Vol. VIII No. 2
*****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
*****
Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/
Canadian Anglican Google Groups:
http://tinyurl.com/7529fj8
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
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:
This is my first full issue of
Colleagues List after a brief
hiatus in June. I have included
articles saved from May through
the present in this issue.
Also included for the first time
in this issue is my full teaching
program (five activities) for the
fall at both the church and
university. Some of these I share
with my teaching colleague Jock
McTavish and my wife Marlene.
---
Special Item this issue:
"After Imperialism -
Christian Identity in China"
This book represents a worthy
development in evangelical
mission theology.
http://tinyurl.com/77lx8tp
---
Colleague Comment this week comes
from two supportive friends who
speak to contents in my last issue.
Doug Shantz - on John Henry Newman
Gary Nickel - on Martin Marty
(read below)
---
Colleague Contributions - the
following three regulars provide
interesting articles this week:
Jim Taylor - on the end of life
http://tinyurl.com/78oj8bk
http://tinyurl.com/7nfzwmc
Ron Rolheiser - on moving beyond bad habits
http://tinyurl.com/6luu2zm
Martin Marty - on Father Andrew Greeley
http://tinyurl.com/769ue4r
---
Net Notes:
"On Snake Handling" -
An assessment of the strange rite
by an American fundamentalist group
(Sightings)
http://tinyurl.com/7xamsq4
"Listening to Jerry" -
Perhaps it's time we listened
to the voice of an abuser
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/88trm4v
"Common Ecumenical Vision" -
The World Council of Churches
keeps working on consensus
(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/8ykoat5
"Latest Global Christian Stats" -
The Pew Foundation reveals its
most up-to-date report (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/6un4exk
"The Healing Power of a Handshake" -
An intriguing reflection on the
meaning of a common gesture in
special circumstances (The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/7lseuys
"Cuts Will Hinder Refugee Sponsorship"
The current Canadian government has
been challenging traditional views in
support of New Canadians (Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/7qsf858
"Science and Religion in Quest for Truth"
Here is a review of a new book on the
subject by John Polkinghorne
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/7wxaoqu
"'God Particle' - Science/Religion Debate"
New discoveries at CERN in Geneva open up
a new dimension of science/faith dialog
(The Christian Century, The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/7ov934j
http://tinyurl.com/7vf7zro
"Leaky - Evolution Issue to be Soon Settled"
Atheist scientist predicts the end of more
challenges from conservative Christians
(CBC News)
http://tinyurl.com/7bbnoes
"US Nuns - Get Heroes Welcome Back from Rome"
The sisters went to Rome to give an account.
They returned as national heroes
(UCA News, America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/85azqge
http://tinyurl.com/7pdsvdc
http://tinyurl.com/6sopema
"Major Catholic Schism Ahead Says Theologian"
Respected Catholic historian sees danger ahead
in for his church (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/7spvrsf
---
Global Faith Potpourri:
This week I offer fourteen news stories that
have appeared this summer and are provided
by Ecumenical News International, Geneva
---
Wisdom of the Week:
Provided by Sojourners Online:
Read special insights from -
Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes,
Jackie Robinson, Richard Rohr,
Francis de Sales, René Padilla,
Corrie Ten Boom, Cesar Chavez,
Osip Mandelstam, Thomas Merton,
Nelson Mandela, Swahili Proverb,
Mother Teresa (read below)
---
On This Day;
Provided by the New York Times -
July 16, 1918 - Russia's Czar Nicholas II,
and family were executed by the Bolsheviks.
http://tinyurl.com/7hu8e8d
---
July 18, 1936 - the Spanish Civil War began
as Gen. Franco leads uprising in N. Africa.
http://tinyurl.com/7wmlc2y
---
July 19, 1941 - Churchill launched his
"V for Victory" campaign in Europe.
http://tinyurl.com/83mhh2s
---
Closing Thought - Mechtild of Magdeburg
---
It's good to be writing for you again.
Please send me your thoughts and the
email addresses of new Colleagues List
members.
Wayne
********************************
St. David's and ACTS Ministry Announce:
Our Spiritual Travelers Tour for 2013
TURKEY AND THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
April 22nd - May 8th, 2013
Tour sale begins with deposit starting summer 2012.
Full payment due, January, 2013.
Our major tour themss are: Classic Greek and Roman,
Early Christian, Muslim-Christian and the beautiful
scenery of the Mediterranian coast of SW Turkey.
*Enjoy Istanbul (Constantinople) long a link between
East and West.
*Classical cities like Troy will be visited and
intriging 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
---
Details such as costs and prep notes will be
provided in a customized travel brochure which
will be sent to all who have expressed interest.
They will also be posted and on the St. David's
Spiritual Travelers Discussion List Group as
they become available.
The Listgroup is your place to express yourself!
To join our unique internet discussion contact:
Deb. Charnusaki - debcharnuski@hotmail.com
Your tour hosts:
Marlene and Wayne Holst
waholst@telusplanet.net (or)
marleneaholst@gmail.com
403-286-7416
---
NOTE: David Rostad will visit St. David's
for a Special Turkey Tour Information Night
Monday, September 10th, 2012.
This event will serve as the official "launch"
of the tour.
All are welcome!
*****
'WELCOMING THE STRANGER' WEEKEND AT ST.DAVID'S
Fri. Sept. 21st-Sun. Sept 23rd, 2012
Special Guest:
Mary Jo Leddy, Romero House, Toronto.
Watch for new information on this
special weekend focused on Canada's
policy for welcoming new Canadians
as information becomes available.
*****
ANNOUNCING OUR FALL AND WINTER PROGRAMS
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
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 - Sept. 25 - Nov. 27th.
Click this link for costs and details:
http://tinyurl.com/77xuwnu
---
Faith and Spirituality Centre Fall 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.
Six Weeks - Oct. 19th - Nov. 23rd.
Native Centre Board Room, McEwan Student Centre
at the University of Calgary.
Cost of the book only: $15.
*****
AT ST. DAVID'S UNITED CHURCH
Monday Night Study:
Engaging the early Christian Church -
REVELATIONS - Visions, Prophecy and Politics
in the Book of Revelation, by Elaine Pagels
Ten Monday nights Sept. 17th - November 28th.
7-9 PM.
Cost of the course: $50.
Books on sale at the church, late August and
early September.
---
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
"'Wisdom' in the Biblical Literature"
A Six week series running through
fall and winter. 10-11 AM
All welcome. No cost.
*****
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:
AFTER IMPERIALISM
Christian Identity in China
and the Global Evangelical Movement
Edited by Richard R. Cook/David W. Pao.
Pickwick Publications. Wipf and Stock,
2011. $25.66. ISBN #976-1-60899-336-9.
Publisher's Promo:
This collection of essays is committed to
the belief that evangelicalism continues to
have the historical assets and intellectual
(hermeneutical and theological) tools able
to contribute to the global church.
Evangelicalism possesses assets with
explanatory power to address significant
theological and cultural issues arising
out of the churches in the Global South.
Evangelical approaches to contextualization
and biblical studies can produce valuable
fruit. Therefore in May 2008 over a dozen
evangelical scholars (Chinese and Western)
from the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan,
came together to address issues of Christian
and evangelical identity. The "Inter-Cultural
Theological Conversation" was titled "Beyond
Our Past: Bible, Cultural Identity, and the
Global Evangelical Movement."
This set of papers from the conference
demonstrates the value of the careful
balancing of judicious appropriation of
the social sciences and thorough biblical
inquiry. Questions of evangelical identity
in China and around the world are addressed
from the disciplines of history, biblical
studies, as well as systematic theology/
contextualization.
---
Editors' Words:
These (very penetrating) essays arise from a
commitment to the belief that evangelicalism
continues to provide the historical assets
and intellectual tools for the global church.
(Here) you will find a judicious appropriation
of the social sciences and thorough biblical
inquiry.
(We present) a Chinese perspective on the
historical background to the introduction
of Protestant Christianity into China. The
author (Ka Lun Leung) shows the close ties
between the Christian missions movement and
the grwoth of imperialism in China, and spells
out the long term consequences in the life of
Chineses Christians and churches as a result
of linking missions and imperialism. (Related
essays are also included in this section.)
The second part of the book focuses on the
Bible. Here, we learn to attend to the
Ancient Near Eastern cultures of the biblical
texts. (This section shows the need for a
correlation of biblical scholarship in the
West and its ramifications for the churches
of the biblical south.)
The third and final section includes three
case studies of contextual theology. (Here
we learn of both fidelity to the Bible and
the appropriate use of the social sciences
to address the thorny questions of identity
and contextualization.
One contributor, David Lee, finds help from
Chinese wisdom in avoiding the narrow
understanding of Christ that has emerged in
the West. (Chinese Christian thinkers are
able to) triangulate scripture, culture and
the world of wisdom.
---
The dialog on which this book is based
brought rich insights into the Bible,
theology and the future of evangelicalism.
We come away encouraged that evangelicals
could continue to contribute to the global
churches and help pave the way for an
evermore fruitful global theological
discourse.
Perhaps Chinese evangelicals will lead the
way in showing their brothers and sisters
in God's family how to contextualize the
faith without domesticating it - how to
render the faith their own without
repeating the sins of the past and
universalizing their social and cultural
preferences.
- from the Introduction (Cook and Pao)
---
My Thoughts:
The appearance of a quality study such as
this one is an encouraging sign that a
younger generation of evangelical Christians
in east and west are not content to ignore
or condemn the world outside their spiritual
communities, but are open to engage and use
the tools of modern scholarship beyond
biblical studies to deal with thorny problems
arising from history, politics and culture.
At the same time, the evangelical gift of
strongly affirming and advocating Holy
Scripture to the world in which we live,
is strongly evident.
The twelve contributors to this collection
are constituted largely of Asian scholars
living in the USA and Asia itself. Most of
them are 'post-colonial' in terms of their
experience - so that they can more honestly
assess the realities of imperialism without
having to defend or deny the church's
missionary activity in China during that
unfortunate time. This brings refreshing
honesty and clarity to the discussion.
A book like this also presents and
anticipates the emergence of a new force
in the Christian world of the future -
Chinese Christian theology. Most of the
contributors were educated in the west.
But things are going to change. More and
more - with the emergence of the indigenous
Church in China - we are going to hear
from theologians whose education has
been largely in the east.
We know of parallels - African, other
Asian and Latin American theologies
have been influencing our thinking for
several generations. Now, Chinese
theology - replete with the influence
of ancient wisdom and culture - can be
added to a future "Christian mix."
Our awareness of what the future holds is
limited, but a book like this gives me
a considerable amount of hope for a truly
universal church.
(end)
---
I am particularly pleased to review this
book for Missiology - the academic
journal of the American Society for
Missiology*. I have been a member of
that society for a generation, and
have watched how evangelical theologians
have been joining members of the classic
"ecumenical" (Protestant and Catholic)
founders of the association. Their
participation has always been evident,
but a new generation and the broader
ecumenical and global nature of this
mission group has become more evident.
* I will share my review shortly.
---
A book like this will be treasured by
"China Watchers" and those who are
interested in the ever-developing
world of mission studies in our time.
---
Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/82snabf
Buy the book from Wipf and Stock:
http://tinyurl.com/77lx8tp
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
DOUG SHANTZ
Calgary, AB.
June 14th, 2012
Hi Wayne,
Great to be getting your blog once again.
Always stimulating.
I have a question about your comment on
J.H. Newman, that Like many of the reformers
(within and beyond Anglicanism) he was a
defender of Protestant principles so that
his reception within the Catholic Church is
all the more remarkable.
I doubt his commitment to Protestant principles.
I have attached some notes I made a while back
in a lecture on Newman.
All the best,
Doug
DOUG'S NOTES
From Ian Ker, The Achievement of John Henry
Newman. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre
Dame Press, 1990, pp. 106-109.
- Some regard Newman's Lectures on Justification
(1838) as his most profound theological writing.
(Ker, p. 106)
- Here Newman seeks to find a “Via Media” between
Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, between “the
erroneous idea of justification by faith only” and
the “defective theory of justification by obedience.”
Both are partially right:
Protestants are right that we are saved by what
Christ is shows that works are not a condition
of our salvation;
Roman Catholics are right that we are saved
by what we are..." ie. The Roman scheme is closest
to the truth: “Justification consists in love, or
sanctity, or obedience" and to be justified is not
just to be counted righteous but actually to be
made righteous.”
- Newman: Justification means both God’s justifying
and man's being justified.
In justification there must be “an inward divine
presence or grace, of which both faith and spiritual
renovation are fruits.” (p. 108)
*****
GARY NICKEL
Ft. Saskatchewan, AB
June 9th, 2012
Hi Wayne,
Great mailing as usual.
Also you can use or adapt this if you want:
I read through Martin Marty's "The Gospel
According to the Other Mary", beyond his
commentary on the artist's work and similar
works to his last two paragraphs which have
some very interesting observations about a
topic that many of us wonder about
occasionally.
He speaks of the non-religious and non-
believers who are drawn to the Jesus story
and issues of faith, and then on to what
many of them have done and do which really
enhances the Christian faith. He closes
this gem with, "Believers may regret their
inability to believe, but then say or chant
"thank God for them"." Thanks to MM, for
taking us where we sometimes wonder.
Blessings,
Gary
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
Sunday May 20, 2012
"What Happens When Life
is no Longer Worth Living"
http://tinyurl.com/78oj8bk
---
Wednesday July 18, 2012
"Heretical Notion - The Bible Can Be Wrong"
http://tinyurl.com/7nfzwmc
---
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website
June 10th, 2012
"Moving Beyond Bad Habits"
http://tinyurl.com/6luu2zm
---
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
Sightings
May 28th, 2012
"Father Andrew Greeley"
http://tinyurl.com/769ue4r
*****
NET NOTES
ON SNAKE HANDLING
Sightings
June 14th, 2012
"On Snake Handling"
by Seth Perry
http://tinyurl.com/7xamsq4
*****
LISTENING TO JERRY
Child Abuser Tells His Story
America Magazine
July 16th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/88trm4v
*****
COMMON ECUMENICAL VISION
New Ecumenical WCC Statement
Anglican Journal
July 18th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/8ykoat5
*****
LATEST GLOBAL
CHRISTIAN STATS
Pew Forum Report
UCA News
July 16th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/6un4exk
*****
THE HEALING POWER
OF A HANDSHAKE
The Tablet (UK)
June 30th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7lseuys
*****
GOVERNMENT CUTS WILL
HINDER REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP
Church Officials Concerned
Anglican Journal
July 9th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7qsf858
*****
SCIENCE AND RELIGION
IN A QUEST FOR TRUTH
New Book by John Polkinghorne
America Magazine
June 4th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7wxaoqu
---
'GOD PARTICLE' DISCOVERY
RENEWS SCIENCE AND RELIGION DEBATE
The Christian Century
July 16th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7ov934j
EVOLUTION AND BELIEF
Confessions of a
Religious Paleontologist
The Tablet, UK
July 21st, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7vf7zro
*****
LEAKY BELIEVES EVOLUTION ISSUE
WILL SOON BE SETTLED
CBC News, May 29th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7bbnoes
*****
US NUNS GET HEROES WELCOME
AFTER THEIR TRIP TO ROME
They Refuse to be Muffled
UCA News
July 17th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/85azqge
---
US WOMEN RELIGIOUS
PREPARE FORMAL RESPONSE
July 18th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7pdsvdc
---
The Context:
THE JOURNEY OF AMERICAN WOMEN
RELIGIOUS SINCE VATICAN II
America Magazine
July 23rd, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/6sopema
*****
TOP THEOLOGIAN WARNS OF
MAJOR CATHOLIC SCHISM AHEAD
UCA News
July 11th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/7spvrsf
*****
GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI
Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
13 June 2012
Dutch Christian group to appeal decision
on "gay therapy"
(ENI news) - A conservative Dutch Christian
foundation called Different said it will appeal
a government order telling health insurers they
are not obligated to offer reimbursement for
the foundation's "therapies" offered to gay
Christians. The group has not yet decided which
legal procedure they will use for their appeal,
director Henk van Rhee told ENInews on 13 June.
"We expect to know the exact steps we will take
within two to four weeks," he said, noting that
denial of reimbursement could affect the
organization financially. Different, which
is part of a larger Amsterdam-based
organization called For Salvation of the
People, offers "therapies" aimed at people
who are struggling with their homosexuality
from a faith perspective.
---
18 June, 2012
Indian churches in Kerala explore
"green" options
(ENI news) - Christians in India's southern
Kerala state are exploring "green" options
and linking the need for environmental
protection to the practice of their faith.
The majority Roman Catholic church recently
approved an environmental policy titled
"Towards Green Meadows" that calls for
promoting eco-spirituality, nature
conservation and waste management to build
"a new culture in environmental conservation."
---
20 June, 2012
Faith groups concerned about civilians
trapped in Homs, Syria
Geneva (ENI news) UN envoys, faith
leaders and humanitarian groups,
intensified international efforts 20 June
to secure safe passage for about 800 Syrian
civilians, half of whom are Sunni Muslims
and half Christians, trapped in Homs,
Syria by armed combat between government
and opposition forces. The International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said
it and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent "are
attempting to evacuate and otherwise
assist people stranded ... by the ongoing
fighting" between rebels and forces loyal
to President Bashar al-Assad.
---
22 June 2012
Russian Orthodox leader ends visit to China
(ENI news) - A top leader from the Russian
Orthodox Church on 22 June wrapped up a
visit to China, saying that the church
hopes Orthodoxy may flourish in China despite
present constraints. Metropolitan Hilarion,
chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's
department for external church relations
(DECR), was on a working visit to China to
explore Russian-Chinese religious cooperation.
On 19 June, Hilarion led a delegation to
Beijing for a consultation in which the
"current status of religious organizations"
in China was discussed, including the
"complex issues associated with the position
of Orthodoxy in China," as reported by the
DECR website.
---
26 June 2012
U.S. mosques struggle to find
American-born imams
Sharon, Massachusetts (ENI news) - The
Islamic Center of New England (ICNE) has
always been led by imams born outside
America. The mosque would like to change
that, but it's proving harder than leaders
had thought. As this suburban mosque has
discovered, American-born imams are nearly
impossible to find. Ads from mosques
seeking imams who are fluent in English
are readily found in Muslim-American
magazines and newspapers. The North
American Imams Federation, an advocacy
group founded in 2002, gets more than
100 requests for help every year from
mosques seeking religious leaders.
---
9 July 2012
Historian predicts "bright future" for
Christianity, but warns of crisis in
Catholicism
(ENI news) - A top church historian has said
he believes Christianity faces a "bright future"
worldwide, but predicted the Roman Catholic
church will undergo a major schism over its
moral and social teaching. "Christianity, the
world's largest religion, is rapidly expanding
- by all indications, its future is very bright,"
said Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch, 60, professor of
the History of the Church at Oxford University
and an Anglican deacon. His book, "Silence in
Christian History," will be published in the
fall by Penguin.
---
10 July, 2012
In Australia, Christians and Muslims mourn
asylum seekers who perished
(ENI news) Ministers in Australia's third-
largest denomination have met with Muslims and
their imams to jointly lament a group of asylum
seekers who drowned while trying to reach
Australia. At least 90 people died on 21 June
after an overloaded and poorly maintained boat
capsized near Christmas Island, off Australia's
northwest coast, on its way from Indonesia. The
remaining 200 passengers were rescued, according
to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Six days later, 130 asylum seekers were rescued
from another boat.
---
11 July 2012
Bible museum planned for Washington, D.C.
(ENI news) A large-scale Bible museum will open
in Washington, D.C. within four years, reports
Religion News Service. The announcement came
from planners who have been touring the world
with portions of their collection. Cary Summers,
chief operating officer of The Museum of the
Bible, a nonprofit umbrella group for the
collection of the billionaire Green family
of Oklahoma, said they considered Washington,
Dallas and New York but decided the nation's
capital was the best location. The final name
of the museum and its exact location have not
been disclosed but planners hope to confirm
a location later this summer.
---
12 July 2012
Reaction mixed to Episcopal Church's
approval of same-sex rites
(ENI news) Gay and lesbian Episcopalians are
celebrating their church's approval on 10 July
of liturgical rites for blessing same-sex
couples. But conservatives are threatening
to take "drastic" steps to distance themselves
from the Episcopal Church, reports Religion
News Service. Episcopalians meeting at their
triennial General Convention in Indianapolis,
Indiana overwhelmingly approved the new rites.
Lay members and priests voted 171-41 in favor
of the same-sex blessings. Bishops voted 111-41,
with three abstentions.
---
13 July 2012
God particle" discovery ignites debate
over science and religion
(ENI news) - The Higgs boson is perhaps better
known by its sexier nickname: the "God particle."
But in fact, many scientists, including the
physicist for whom it is named, dislike the
term, reports Religion News Service. In 1993
when American physicist Leon Lederman was
writing a book on the Higgs boson, he dubbed
it "the goddamn particle." An editor suggested
"the God particle" instead. One thing is clear:
The 4 July discovery that marked a new chapter
in scientific knowledge also reignited debate
over the universe's origins - and the validity
of religious faith as scientific knowledge
expands.
---
16 July 2012
Russian patriarch calls for reconciliation
in ceremony at massacre site
Moscow (ENI news) - Patriarch Kirill I of the
Russian Orthodox Church spoke at a service on
15 July to consecrate a church near a forest
where thousands of Polish army officers and
intelligentsia were massacred by Stalin's
secret police in 1940. Kirill also remembered
the thousands of Russians who were slaughtered
there, many for their religious faith, and
said the site should serve as a place to
unite Russians and Poles.
---
17 July, 2012
Scottish government delays decision
on same sex weddings
(ENI news) - Gay rights campaigners expressed
"disappointment" that the Scottish Government
has delayed passing legislation that would
recognize gay weddings while leaving faith
groups free to choose whether they wanted to
conduct such ceremonies. At the end of a two-
hour cabinet meeting 17 July in Edinburgh, a
government spokesman said that no decision
had been reached but that one would be made
by the end of this month.
---
19th, July 2012
UK Muslim leader expresses concern
over German ruling on circumcision
(ENI news) - A Muslim leader in the United
Kingdom warned today that anti-Muslim and
anti-Jewish hatred will be fueled in Britain
and other parts of Europe following a German
court decision to prohibit circumcision. In
an interview with ENInews, Ibrahim Mogra,
assistant secretary-general of the Muslim
Council of Britain, said he was "deeply
concerned" about the ruling earlier this
month from the District Court of Cologne
stating parents could be prosecuted for
causing bodily injury if they allow a
child to be circumcised.
---
Evangelical church in Brazil
celebrates centennial
(ENI news) - The centennial of the
evangelical presence among the indigenous
peoples of Brazil is being celebrated at
the 7th National Council of The centennial
of the evangelical presence among the
indigenous peoples of Brazil is being
celebrated at the 7th National Council
of Evangelical Indigenous Pastors and
Leaders, according to a news release
from the Latin America and Caribbean
Communication Agency. The event takes
place from 18-22 July in Chapada dos
Guimaraes, 65 kilometers from Cuiaba,
the capital city of the state of Mato
Grosso in Brazil.
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online
June 14th, 2012
"There are years that ask questions
and years that answer."
- Zora Neale Hurston
---
June 19th, 2012
"When peoples care for you and cry
for you, they can straighten out
your soul."
- Langston Hughes
---
June 20th, 2012
"A life is not important except in
the impact it has on other lives."
- Jackie Robinson
---
June 21st, 2012
"We do not think ourselves into new
ways of living, we live ourselves into
new ways of thinking."
- Richard Rohr
---
June 27th, 2012
"Have patience with all things, but
chiefly have patience with yourself.
Do not lose courage in considering your
imperfections but instantly set about
remedying them every day begin the
new task."
- Francis de Sales
---
July 11th, 2012
"What is the value of a Christianity in
which Jesus is worshipped as Lord, but
Christian discipleship—"the way of Jesus"
— is regarded as largely irrelevant to life
in the modern world?"
- René Padilla
---
July 12th, 2012
"Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the
door of resentment and the handcuffs of
hate. It is a power that breaks the chains
of bitterness and the shackles of
selfishness."
- Corrie Ten Boom
---
July 12th, 2012
"When you sacrifice, you force others to
sacrifice. It's an extremely powerful weapon."
- Cesar Chavez
---
July 13h, 2012
"My turn shall also come: I sense the
spreading of a wing."
- Osip Mandelstam
---
July 16th, 2012
"What is my new desert? The name of it
is compassion. There is no wilderness so
terrible, so beautiful, so arid and so f
ruitful as the wilderness of compassion.
It is the only desert that shall truly
flourish like the lily. It shall become
a pool, it shall bud forth and blossom
and rejoice with joy. It is in the desert
of compassion that the thirsty land turns
into springs of water, that the poor
possess all things."
- Thomas Merton, from "The Sign of Jonas"
---
July 18th, 2012
"My hunger for the freedom of my own people
became a hunger for the freedom of all people,
white and black. I knew as well as I knew
anything that the oppressor must be liberated
just as surely as the oppressed. A [person] who
takes away another [person's] freedom is a
prisoner of hatred ... is locked behind bars
of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. I am not
truly free if I am taking away someone else's
freedom, just as surely as I am not free when
my freedom is taken from me. The oppressed and
the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity."
- Nelson Mandela
---
July 19th, 2012
"Who trusts in God lacks nothing."
- Swahili Proverb
---
July 20th, 2012
"You can do something I can’t do.
I can do something you can’t do.
Together let us do something
beautiful for God."
- Mother Teresa
*****
ON THIS DAY
July 16, 1918 - Russia's Czar Nicholas II,
his wife and their five children were executed
by the Bolsheviks.
http://tinyurl.com/7hu8e8d
---
July 18, 1936 - the Spanish Civil War began as
Gen. Francisco Franco led an uprising of army
troops based in North Africa.
http://tinyurl.com/7wmlc2y
---
July 19, 1941, British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill launched his "V for Victory" campaign
in Europe.
http://tinyurl.com/83mhh2s
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
MECHTILD OF MAGDEPURG
Do you want to have love?
If you wish to have love,
then you must leave love.
---
Comment:
Letting go is a message all mystics
teach us. Mechtild reminds us of a
deep paradox. We sometimes must leave
love if we are to have hove.
We need to let go of everything at
some point in time, and so we must
develop the art of letting go. We
will even have to let go of love,
as Mechtild reminds us.
What are my experiences of letting
go? What follows after that. Have I
had to let go of love? Why? Under
what circumstances? How did it change
me, transform me? To let go can be
to grow.
- Matthew Fox "Christian Mystics"
(end)
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