Spirituality Type Quiz...

Here are my results from doing the MethodX quiz here...How many would agree?

You are a Prophet, a crusader with a kingdom spirituality. You experience God best through serving others. You value competence and knowledge, and are good at leading and influencing others. Prophets are devoted to their causes, often becoming assertive and aggressive as you implement a vision of the world as God's kingdom on earth. You are our heroic change agents and we admire you for that. Single-minded and deeply focused, you aren't content until society has been transformed.

Prophets are the least represented spiritual type in the general population. You also are the hardest spiritual type to be around, mainly because you make the rest of us feel guilty for not having the same zeal for change that you do. We admire you for sacrificing your personal life for your hope of the kingdom realized on earth, but we are uncomfortable around martyrs.

You have a courageous and sturdy idealism that takes responsibility for change. But, your passion for transforming society can lead you to become impatient with congregations and their perceived lack of concern. You fit best in a hospitable, like-minded community that shares your vision.

Nevertheless, be careful not to become so involved in your cause that you neglect your inner life. Attend as much to your inner life as outer life. One will nourish the other.


Famous Prophets:
Mother Teresa | Ralph Nader | John Calvin
Lucy (Peanuts) | Rosa Parks | Dorothy Day
Joan of Arc | Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jeremiah | Malcolm X | Ghandi

Which Widow?

I participate on the new Church Leadership Network. Someone there posted this comment about the "widow's mite" banner. Let's get the conversation going? What do you think. I am asking the quilters from Lion's Head to get in on the discussion because they are the talented artists who created these works...

These are beautiful banners! Over the years I have often heard bits of news about Lions Head. It must be a vibrant congregation.

(click when the hand shows to "embiggen" the image for more detail)

For this banner, you seem to be combining two different stories in your title and description. One parable is Luke 15:8 about a woman who loses a coin and sweeps the house until she finds it. The other story is about a widow who is praised by Jesus because she gives all that she has to the poor (Mark 12 and Luke 21). I am curious - which story is it that is depicted in this banner? It looks like it is probably about the widow giving all she has.

'I Will Wait' by Maggi Dawn, set to pictures to celebrate 'Back to Church' week at www.i-church.org. Only to be distributed by permission. Music by http://maggidawn.typepad.com/

I think this is a wonderful meditation ... if we are harried by the brief return of winter today....Remember we are an Easter people!

It's the right thing.

Join us in experiencing the true dark. Magical!

The unique pulpit cloth cross at Pike Bay United Church

And the lovely stone wall with the cross at Central United, Lion's Head

Each of those stones ... even that tiny black one at the tippy top ... represents someone in the congregation. What a lovely statement of community!

These two churches -- as lovely as they -- cannot convey what wonderful people they hold of a Sunday.

Here I spend a Sunday a month with open and loving people. They will soon have their own minister -- for whom they have waited long and hard -- and I am happy for them. I am also very grateful for their warm reception when I do show up.

I'll post more later, but I just had to share these images with you.

Pike Bay United in winter

Meditation for today...

Pike Bay United and Central United, Lion's Head -- You Rock! Thanks for such a warm welcome back. We had a great day didn't we. As promised you will be featured this week. While I am preparing this extra big and delightful view of your churches, please quiet your mind and participate in this little Lenten Meditation. See you soon!

No time, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late....

Yes today I feel like the "White Rabbit" in Alice in Wonderland

It's the rubber hits the road and I am busily writing my sermon for Sunday. Don't always leave it this late. So I'm unable to spend any time writing for you about what I am doing, because, well, I'm busy doing it.

Here is a pic of Sparky with me at Elsie Perrin Estate in London

and a video ...

hopefully they will suffice till later.

Godly Play!

Well, I am home. It was a long four days...Toronto, Owen Sound, Meaford, Windsor and back home again. With lots of ideas, and a new addition to the family. Sparky is his name and he is a 9-1/2 year old Brittany (liver and white) with a gimpy right rear leg, but an adorable grin and a great disposition. He's happy. We're happy. Mrs. MacDuff is ... shall we say... adjusting...

The Godly Play workshop was an incredible eye opener. I can't wait to dive into the deep water and take the 3 day certification. Albeit, we may have to adapt and adjust even ease into the waters, but it will be so worthwhile for our wee kiddos.

Feeling wonky.

Sorry about this, but I feel less than peak health today. Let's just take some more quiet time. And think about the Living Waters...


This is a good Lenten meditation. going gently, s

Do you know this man?

Click here to read up on who he might be...

Pondering...

Yesterday, I asked you to challenge your minds, to think, to discern with your head.

Today, because I need some quiet time, I share with you, a favorite meditation, a prayer. Join me in a community of prayer and quieting of the mind and opening of the heart.

Food for thought...

Today in the Toronto Star there is an "op ed" from Rabbi emeritus Dow Marmur. It is a challenge to all Christians whether or not they actively participate within their religious institutions. Why not give it a read and comment back here what kinds of thoughts, emotions, and actions it provokes in you this Lenten season.

Click here! But please come back and share your feelings...

Abraham and Sarah

Special babies...aren't all babies special?

This Sunday we turn to a second covenant of G-d to humanity. (notice that we don't put the "o" in the name of the Holy One...because this is a Jewish story and in respect of their traditions we follow them.)

Often we think of these Hebrew Testament stories as something we learned as children with little to speak to our modern circumstances, but we err there.

Abram and Sarai were pioneers of faith, of relationship to the Divine, and that is no small leap of humanity. By comparison walking on the moon pales.

Both Abram and Sarai's families were idolatrous. Abram's father was a maker of idols, that is he made his living by selling idols to those who would worship them. Not use them as icons. Not use them to meditate on. But purely and simply to worship these statues. What Abraham discovers by listening to that still small voice that we call "G-d" is that this is folly. He tried to convince his father of this new concept (at the time) of One True G-d, but one can understand his father's reluctance to turn from what provided a good living or to live as a hypocrite.

The other matter to consider as we study this passage (or the entire story of Abraham and Sarah) is the altering of their names. Now today, it might not seem to be such a big deal, but then your name was very important and was given to you with great ceremony and thought. The slight change was far more major at that time and place. So consider your name and your nicknames...what do they say about you?

My English as a Second Language students were always amazed that most of their new Canadian friends did not know what their names "meant." But perhaps we could spend a little time wondering what our names mean. How did we come to have our name? What kinds of discussions did our parents and extended families have before they named us?

Imagine for a time, how difficult it must have been for Abraham and Sarah, not only to adjust to having new names, but to pull up stakes, to leave all they knew, a good income, many friends, a close-knit family. It was a place of comfort for sure that they left on a promise from G-d that they were chosen to be holy hands in G-d's world. Sit for a while and ponder what it would mean for you to follow the leading of that still small voice? Can you even hear it over the din of the world?

And of course, Sarah laughs when she hears that she is to be a mother at 90! What woman wouldn't? Perhaps you might like to read this book... together as a family.

Now... to go to a webpage that will help you to talk about this story together.Click here