Seeds - June/July 2006

You holy flame, sweet comfort, now help us, joyful and content to bide forever in thy service, that sadness may not cast us out. O Lord, through your might prepare us, and make strong the weakness of our flesh, that we here may gallantly strive through death and life to reach thy presence. Hallelujah, hallelujah.

_____

Martin Luther (1483-1546). Monk, Reformer, Theologian.

Seeds - May 2006

You have made my soul for Your peace and Your silence, but it is lacerated by the noise of my activity and my desires. My mind is crucified all day by its own hunger for experience, for ideas, for satisfaction. And I do not possess my house in silence. . . I am – noisy, full of the racket of my imperfections and passions, and the wide open wounds left by my sins. Full of my own emptiness. Yet, ruined as my house is, You live there!

_____

Thomas Merton (1915-1968). Writer, Trappist Monk.

His books can be obtained here. Some of his writings include The Seven Storey Mountain, The Sign of Jonas, Contemplative Prayer.

Seeds - April 2006

Love all God’s creation, the whole of it and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. … If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.

_____

Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821-1881). Prolific Russian author who wrote on religion, philosophy, and psychology.

To obtain free online e-texts of his works: http://dostoyevsky.thefreelibrary.com/

Seeds - March 2006

Sacrifice, that is to say, is not primarily a matter of giving up but of giving. The main emphasis falls not upon what we deny to ourselves, but upon what we offer to God and to our neighbours ...

_____

Bishop Kallistos Ware (b 1934-). Theologian, Lecturer, & Author of numerous books pertaining to the Orthodox Christian Faith.

Kallistos Ware on How to read the Bible: http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/11/1/4.aspx

Kallistos Ware on Faith & Worship: http://orthodoxeurope.org/page/11/1/6.aspx

Currently Reading: February 2006

Title: A History Of The Church In England
Author: J. R. H. Moorman
Publisher: Morehouse Publishing
Release: 1980, 3rd edition, (Original Release: 1963)

Seeds - February 2006

Possessions are not God's blessings and goodness, but the opportunities of service which he entrusts to us.

_____

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). Theologian, Spiritual Writer, Church Leader who stood in opposition to Nazism. He paid for this opposition with his life.

See also the following link for more information on Dietrich Bonhoeffer:

http://www.ushmm.org/bonhoeffer/

Currently Reading: January 2006

Title: The Imitation Of Christ
Author: Thomas à Kempis
Publisher: Dover Publications
Release: 2003, (Original Release: 1418)

Seeds - January 2006

Lord, what You say is true. Your care for me is greater than all the care I can take of myself. For he who does not cast all his care upon You stands very unsafely. If only my will remain right and firm toward you, Lord, do with me whatever pleases You. For whatever You shall do with me can only be good.

If You wish me to be in darkness, I shall bless You. And if You wish me to be in light, again I shall bless You. If You stoop down to comfort me, I shall bless You, and if You wish me to be afflicted , I shall bless You forever.

_____

Thomas à Kempis (1379 - 1471). Priest, monk, writer. This quote taken from the classic Christian devotional The Imitation of Christ, a book second only to the Bible as a source of religious instruction and inspiration.

Currently Reading: Fall 2005

I've been meaning to post the books I've been reading over the past few months, but with all the busyness of my studies, internship, and ministry tasks, I've been unable to. Well, here they are, all in one post. I've only included my favourite books, as otherwise the list would be much too long. Some of these books I read cover-to-cover, others I just skim-read. Also, I included a brief review that includes some positive and negative aspects of the book.

Anyways, here goes:















Title: Christian Religious Education. Sharing Our Story And Vision
Author: Thomas H. Groome
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Release: 1980
Review: This is a gem. A bit heavy and philosophical at times, but it thoroughly covers what it claims to. It provides a "comprehensive integration of the history, theory, and practise of modern religious education for a generation of educators" (back cover).

Title: Medieval Monasticism. Forms of Religious Life in Western Europe In The Middle Ages
Author: C. H. Lawrence
Publisher: Longman
Release: 2001, 3rd edition, (Original Release 1984)
Review: This is a good but slow read. It traces the rise and influence of the numerous monastic movements on the Christian faith. It covers one thousand years, from the 4th to the 14th century. For anyone not familiar with the monastics, this provides a good introduction to the incalculable contribution they rendered European civilization. It's a slow read though, as the intertwining of the political and religious milieus are complex, and the period of history covered is not one that the typical contemporary reader is very familiar with.

Title: The Story of Christianity. Volume I: The Early Church To The Dawn Of The Reformation
Author: Justo L. Gonzalez
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Release: 1984
Review: Anyone wishing to read up on the story of Christianity need look no further. Gonzalez is the man. It's an "informative, interesting, and consistently readable narrative history. It brings alive the people, dramatic events, and ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church's life and thought" (Back cover). Perhaps most importantly, it avoids what so many other Christian writers/books are unable to do, namely, the polarization and polemicism between the Catholic and the Protestant tradition. One drawback: it does not deal appropriately or sufficiently with the "other lung" of the global church: the Orthodox Church.

Title: The Story of Christianity. Volume II: The Reformation To The Present Day
Author: Justo L. Gonzalez
Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco
Release: 1985
Review: Same as above. Gonzalez is the man.
















Title: Word, Water, Wine, And Bread. How Worship Has Changed Over The Years
Author: William H. Willimon
Publisher: Judson
Release: 1980
Review: This thin little book traces the progression of Christian worship from the early church to the late 20th century. It's written in a simple, easy-to-understand language that is appealing to readers of various levels. Trying to cover 2000 years of worship history is a tough task in such a short format, however, so the one drawback of this book is that it's very general. Still, a great introductory read.

Title: Life And Practise In The Early Church. A Documentary Reader
Author: Steven McKinion (editor)
Publisher: New York University
Review: This documentary reader provides a window into early church worship practises. It includes many excerpts of post-Apostolic church writings, such as the Didache, as well as authors such as St. Irenaeus , St. Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Hyppolytus.

Seeds - December 2005

Was there a moment, known only to God, when all the stars held their breath, when the galaxies paused in their dance for a fraction of a second, and the Word, who had called it all into being, went with all his love into the womb of a young girl, and the universe started to breathe again, and the ancient harmonies resumed their song, and the angels clapped their hands for joy?

_____

Madeleine L'Engle (1918-). Writer.

Seeds - November 2005

The duties and cares of the day crowd about us when we awake each day - if they have not already dispelled our night's rest. How can everything be accommodated in one day? When will I do this, when that? How will it all be accomplished? Thus agitated, we are tempted to run and rush. And so we must take the reins in hand and remind ourselves, "Let go of your plans. The first hour of your morning belongs to God. Tackle the day's work that he charges you with, and he will give you the power to accomplish it.

_____

- Edith Stein (1891-1942). Nun, Martyr.

Seeds - October 2005

Consider the analogy of the sunbeam: eadch person upon whom its kindly light falls rejoices as if the sun existed for him alone, yet it illumines land and sea, and is master of the atmosphere. In the same way, the Spirit is given to each one who receives Him as if He were the possession of that person alone, yet He sends forth sufficient grace to fill all the universe. Everything that partakes of His grace is filled with joy according to its capacity – the capacity of its nature, not of His power.

_____

- St. Basil the Great (329-379AD). Bishop of Caesarea in the 4th century. Part of the "trio" called the Cappadocian Fathers. Defender of the Faith against the heresies of the 4th century.