*****
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.
*****
Dear Friends:
Welcome to a new edition of Colleagues List!
I now seem to be returning to my former stride
after going through the travail of trying to learn
a new computer which, by the way, is a lot smarter
and creative than I!)
My book notice for this week focuses on a hero
of mine. I hope you will enjoy him too.
The Remarkable Chester Ronning
Proud Son of China, by Brian Evans
http://tinyurl.com/k4tu3fv
http://tinyurl.com/luu3lgb
--
Colleague Contributions:
Douglas John Hall, Ron Rolheiser,
Jim Taylor and Martin Marty
have much to tell us this week.
http://tinyurl.com/koe79yp
Net Notes:
Immortal Diamond - A key insight
from the book by Richard Rohr
that we are studying at the church
right now (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/lgtqxv9
John Tavener Dies at 69 - a
leading contemporary British
composer and devoted Christian
passed away this week
(The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/jw5rpm2
http://tinyurl.com/m4zx3ba
Sri Lanka: Continuing Strife - while
the civil war is over, on-going
persecution of the minority Tamil
population is real (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/mgrmnf7
http://tinyurl.com/kbunsd7
Remembrance Day Reflection -
we remember those who have given
much in the past and who continue
to do so today (Youtube video)
http://tinyurl.com/k42u2uc
the training we provide our clergy
in training today will strongly influence
the kind of church our grandchildren
will inhabit (Alban Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/mft3epo
Francis Warns About Apparitions -
the pope tries to head off too much
attention to paranormal experiences
of true believers (Catholicculture.org)
http://tinyurl.com/k298kqf
Flannery O'Connor's Prayer Journal -
the great Southern American writer
reveals a profound spirituality here
(New York Times Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/lltbfle
Northern Nigeria Tops Martyr's List -
reveals a profound spirituality here
(New York Times Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/lltbfle
Northern Nigeria Tops Martyr's List -
Christians are experiencing severe
persecution in this West African nation
(The Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/lr5ub6w
Suffering and Climate Change Denial -
persecution in this West African nation
(The Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/lr5ub6w
Suffering and Climate Change Denial -
these presentations not only show
the devastation of the Philippines
after the recent typhoon but suggest
reasons for why it occurred
(Washington Post, Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/lp7cb9f
http://tinyurl.com/jwvtzx3
-- the devastation of the Philippines
after the recent typhoon but suggest
reasons for why it occurred
(Washington Post, Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/lp7cb9f
http://tinyurl.com/jwvtzx3
Wisdom of the Week:
Nilus of Ancyra, Jean Vanier,
Audre Lorde, Georges Bernarnos
and Maya Angelou - share their insights
with us, courtesy of Sojourners Online.
--
On This Day:
Provided from the New York Times -
Armistice Signed - WWI Ends
http://tinyurl.com/yaz4cdq
Closing Thought:
Søren Kierkegaard:
from the Bruderhof Community website:
http://www.bruderhof.com/
--
Nice to visit you again this week.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
THE REMARKABLE CHESTER RONNING
Proud Son of China
by Brian Evans
University of Alberta Press and
The Chester Ronning Centre for
The Study of Religion and Public Life
306 pages. $34.95 CAD paperback
ISBN #978-0-88864-663-7
Publisher's Promo:
Scholar and diplomat Brian L. Evans gives us
the first English-language biography of Chester
A. Ronning (1894–1984): diplomat, politician,
educator, and one of Canada’s major public
figures. This fascinating story depicts Ronning,
the man who received many honors, and
deepens readers’ knowledge of Canada’s post–
World War II diplomacy and Canada–China
relations.
Ronning was an extraordinary Canadian who
combined Chinese sensibility with Norwegian
calm practicality and American drive. His life
journey was entwined with the history of China
over many decades. Based on written materials,
historical documents, and many hours of
interviews with Ronning, his friends, and fellow
politicians, The Remarkable Chester Ronning
offers both a thorough and entertaining
biography and a lens through which to view
international politics.
--
Author's Words:
Chester Alvin Ronning died the last day of
December 1984, aged ninety. Those who
gathered at his funeral a few days later
included family, friends colleagues, and
admirers from Canada, the United States,
Norway, and China. During his nine decades,
Ronning touched many lives and accomplished
many things...
Canadian (media) marked Ronning's passing
as that of a great man; farmer, rancher, teacher,
musician, sculptor, soldier, pilot, politician,
author, and diplomat, but many failed to note
his greatest source of pride - he was born in China.
... from the day of his birth, 13 December 1894,
Ronning's life was entwined with the history
of China... (he invariably measured his life
by key events in the history of modern China.)
I first met Ronning in August 1965 in Banff at
an international conference, and again the next
year following his special missions to Hanoi
(and we became good friends.)
He was a polymath; a natural at everything
he attempted from sculpting to diplomacy. (He
spoke fluent Mandarin and the Hupei dialact
from the Chinese region where he grew up -
as well as English, of course.)
(At Camrose Lutheran College, where he was
president for a decade and a half, he taught
agriculture, music, mathematics and religion
to the high school-level students who attended.)
(Camrose Lutheran College is now Augustana
University and part of the University of Alberta,
centered in Edmonton.)
A meeting with Ronning was invariably punctuated
with laughter and amazing stories of exotic
places and extraordinary people. After Canada,
he identified with China and Norway, and latterly
with the United States. Thus we was a proud
Canadian with Chinese sensibility, Norwegian
calm practicality and American drive.
Throughout his life, he used languages to great
effect, communicating easily with people. His
intelligence, impish sense of humor, and
innate curiosity made him a natural teacher,
politician and diplomat.
(To write this biography) I was given items
related to him from many people. (I was
encouraged to press on with what is before
you as I myself was entering my seventies.)
- from the Preface
--
My Thoughts:
Only a few Canadian Lutherans have made
a name for themselves in wider international
circles, but Chester Ronning was an exception.
I remember first encountering his name when
I moved to Alberta in 1979. He was still alive
and inhabiting a small home he had built for
his family when he came to become president
of Camrose Lutheran College.
Because Lutherans in Canada were in the
process of merging into larger, non-ethnically
defined denominations, and because I wanted
to get a better handle on the various traditions
making up what is now the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada, I visited Ronning in his
little house by the campus and spoke to him
as one eager to learn about his life.
I was greatly impressed that one who had
had such vast experience and international
exposure as a shaper of modern global
relations, could have such a common, down-
to-earth demeanor. It was an encounter
that I shall not forget.
Ronning was indeed a man far ahead of
many in his time. Against the common
wisdom of Canadian and American foreign
policy during the fifties and sixties, Ronning
was a strong advocate for the recognition
of Red China as it was known in those
days. He was recognized for his diplomatic
skills with several foreign postings, and
was heavily involved in attempts to get
America and Vietnam to the peace table -
well before Nixon had similar inclinations
leading to the end of that difficult war and
his visit to China in the early 1970's.
Ronning was well-loved and respected in
China. He would travel there often and
returned near the end of his life to be feted
by the top Chinese leaders of the day.
Ronning was himself a socialist - and
an early supporter of the CCF and then,
NDP parties in Canada. He held these
views largely because of his experience
in China during formative years. He
maintained a good rapport with many
who differed with him politically in an
emerging Canadian province with
heavy conservative leanings.
Ronning was well-connected; one of
his daughters was married to a leading
executive of the New York Times
and Canadian prime ministers like
Lester Pearson and Pierre Trudeau
would seek his advice.
Ronning was a deeply religious man;
yet his Haugean (Norwegian, often-anti-
clerical) pietism did not get in the way of
his ability to relate to a range of people
in his church, his nation, and the world.
Always, this man retained a common touch
and could converse in equal authenticity
with the Norwegian farmers who had little
or no education but whom he convinced
to support his college and send their children.
He was a true Canadian Renaissance Man.
Canadian Lutherans can be proud of
him. All Canadians should respect him.
--
I was honored to have met Ronning at
the end of his life. This book, so carefully
written by Brian Evans, has brought
back many memories and added a good
deal more to what I have come to know
and appreciate about Ronning.
The book contains many interesting
pictures which amplify Ronning's life
and contribution to humanity.
Readers who are interested in Canadian
history, international affairs, the role
that religion has played in the development
of this land, and even those who want to
engage an inspiring man with a great
story will want to secure this book.
*****
Buy the Book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/k4tu3fv or
The University of Alberta Press
http://tinyurl.com/luu3lgb
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
DOUGLAS JOHN HALL
Montreal, QC
Emmanuel College Website
University of Toronto
"The Future of the Church"
The Cousland Lecture
October 16th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/koe79yp
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website
November 10th, 2013
"Handling Resentment in Our Lives"
http://tinyurl.com/ltdmtxz
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Personal Website
November 10th, 2013
"Activism"
http://tinyurl.com/ly5jk8q
--
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
America Magazine
November 25th, 2013
"Robert McAfee Brown -
A Witness in Our Time" (review)
http://tinyurl.com/lon2hlo
*****
NET NOTES
IMMORTAL DIAMOND
Your True Self (Richard Rohr)
UCA Spirituality
Undated but Current
http://tinyurl.com/lgtqxv9
--
JOHN TAVENER DIES AT 69
English Composer Chose Orthodoxy
The Guardian, UK
November 12th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/jw5rpm2
Tavener Helped Many Encounter the Divine
The Tablet, UK
November 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/m4zx3ba
--
SRI LANKA - CONTINUING STRIFE
But Atrocities Against Tamils Continue
UCA News
November 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mgrmnf7
Religious Freedom Dies a Slow Death in Sri Lanka
Continuing Persecution of non-Buddhist Minorities
UCA News
November 12rh, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/kbunsd7
--
REMEMBRANCE DAY REFLECTION
Canadian Troops in Afghanistan Honoured
Youtube Website
November 11th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/k42u2uc
--
A CHURCH FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN
Their Leaders Will be the Ones We Train Today
Alban Letter
November 10th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/mft3epo
--
FRANCIS WARNS ABOUT APPARITIONS
Placing Faith in them Misses the Point
Catholicculture.org
November 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/k298kqf
--
FLANNERY O'CONNOR'S PRAYER JOURNAL
A Look Into the Writer's Spiritual Life
New York Times Review of Books
November 17th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/lltbfle
--
NORTHERN NIGERIA TOPS MARTYR LIST
More Christians Killed than Rest of World Total
The Christian Post
November 15th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/lr5ub6w
--
SUFFERING AND CLIMATE CHANGE DENIAL
Philippines Tragedy - ‘Super’ Typhoon Haiyan
Washington Post
November 12th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/lp7cb9f
Pictures of Devastation in the Philippines
The Atlantic Online
November 11th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/jwvtzx3
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online
"We should remain within the limits imposed by
our basic needs and strive with all our power not
to exceed them. For once we are carried a little
beyond these limits in our desire for the pleasures
of life, there is then no criterion by which to check
our onward movement, since no bounds can be
set to that which exceeds the necessary."
- Nilus of Ancyra
--
"Peace is not stasis; it is not the absence of violence:
where there is isolation, separation and indifference
between peoples, conflict can break out at any time.
Nor is it simply civility and respect for the law, in which
the walls of separation remain firm. Peace, rather, is the
counter-dynamic to competition, rivalry and the clash of
strengths. Peace can only come when the chain of
violence is broken and the weaker members of society
are fully welcomed, loved and respected."
- Jean Vanier
--
It is not our differences that divide us.
It is our inability to recognize, accept,
and celebrate those differences.
- Audre Lorde
--
"The wish to pray is a prayer in itself."
- Georges Bernarnos
--
"I have found that among its other benefits,
giving liberates the soul of the giver."
- Maya Angelou
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the archives of
The New York Times
ARMISTICE SIGNED - WWI ENDS
http://tinyurl.com/yaz4cdq
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
Provided by the Bruderhof Community
http://www.bruderhof.com/
Søren Kierkegaard:
Christ willed to be the socially insignificant one.
The fact that he descended from heaven to take
upon himself the form of a servant is not an
accidental something which now is to be thrust
into the background and forgotten. No, every true
follower of Christ must express existentially the
very same thing – that insignificance and offense
are inseparable from being a Christian. As soon
as the least bit of worldly advantage is gained by
preaching or following Christ, then the fox is
in the chicken house.
(end)
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