Bonhoeffer’s voice sounds louder and louder in my mind and heart. His witness is frighteningly prophetic. And yet, therein lies some hope.
Community
The day I fell out of love with contemporary praise music (again)
I remember distinctly the day I fell out of love with contemporary worship music. It was during my first year of university. While always a Christian, my faith grew in passion and energy through the Vineyard explosion of the 90’s. This deepening of my faith coupled with my learning to play the guitar. Almost instantaneously … Continue reading The day I fell out of love with contemporary praise music (again)
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.”
Take up and Read: Exploring Spiritual Reading
A few months ago, I wrote a blog entitled “When Words Speak”, which detailed five books that helped inform my faith. It was a pleasure to go through my library and note the books to which I continually return. The spiritual lessons I gleaned from their pages have largely shaped the outward expression of my … Continue reading Take up and Read: Exploring Spiritual Reading
Away and Towards: Cultivating Solitude in a time of Isolation
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 … Continue reading Away and Towards: Cultivating Solitude in a time of Isolation
Lamentations: Recovering a forgotten discipline.
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 … Continue reading Lamentations: Recovering a forgotten discipline.
Habits of Devotion
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 … Continue reading Habits of Devotion
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.
An appeal for Church unity with reflections from the Parable of the Good Samaritan: My response to General Synod.
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 … Continue reading An appeal for Church unity with reflections from the Parable of the Good Samaritan: My response to General Synod.
Individualism: The scourge of the Church.
We all know that the church today is getting smaller. Denominations are dwindling; churches around the country are closing their doors; more and more people live without any discernible church connection. Sure, there is a rise of spirituality, but that rarely translates into involvement in a faith community. When someone describes themselves as ‘spiritual not … Continue reading Individualism: The scourge of the Church.
Reverend Kyle Norman 