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Book List
The Universal Christ
Richard Rohr
Convergent Books, 2019Sapiens
Yuval Noah Harari
Penguin Random House, 2014Living the Examined Life
James Hollis
Sounds True Publishers, 2018The Exquisite Risk: Daring to Live an Authentic Life
Mark Nepo,
Harmony, 2006
Amusing Ourselves to Death
Neil Postman,
Penguin Books, 2005Prayers of the Cosmos: Reflections on the Original Meaning of Jesus’s Words
Neil Douglas-Klotz,
HarperOne Paperback Reprint Edition 2009Guerrillas of Grace: Prayers for the Battle
Rev. Ted Loder,
Augsburg Press, 2016Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ Know About Life and Love and How It can Revitalize Christianity
Rev. Elizabeth M. Edman,
Beacon Press, 2016Love: A History
Simon May,
Yale University Press, 2011The Great Spiritual Migration
Brian McLaren,
Convergent Books, 2016Original Thinking
Glenn Aparicio,
North Atlantic Books, 2015On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old
Parker Palmer,
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2018Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World–and Why Things Are Better Than You Think
Hans Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Ola Rosling,
Flatiron Books, New York, 2018Finding Purpose in a Godless World: Why We Care Even If the Universe Doesn’t Hardcover
Ralph Lewis,
Prometheus Books, Amhurst, NY, 2018Convergence: The Idea at the Heart of Science
Peter Watson,
Simon and Schuster, UK, 2016The Jazz of Physics: The Secret Link between Music and the Structure of the Universe
Stephon Alexander, Basic Books, 2016Integral Christianity: The Spirit’s Call to Evolve
Paul Smith, Paragon House, 2011Evolutionary Faith
Diarmuid O’Murchu,
Orbis Books, 2002The Holy Trinity and the Power of Three
Cynthia Bourgeoult,
Shambhala Publications, 2013I’m Right and You’re an Idiot: The Toxic State of Public Discourse and How to Clean It UP
James Hoggan with Grania Litwin,
New Society Publishers, 2016The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America
Timothy Snyder,
Tim Duggan Books, 2018Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos
Bruce Sanguin,
Copper House, 2007The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
Francis Collins,
Simon and Schuster, 2007Other Resources
The Cross and the Lynching Tree,
Rev. Otis Moss. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6985UG0Z3k&feature=youtu.bePentecost sermon
Bishop Michael Curry at the Washington National Cathedral. (https://episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/presiding-bishop-michael-currys-pentecost-sermon-live-streamed-service)10 Positive Psychology Studies to Change Your View of Happiness
Joshua Becker, 2014
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/happierCanticle to the Cosmos
Brian Swimme, Center for the Story of the Universe DVD Series, 1996Willie Nelson, April 2017 God’s Problem Child https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMT4nJwbjAU
Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation daily blog, https://cac.org/sign-up/
Author Archives: John Griffith
The Christmas Story, Santa, Carols and the Ones I Love
Christmas messages have come to me again this year as I spent time reflecting on the story that has directed and supported my life for 76 years. In my early years my parents introduced me to the Christmas story and … Continue reading
The Great ADVENTure
The cycle of the Christian year begins again. I like beginnings. It is a sign of hope and new possibilities. At the beginning of the Christmas season, Advent gives me the opportunity to explore the depths of the mystery at … Continue reading
The Advent-ure of Life
This adventure began when I was invited to lead a contemplative service during Advent. I said “yes” and was assigned the second week, which traditionally has the theme of Peace. John 14:27 came first to my mind, “Peace I leave … Continue reading
A Crack in Everything
Last Sunday at church hearing this reading got me thinking… ANTHEM by Leonard Cohen The birds they sing At the break of day “Start again”, I heard them say Don’t dwell On what has passed away Or what is yet … Continue reading
My Road to “No”
The City of Calgary began an exploration process in July 2016 to assess the risks and benefits of hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics. October 2017 began a dialogue process to flesh out the way forward in getting government partners and … Continue reading
I’m Looking For Some Good News
I am an optimist. I have always been interested in good news. I used to subscribe to a magazine called Ode Magazine that turned into the Intelligent Optimist, then went out of print in 2013. Good news does not appear … Continue reading
Silence is Really Something
It is September and I am ready to get back to a spiritual routine. Meditation and writing my blog are two parts of my discipline. In August I was asked to provide leadership for two 7:00 am contemplative services at … Continue reading
The Discovery of the John Griffith String Theory
I just finished reading a book called Convergence: The Idea at the Heart of Science by Peter Watson. It is a history of modern science since 1850, showing how the various scientific disciplines have been converging to influence one other … Continue reading
The Jazz of Physics
When science, music and spirituality converge in the search for and the finding of truth I am genuinely moved. I was moved in ways I cannot fully articulate reading Stephon Alexander’s book, The Jazz of Physics, a book about the … Continue reading
Back to the Future When Everything Was Better
This week I have been thinking about Doug Ford’s decision to roll back sex education in Ontario to the 1998 curriculum. He made this decision because an updated curriculum is not necessary. We haven’t learned anything new about sexuality, gender … Continue reading
Two Books on Science and Religion
I like to learn how other people think. In the past month I read two books on the relationship between science and religion. One was from the perspective of Francis Collins, a molecular biologist, The Language of God: A Scientist … Continue reading
Happy Are the Poor in Spirit…I Don’t Think So!
I heard an interview-sermon at church a week ago and it triggered a reaction that I have had off and on for quite a long time. The text was the beatitudes Matthew 5: 3-10 which used a newer translation that … Continue reading
My Foray Into Truth and Lies
For two weeks I have had the most unsettling thoughts. Usually I am optimistic and hopeful, but lately I find myself angry and frightened. And I confess I now see how naive I am about political matters. I have been … Continue reading
Thinking About Justice
On April 7th, an article in the Globe and Mail got me thinking. The article said shareholders of the Royal Bank were not happy with the “breath taking size of the CEO’s pay package” (last year $13.4 million dollars). An … Continue reading
Thinking About Easter for the 53rd Time
Three things caught my attention in the past two weeks: Thinking about Easter, a song I heard on the radio, and a play I saw at Alberta Theatre Projects called Constellations. In my last post I mentioned that the ritual … Continue reading
I Didn’t See That Coming!
Wednesday mornings I am on my way to 7 am meditation at the church I attend. Wednesday, February 14th I knew it was Ash Wednesday and thought I could escape the ashes on the forehead by going to the weekly … Continue reading
“A Lie Will Take You Far, But It Won’t Bring You Home”
This one line in Fred Craddock’s sermon over 30 years ago continues to surface as wisdom for me. Lies are useful for short-term gain, but eventually the life gained because of a lie falls apart when the truth is discovered. … Continue reading
Christmas Time Already: Where’s the Excitement?
When I first began my ministry in 1969, the Christmas story was a literal story about the wonder and miracle of God’s love, the divine coming to us in human form that we might experience the gift of God’s grace … Continue reading
Amazing Grace in an Age of Entitlement
Two weeks ago I started thinking about the parable/story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids (Mathew 25:1-13) which was the basis of a sermon on November 12. The minister commented that it was a difficult passage – one you must … Continue reading
What Has Love Got to Do With It?
Fortunately, like never before in history, this generation has at its disposal new and wonderful evidence from science, confirming the presence and power of what many of us would call a Very Insistent Love at the heart of all creation. … Continue reading
After graduating from seminary I was in pastoral ministry for 30 years then moved into community ministry as the Founder and Director of Spiritual Directions, a not-for-profit personal and spiritual development centre in Calgary, Alberta. During this time I was also involved in offering spiritual direction and training spiritual directors at the FCJ Catholic retreat centre in Calgary. After retiring from 50 years of professional life the ground is still shifting, and my mind is still processing all the change in light of the gospel. I have decided to write this blog about what I am thinking and I hope you readers will respond with your own thoughts. I believe Truth comes to Light in dialogue as well as in the shadows and pathways of my mind.
What Was I Thinking! 