Monday, September 29, 2014

Collegues List, September 28th, 2014

Vol. X.  No. 9

*****

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:

This issue of Colleagues List is a bit late
because Marlene and I are between trips
to visit family in Northern Alberta and our
anniversary escape - this year to Glacier
National Park in Montana. Next week's
Colleagues List may be late as well.

My Special Item this week is a book notice
for an interesting new title from New World
Publishers, entitled:

"Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines"
http://tinyurl.com/o49ofc2

It follows a January notice I offered on
the theme of goddesses by Joseph Campbell
http://tinyurl.com/ovrfawf

To read this, please scroll down.

--

Colleague Contributions this week are by:
Jim Taylor (Okanagan) who writes on -
"Scottish Referendum - Reflection"
 http://tinyurl.com/lkuo7yj

Martin Marty (Chicago) - who assesses -
"Resident Aliens - At 25
'In But Not Of' the Culture"
 http://tinyurl.com/pcolzrr

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio) - who contributes -
"Fatherless at the Depth of Our Being"
 http://tinyurl.com/ms4pu2b

--

Net Notes this week are as follows -

"Marching Toward Change" - a major
climate change demonstration took
place in New York City last week.
Read about it (Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/n5ffs5v

"Iranian Church is Growing" - a
hopeful article on a developing
Christian community in Iran and
a new Bible translation as well
(The Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/q734c42

"'Not So Close' - Encounters" -
a Catholic astrophysicist speculates
positively on the existence of other
beings in the universe (America)
http://tinyurl.com/pf34a5s

"Victoria - A Life (Armstrong)" -
Karen Armstrong has just published
a life of Queen Victoria for those of
you history-of-British-royalty-lovers
(The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/pc4ng37

"Mental Health and the Church" -
many pastors find the challenge
of mental illness in their congregations
to be a particularly challenging one
(Christianity Today)
http://tinyurl.com/p4hqyc5

"Migrant Youths Escape to USA" -
many El Savadoran youth are fleeing
their land in search of a better life
in America (Catholic News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/l6eqpty (video)

"For ISIS, US Strikes Imply God's Favor" -
Islamic apocalyptic literature sees America
and its allies playing into the hand of ISIS
(Sightings) http://tinyurl.com/njpdn7c

"Christ Cathedral to Open as Catholic Church"
- we have already written about the Crystal
becoming Christ Cathedral on Colleagues List
last summer, but here is a journalistic report
(The Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/lhevgh6

"Walter Breuggmann - On Ferguson and More"
- the famous Hebrew Bible scholar shares his
views on the Blacks of Ferguson and other
discriminated minorities in America today
(Ferguson Theology Website)
http://tinyurl.com/oejl2km

"Muslim Scholar Issues Strong Rebuke of ISIS"
Fethullah Gulan, a famous Turkish spiritual
leader, living in exile in the USA, writes about
ISIS (Alliance for Shared Values Website)
http://tinyurl.com/k9oz2b6

--

Wisdom of the Week comes to us from
Sojourners and Bruderhof Online -

Martin Luther, Henry David Thoreau,
Jody Williams, Martin Luther King Jr.,
a Note Found at Ravensbrück Camp
and Elie Wiesel

To read these gems, scroll down.

--

On This Day is from the archives of
the New York Times and reports as
the event was taking place -

"Lincoln Issues Preliminary
  Freedom for American Slaves"
  http://tinyurl.com/5x2fp2

--

Closing Thought - Desmond Tutu
Scroll down to read him.

(end)

Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary
http://tinyurl.com/kkca8rp
http://tinyurl.com/iedt
http://tinyurl.com/luljvww


Scroll down to read our complete
fall program, now fully developed

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice:

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF
GODDESSES AND HEROINES
by Patricia Monaghan

New World Library, 2014
$23.50  CAD. Kindle $16.71 CAD
432 pages. Paperback edition
ISBN #978-1-60868-217-1

Publisher's Promo:

More Than 1,000 Goddesses and Heroines
from around the World

Groundbreaking scholar Patricia Monaghan

spent her life researching, writing about,
and documenting goddesses and heroines
from all religions and all corners of the globe.
Her work demonstrated that from the beginning
of recorded history, goddesses reigned alongside
their male counterparts as figures of inspiration
and awe. Drawing on anthropology, folklore,
literature, and psychology, Monaghan's vibrant
and accessible encyclopedia covers female deities
from Africa, the eastern Mediterranean, Asia and
Oceania, Europe, and the Americas, as well as
every major religious tradition.

Author Info:

Patricia Monaghan, PhD (1946–2012), was a
leader in the contemporary women's spirituality
movement as well as an award-winning poet,
scholar, activist, and mentor. In 1979, she
published the first encyclopedia of female
divinities, a book that has remained in print
since then in various formats and that she
later expanded into the current volume.

Monaghan was a lifelong member of the
Society of Friends (Quakers) and also a
companion of the Fourth Order of Francis
and Clare, an interfaith religious organization.

--

Author's Words:

In many cave paintings from around the world,
female figures appear with male figures. We do
not know if the female figures were considered
divinities but we do know that every culture since
the dawn of time has honored goddesses as well
as gods.

Then somewhere around 2,500 years ago,
monotheism emerged in the eastern
Mediterranean, first as a Hebrew tribal
religion, then as Christianity, and finally as
Islam. These related religions center their
worship on a single male divinity. In doing
so, they eliminate age-old reverence for
the divine female... No monotheistic goddess
religion has ever been found. It can also
be proven that patriarchy and monotheism
are not identical. One can exist without the
other.

There is no question monotheism limits
women in religious situations. Only recently
have some Christian denominations permitted
women to serve as priests... There is little
question that boys are taught that 'god' looks
like them, but not like their mothers and
sisters. They grow up differently than girls
who are taught the opposite.

It is probably not surprizing that those
raised with such an orientation find it
difficult to believe that our forebears may
have honored divinity in female form...

There is no doubt that once written history
begins, we find goddesses sharing the
religious stage with gods, and they take
on many forms and kinds of behavior.

This volume shows the breadth of possibilities
associated with the female through many
ages and cultures. Some will be familiar,
others obscure. Not all will be called 'goddeses'
since between such figures and mortal women
exists a category this work calls 'heroines.'
These too exist in many forms.

No encyclopedia can list all the goddesses the
world has known. Many stories have been lost.
But an impressive amount of information still
remains... This encyclopedia attempts to bring
together many sources to offer an entry point
for further research.

Sources are not only scholarly but exist for
children. Some literary sources do not yet
appear in English. Folklore as well as literature
provides a source of information about ancient
goddess figures.

--

My Thoughts:

Early this year I introduced a posthumous
publication by the late Joseph Campbell entitled:

"Goddesses - Mysteries of the Feminine Divine."

It provided a collection of his essays on goddess
figures in the mythological traditions he had
studied and - at the time of his writing these
essays -  between 20-40 years ago - it was a
very unique and a rather novel subject for
public consideration (check out that issue of
Colleagues List on the Campbell book) -

http://tinyurl.com/ovrfawf

Now, a work of even broader, more factual 
sweep appears at a time when the general
public seems much more open to consider
its feminine themes.

"The Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines,"
provides extensive documentation of female
characters and feminine imagery from the
primal traditions,  all world religions, and all
corners of the globe.'

We learn that 'from the beginning of recorded
history, goddesses reigned alongside their male
counterparts as figures of inspiration and awe.
Drawing on anthropology, folklore, literature,
and psychology, the author's encyclopedia
'covers female deities from Africa, the eastern
Mediterranean, Asia and Oceania, Europe, and
the Americas, as well as every major religious
tradition.'

Campbell's book is an interpretive resource
while Monaghan's is a research tool to help with
the investigation of goddesses and heroines from
a vast array of human sources.

Monaghan has made access to the information
very easy in the way she organizes the material
by various regional 'pantheons.' Each entry is
precise and well written. The bibliography and
index is exhaustive and this makes the book a
good first stop for further, more extensive
investigation of specific characters.

For those interested in goddess/heroine themes
that are carefully and clearly presented, this book
is a real gem.

--

Buy the Book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/o49ofc2


*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Personal Web Log
September 21st, 2014

"Scottish Referendum - Reflection"

http://tinyurl.com/lkuo7yj

--

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL

Sightings
September 22nd, 2014

"Resident Aliens - At 25
'In But Not Of' the Culture"

http://tinyurl.com/pcolzrr

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Website
September 22nd, 2014

"Fatherless at the Depth of Our Being"

http://tinyurl.com/ms4pu2b

*****

NET NOTES

MARCHING TOWARD CHANGE
NYC Climate Demonstration

Anglican Journal
September 25th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/n5ffs5v

--

IRANIAN CHURCH IS GROWING
Celebrates New Bible Translation

Assist News
September 22nd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/q734c42

--

'NOT SO CLOSE' ENCOUNTERS
Does Life Exist in the Universe?

America Magazine
September 22nd.2014

http://tinyurl.com/pf34a5s

--

 
VICTORIA - A LIFE (REVIEW)
New Book by Karen Armstrong

The Tablet, UK
Septembert 26th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/pc4ng37

--

MENTAL HEALTH AND THE CHURCH
Many Pastors Unequipped to Face It

Christianity Today
September 22nd, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/p4hqyc5

--

MIGRANT YOUTHS ESCAPE TO USA
Fearing Gangs in El Salvador

Catholic News Service
September 24th, 2014
(video interview)

http://tinyurl.com/l6eqpty

--

FOR ISIS, US STRIKES 
IMPLY GOD'S FAVOR
Fulfilment of Islamic
Apocalyptic Prophecy

Sightings
September 25th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/njpdn7c

--

CHRIST CATHEDRAL TO
OPEN AS CATHOLIC CHURCH
Formerly, the Crystal Cathedral

The Christian Post
September 26th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/lhevgh6

--

WALTER BREUGGEMANN,
ON FERGUSON AND MORE
Protest and Prophesy

Ferguson Theology Website
September 2014

http://tinyurl.com/oejl2km

 
--

MUSLIM SCHOLAR ISSUES
STRONG REBUKE OF ISIS
Turkish Spiritual Leader in Exile

Alliance for Shared Values Website
September 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/k9oz2b6

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners and
Bruderhof online:

A mighty fortress is our God.
A bulwark never failing.

- Martin Luther

--

It takes two to speak the truth -
one to speak, and another to hear.

- Henry David Thoreau

--

I think there's a mythology that if you want
to change the world, you have to be sainted,
like Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela or
Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Ordinary people
with lives that go up and down and around
in circles can still contribute to change.

- Jody Williams

--

We are called to play the good Samaritan
on life’s roadside; but that will be only an
initial act. One day the whole Jericho road
must be transformed so that men and women
will not be beaten and robbed as they make
their journey through life. True compassion
is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it
understands that an edifice that produces
beggars needs restructuring.

- Martin Luther King Jr.

--

Lord, remember not only the men and women
of good will, but also those of ill will. But do
not remember all the suffering they have
inflicted upon us. Remember rather the fruits
we brought, thanks to this suffering: our
comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, the
courage, the generosity, the greatness of
heart that has grown out of this. And when
they come to judgment, let all the fruits we
have borne be their forgiveness.

- Found on a wrapping paper in the
  Ravensbrück concentration camp

--

There may be times when we are powerless
to prevent injustice, but there must never be
a time when we fail to protest.

- Elie Wiesel
 
*****

ON THIS DAY

From the Archives
of the New York Times

"Lincoln Issues Preliminary
  Freedom for American Slaves"

http://tinyurl.com/5x2fp2

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - DESMOND TUTU

"I don't preach a social gospel; I preach
the gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ is concerned for the whole person.
When people were hungry, Jesus didn't say,
'Now is that political or social?' He said,
'I feed you.' Because the good news to a
hungry person is bread."

(end)

*****

Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary:

MONDAY NIGHT STUDY (Ten Weeks)
September 15th - November 24th
7-00-9:00PM TM Room
(Thanksgiving Day exempted)

"A Fair Country" by John Ralston Saul
   http://tinyurl.com/pvs5e3w

"Medicine Walk" by  Richard Wagamese
  http://tinyurl.com/o95nho4

Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst


Link to study:
http://tinyurl.com/kkca8rp

--

MONDAY NIGHT 'BOOKEND EVENT'
December 1st
7:00-9:15PM TM Room
Sponsored by the Bible Study Group

"From Jesus to Christ" -
  How Jesus Became God
  A PBS Video Series  - Part Two
  (total of two hours in length)

http://tinyurl.com/iedt

Hospitality and discussion

Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst

All welcome. Hospitality donation only

--

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
(Twelve Weeks)

September 18th - December 4th
10:00-11:00AM TM Room

"From Jesus to Christ III -
  A Study of the Book of Acts"

Led by Wayne Holst
 
No charge.


Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q

--

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE

Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
For faculty, students, staff, campus guests -

Fall 2014

Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre


Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Oct 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21
(six sessions)

"Everything Belongs:
 The Gift of Contemplative Prayer"
  by Richard Rohr.

http://tinyurl.com/luljvww

Participants are encouraged to attend
all six sessions. However, you may attend
one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.

Book cost $15.00

*****
  

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Collegues List, September 21st, 2014

Vol. X.  No. 8

*****

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:

Another busy week with many of our
fall programs beginning. After an early
taste of winter snow two weeks ago,
we're once again enjoying beautiful 
early fall weather here in Calgary.

We've had a very strong increase in
Colleagues List website hits following
our focus last week on Joan Chittister.
She certainly is a popular lady!

I must apologise for the dead link that a
number of you reported from last week's
mailing. If you missed that issue and
Joan Chittister's new book notice, here 
is a new link to use:

http://tinyurl.com/nf2enol

If ever that should happen again, just
Google "Colleagues List" and the current
issue will appear for you.

--

My Special Item for this week is a book
notice for another American Catholic
writer: "Eager to Love - the Alternative
Way of St. Francis of Assisi" by Richard Rohr.

I know you will appreciate his new book.
http://tinyurl.com/m9gbu7r

To read this item, please scroll down.

--

Colleague Contributions this week are by
two of our regulars:

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio TX) writes:
"On How We React to Criticism and Opposition"
  http://tinyurl.com/kjkepz6
 

Jim Taylor (Okanagan BC) writes:
"Air Strikes Can't Defeat an Ideology"
  http://tinyurl.com/lqu6qmn

--

Net Notes:

"Landing in Sicily" - many thousands of North
African refugees, trying to reach Europe, are
pouring into this island nation (America)
http://tinyurl.com/ke4z3cj

"The Case for Mercy" - Pope Francis is again
making headlines with his indication of a
more compassionate approach to divorced
people. Traditional policy has driven many
otherwise faithful Catholics from the church.
http://tinyurl.com/lqcjzo2
http://tinyurl.com/ov9m9z9
http://tinyurl.com/nh7jyvo

"Review of 'Sacred Fire'" - here is a first
review of colleague Ron Rolheiser's latest
book (National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/msvheph

"I Survived a Short-Term Mission Trip" -
an interesting article on how one person
handled a church-sponsored mission trip
to Honduras (Sightings)
http://tinyurl.com/kngnh3k

"'Fields of Blood' - by Karen Armstrong" -
the famous writer has appeared once more
with a book that many of us wish did not
have to be written, but are grateful the
author has taken on the unhappy history
of religion and violence (The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/jw2zmp4

"Where Were the Dinosaurs in Noah's Ark?"
- a secular journalist visits the creationist
museum in Kentucky and reports on his
findings (The Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/npuhcb4

"Wycliffe Translators Have Big Assignment" -
the largest biblical translation organization
reports that the Bible is not yet translated,
in whole or in part, into 1870 of the earth's
living languages, but they are working on it 
(The Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/ob32r7g

"Lutheran-Mennonite Dialogue on Peace Issues" -
the international bodies of both traditions continue
to work together after the Lutherans apologized
for the historical persecution of Anabaptists
(Lutheran World News)
http://tinyurl.com/pzwanom

"Salmond to Go After Scottish 'No' Vote Victory" -
the big news this week was the vote by Scots
to remain in the United Kingdom. Here are
a series of reports (BBC, The Atlantic Online,
The Tablet UK, National Geographic)
http://tinyurl.com/p5wd6jm
http://tinyurl.com/lbhz3yj
http://tinyurl.com/ocyv4wz
http://tinyurl.com/kbp4jgr

"England's John Oliver Spoof on Scot Referendum"
- of course, there was humour, as well as much
seriousness - over this historic referendum
(Youtube via Sojourners)
http://tinyurl.com/krthomf

-

Wisdom of the Week - comes via Sojourners and
Bruderhof Online, and we thank them -

Mahatma Gandhi, Oscar Romero, Joan Chittister,
Wendell Berry, Søren Kierkegaard, Henri Nouwen
and C.S. Lewis

Please scroll down to read their insights.

--

Closing Thought - is from Madeleine L’Engle

Again, please scroll down to read her thoughts.

(end)

Our teaching programs are beginning
and below please find a listing of the
particulars, if you are interested -

Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary
http://tinyurl.com/pvs5e3w
http://tinyurl.com/o95nho4
http://tinyurl.com/kkca8rp
http://tinyurl.com/iedt
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q

---

Best wishes for your week, and please
let me know of any further link problems.

Wayne

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

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice -

EAGER TO LOVE
The Alternative Way
of St. Francis of Assisi

by Richard Rohr, 2014
Franciscan Media, 294 pp.
Hardcover $24.00 CAD.
Kindle $9.99 CAD
ISBN #978-1-61636-701-5

Publisher's Promo:

Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved
of all saints, was at once very traditional
and entirely revolutionary in the ways of
holiness. As a standing paradox, he both
stood barefoot on the earth and yet touched
the heavens; he was grounded in the church
and yet instinctively moved toward the cosmos;
he lived happily inside the visible and tangible,
and yet both suffered and rejoiced in the invisible.
Rohr places the tradition as first practiced by
Francis, and subsequently by others, within a
context for the uninitiated audience. This is not
a historical accounting, but rather a perspective
about how the alternative orthodoxy can deepen
spiritual life for anyone, whether Catholic,
Protestant, Jewish, secular, or spiritual seeker.

"Eager to Love" is grounded in the Gospels,
the prophets, a broad blend of psychology and
theology, and in literature and art, to continue
to communicate through all the sources that
articulate specific alternative ways of
understanding God with us.

--

Author's Bio:

Richard Rohr is a globally recognised Catholic
and Christian teacher focusing on mystical and
transformational traditions and is the founder
and director of the Center for Action and
Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
home of the Rohr Institute.

He is the author of more than twenty books,
including Yes, And... Daily Meditations;
Immortal Diamond: The Search for Our True Self;
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves
of Life; and Breathing Under Water: Spirituality
and the Twelve Steps.

--

Author's Words:

Francis of Assisi was master of making room for
the new and letting go of the tired or empty. Much
of Francis' genius was that he was ready for absolute
"newness" from God and could also trust fresh and
new attitudes in himself...(The visible world provides
a doorway to the invisible world.)

In this book, I want to share with you one of the
most attractive, appealing and accessible of all
frames and doorways to the divine. It is called the
Franciscan way after the man who first exemplified
it - Francis, who lived in Assisi, Italy, from 1182 to
1226 CE. Francis and Clare, (his female religious 
associate) - when overly romanticised - can be
"dismissed too easily" (as Francis was not what
he has been too lightly made out to be by would-be
followers, even in our own time.)

Church and world. He was totally at home in both.
He and Clare were both very eager to love both,
and they knew that dying to the old and unneeded
was an essential part of living this love at any depth.

You too can let Francis and Clare show you how to
die into your one and only life, the life you must
learn to love... (I try to help them do this in my
book.)

The Franciscan way is to view the Gospel not as
a fire insurance policy for the next world but a life
insurance policy for this world...

My hope and desire in writing this book is that
you can know heaven on your own too, and now!

- from the Preface (with editorial licence)

--

My Thoughts:

(In the June 8th issue of Colleagues List
 I introduced the 90 page study guide -
 
"Embracing an Alternative Orthodoxy:
 Richard Rohr on the Legacy of St. Francis"
  http://tinyurl.com/kdld38c

In a way, the current book under consideration
and the "how to" guide just noted have appeared in
reverse order for whatever reason. At least now,
with the appearance of both volumes, we have 
from Rohr a spirituality that is both theoretical
and practical).

--

For those unfamiliar with Rohr's writing what
we have in this book is an introduction to
mysticism - one of his specialties. The mystical
way of living the faith is common to all the
great religious traditions and is also one of the
key linkages between them.

Read what Rohr writes about this.

We used to say - in Christian ecumenical
circles - "doctrine divides, service unites"
and this helped us to work together for
social justice causes with many different
Christians as well as non-believers.

Now, we might say the same about the
phenomenon of mysticism, it seems to me.
"Doctrine divides, mysticism unites,"  - and
this helps us to find common spiritual cause
with people of many faiths or no faith.

What Rohr is able to share with us is really
nothing new. It is almost a thousand years
old, since the time of St. Francis.  And yet,
because of its nature, it can reflect a very
contemporary way of living.

Rohr describes the meaning of mysticism.
He suggests contemplation is reasonable
but not rational - a different way of knowing.
It is an integrative, rather than an exclusivist
way of understanding reality. It does not
focus on right vs. wrong, positive vs. negative
or male vs. female like so much of our inherited
religion.

Franciscan spirituality as interpreted by Rohr,
engages some important contemporary themes -
like atonement theory, eco-spirituality, the
Christ who existed before Christianity and the
Christ who will live beyond it, an approach to
Islam, and living like Jesus lived.

I continue to marvel at the way Rohr helps
us to see that there are within the Christian
tradition many untapped resources that
we did not know existed.

I recommend this book. Whether you are
new to Richard Rohr or a veteran of others
he has written, this title continues the
spiritual journey of a modern pilgrim - 
grounded in good tradition - who is not
afraid to confront challenges to Christianity
today, and very open to new ways the Spirit
is guiding us.

--

A Review Summary:

Rohr's attempt is to deepen contemporary
spirituality by linking it to Christian mysticism
and the contemplative tradition.

In "Eager to Love" he reclaims the mysticism
inherent in the Franciscan legacy and offers
it as an alternative to the hierarchical,
patriarchal and authoritarian Christianity
that he suggests has primary responsibility
for so much contemporary agnosticism in the
West... He is building a bridge between the
Christian mystical tradition and estranged
seekers of every ilk.

The book contains Rohr's reflections on the
best aspects of the Franciscan heritage as
lived out by its founder and its early worthies -
Clare, Bonaventure and Dun Scotus.

The message of Francis offers an alternative
way of life, a different way of knowing
and a pedagogy that teaches through living
rather than through creedal affirmation.

According to Rohr, the starting point for Francis
was not the reality of human sinfulness but
rather human suffering. The Franciscan way
is prophetic rather than priestly.

Rohr admits that he is not a scholar but a
popularizer who is laying out a different
approach to the inherited Christian tradition.
His treatment, he acknowledges, is not
systematic.

Rohr both values the institutional church
and suggests ways to survive within it. He
admonishes Christians give priority to Jesus
and his message which we inherit through
Scripture and theological tools offered
through the church.

Francis was not a theologian, but a living
illumination of one open to the love of
God and eager to love God and all God's
creation, especially the most lowly.

The church of the future will be mystical,
the author believes, and Rohr is attempting
to drive that message home.

- Dana Greene, National Catholic Reporter
  July 23rd, 2014

***

Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/m9gbu7r

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio,TX

Personal Web Site
September 15th, 2014

"On How We React
  to Criticism and Opposition"

http://tinyurl.com/kjkepz6

(Note Ron's Website Health Update)

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan BC

Personal Web Site
September 15th, 2014

"Air Strikes Can't Defeat an Ideology"

http://tinyurl.com/lqu6qmn

*****

NET NOTES

LANDING IN SICILY
Thousands of Refugees

America Magazine
September 29th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ke4z3cj

--

THE CASE FOR MERCY
Francis on Divorce, Remarriage

The Tablet, UK
September 18th, 2019

http://tinyurl.com/lqcjzo2

"Experts Defend Pope's Stance on
  Couples 'Living in Sin'"

Catholic News Service
September 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ov9m9z9

"Reclaiming Francis: How the Saint
  and the Pope are Renewing the Church"

Englewood Review of Books
September 19th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/nh7jyvo

--

REVIEW OF "SACRED FIRE"
Latest by Colleague Ron Rolheiser

National Catholic Reporter
September 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/msvheph

--

I SURVIVED A SHORT-TERM MISSION TRIP
My Destination was Honduras

Sightings
September 18th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/kngnh3k

--

"FIELDS OF BLOOD" - KAREN ARMSTRONG
Religion and the History of Violence (review)

The Tablet, UK
September 18th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/jw2zmp4

---

WHERE WERE DINOSAURS IN NOAH'S ARK?
Probing a Quest for Traditional Social Order?

The Atlantic Online
September 16th, 20124

http://tinyurl.com/npuhcb4

--

WYCLIFFE TRANSLATORS HAVE BIG ASSIGMENT
Translating 1870 Remaining Human Tongues

Christian Post
September 19th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ob32r7g

--

LUTHERAN-MENNONITE DIALOGUE
ON PEACE ISSUES
Comitted to Moving Ahead

Lutheran World News
September 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/pzwanom

--

SALMOND TO GO, AFTER SCOTTISH
'NO' REFERENDUM VOTE
Live Resignation Speech

BBC News
September 19th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/p5wd6jm

"Pictures of Scotland's Big Decision"

  The Atlantic Online
  September 17th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/lbhz3yj

"UK Church Leaders Urge Scottish Cooperation
  After the Vote to Remain United"

  The Tablet, UK
  September 19th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/ocyv4wz

"Voting Assessment from National Geographic"
  September 19th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/kbp4jgr

--

ENGLAND'S JOHN OLIVER SPOOF
ON SCOTTISH REFERENDUM

Youtube/Sojourners
September14th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/krthomf

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and
the Bruderhof Online

In prayer it is better to have a heart
without words than words without a heart.

- Mahatma Gandhi

--

We must overturn so many idols, the idol
of self first of all, so that we can be humble,
and only from our humility can learn to be
redeemers, can learn to work together in
the way the world really needs. Liberation
that raises a cry against others is no true
liberation. Liberation that means revolutions
of hate and violence and takes the lives of
others or abases the dignity of others
cannot be true liberty. True liberty does
violence to self and, like Christ, who
disregarded that he was sovereign,
becomes a slave to serve others.   

- Oscar Romero


--

Try saying this silently to everyone and
everything you see for thirty days: "I
wish you happiness now and whatever
will bring happiness to you in the future."
If we said it to the sky, we would have to
stop polluting; if we said it when we see
ponds and lakes and streams, we would
have to stop using them as garbage dumps
and sewers; if we said it to small children,
we would have to stop abusing them, even
in the name of training; if we said it to people,
we would have to stop stoking the fires
of enmity around us. Beauty and human

warmth would take root in us like a clear,
hot June day. We would change.

To love at all is to be vulnerable. The only
place outside Heaven where you can be
perfectly safe from all the dangers and
perturbations of love is Hell.

- Joan Chittister


--

Laughter is immeasurable. 
Be joyful though you have
considered all the facts.

- Wendell Berry

--

To love God is the only happy love, but on
the other hand it is also something terrible.


Face to face with God we are without
standards and without comparisons; we
cannot compare ourselves with God, for
here we become nothing, and directly before
God, in the presence of God, we dare not
compare ourselves with others. Therefore I
n every person there is a prudent fear of
having anything to do with God, because
by becoming involved with God we become
nothing.

- Søren Kierkegaard


--

When we honestly ask ourselves which
persons in our lives mean the most to us,
we often find that it is those who, instead
of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have
chosen rather to share our pain and touch
our wounds with a warm and tender hand.
The friend who can be silent with us in a
moment of despair or confusion, who can stay
with us in an hour of grief and bereavement,
who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not
healing and face with us the reality of our
powerlessness, that is a friend who care

- Henri Nouwen

--

Do not waste time bothering whether you
'love' your neighbor; act as if you did. As
soon as we do this we find one of the great
secrets. When you are behaving as if you
loved someone, you will presently come
to love [that person].

- C.S. Lewis

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Madeleine L’Engle

Sometimes the very walls of our churches
separate us from God and each other. In
our various naves and sanctuaries we are
safely separated from those outside, from
other denominations, other religions, separated
from the poor, the ugly, the dying.…


The house of God is not a safe place. It is a
cross where time and eternity meet, and
where we are – or should be – challenged
to live more vulnerably, more interdependently.

(end)

*****

Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary:

MONDAY NIGHT STUDY (Ten Weeks)
September 15th - November 24th
7-00-9:00PM TM Room
(Thanksgiving Day exempted)

"A Fair Country" by John Ralston Saul
   http://tinyurl.com/pvs5e3w

"Medicine Walk" by  Richard Wagamese
  http://tinyurl.com/o95nho4

Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst


Link to study:
http://tinyurl.com/kkca8rp

--

MONDAY NIGHT 'BOOKEND EVENT'
December 1st
7:00-9:15PM TM Room
Sponsored by the Bible Study Group

"From Jesus to Christ" -
  How Jesus Became God
  A PBS Video Series  - Part Two
  (total of two hours in length)

http://tinyurl.com/iedt

Hospitality and discussion

Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst

All welcome. Hospitality donation only

--

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
(Twelve Weeks)

September 18th - December 4th
10:00-11:00AM TM Room

"From Jesus to Christ III -
  A Study of the Book of Acts"

Led by Wayne Holst
 
No charge.


Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q

--

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE

Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
For faculty, students, staff, campus guests -

Fall 2014

Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre


Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Oct 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21
(six sessions)

"Everything Belongs:
 The Gift of Contemplative Prayer"
  by Richard Rohr.

http://tinyurl.com/luljvww

Participants are encouraged to attend
all six sessions. However, you may attend
one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.

Book cost $15.00

*****