King: See me
A blessing of six grandchildren is the chance to learn again a key longing of being human: “See me.” The ache to be seen is fundamental. It shapes us from beginning to end and through everything in...
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Kinsinger: What I’ve learned about marriage (in 3 months)
Maybe it’s laughable for someone who’s been married three months to try to say anything at all about it yet. All the same, I know a whole lot more about marriage now than I did 91 days ago. Here are a few...
[read more]Longhurst: New publishing vision
In 2016, shortly after being elected president of Mennonite World Review Inc., I reached out to Barth Hauge and Tobi Thiessen, board chairs of The Mennonite and Canadian Mennonite. I wanted to see if they were...
[read more]Kriss: Encountering truth takes more effort
About a decade ago, somewhere in the labyrinth of Marrakesh, Morocco, I told a shop owner I was a writer. I responded to his questions in garbled Spanish. He asked where I had come from. I said Spain; I was...
[read more]Making sense of the messy Bible
I’m convinced that if somebody simply rewrote books of the Bible in modern language and published it under a different name, most Christian bookstores would refuse to carry it because of all the violence and...
[read more]A voice wavering
“I wanted to be big, real. Heard.” — Lucinda J. Miller, Anything But Simple I don’t know what it is in me that drives me to want to be heard. Once upon a time, a friend told me that she had detected a...
[read more]The ‘Christian’ politics of stone-throwing
One of the challenges in any era is what to do when there is a difference of opinion. Two key areas come to mind: theology and politics. Yep, so-called Christian politics. When I was in my 20s, I deconstructed...
[read more]Binding and blinding
Back in February, I remarked that Jonathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind should be required reading for all who spend time on social media, particularly those who like to go to war over ideas. I said that this...
[read more]5 steps toward drama-free holidays
So, it’s finally here. The holidays are upon us, and there’s no turning back, and no avoiding them. I don’t know about you, but while I’m looking forward to the holidays, and while I want to be able to...
[read more]Get across the table
It was fascinating to watch the three-minute video clip where U.S. President Barack Obama and president-elect Donald Trump met the media after spending an hour together Nov. 10 at the White House. It wasn’t...
[read more]Spirit’s strange words
I am fascinated by the power and possibility of Pentecost. Whether the speakers were suddenly gifted with new languages or the hearers simply understood the gibberish in some way, it’s among my favorite New...
[read more]Phone a friend
A few days ago I received a phone call from a friend in Africa. I’m accustomed enough to international calls that I did not immediately fear bad news. Thirty years ago I might have assumed the worst, but...
[read more]Contact without fellowship in an Internet age
Jesus told his disciples “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” The...
[read more]Limitations of preaching
Every Sunday morning, men and women around the planet get up in front of other humans and presume to speak about and for God. And, I suspect, that every Sunday morning, at least some of these same men and...
[read more]About Me
