(This post be long!) This post arises out of question, posed on social media, about how we might mistakenly interpret this parable based on the privilege and capitalism of our North American context. I took that to heart and looked for alternative interpretations, based largely in liberation theology. I started writing out some of my … More True Liberation – A reading of the Parable of the talents
This article first appeared at http://www.medium.com/ministrymatters It’s been over two months of lock downs, isolation, physical distancing, and mask-wearing. Depending on where you live, you may be facing this for the foreseeable future. For myself, I have long moved past my initial bouts of irritation. Being unable to run down to the local mall and … More O Blessed Boredom: Isolation and the dethronement of idols
This post first appeared in “Ministry Matters” under the title: “Discernment: it’s not just pointing at random verses” on Medium.com Whenever we aspire to live the Christian life with any intentionality, an inevitable question arises. How do I know what God wants me to do? How do I know I am making the right decisions? … More The Way of Discernment
The Desert Fathers and Mothers have been a continuous wealth of spiritual knowledge and insight, their teachings passed down in various volumes and compendiums. One lesson has been particularly popularized. As the story goes; a monastic brother went to Abba Moses and asked for a word of advice regarding the cultivation of a robust spiritual … More Away and Towards: Cultivating Solitude in a time of Isolation
This article first appeared as an article for The Anglican Church of Canada at https://medium.com/ministrymatters/discovering-lament-why-crying-out-to-god-may-be-good-for-our-souls-23cf60ccfe3a. While out for a walk with my family the other day, we came across another family, also out for a stroll. Mom and Dad were following their two small daughters, each on bright pink bikes with streamers. As we approached … More Lamentations: Recovering a forgotten discipline.
This post first appeared at https://medium.com/@revkylenorman/ under the title “Embracing the Messiness of faith” Someone once told my mother that eating chilli peppers would cure her cancer. I wish I was making this up. Upon hearing of her diagnosis, this individual informed my mother that the Lord had led him to discover a certain brand … More Messy Faith
This article first appeared at Ministry Matters under the title “Habits of Devotion: Observing the season of Lent in a healthy, restorative, and biblical way.” Published February 27, 2020. Are you bored of Lent? This probably seems like an odd question to ask, considering we have yet to enter into the liturgical season. The … More Habits of Devotion
We know David to be hero of the Old Testament. He is the man noted to be “after God’s own heart” (1st Samuel 13:14); he slew Goliath when everyone else was too scared to enter the battle field (1st Samuel 17); he grew to be a mighty warrior, a successful king, a consummate leader. To … More Hubris and Humility, When I get too big for my britches.
Last week was the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. It is the church that I have belonged to since as long as I can remember. It is the church that I was ordained in 16 years ago, and it is the church that I love. For a good several months, however, I … More An appeal for Church unity with reflections from the Parable of the Good Samaritan: My response to General Synod.
In my late teenage years, I spent many of my summers at our local Christian summer camp. Camp Columbia was nestled in the forests of Thetis Island. It was more run-down that rustic, but I enjoyed much of the time I spent there. One summer, my role was to help with the Leadership Training program. … More Thy Word: A light through the darkness
