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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/
Category Archives: Spirituality
Spiritual But Not Religious? I Don’t Think So
The saying,” I’m spiritual, but not religious” has been around for many decades now and has become a mantra for people leaving established religions but wanting the world to know they are still believers — in something. And that is … Continue reading
Living with a Story
For most people, the church year consists of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter. However, for me, being a minister for over 50 years, the church year became a frame for my life and work, although my congregation was probably unaware of the significance … Continue reading
Poems and Prayers and Promises
I haven’t stopped thinking but I have not been able to share it lately. Beginning with COVID and Black Lives Matter and the U.S. election I have been oppressed by negative thinking. However, today I realize that I have been … Continue reading
I Don’t Know How the Angel’s Woke Me Up This Morning Soon
Here I am again at 5:15 am, an hour later than I first woke up. This has become a regular wake up call and I can’t get back to sleep. What am I thinking? Why can’t I stop thinking? These … Continue reading
The Way to Emmaus and Back Again: Reflections on 41 Days After Easter:
I am wondering how you are as we move into the third month of self-isolating. Sylvia and I look out the windows of our sun room and say to each other, “It doesn’t look dangerous out there.” And then we … Continue reading
A Template of a Spiritual Journey
Using Lent as a time of contemplation has been a long tradition for me, in which I commit to a daily time of reflection and prayer. My current question is, “What does this season mean to me this year?” Usually … Continue reading
What’s Going On?
A question that has come up consistently throughout my ministry is: “Do we always have to go through trouble to learn and grow”. My answer has always been: “Yes, it seems to be the only way we really learn what … Continue reading
A Crisis Made In Canada: Here’s What I Was Thinking
We are experiencing an Indigenous blockade of our rail lines. The Conservatives want to use force to open up the line and the Liberals are taking another path – negotiation. What do the indigenous groups want? Do they want Canada … Continue reading
Awe and Wonder
I was preparing to write my first blog for the new year on “2020, the Year of Perfect Vision”. I have been saying this as we approached 2020 because it seems to me that faith gives us a different perspective … Continue reading
Thinking About Love
It is spring (you can see I have been thinking about writing this for over a month) and my thoughts always turn to gardening, weather, having more time to be outside, and re-engaging with the neighbours. The cycle of the … Continue reading
He Doesn’t Have a Prayer
“He doesn’t have a prayer,” is a phrase that I have heard from time to time meaning that the situation is hopeless. Like many people at my age and stage of life, I have been thinking about my life and … Continue reading
Taking Care of Business
Procrastination has been a strategy I have practiced most of my life. That is why this blog has been in my journal and half-finished on my computer for over two weeks. It is true that in that time new ideas … Continue reading
The Great Spiritual Migration
It is already mid-February. I seem to always be wondering about my faith and how the Christian message relates to the world I live in, a world which seems out of control right now. There seems to be no limit … 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
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
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
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! 