Henri Nouwen is one of the authors I read a lot from. His words plumb the depths of the spiritual life in profound ways. So, when I started dreaming of my parish's Lenten program for 2022, I knew that I wanted to structure it around the works of Henri Nouwen.
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The Discouragement of Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence does not allow his spiritual discouragement to speak a final word. Lawrence refuses to allow his discouragement to dissuade his belief that he could grow closer to Jesus.
In Conversation with Steve Bell
Sometimes it pays to be bold with emails. I have long had a deep affinity for the music of Steve Bell. Not only is he a gifted musician and singer/songwriter, but he also conveys a deep thoughtfulness about the matters of faith. Steve loves the Church, and he loves Christians. He also loves the Psalms. … Continue reading In Conversation with Steve Bell
When Discouragement begins
On Maundy Thursday, 2015, the oncologist told my wife, “I’m recommending chemotherapy. You start next week. Here is the paperwork.” We were dumbfounded. To this day the pit of my stomach drops whenever I think of those words.
Psalm 73: A Song for the Faithfully Forlorn
We all get discouraged or frustrated in our faith. Our spiritual lives rarely occur exactly as we would imagine or hope. After all, we live in an imperfect world, and we bear those imperfections within ourselves. We all struggle. We all question. We all, at times, raise our voice to the heavens and scream “why?” … Continue reading Psalm 73: A Song for the Faithfully Forlorn
Lessons in Prayer 1: A longing for communion
Prayer is communion with God. It is an enacted relationship, a reaching out to Jesus. “Prayer is the natural outgushing of a soul in communion with Jesus”, says Charles Spurgeon.[i] One cannot pray and remain cut off from the presence of God. The intimate presence of God, understood and experienced in our lives, is the … Continue reading Lessons in Prayer 1: A longing for communion
A prophetic push: A review of Conrad Mbewe’s book “God’s design for the Church.”
When one loves to read, write, or ponder, the nature of the church, it can be tempting to remain rooted in one’s own cultural or denominational context. This would be a mistake. The church is not simply the church as it exists in Canada. Thus, ever since I found my affinity ecclesiological works, I have … Continue reading A prophetic push: A review of Conrad Mbewe’s book “God’s design for the Church.”
Beloved but Messy: A Review of Megan Hill’s “A Place to Belong.”
I never believed I would be someone who would enjoy reading books on ecclesiology. Reading about the nature of the church never once appealed to me as a viable good time option. Yet here I am, reading books on the nature of the church, and loving it! The latest addition to my reading was Megan … Continue reading Beloved but Messy: A Review of Megan Hill’s “A Place to Belong.”
When Words Speak: 5 books that formed my faith and brought me closer to Jesus (besides the Bible).
Recently, our bishop asked us clergy to provide a list of three books that we have found influential to our lives or our ministry. These books didn’t have to be necessarily theological in nature, just books that we would recommend to others. For me, this proved to be a difficult task. I love my books … Continue reading When Words Speak: 5 books that formed my faith and brought me closer to Jesus (besides the Bible).
Bonhoeffer, Statistics, and the True Focus of the Church.
Do you think Jesus feels invisible in today’s churches, like a guest at a party with whom no one chooses to converse? I mean, sure he was invited. We acknowledge his presence as a point of doctrine. We may even state that the gathering is held in his honor. However, is that where it ends? … Continue reading Bonhoeffer, Statistics, and the True Focus of the Church.
Reverend Kyle Norman 