Last night I heard and met an incredible speaker who is considered one of the greatest and most controversial Christian theologians in North America. Bishop John Spong spoke at Knox United Church, which was packed with people from many religious (and other) backgrounds. His theme was "The Christ Who Breaks the Boundaries of Prejudice". If you would like more information about him and some of the books that he has written, go to www.dioceseofnewark.org/jsspong. He was the Episcopalian (Anglican) Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey for over 20 years before his retirement. Bishop Spong challenges the prejudices that he says have been perpetuated by conservative interpretations of Christianity, especially racism, sexism and homophobia. He was an incredible speaker--full of humor, passion and warmth. We gave him two standing ovations and several bursts of applause, including when he thanked Canada for opposing the war in Iraq (even though his youngest daughter is fighting in it with the U.S. army). Wonderful songs performed by the Bridge City Chorus (a gay and lesbian choir) and the St. Peter the Apostle Choir added to the amazing evening. David and I were very glad that we went!

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE VISITING MY BLOG WEBSITE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I suggest that you go to the archives and read the entries from March 1 and 2. They mention what I'm up to these days and remind people about a website where they can see some photos from my recent trip to Asia.

Tonight when I was with a bunch of friends at the lounge in the Bessborough Hotel, someone complained that they were bored with nonstop TV coverage of the war in Iraq. I suggested that it could use a soundtrack and perhaps could be made into a musical: "Saddam Yankees".

[FOOTNOTE: I apologize to those of you who don't know enough about musical theatre history to get that joke. Fortunately, the people that I was with did! It refers to the musical "Damn Yankees".]

"Send Me No Flowers", the comedy that I'm playing the lead in and which David is directing as a fundraiser for his church, is going to be very funny. The dates are May 1, 2 and 3. I'll give you more details soon.

MESSAGE TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT: In case you haven't looked at a map of North America recently, Canada is NOT the 51st state. Also, many people in YOUR OWN COUNTRY don't support your war in Iraq. Why should Canada have to immediately support every foreign policy decision that your government makes?

"The only way to bring peace to the earth is to learn to make our own life peaceful." - the Buddha
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"Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a great tree in the midst of them all." - Achaan Chaa (meditation master)

CBC (TV and radio) seems to have decided that it should be CNN: "all war all the time". As much as I love CBC, especially the radio service, I thought it was hilarious and somehow appropriate that both Radio One and Two were off the air in Saskatchewan for 45 minutes yesterday morning because a squirrel damaged a power substation in Regina. One squirrel disrupted CBC Radio broadcasting for the entire province! I'll bet it was protesting against too much coverage of the war in Iraq. You go, rodent!