Saint Benedict used the analogy of a well cared flower garden to explain a well cared and centred human life.  He suggested that a disarrayed and ill planned flower garden, no doubt, exudes God’s beauty and magnificence of creation.  However, it takes time and careful examination to appreciate the beauty of an uncared flower garden.  An admirer has to get closer to distinguish between weeds and flowers, perennials and annuals, scented and unscented, and spring, summer and autumn growth.   On the other hand, a well groomed garden is a sight to behold.  Its beauty and splendour speaks for itself and is refreshing and charming for anyone to admire and appreciate.  Saint Benedict submitted the later as an example of a well centred life and urged human beings to have a well cared and groomed life.

continue to read at:  temptations-and-perseverance.doc

I just read on BBC news website that the family tomb of Jesus was discovered in Jerusalem. The report has a picture of a limestone coffin, ossuary,  presumably of Jesus and Mary Magdalene, along with a claim that they had a son, Judah.  These 10, 2,000 year old ossuaries were found in a tomb by construction workers building an apartment complex in east Talpiot, Jerusalem in March 1980.  According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, six of those coffins were marked with the names Mary; Matthew; Jesua son of Joseph; Mary; Jofa (Joseph, Jesus’ brother); and Judah son of Jesua.  James Cameron, an Hollywood Director, has made a documentary claiming that one limestone box contained the remains of Jesus and Mary and the other contained the remains of their son, Judah.  Mr. Cameron presented DNA tests and results to support his theory.  However, Israeli archaeologist Amos Kloner says the names marked on the coffins were very common at the time and does not accept the claim that they contained Jesus’ remains. 

I think the evidence presented by Mr. Cameron is shaky and weak.  DNA evidence proves that these individuals were related to each other biologically.  What it does not confirm is that it belongs to Jesus and his family members.  My refusal to accept this is because of Mr. Kloner’s assertion that these names were common names and also my understanding of DNA testing.  To prove unequivocally Jesus’ family DNA was found will require previous samples from everyone for comparison.  As far as I know, previous samples do not exist. . .  Well, is it a marketing strategy to gain cheap publicity and recognition or an attempt to stimulate discussion and shed doubt through an inconclusive and unsubstantiated science. . .

Guidelines for Inter-Faith Dialogue
The following Guidelines for Interfaith Dialogue were produced October 1988 by the Ecumenical Office, Anglican Church of Canada.

These guidelines are offered to Canadian Anglicans as they seek to reach out to their neighbours of other faiths. Our approach has two separate, but inter-related aspects: dialogue, which includes growing in our knowledge of each other and a mutual sharing of spiritual insights; and common action which would involve joint efforts to deal with issues related to life together in society, but might also include activities of a devotional nature.

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Guidelines on worship involving Christians and people of other faith traditions
Prepared by a Task Force of the

Faith, Worship, and Ministry Committee of the Anglican Church of Canada

approved by the Council of General Synod

1. Historical
Anglicans are increasingly invited to participate in worship with people of other faith traditions, in the context of a multi-cultural society and also against the background of growing dialogue with representatives of some other faith traditions. Guidelines for inter-faith dialogue were commended to the Church by the General Synod in 1986.[1] Inter-faith dialogue is a long process and it is not always easy for a number of reasons: it lacks the definable goal of corporate union which characterizes Christian ecumenism; it is not an appropriate forum for Christian evangelism (with which it is sometimes confused); the histories of the various faith communities have sometimes included distortion,  mutual condemnation and persecution; sometimes it is hard to find a common language to speak of the divine; cultural presuppositions may be confused with religious practice and thought by both Christians and others; some Christians question the need for dialogue when the real agenda is, for them, conversion. These and other difficulties should be acknowledged. Our dialogue partners face the same problems. Dialogue must be open, honest, and realistic, and we should not avoid difficult issues simply to avoid disagreement. Mere sentimentalism can, in the long run, be destructive of good relationships.

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The following is an excerpt from, “The Harvest is Plentiful . . .”.  Please follow the link at the bottom for the full text in WORD format.

This is my last article in the series of articles on Congregational Development.  In this submission, I want to share with you the good news that all is not lost when it comes to our ministry and love of the people for the Church and God, and also the enormous responsibility it entrusts upon us to reach out and make systematic and life giving changes in our approach to worship and to invite and include relapsed members in the mission and ministry of the church.
 

Full Text Here  The Harvest . . . 

The following is an excerpt from, “Master and the Master Plan”.  Please follow the link at the bottom for the full text in WORD format.

The intention of this article is to posit three basic and simple ways for a congregational member to engage effectively in developing the profile, and effectiveness of ministries in their churches.  So far, I have submitted that the universality of the gospel and the acceptance of people of various ethnic backgrounds presented and preserved in the  account of the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-12) should be a biblical basis and model for congregational development.  I have also postulated that obedience to Jesus’ commandment to love others as he has loved us, will liberate and empower the adherents to create an environment of respect, acceptance and unconditional love.

Full Text Here  Master . . .

The following is an excerpt from, “Keeping Christ in the Centre”.  Please follow the link at the bottom for the full text in WORD format

One of the greatest gifts of Anglicanism since its inception is an unequivocal affinity and allegiance to the local character of the church.  The church in the past five centuries has promoted and supported this concept in various parts of the world.  Simply defined, the local character of the church, means that the jurisdiction is in a context and the context is an ecclesiastical province i.e. The church of Nigeria, the Anglican Church of Canada etc.

Full Version Here  Keeping . . .

The following is an excerpt from, “But!  Why should I love you? …….”.   Please follow the link at the bottom for the full text in WORD format 

In September of 1999, I was fortunate and privileged to travel through the Philippines under the auspice of the Philippines Advisory Group.  Three Canadians and seven Filipinos constituted the  membership of this group.  Our task was to visit Community Development Projects and Non Governmental Agencies in different parts of the country and to share our impressions, suggestions and stories with one another.  After seven days in the outlying areas of  Mindanao and Central Visyas, I found myself staying in a Methodist hostel in Cebu city. 

 Full Version Here But . . .

The following is an excerpt from, “Language:  Everyone could Understand”.   Please follow the link at the bottom for the full text in WORD format

Reginald Bibby, a sociologist, whose research interest for the  past thirty years or so  has been in  religious tendencies and trends of the Canadian population, conducted several surveys from 1975 - 2000, and has  written three books on the results of his surveys.  Last year, Bibby published, The Restless Gods.  The book deals with the major perceptions or myths surrounding Canadian people and their relationship to God either through  the Church or some other form of spirituality.

Full Version Here Language . . .