-fifth anniversary of
this event, several presentations on it
(UCA News, The Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/o3s625e
http://tinyurl.com/ouot35v

"The Problem with Biblical Authority" -
N.T. Wright picks up on an important
problem for Christians who claim the
Bible as their primary authority
(Sojourners/Faithstreet.com)
http://tinyurl.com/q3mq4wy

"Children's Mass Grave Found in Ireland" -
more bad news from Ireland about the
burial of children that needs unpacking
(Reuters/America/Catholic News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/pctrhx4
http://tinyurl.com/pn4apgb

"Panel Assesses Church Growth in China" -
more insights into the expansion of
Christianity in China today (Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/nlv8wyu

"Francis Again Speaks on Clerical Celibacy" -
the pope seems open to continuing discussion
on this issue where previously there was none.
(Huffington Post Religion)  
http://tinyurl.com/q4qlyy3

*****

Wisdom of the Week:

From Sojourners and Bruderhof - 

Maya Angelou, Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Clarence Darrow, Mother Teresa and
Henri Nouwen  share thoughts today

*****

On This Day:

From the Archives of the New York Times

"RFK Assassinated in Los Angeles"
  http://tinyurl.com/nwzs76e

"Demonstrations, Massacre in Tiananmen Square"
  http://tinyurl.com/6ez8r32

"Elizabeth II Crowned Queen at Westminster Abbey"
  http://tinyurl.com/qhjvye

"D-Day Invasion Begins, German Defenses Breached"
  http://tinyurl.com/k8vw3

*****

Closing Thought - again, by Maya Angelou

It's good to be home and able to share
this issue of Colleagues List with you.

Wayne

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice

EMBRACING AN ALTERNATIVE ORTHODOXY
Richard Rohr on the Legacy of Saint Francis
Morehouse Education Resources, Denver CO
2014. $15.50 CAD. 90 pages (a study guide)
ISBN 13-978-1-60674-140-5.

Publisher's Promo:

• 5- to 10-week study for adults and young 
adults with appealing video format that prompts 
engagement and response

• Each participant uses his/her own journal for
 study and reflection

• Newest installment in the successful Embracing 
series. Each program in this series features two 
components sold separately: (1) A DVD with five 
10-15 minute presentations (one per group), in 
this case showing Fr. Richard Rohr interacting 
with a small group of adults, and (2) a participant 
workbook containing all the material needed by 
class participants as well as for the facilitator 
(one each).

In this edition, Richard Rohr explores five topics 
central to Franciscan theology and practice:

Atonement Theory
Eco-Spirituality
The Christ who Existed before Christianity
Orthopraxy vs. Verbal Orthodoxy (Living Like Jesus) 
Mysticism over Moralism


DVD sold separately

--

My Thoughts:

It comes as some surprise to some modern Christians
that inherited classical understandings are not uniform
and that there may be more than one orthodox tradition.

We go searching for insights from other faith traditions, 
for example, when we would be wise to investigate our 
own rich heritage first. That, at least, would make us 
more informed dialogue partners and mature Christians.

The material from Richard Rohr, introduced today,
is a case in point. He shares some of the insights from
his Franciscan tradition on vexing modern theological
issues like the doctrine of the atonement as well as 
linking meaning and practice.

Rohr collaborates with Canadian Tim Scorer 
to assemble a five part learning experience 
(using text and DVD.) Their purpose is to bring 
these issues to small learning groups in local
situations in ways that many can grasp and make
personal because of the dialogical method employed.

Listening to a good teacher like Rohr expound can
be inspiring, but substantive learning is often better
experienced when people can engage the issues
with others on a face-to-face basis using the 
guidance of a good teaching and process.

Here is a study worth considering. I have reviewed
(not utilized) this 90 page document and would like
to implement it in a teaching series with which I
am involved.  

I heartily endorse anything with which colleague 
Richard Rohr is involved!

***

Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/owehs5q

Book and DVD from Christian Books USA
http://tinyurl.com/nexcyam

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

Wayne Dreyman
Whitehall, PA.

June 2nd, 2014

Hello, Wayne:

Welcome home from your trip.  I continue 
to read and appreciate your website/blog 
Colleagues List. I find that it stimulates 
discussion among friends as well as provides 
sermon ideas to pursue.  I recently attended 
a Christian/Muslim Dialogue hosted by Walter 
Wagner, a name you probably know.  Some 
years ago, he was with the Division of 
Theological Education, LCA.  The discussions 
were held over a total of five Wednesday 
evenings and held at Moravian Theological 
Seminary, Bethlehem, PA.

The participants were mostly Lutherans, 
Moravians and members of a Sufi tradition 
of Islam.  Walter has been involved with this 
dialogue for several years and has the respect 
of Muslims and Christians alike.  

Very interesting and engaging.

Wayne

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

MOLLY WORTHEN
Chapel Hill, NC

"Redeemer - 
 The Life of Jimmy Carter"
  by Randall Balmer

"A Call to Action"
  by Jimmy Carter

New York Times Review of Books
June 9th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/mlskacy

--

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL

Sightings
June 2nd, 2014

"Roma"

http://tinyurl.com/nreywsl

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan,BC

Personal Web Log 
June 4th, 2014

"Weeding as a Form of Meditation"

http://tinyurl.com/ml9j5lh

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
June 2nd, 2014

"Wired in Our Patience"

http://tinyurl.com/phf6v2z


*****

NET NOTES

TUTU SLAMS OUR OIL SANDS
Unusually Caustic Remarks

Anglican Journal News
June 2nd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/lp2wsx4

--

PHILLIP JENKINS' NEW BOOK
Colleague Writes on WWI

Christian Post
May 28th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/kupusjq

--

SURPRISING GRACE OF ALZHEIMER'S
Accompaniment Offers Insights 

National Catholic Reporter
June 4th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/pt8e5ej

--

EVANGELICALS STRUGGLING WITH SSM
Once this Was a Liberal Church Issue.

Christian Week
May 21st, 2014


http://tinyurl.com/kcru8f2

--

CHRISTIANS UNDER SIEGE IN NIGERIA
Kidnappings are the 'Tip of the Iceberg'

Christian Week Online
June 3rd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ksrdvj8

--

THOUSANDS ATTEND TIANANMEN VIGIL
25th Anniversary of Freedom Call 

UCA News
June 5th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/o3s625e

At Tiananmen Square - 25 years Ago

The Atlantic Online
June 4th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ouot35v

--

THE PROBLEM WITH BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
N.T. Wright Addresses Key Evangelical Issue

Faithstreet.com
June 3rd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/q3mq4wy

--

CHILDREN'S MASS GRAVE FOUND IN IRELAND
Nuns Asked to Co-operate with Investigation

Reuters Religion News
June 4th, 2014


http://tinyurl.com/pctrhx4

"A Horror from the Past in Galway?"

America/Catholic News Service

June 4th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/pn4apgb

--

PANEL ASSESSES CHURCH GROWTH IN CHINA
New Insights on the Actual State of Christianity

The Christian Post
June 5th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/nlv8wyu

--

FRANCIS AGAIN SPEAKS ON PRIESTLY CELIBACY
Says "The door is always open"

Huffington Post Religion
May 27th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/q4qlyy3

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners Online

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, 
people will forget what you did, but people will never 
forget how you made them feel.” 

- Maya Angelou


--

"I like the silent church before the service begins, 
  better than any preaching."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

--

"You can only protect your liberties in this world 
by protecting the other [human's] freedom. 

You can only be free if I am free."

- Clarence Darrow


--

"Christ says: 
The very hairs of your head I have 
numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant 
to me, I have followed you through the years, 
and I have always loved you – even in your 
wanderings.

"I know every one of your problems. I know your 

need and your worries. And yes, I know all your 
sins. But I tell you again that I love you – not for 
what you have or haven’t done – I love you for 
you, for the beauty and dignity my Father gave 
you by creating you in his own image."


- Mother Teresa

--


I was invited to visit a friend who was very sick...

When I came to him, he said to me, “Henri, here 
I am lying in this bed, and I don’t even know how 
to think about being sick. My whole wayof thinking 
about myself is in terms of action, in terms of doing 
things for people. My life is valuable because I’ve 
been able to do many things for many people. And 
suddenly, here I am, passive, and I can’t do anything 
anymore.”

As we talked I realized that he and many others 

were constantly thinking, “How much can I still do?” 
Somehow this man had learned to think about himself 
as a man who was worth only what he was doing. 

And so when he got sick, his hope seemed to rest on 

the idea that he might get better and return to what 
he had been doing.

If the spirit of this man was dependent on how much 

he would still be able to do, what did I have to say to him?


- Henri Nouwen

*****

ON THIS DAY

From the Archives of the New York Times

"RFK Assassinated in Los Angeles"
  http://tinyurl.com/nwzs76e

"Demonstrations, Massacre in Tiananmen Square"
  http://tinyurl.com/6ez8r32

"Elizabeth II Crowned Queen at Westminster Abbey"
  http://tinyurl.com/qhjvye

"D-Day Invasion Begins, German Defenses Breached"
  http://tinyurl.com/k8vw3

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - MAYA ANGELOU

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, 
  it sings because it has a song.”

- Maya Angelou


(end)

No comments:

Post a Comment