Greetings

Dear readers,

I wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! To spread the Christmas spirit around the world wide web, here is a portion of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."



Interview with Noah benShea

This interview with Noah benShea reminds me of the Bible's wisdom literature. Noah is, among other things, an author, poet, and philosopher; in the noble tradition of the ancient wise sages. 

CLWR's Advent Calendar

Ever since our daughter was a young child, we have enjoyed Advent calendars in our daily devotion time during the season. There are a wide variety of such calendars available. This season you may wish to check out Canadian Lutheran World Relief's online version, which provides information on various CLWR and Lutheran World Federation relief and development projects around the globe. You can check it out here. If you enjoy Advent calendars, perhaps you would like to share the type you are using, and where readers might access it by leaving a comment. Blessings as you continue your Advent journey.  

A bit of history on the first airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas

[Ever since the debut, I’ve been a fan of the Peanuts cartoon. I can both, at times, identify and empathize with Charlie Brown. I think he is, in his own unique way, a Christ-figure. Plus, I think there is a fair bit of theology intricately woven into the Peanuts cartoon. So, also being a bit of a history buff, I was happy to come across this account of how the original A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never got aired. Dim Lamp]

Few headlines about network television make me giddy. Fewer still make me hopeful that all is good in the world. But back in August of 2010, I read the following headline from the media pages with great excitement: “Charlie Brown Is Here to Stay: ABC Picks Up ‘Peanuts’ Specials Through 2015.” The first of these to be made, the famous Christmas special, was an instant classic when it was created by Charles Schulz on a shoestring budget back in 1965, and thanks to some smart television executives, it will be around for at least another five years for all of us to see and enjoy.

What people don’t know is that the Christmas special almost didn’t happen, because some not-so-smart television executives almost didn’t let it air. You see, Charles Schulz had some ideas that challenged the way of thinking of those executives 46 years ago, and one of them had to do with the inclusion in his Christmas cartoon of a reading from the King James Bible’s version of the Gospel of Luke.

The more things change, the more things stay the same. You can read the whole thing here.

Report on child poverty in Alberta

According to a Calgary Herald news item, a recent coalition of antipoverty advocacy groups issued a report, “In This Together: Ending Poverty in Alberta.”

From a faith perspective, the sign of a democratic society working is how well the strong—those in power—care for the needs of the weakest, poorest, and most vulnerable among us. In this respect, the recent report indicts us all who are blessed by not living in poverty. We are one of the most affluent provinces of Canada—if not “the” most affluent. Yet, it is very telling that we neglect the poverty-stricken among us.

According to the report, citing Statistics Canada figures, children living below the poverty line in Alberta jumped from 53,000 in 2008 to 73,000 in 2009. Further, nearly half of all children who live in poverty come from homes where one or more people work fulltime year round. So the stereotype “blame game” of “those lazy welfare bums” just does not cut it in light of these facts. There are several things that, of course need to be done, however one thing I believe that the government needs to do and could do is raise the minimum wage level—there are still too many working poor. What solutions do you suggest that could reduce poverty? What are you personally prepared to do to be part of the solution rather than the problem? You can read more here.

You can also read the 16 page report here.

Snoopy's Identity Crisis

                      Is it a matter of we are what we eat or what?

Remembrance Day 2011

IN FLANDERS FIELDS by John McCrae, May 1915





In Flanders fields the poppies blow


Between the crosses, row on row,


That mark our place; and in the sky


The larks, still bravely singing, fly


Scarce heard amid the guns below.






We are the Dead. Short days ago


We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,


Loved and were loved, and now we lie


In Flanders fields.






Take up our quarrel with the foe:


To you from failing hands we throw


The torch; be yours to hold it high.


If ye break faith with us who die


We shall not sleep, though poppies grow


In Flanders fields.

Morning Devotion

Yesterday, I read an interesting devotion from the Celtic Daily Prayer: A Northumbrian Office, pp. 379-380, which I think is worth sharing with readers of this blog. This month, the theme of the devotions is “Chosen People.” The biblical references for the following devotion on the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Succot are: Psalms 114:7-8; 118:20-28; Leviticus 23:33, 39-43 & John 7:2-6, 8-11, 14-17, 37-46. There is also a description of the feast from the Talmud, highlighting the celebrative mood. Dim Lamp

The Feast of Tabernacles or booths (Succot) is the context for John’s Gospel chapters 7 to 9.

During the Feast the procession carrying water from the pool of Siloam would circle the Temple and pour their libations on the altar, and this was done seven times in the last day of the Feast. Palm-branches and fruit were waved before God and psalms 113 to 118 always sung.

Bonfires were lit, and men of piety danced, holding lighted torches and singing songs and hymns to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets played by Levites.                           Talmud

In the evening of the final day of the Feast there was a magnificent sight as the lamps were lit in the Court of the Women. Light streamed forth so that the Temple shone with an incredible brightness of light. It seems that this was the moment that occasioned Jesus’ amazing statement:

‘I AM the Light of the world.’

You can check out the Northumbian Community's web site here.

                             

Children's Singer Raffi's new song

Children's singer Raffi has a new song out, based on Jack Layton's last public letter, "Letter to a Nation." Give it a listen here.

Are the Danes really the happiest nation in the world?

According to the most recent OECD How’s Life study of happiness in 40 different nations, the answer is yes, the Danes are number one. Not far behind them is my country, Canada, with Norway coming in third. The Finns and Swedes also scored high in the study. The U.S.A. scored lower, not surprising, I think, given their uncertain economic situation.

However, according to the How’s Life study, happiness is not only measured by economic success and affluence. Although many people find a great deal of meaning in life vis-à-vis their work—nonetheless, there are other factors that contribute to happiness. The study also looked at factors such as: access to education and healthcare, unpolluted green spaces, connections with family and friends, safe neighbourhoods, and political involvement.

Being a Lutheran pastor, I wonder about the factor of faith preference and involvement—especially in the Nordic nations, which are, by faith, majority Lutheran countries. Does Lutheranism, in this period of its history, have a significant contribution to make in the overall happiness of individuals and nations? If the Nordic peoples were asked about their faith in relationship with their overall happiness, I wonder what they would say, and what conclusions could be drawn. We have a friend and colleague who lives in Denmark, and yes, I would describe him as a happy Dane overall. However, he tells us that in his neck of the woods only a small minority of people attend Sunday Worship Services on a regular basis. Yet, they still do show up in large numbers for baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals, and, of course, for Christmas and Easter too—but that’s about it. So, if there are any Nordic readers out there who would like to answer my questions above concerning a relationship between faith and happiness I’d be most grateful. You can read about the How’s Life study, with various pertinent links here.

35th Anniversary of ordaining women

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Special services and other events will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in historic Lunenberg, N.S. The gathering will be a time of “celebration, reconnecting, sharing stories, renewing baptismal and ordination vows, and a variety of workshops to equip us in future ministry,” say organizers of Reflecting the Light of Christ. Read more here.

Our Yellowstone YouTube Videos

Recently Julianna, myself and Julianna's  brother George visited Yellowstone National Park. Here are three videos that Julianna took with our camera. I finally figured out how to turn them into YouTube videos and upload them onto this post.

                                                     Above is Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs has limestone terrace formations. The colours are beautiful, and are created by micro-organisms.

                                         Above is Old Faithful. The timing was perfect for us to see Old Faithful erupt. Hope you enjoy it. The wonders of creation, breath-taking! Old Faithful erupts about 120 feet into the air approximately every 90 minutes. I like how our video captures the different stages of the eruption.

                                      
                                       Above is Castle Geyser. Castle Geyser was erupting at the same time as Old Faithful, so we were unable to see it in the early peak stage.

Exodus 16:2-15 Wordle

Weird news from Sweden

[The following news item was published in our local paper today, The Medicine Hat News, Friday, September 9, 2011, p. C8. The humorous story is most welcome, and serves as a counterpoint to the more somber nature of this weekend, especially Sunday for many in the U.S.A. and around the globe, as we remember the horrific, evil events of 9/11, ten years ago. May the LORD of heaven and earth have mercy on us all and help us all to prevent such a disaster from happening again. Dim Lamp]

'Drunk' moose all tangled up

STOCKHOLM, Sweden

A seemingly intoxicated moose has been discovered entangled in an apple tree by a stunned Swede.

   Per Johannsson says he heard a roar from his vacationing neighbour's garden in southwestern Sweden late Tuesday and went to have a look. There, he found a female moose kicking about in the tree. The animal was likely drunk from eating fermented apples.

   With the help of police and rescue services, the 45-year-old Johannsson later managed to set the moose free in part by sawing off tree branches.

   But the animal appeared confused and wandered into Johannsson's garden, where she was still resting Thursday.

   Other neighbours in the Goteborg suburb Saro had seen the animal sneaking around the area for days. Johannsson said the moose appeared to be sick, drunk or "half-stupid."

Frederick Buechner Quote

[Frederick Buechner has been, and still is, one of the most gifted preachers of our time. He has an ingenious way of wordsmithing his sermons. Here is an excerpt from one he preached on the occasion of the 250th birthday of Princeton University, based on Mark 4:35-41, titled: "A 250th Birthday Prayer." Dim Lamp]

   Keep going, Jesus says, because to keep going is to keep living and to stop going is to stop living in any way that much matters. "Let us go across to the other side," he says, though who knows how far the other side is or what awaits us when we get there, if anything awaits us at all. And go bravely because if we are the boat and the storm and the fishermen in their helplessness, we are also, we have in us also, the holy one asleep in the stern with a pillow under his head whose presence gives us hope and courage.

   I think there is a holiness that sleeps in the heart of all of us even when we do not know its name or seek to know it. I think that, however dimly, we have all of us glimpsed that holiness especially at those moments when we were wiser or braver or more loving than left to ourselves we know how to be, at those moments when we are overwhelmed by the joy of life and the tragedy of life and the indestructible beauty and holiness of life that lie deeper than either. I think that just our longing for it, our listening for it, can stir that holiness to life within us.

A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton

[INTRODUCTORY NOTE: Canadians across the political spectrum mourned the death of Jack Layton this weekend. The Prime Minister offered Jack's family the option of a state funeral, which the family accepted, held in Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto on Saturday, August 27, 2011. I think those Canadians interested in our history will want to preserve, share, reflect upon, and even be motivated to act upon the content of Jack's last letter. I find it inspirational and instructive. I think it underscores the ultimate unity of all Canadians in their humanitarian striving for a better, friendlier future society with opportunities for us all. I especially like his conclusion, which I've posted on my other blog as a quote. May Jack's memory be a blessing among us all. Do you have any thoughts about Jack's letter? Please feel free to leave a comment. Dim Lamp]  
A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton



August 20, 2011


Toronto, Ontario






Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,




Jack Layton

Worship Resources Online

One thing I do not understand is why we Lutherans in Canada and the USA do not offer accessible liturgies online free of charge to congregations and clergy. The publishers of our hymnals seem overly protective in this matter, and would rather sell these materials than offer them to the public free of charge.

The story is much different in at least two other denominations that I am aware of. For example, the Anglicans have all kinds of liturgies online, offered free of charge to their congregations and clergy. Their Book of Common Prayer can be accessed here, and their Book of Alternative Services is accessible here. The other denomination is the Lutheran Church of Australia, which also has some fine liturgical resources online here. This online accesibility is very practical, helpful, and much appreciated I'm sure, for worship planners, worship committees, musicians, and pastors. If any Lutheran clergy out there are reading this, and know the reason(s), can you tell us why we ELCICers and ELCAers are so far behind our Anglican and Australian brothers and sisters in this matter?

Around the Lutheran Blogosphere

Over at Awake At Sunrise, a seasoned pastor demonstrates how programs like Prezi can enhance sermons.

Food aplenty in stark contrast to those starving by the thousands in East Africa, is the subject of a post by Barefoot Pastor.

Campus pastor, Erik Samuelson  reflects on the recent violence in Norway.

Over at Dallas Lutheran, Pastor Russell Vardell shares some thoughts on interpersonal wellness-vocational call, a subject for his congregation’s Sunday Adult study group.

At Professor Kirby Olson’s Lutheran Surrealism blog, read his reflection on economics in the inner city.

Thought-provoking Bonhoeffer Quote

While doing my devotions this morning I came upon this thought-provoking Bonhoeffer quotation. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his Letters & Papers From Prison, pp. 382-383, shared a vision of the church, which he had hoped to put forth in another book. This vision, in my humble opinion, is still as fresh and pertinent for us today as it was back in the 1940s when Bonhoeffer spent his last days in prison prior to his martyrdom.

“The church is the church only when it exists for others. To make a start, it should give away all its property to those in need. The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell people of every calling what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others. It must not under-estimate the importance of human example (which has its origins in the humanity of Jesus and is so important in Paul’s teaching); it is not abstract argument, but example, that gives its word emphasis and power.”

Krister Stendahl Quote

"How can I sing my song to Jesus fully and with abandon without feeling it necessary to belittle the faith of others? I believe that question to be crucial for the health and vitality of Christian theology in the years ahead." -Krister Stendahl

Worshipping on holidays

While worshipping on holidays, we attended a Day of Pentecost Holy Communion Service, which certainly surprised us. It surprised us because we were expecting a more traditional liturgy than the one on that particular Sunday. The title of the Service was “Fire Dance A Liturgy for Pentecost.” Although we arrived a bit late, we saw no official liturgical dancers though—so the title was a tad misleading. However, in the pews many—not all—parishioners were positively “happy-clappy,” and “sway as you sing” types. I found it quite amazing—surprised by the Spirit among us perhaps—that there were granddads and grannies grooving to the songs equally as much as the younger generations.

The liturgy was definitely rather unique. The traditional parts of the liturgy were replaced with—interspersed throughout—litanies, songs, Scripture readings from Acts 1 & 2, poems, sermon, prayers, and a mix of contemporary and traditional Holy Communion liturgy—Great Thanksgiving, Eucharistic Prayer, etc.

The music was primarily rock, blues, and folk-rock, with a four-piece band consisting of: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and percussion. Both the songs and poems contained mostly implicit rather than explicit references to the Holy Spirit and/or Pentecost, with the exception of Peter Scholte’s “We are One in the Spirit.” The opening song was Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” and another familiar song was Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting for a Miracle.”

As I reflect on the Service, what likely surprised us most was interspersing the poems along with the readings from Acts. Neither of us would have thought to do that in a Holy Communion Day of Pentecost Service—yet, it was another way to celebrate the Holy Spirit’s creativity at work through the word delivered in this form among the faith community. Reflecting further, it strikes me that many of our traditional hymns are also in fact poems. Indeed, several Scripture passages are poems in, for example, the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Prologue of John’s Gospel, and the Christ hymn-poem in Philippians—and were originally spoken and/or sung by the faith community during public worship. As clergy, it is always educational when the Holy Spirit teaches us when attending Worship Services in other parishes while on holidays. 

My Grandmother Ironed the King's Shirts

The following heartwarming tale is a National Film Board short video made in 1999 by Torill Kove. Hope you enjoy it.



Around the Lutheran Blogosphere

A bilingual [German and English] blog Sundries  takes a brief look at angels.

Over at What if…  read about “Missions and Jesus: An Atheist’s Surprising View.”

With the prediction of Jesus coming again tomorrow on May 21, 2011, “Thoughts On This Rapture Thing” is a timely reflection by The Shepherdess Writes.

For more on the kookiness of Harold Camping, et al, check out Both Saint and Cynic.

DallasLutheran comments on Thor in 3-D.

Progressive Involvement suggests that Rob Bell is a mainline protestant, quite possibly a Lutheran.

Norway's Bastoy Prison

Norway's Bastoy prison is one of the most progressive in the world in its ideology and practice toward prisoners. It advocates a philosophy of restorative justice rather than punitive measures. From the statistics, it seems that the philosophy is working. For example, in Europe recidivism is about 70 percent. In Norway, it's 20 percent, and for Bastoy, it's 16 percent. According to Bastoy's governor, Arne Kvernvik Nilsen: "If you treat a human as an animal, he (or she) will turn into an animal." In Bastoy, even the guards associate with the prisoners, and eat meals with them. There is a trust-based relationship between prison staff and prisoners, and it seems to, for the most part, work. I think we Canadians might have some things to learn from Bastoy prison.

   For those interested, there are several films on Bastoy prison. Here are three recent ones. "Prison Island Bastoy," (2010), produced in the Netherlands by Michel Kapteijns and selected for the 24th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, examines the rehabilitative philosophy in practice at Bastoy and explores the lives of some of the inmates there.

   "King of Devil's Island" (Kongen av Bastoy, 2010), by Marius Holst, tells the story of Bastoy's early days as a boarding school and correctional institute. The film accompanies the exhibit "Bad Boy? Bastoy Boy's Home," which opened at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in December.

   "From President to Parliament," (Presidenten fra Bastoy fengsel, 2008), directed by Charlotte Rohder Tvedt, tells the story of Peter O. Ranginya an Norwegian-Kenyan inmate at Bastoy prison convicted of embezzlement, who decides to run as a candidate in the Kenyan Parliamentary elections. The film follows Ranginya during his return to Kenya and documents the election and his hard work and optimism. [ This post is based on information from the May 2011 issue of Viking, the Sons of Norway magazine.]

   You can also check out below this YouTube news report on Bostoy prison.

A recent visit to Yad Vashem

[ INTRODUCTORY NOTE: I thank the Rev. Dr. Gary Watts for giving me permission to post the pictures below, taken while he visited Yad Vashem recently, along with his brief commentary. Dim Lamp ]

                                                                       Yad Vashem

                                                                        Yad Vashem

Two days ago, I visited the Yad Vashem memorial. I hadn’t been there for a few years. So sadly moving to see results in real life of human evil.

Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day - Continued

[ INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO READERS: The following, Spirit-inspired letter was sent to me by my friend Fritz Voll, who has devoted many years to Jewish-Christian Relations, as well as an active member on the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, and was the founding webmaster of the excellent cyber library and reference website, Jewish-Christian Relations. This website is, in my humble opinion, the best of  its kind in the world. Fritz has kindly given me permission to publish his letter here on my blog, many thanks Fritz, and blessings always!  Dim Lamp ]

Dear Garth,

Thank you very much for writing and pointing me to your blog. I had just taken a break from reading the book of Sidney Cyngiser about his Holocaust ordeal, when I read your mail and looked up your blog. I started to write something directly into the Web page but then thought, this is getting too long, so I decided to send my comment to you as email. You can perhaps then put whatever you want into the comment box, the whole thing or just a few sentences. You can of course also make page of it as a letter from a friend of yours, whatever you decide will be fine with me.

Here it is:

---------------------------------

It is Friday, the 29th of April, two days before Yom HaShoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and I am reading the book that my dear Jewish friend, Sidney Cyngiser has just published. He and his wife Bronia are Holocaust survivors whom I met in Calgary, AB, about 27 years ago. He is six years older than I, and was as young teenager together with his family forcefully taken by German soldiers from their home in Radom, Poland. His mother and siblings were sent to the gas chambers in Treblinka and murdered, while he and his father were chosen ('selected' they called it) to do slave labour at only about 17 years of age. He survived the hunger, cruelty of the guards and hard labour in more than one concentration camp and in the end the death-march from the east of Germany to Stuttgart-Vaihingen in the west. Diseased and as a skeleton of skin and bones he was freed by the American army and received prolonged medical care, only to see other survivors die around him with no chance to survive their survival. In hospital he had met Bronia, a child survivor of the camps.

I am reading the book as a German who came to Canada and to the City of Calgary rather late in life with my wife and three teenagers. I was 46 then and at age 53 I met Sidney at a Holocaust Symposium for high school students that I attended as a German in order to answer questions about the new democratic Germany. I also met adult children of survivors -- they were called the "Second Generation." Some of them encouraged me to stand with them as witness of what had happened, they considered me "Second Generation" as well, being a German of the generation after that of the perpetrators of the Shoah, the Holocaust.

When I first met Sidney, he accepted me with open arms and an open heart. After having had studied the Holocaust already in my youth soon after WW II, I had expected to be shunned by survivors. I had never before met one before in Germany and here in Calgary were about 70, all integrated in a vibrant Jewish community. After they had heard my views on the Shoah and my deep sorrow over what had been done and had perceived my utter condemnation of what was done in our name as Germans, some begun to trust me, and one of the first and most remarkable persons to do so was Sidney Cyngiser. We sat together and talked. He told me some of his experiences of German SS-guards that are so horrific that he would not relate them to the students. Sometimes I wept with him when we talked over the phone about the unspeakable cruelty of ordinary Germans who actually believed what their Nazi masters had told them about the Jews and enthusiastically or just in blind obedience debased, tortured and murdered the people of God's covenant, the people of the Christian Bible, whom Christians, for centuries, had considered only in a "theology of contempt" (Jules Isaac), who for Christians had been replaced by the church, who were expelled from 'Christian' countries and blamed for all the evils in the world for centuries.

In meeting these survivors I had to face recent German history again, but now in experiences of people like myself. Since that time the Jewish Shoah is present to me on every day of my life. When I hear the rumors people are spreading about other people -- I know where it can lead to. When I am in physical pain due to an illness, I think of the suffering of God's people Israel before they had a country of their own. When I hear and read about the denial of the Holocaust, I can sense how the survivors and their children are again hurting, because after all their unspeakable suffering that left deep wounds and scars in their bodies and souls, they are tortured again as liars. And then there are those, even 'Christians,' who blame the Jews for their fate, as people blame the raped woman for her ordeal. Every day new wounds are thoughtlessly or violently punched into the souls of the Jewish people in conversations, on the Internet and by badmouthing Israel, as if the young nation was not a nation of Jewish individuals, many of them survivors of the Holocaust, others of anti-Semitism in diverse countries who finally found a home, after no one wanted them.

Recently I translated a small German Anthology of Citations. Words by historians, philosophers, theologians and even perpetrators and survivors of the Holocaust that span the history of Germany from the outgoing 19th through the 20th century. A chorus of voices that can make us watchful for the early signs of discrimination against groups of people different to ourselves but no less human than we are.

The book that I am reading:

Sidney Cyngiser: Surviving the Survival: The Life Stories of Holocaust Survivors Sidney and Bronia Cyngiser. 2010, 484 pages. ISBN 978-0-9811715-0-0 . Contact: Sidney Cyngiser, 119 Canterville Rd SW, Calgary, AB T2W 4R2 Tel: (403) 238-3788)

The small book I translated from the German:

Konrad Goerg, We are what we Remember: Germans, Two Generations after Auschwitz. Voices to Remind Us.

116 pages. http://konrad-goerg.com/index.html

[Kindle Edition]

http://www.amazon.com/We-are-what-remember-ebook/dp/B0041VXTPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AZC9TZ4UC9CFC&s=digital-text&qid=1283734336&sr=8-1

[Paperback]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/3866283423/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_0/187-8181332-7085711?ie=UTF8&qid=1283734336&sr=8-1&condition=used

------------------------------------

I don't know if I told you about the Holocaust Education Week that takes place in Toronto in November of each year, organized by the Jewish community and the Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Toronto. They had 100 different events during the week last November in libraries, schools, churches and synagogues (not in a mosque). I attended an event in Markham at a Baptist church, whose senior pastor has become a good friend since, and at a synagogue, where I heard Prof. Harold Troper speak, one of the writers of the book "None is too Many."

Thanks again and every blessing to you and yours.

Fritz

Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day

Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day

This Sunday, May 1, 2011, marks Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is observed on the Hebrew calendar date of Nissan 27th. The purpose of this day is to remember the lives of some six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust, and to learn from the experiences and testimony of Holocaust Survivors. The day was chosen by Israel’s Knesset in 1951, and is observed by most Jews around the world. On this day, the Jewish mourning prayer is prayed, which you can see here.

   One of the most helpful resources I have found—I do not know if it is still in print— for Jews and Christians to observe Yom HaShoah together is Eugene J. Fisher & Leon Klenicki, An Interreligious Holocaust Memorial Service: From Desolation to Hope (New York & Chicago: Stimulus Foundation & Liturgy Training Publications, my copy was revised in 1990).

   The following website—although some items may need to be updated—is an informative resource for further information on the Holocaust: The Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre.

   For a first-hand account of a Holocaust Survivor, I highly recommend the books of Nobel Peace Prize winner, author, scholar, teacher and humanitarian, Elie Wiesel. You can also visit his website here.

   Online articles on Yom Hashoah are also available at the Jewish-Christian Relations website here.

   I encourage Christian readers to attend the Yom HaShoah Service in your community, if there is one. Contact your local synagogue for the pertinent information.

Easter Greeting

Quote

 “Faith is different from theology because theology is reasoned, systematic, and orderly, whereas faith is disorderly, intermittent, and full of surprises….Faith is homesickness. Faith is a lump in the throat. Faith is less a position on than a movement toward, less a sure thing than a hunch. Faith is waiting.” –Frederick Buechner

Funeral Sermon John Tetz

Funeral sermon for John Tetz; based on Rev 14:13; Rom 5:1-8 & Jn 14:1-6; by Pastor Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson; at St Peter Lutheran Church; Medicine Hat; one o’clock; April 13, 2011.

We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of your loved one, John Tetz. John has been a very important person to each of you as members of his family; as a friend and neighbour; as an active member of this congregation and in the wider community. There is no question, you will miss him.

John was a faithful Christian man. His faithfulness shone through his many acts of kindness towards others. He attended Worship Services here regularly and served on Church Council. While living in our GSS facility, South Ridge Village, John participated in our Hymn Sings, and Sunday Worship Services.

John’s family members knew him as a giving and hard-working person. He had a very strong work ethic; and even while on his holidays he would help other people out with various jobs such as painting and fixing things and volunteering over at the Stampede grounds. John was also a quiet man of few words and a lot of inner strength. These qualities in John influenced and inspired his family members.

John was also committed to the wider community. He was president of CUPE for the custodians and housekeepers and an active contributor to negotiations. He was very involved over at the Veiner Centre; participating in the Thursday Night Club; 50 Plus Club; and Meals on Wheels. He also volunteered for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles program.

John also enjoyed curling, dancing, playing ball in the old-timer’s league, making wooden bowls, travelling to places like the British Isles and the southern United States, and reading-especially westerns.

John’s children described him as a good man who stood by his word. He did the best he could; the family knew that; and God knows that. He was not a man who needed a lot of recognition.

In our passages of Scripture, we learn of what God has done for John; and we celebrate what God was able to do through him.

Our passage from Rev 14:13 emphasises at least two things concerning the death of faithful Christians. The writer tells us that those who die in the Lord are blessed. In other words, those who are people of faith; who place their whole life into God’s hands; those who trust in the Lord above everyone and everything else are blessed. Such people of faith are blessed because of their relationship with Jesus their Lord and Saviour. The deaths of faithful people like John remind us then of the need to be in a loving and trusting relationship with Jesus.

The other important thing we learn from this passage is that faithful people like John now rest from their labours—their time to work is now over. The passage also points out that their deeds follow them; their labours were not in vain; they bore fruit and live on in the hearts, minds and lives of others. Just as the labours and deeds gave John meaning and purpose in his life; so now others find meaning and purpose from such labours and deeds. For that we give the Lord our thanks. Eugene Peterson, in The Message, puts it like this: “None of what they’ve done is wasted; God blesses them for it all in the end.” May that be true of John and of all of us here today!

In our passage from Romans, the apostle Paul tells us of what God through Jesus Christ has done for John and for you and me. In Christ he has given us so much: we are justified by faith; through Jesus we have peace with God; we have access to God’s grace; we are given the hope of sharing the glory of God. The verse that stands out for me though is the last one, verse eight: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Or, as Eugene Peterson puts it: “But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.”

For me, this is one of the most important verses in the Bible. We are all sinners in rebellion against God. We are enemies of God in our sinful state of being. Yet, it was at precisely that time when we were farthest away from God that God sent Jesus into the world to die for us all; to show his love for us; and to forgive us. Our sin and rebellion hurt God and his Son Jesus deeply. Yet, that hurt and pain of God was crucified as an act of sacrificial love for you, for me, for John, and for the whole human race.

We may be grieving today, and it is appropriate to grieve the loss of our loved ones. Yet, in our grief, we are in the presence of a faithful, loving God. On one occasion, I heard someone say: “To forgive, you have to first of all be hurt.” The point that person was making is this: forgiveness is not easy. Until you’re hurt and hurt deeply, you don’t have anything to forgive. The pain of Christ’s death is the greatest act of love and forgiveness. As you hurt and may be suffering pain over the death of John; I hope and pray that you will be given the love and grace of Jesus to forgive those who may have hurt you and caused you pain. I hope and pray that Christ’s example of reaching out to us in love and forgiveness will influence you and strengthen you to do the same towards one another. For the greatest power in this world is Christ’s love and forgiveness; and that too is what we celebrate today and during this season of Lent as we move closer to Holy Week and remember what Jesus did for us on the cross on Good Friday.

In our passage from the Gospel of John, the theme of Christ’s love for us continues and moves us beyond death into a new, joyous state of being of resurrection and eternal life. Jesus, speaking of our eternal, heavenly home has this to say: “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” That is Good News for John and for everyone who believes in Jesus. Then, Jesus makes this wonderful promise: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” What a message of comfort and hope that is! We can take Jesus at his word on this wonderful promise. In love he has prepared an eternal dwelling place for us. One day, Jesus shall come and take us to our eternal home where everything is ready for us when we arrive—where John is now.

In my last few visits with John, he told me that he was ready to go to his eternal home. He was prepared; he was longing to go; John had the sense that his life here was complete; he had lived his life. How fitting it is to know that; and to know that Jesus has prepared a place for him. He is in his perfect home with Jesus now. My hope and prayer for all of you here today is that when your time comes to leave this world; you too shall be prepared like John was; you too shall place all of your trust and your life into the loving hands of Jesus who comes to give us resurrection life; eternal life; and one day take us to our eternal home.

The story is told of an old man who everyday took long walks with the LORD. While walking, the LORD God and the elderly man talked about all kinds of things—about the important times in the old man’s life: when he met his wife, the birth of his children, special Christmases, and so on. One day while they were out walking for a very long time, the LORD looked at the old man and said: “We are closer to my house than we are to yours. Why don’t you just come home with me.” And that is what he did! That too is what John did. The LORD has come to him to take him to the Father’s house, where he shall live forever with Jesus and his loved ones who have gone before him. One day you too can be in the Father’s house, in a room which Jesus has prepared for you if you trust in him and believe in him with your whole life. That is worth celebrating and to that we say: thanks be to God! Amen.

What’s in a name?

Paul Dickenson, in his 1986 book, A Collector’s Compendium of Rare and Unusual, Bold and Beautiful, Odd and Whimsical NAMES; the author cites the following names of people who become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy:

Will Drop was a Montreal window washer who died washing windows. Joe Bunt was a baseball coach. Dan Druf was a barber. Mr O’neil and Mr Pray became business partners in church equipment. Will Burn died in an electric chair. Go, Forth, and Ketchum were motorcycle police officers. Zoltan Ovary was a gynaecologist. P.P. Peters was a urologist. Will Crumble was a plaster contractor.

Do you know what's in your name? What significance is your name to you? Those of us who are batized members of God's family, were/are called and named by God; whose name means life; and who gives life. Now that's worth remembering and celebrating every day!  

Another Canadian Election

Well, Canadians are going to the polls again on May 2, 2011—the fourth time in seven years. Is this an indication that our democratic system is in decline? Does it reflect a lack of political will among our MPs to work together for the good of the nation? Or do our politicians have a deeper commitment to our democratic system by trying to engage Canadians more in politics through the process of elections? Or are there other factors at work as well?

The chief reason for an election this time round is the charge against the conservative government of contempt of parliament—which, until now, has no precedent in Canadian political history. The charge is a serious one, yet many Canadians who have been interviewed about the issue don’t seem too concerned. Rather, they complain about wasting taxpayer money on another election. Is such a complaint a clue that voter turnout is going to drop even lower than the last election? I hope not, but I think it is a possibility.

So far in the national media and on the web, one of the big stories is that of excluding Green Party leader Elizabeth May from the televised leaders’ debates. This is a broken record from the 2008 election. Eventually, thanks to plenty of citizens lobbying in protest, May was included. This time, the party has decided to go the route of a law suit after a decision of the media moguls to exclude May. Who are they to make such a decision? About one million Canadians voted for May in the last election, and now their voice is going to be silenced if the media moguls get their way. Equally as troubling is the lack of support among the present political party leaders to insist that May has as much a right to be present at the debates as they do. Why are the party leaders so silent and unsupportive of May being included in the debates? Does their silence and lack of support for May and willingness to go along with the decision of the media moguls not indict them? One would hope that common sense and the Canadian constitution would prevail on such matters to the extent that litigation would not be necessary and everyone involved in the exclusion of May would come to their senses.

On the home front locally, here in the Medicine Hat riding, our recently re-elected mayor, Norm Boucher has stirred up quite a bit of controversy by deciding to take a leave of absence without pay to run as a candidate for the Liberal Party. He has not been happy with the performance of our present Conservative MP, Lavar Payne. While the city councillors are by and large supportive of Boucher’s decision, many Hatters are not. His critics are wondering now about the ethics of such a decision—does the mayor not have a responsibility to commitment himself to the office of mayor rather than make a personal decision which takes precedent over his public office? Moreover, shall the mayor be able to garner the public’s respect and trust as mayor should he not be elected as the riding’s MP? The riding itself has been a Conservative stronghold for many years—in fact, I think one could likely register their pet dog or cat as a candidate and they’d be elected!

Whether the voters, politicians and leaders will be able to drop the focus on personal matters, and mud-slinging rhetoric and address the pressing, real live issues of our nation remains to be seen. A few musings on this late Thursday evening. Now I'd like to read your comments on the election, what do you think?

A call to prayer for Ethiopian Church Mekane Yesus

Today I received the following letter in my e-mail inbox for a call to prayer for the Ethiopian Evangelical (Lutheran) Church Mekane Yesus. What a sad and tragic situation. The members of Mekane Yesus are certainly following the way of the cross this Lent. May Christ be with them to provide for their needs during this time of persecution. May the international community also intervene in a timely and appropriate way to facilitate a just peace in Ethiopia.

Dearly beloved,

Grace and peace to you,

I am sure by now you have all come back to your normal routines and back to the family and ministry you love. Thanks be to God for the privilege of having most you in Ethiopia on those historic few days in Addis Ababa.

I am writing this email to share with a prayer call I am asked to pass on to you by the President of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, the Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idossa.

In the last few days over 41 churches and several evangelical mission stations or mission congregations were burned down. There are thousands of people expelled from their homes and some who are even badly beaten and killed. The perpetrators are Radical Islamist and Jihadist elements who are now operating in the western and south western parts of Ethiopia. I have spoken with Rev. Wakseyoum as he was visiting Mekane Yesus Churches and Synods close to the border of Sudan. The Voice of America (VOA) called, got in touch with him and interviewed him today and he spoke to the world from that remote spot through this international VOA radio streamed out of Washington DC.

On that interview given in Amharic he stated that, the Mekane Yesus have intentionally worked hard to establish good relationships with Muslim Ethiopians and that work have resulted in so much good and positive relationship. However he is shocked and saddened by this outbreak lashing out in heartbreaking atrocities. This brutal act is not the first of its kind. Three years ago Muslim fundamentalists have burned down several churches, killed evangelists, pastors and lay leaders. They are now repeating the same attacks. Today thousands have lost their homes, churches, family members and their rights to safely worship and conduct their ministries.

The Ethiopian government officials and security forces have intervened. The out come of their work is yet to be known. Some leaders from the central office of the Mekane Yesus Church in Addis Ababa have traveled to the area today to start getting help to the victims. There are many people who are now waiting to get some emergency aid in a camp. President Idossa is going to release another statement in the next few days as the investigation continues and as the government tries to bring these acts under control and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Persecution is not new to our church, however every time it happens it opens up old wounds and breaks the heart of many. In the middle all these our brothers and sisters are walking into this holy Lenten season not with ashes on their forehead but carrying the cross of Christ and confessing their faith in the words of Psalm 23:1, "The Lord is my shepherd!"

May God renew our world in this Lenten season through the Holy Word of God and through power grace of God through Christ, Amen!!

Peace and Blessings,

The Rev. Dr. Gemechis D. Buba

drbuba@gmail.com

Cell: 773 678 2513

Living in God's Amazing Grace

Bruce Cockburn’s latest album

Canadian singer-songwriter, Bruce Cockburn is one of my favourite musicians. He is both a masterfully creative and extremely accomplished musician—always on the cutting edge by experimenting with a variety of genres. Bruce is an inspiration for other musicians, now active in his art for over four decades. In addition to this, I respect him because of his gift of incorporating his faith into his music—which is reminiscent of the Hebrew Bible prophets and their passion for social justice. Bruce, in my humble opinion, is the prophetic voice of our nation. You can read this CBC interview and listen to his latest album, Small Source of Comfort here.

The pope's new book

According to breaking news at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the pope, in his new book Jesus of Nazareth-Part II, absolves Jewish collective guilt for the death of Jesus. I think Christians (not only Roman Catholics) have been slow in absolving the Jews. Had Christians done so centuries ago, history may have been much different, a lot less antisemitism. It is, nonetheless, better late than never, especially in light of the growing antisemitism in many countries. It is too early to know how the church and the world shall respond to the pope's latest gesture, we'll have to wait and see. You can read the news release from SWC here.

A prayer by Soren Kierkegaard

Father Celestial! You loved us first. In a world where we are seduced by false loves and lovers, where restless souls succumb to specious but spurious affection and we are submersed in the agony of the past and the fright of the future and the distress of the present, assure us that we still can love. Remind us that we love because You first loved us; thus, our love can be that pure and holy affection, which only God and His beloved people can know and show! [From: Soren Kierkegaard: The Mystique Of Prayer And Pray-er, Translated by Lois S. Bowers, Edited by George K. Bowers.

This little volume is a real gem, not only providing readers with a window into the personal devotional life of S.K., but also including his prayers that have never before been translated into English with special permission of the Det kongelige Bibliotek of Copenhagen. 

Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival

Wood River Hall 2 from Connie Kaldor on Vimeo.

This past weekend marked the 5th annual Medicine Hat Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival. It all kicked off with a free admission singer-songwriter night on Friday, highlighting a lot of local talent. This year's keynote musician was Saskatchewan-born, Connie Kaldor. Here is one of my favourite songs that she performs about the prairie land-and-sky-scape from her website.

Ice music from Norway

What a wonderful way to celebrate winter! You can check out more ice music at the composer's website here.

Movie Review

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

Based on the authorized biography, Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Irena Sendler Story, by Anna Mieszkowska, this movie, directed by John Kent Harrison, is a must-view for all historians and those interested in the Holocaust movie genre.

Irena Sendler, a Polish-Catholic social worker (played by Anna Paquin) in the Jewish Warsaw Ghetto, is deeply disturbed by the deplorable conditions due to the Nazi occupation of Poland. Her passion and compassion are evident as she hatches an ingenious plan to rescue Jewish children out of the Ghetto, under the noses of Nazi soldiers. The description “courageous heart,” is a very apt one. I was moved by the comment of Irena to her mother when the latter tried to warn Irena not to risk her life for saving the Jews. Irena replied to her mother, by quoting her dad who was a doctor and friend of the Jews: “I remember that father said: ‘If you see a man drowning, you must still try to save him, even if you cannot swim.’”

True to her word, Irena was most successful in organizing an underground network to rescue over 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. However, at first it was quite a challenge for Irena to convince the Jewish parents and a rabbi that she was doing the right thing. One of the fears was that the Jewish children would lose their Jewish faith and become Christians. Irena tried to assure them that that was not her motive or plan. The movie succeeded in emphasising the deep agony it caused both the Jewish parents and children to be separated from each other—some of them likely knowing they would never see one another again. It is amazing that not one rescued child was ever betrayed or discovered by the Nazis. The children were given false identification documents and placed in convents and with Polish families. Irena was meticulous in keeping hidden records of each child’s Jewish name and where they found refuge; hoping that the children would be reunited with their Jewish parents after World War II.

Eventually, the Gestapo found out about Sendler, arrested and tortured her by beating and breaking her feet. As she was taken to be executed by a firing squared, the underground Zegota were able to rescue her.

At the end of the movie, it was touching to listen to the real Irena Sendler, in a 2005 interview, exhorting viewers to remember the Jewish parents who gave up their children and never saw them again; and to remember also the many Polish parents who provided a home and refuge for the Jewish children; and later many had to give them up after the war, which was hard for them too.

The movie also stated that in 2007, Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in Warsaw in 2008 at 98 years-of-age.