(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 … Continue reading True Liberation – A reading of the Parable of the talents
Faith
Are Disciplines Necessary?
This post is based on a presentation made at the ACW Regional Retreat in September 2020. Are Spiritual Disciplines really that important? Why are Spiritual Disciplines important? Is not believing in Jesus enough? Are disciplines just a form of works righteousness, some mistaken attempt to earn our salvation? Do we really need to worry about … Continue reading Are Disciplines Necessary?
O Blessed Boredom: Isolation and the dethronement of idols
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 … Continue reading O Blessed Boredom: Isolation and the dethronement of idols
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.
Messy Faith
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 … Continue reading Messy Faith
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
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).
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.
Reverend Kyle Norman 