In the face of challenging news in the world, I particularly enjoyed the celebration of Easter this year. Easter is, in the Christian tradition in which I minister, the celebration of good news. It is the culmination of the announcement of the good news proclaimed by Jesus. At the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, […]
Like many who work at a university, I have books on my mind – not just those I want to read, but those I would like to write. I muse about writing a children’s book, introducing younger readers to some of the great religious figures of the past. I am particularly drawn to the heroes, […]
Archbishop Oscar Romero will soon be declared a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Long recognized as a candidate worthy of sainthood by popular acclaim, the Vatican has made moves to officially canonize Romero, that is, to formally recognize him as a saint. Pope Francis, a Latin American and a champion of the poor, has […]
We all wait for spring to come, perhaps nowhere with as much anticipation as in Canada. In Northern Canada, the celebration of light comes even as winter moves into its coldest time, with a celebration of the first sunrise after the sun disappears for a while in December and early January. In Inuvik, since 1988 […]
Donald Trump has issued a directive to the military to begin planning a military parade: hardware and members of the armed forces parading past the White House, the Capitol, and along the way past the Trump Hotel. All this, analysts seem to think, is simply to satisfy a childish fantasy about displaying power. I think […]
For the second time in just over twelve months, the hands of the Doomsday Clock have been moved closer to midnight, the symbolic time of the collapse or annihilation of the human race. Usually the hands are moved by increments of a minute, or several minutes. Last year, the hands were moved ahead by 30 […]
I have been reflecting more on my work recently, in part because of the changing university culture and in part because of the changing culture of young adults; I note particularly the shift among university students from “millennials” to the “iGeneration” with their different interests, priorities and needs. It has been important to me, in […]
As I begin to prepare course material for next semester, I am reading the biblical Book of Revelation once again, complete with its condemnation of megalomaniacal and narcissistic Roman emperors. I can’t help thinking about the contemporary application of this ancient text. The Book of Revelation prompts reflections on leadership, and it seems to me […]
Remember to enjoy the present as you look on to your future My second-floor office in the student centre (just below the Argosy office) affords me an excellent view of the ongoing renovations of the former Gairdner Fine Arts Building. It is incredible to me, how quickly the site changes and how rapidly the work […]