Author Archives: davetcourt

2018 Reading Challenge: Read 5 books in the genre of theology/philosophy Book: Newman on Being a Christian by Ian Ker “Newman is a preacher not of glowing words but of harsh realities- realities that arise out of the obligation imposed by baptism to lead the Christian life to the full” – Ker Ian Ker’s NewmanContinue reading “2018 Reading Challenge: A Review of Newman on Being a Christian by Ian Ker”

In my previous blog on the Gospel of John I reflected on John chapters 5 and 6. I suggested that these chapters begin what is a 5 chapter “exposition” on the theme of work, or more specifically the idea of God’s work in our lives and in the world, which structurally speaking brings to aContinue reading “The Work of God, To Believe In the One He Has Sent: Further Reflections on The Gospel of John”

Last year I posted a blog on Valentines Day discussing the upcoming Academy Awards. At the time it made me realize just how far behind I was when it came to seeing all the Oscar nominations. Likewise, the more I caught up with the Oscar nominations the more outdated my personal picks for Top 12Continue reading “The Movies, The Oscars and Catching Up on the Year (2017) That Was:”

“Driving down 93, I realized once and for all, that I love the things that chafe. The things that fill me with stress so total I can’t remember when a block of it didn’t rest on top of my heart. I love what, if broken, can’t be repaired. What, if lost can’t be replaced. IContinue reading “2018 Reading Challenge- Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane”

Have you ever stopped to consider how we measure what qualifies as Children’s literature, or what makes Children’s Literature “children’s” literature? It might sound like an obvious question, but the more I think about it the more I wonder why I have never asked this question before. It is a question I feel author BruceContinue reading “2018 Reading Challenge: Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult by Bruce Handy”

Christine Gilbert might not be the most distinguished writer or seasoned academic you’ll ever read, but she is a great storyteller. It is her ability to provide a platform for these stories to be told that gives the necessary weight to an impressive and diverse body of work/personal projects (see http://christinegilbert.com/), including a recently releasedContinue reading “My 2018 Reading Challenge: Mother Tongue: My Families Globe-Trotting Quest to Dream in Mandarin, Laugh in Arabic, and Sing in Spanish by Christine Gilbert”

Without going into detail, it would be fair to say that these past few years have seen some tough moments for us as a family. I shared some of this story with a good friend who happened to be in town visiting a few weeks back. We are childhood friends and shared a a similarContinue reading “Liturgy, Breathe and The Gospel of John”

2018 Reading Challenge Challenge #: Read 2 books that were recommended to you by a friend Book: Easy Street (The Hard Way): A memoir by Ron Perlman. Thanks to a personal recommendation my 2018 Reading Challenge is off to a great start. I have discovered a new favourite book! Or at the very least myContinue reading “A Review of Easy Street (The Hard Way): A Memoir by Ron Perlman- My 2018 Reading Challenge”

The relationship that exists between the 3 Synoptics is helpful for understanding them contextually, politically and theologically. John, however, remains something of an enigma, as much for us today as it was for the original readers. And this being my second time working through this Gospel in the last 3 years, the sheer complexity ofContinue reading “The Gospel of John Part 1: The Light and the Darkness”

My 2018 New Years Resolution (see: ROSEBUD) included a personal goal to come up with a different reading plan than my usual Goodreads challenge. I am still signed up to Goodreads, but I limited the number of books I expect to complete to leave room for reading with more intention and focus without worrying aboutContinue reading “My Make-shift, Pieced Together, Made Up, Experimental 2018 Reading Challenge”