Swiss born, Jean Vanier (son of former Canadian Governor-General Georges Vanier and his wife Pauline), may not have known all the persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the 29 communities among the L’Arche Communities in Canada but his life impacted them nonetheless. So did his passing from thyroid cancer on May 7 in Paris. L’Arche – the Ark – was … [Read more...] about An ark for our times – L’Arche’s Jean Vanier passes
Tell me their names – World Refugee Day
Peruvian theologian, Gustavo Gutierrez, said “You say you care about the poor? Then tell me, what are their names?” Ann Ball, executive director for New Hope Community Services says, “it’s easy to say the words, ‘we care about refugees’, but knowing them by name and hearing their stories provides a real opportunity to share life with them and to live out the gospel … [Read more...] about Tell me their names – World Refugee Day
Faith and work: insights from the latest Barna research part 3
Do you work to live or live to work? In a digitally driven, sleep-deprived, stressed-out world, the answer to this may not come easy, even to believers who look to integrate faith and work. Sixteen years ago, at a Stanford commencement address, Steve Jobs shared his visionary banner for the next generations. “You’ve got to find what you love. Your work is going to fill a … [Read more...] about Faith and work: insights from the latest Barna research part 3
Faith and work: insights from the latest Barna research
Insights from the latest Barna research finds that 77 percent of Christians prefer to share their faith through their lifestyle rather than their words, is there a place for more intention in our workplaces? Dr. Ben Ries, in his article The Kingdom Coming Near (Barna, The Christian and Work, side-bar pp. 66-67) notes that “our best efforts to make the local church more … [Read more...] about Faith and work: insights from the latest Barna research
Secularization and the church in Canada
From the beginning, secularism has divided the church – from within and from without. “I believe that pluralistic secularism, in the long run, is a more deadly poison than straightforward persecution.” (Francis Schaeffer) Secularism – the Canadian experiment When one is force-fed secularism in its pablum form, it is easy to keep swallowing and ignore. We easily embrace … [Read more...] about Secularization and the church in Canada