Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice

L’Abri, William Farel and Erasmus by Ron Dart

L’Abri, William Farel and Erasmus:
Different Paths Hiked, Different Destinations                

Erasmus is a chameleon and a pernicious enemy of
the gospel.                                       William Farel

He who destroys Erasmus will destroy a bug which
will stink worse dead than alive.       Martin Luther

I will put it in my Testament and I take you all as
witnesses that I consider Erasmus the greatest enemy
of Christ, greater than all those who have been born
in the last thousand years.              Martin Luther

I order you, at the command of God, to be enemies
of Erasmus and to be on guard against his books. I
will write against him, even if he should die and perish
from it.                                          Martin Luther

The name of Erasmus will never perish.
                                                         John Colet

Erasmus has published volumes more full of wisdom
than any which Europe has seen for ages.
                                                        Thomas More

Stephen Leacock and George Grant: Faith and Politics by Ron Dart

Stephen Leacock was perhaps the greatest English Canadian intellectual of his generation.
Damien-Claude Belanger

George Grant was Canada's most significant public philosopher.
Graeme Nicholson

Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) and George Grant (1918-1988) were men of deep religious faith and passionate about politics. Both men were firmly rooted and grounded in the Anglican tradition, were committed to the classical Canadian conservative political vision and were prominent professors at public universities and in public life. These men did not retreat into private institutions to protect a fragile faith that could not stand up to the challenges of serious and substantive intellectual thought.

SCARS by Rachel Runnalls

Scars

1.

He shivers 
when I touch his scars
and looks at me
open
like I could hurt him again

I hate that.

God confirms the words through signs that follow... by Bob Ekblad

A few weeks ago I ran into a big, tough-looking Caucasian guy named Philip during one of our Sunday afternoon Bible studies. “I’m the one you made cry back in April when I was in here. You healed my back,” he said.

I immediately remember him and feel embarrassed that he doesn’t say Jesus healed his back. I feel awkward at times about healings that happen, and am especially perplexedf that so many people are finding relief from pain in their backs, necks, shoulders, knees, etc. I find myself continually pondering the purpose and value of healing.

I often think of the final verses of Mark’s gospel, where the narrator writes: “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word with the signs that followed” (Mk 16:20).” 

Hearing God's Voice: Unwrapping the Four Packages by Brad Huebert

What does God’s voice sound like? 

That’s a great question, and I’m going to answer it fairly clearly throughout the next twelve pages. I wish I could just say, “You’ll know it when you hear it,” but I can’t, because people hear God speaking all the time and don’t clue in. If I could show you a computer log that recorded how many times God spoke to you – and how – and when – I’m absolutely positive that your jaw would hit the floor. 

Glory-hunters and Glory-seekers by Eric H. Janzen

The glory of God is wondrous, beautiful, and, let's be honest, exciting. When God gives us a glimpse of his glory we are undone and overwhelmed, and invariably it makes us thirsty to see his glory more. What is more, God loves to reveal himself and display his glory to us. So, we in the West are often faced with the question: Why do we not experience more of God's manifestation? Why do we hear about powerful miracles happening in other parts of the world and not more here at home?

Is there a place for dreaming? by Wayne Northey

IS THERE A PLACE FOR DREAMING?
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND INTERNATIONAL STATE CONFLICT
by Wayne Northey

This lecture grew out of a six-month research project where Wayne served as first Scholar in Residence, Centre
for Research on Conflict, Conflict Studies, Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada. He is also writing a book based upon this research.

Download spu_presentation_september_2007__3_1.pdf

Phone Call: Burma Worse than Reported

A sister living in Yangon called a few hours ago with breaking news. BBC world reported that 200 monks were arrested. The true picture is far worse!

For instance, the monastery at an obscure neighborhood of Yangon, called Ngwe Kyar Yan (on Wei-za-yan-tar Road, Yangon) was raided early this morning.

A troop of lone-tein (riot police comprised of paid thugs) protected by military trucks, raided the monastery with 200 studying monks. They systematically ordered all the monks to line up, then banged and crushed each one's head against the brick wall of the monastery. One by one, the peaceful, non-resisting monks, fell to the ground, screaming in pain. Then they tore off the red robes and threw them all in the military trucks (like rice bags) and took the bodies away.

Watchmen versus Watchdogs by Brad Jersak

Many of the newsletters and articles that I’ve written throughout 2007 have been a repetitive reminder to the church that these days call for an upgrade in our discernment. I’m convinced that we must vigorously test the spirits (1 John 4:1-4) to see whether their messages originate in God. We do this both to guard ourselves from swallowing that which is toxic AND to avoid dismissing that which is essential. Sifting for truth enables us to watch for and watch out: we want all that God has for us—we want only what God has for us. 

That being said, one of my intercessors alerted me to the distinction between two types of discerning watchers. In prayer, she was shown the vast difference between those whom God has appointed as “watchmen” and those who’ve appointed themselves as “watchdogs.”