Have you ever felt unsure of what to do as you watched a friend grieve a loved one? My wife recently lost a cousin in a tragic car accident. As I watched the family grieve, I found myself wondering what to...
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Most days, I go for a run. About three miles. Lately, I’ve been choosing a route that takes me along a trail that winds through a public park. Recently, my run has been a struggle. Not because of the summer...
[read more]Mennonite Church USA congregational membership and convention attendance are lower. It is apparent to anyone who has attended a denomination-wide gathering in the last two decades. Some attendees surely...
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ORLANDO, Fla. — For 3,200 people at the Mennonite Church USA convention July 4-8, “Love Is a Verb” was more than a grammar lesson. The week’s theme focused on the basic truth that Christian faith is...
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ORLANDO, Fla. — A powerful testimony of loving enemies made Mennonite Church USA Youth Convention attendees shed tears and give a standing ovation Wednesday evening. Via live video, John and Michele Sharp of...
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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...
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ORLANDO, Fla. — God’s unconditional love, first expressed through the gift of Jesus Christ, was the focus of the opening night of the Mennonite Church USA convention July 4 at the Orange County...
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Aunt Grace made her first appearance years ago. She reappears at the sound of pompousness. Aunt Grace is the creation of a friend. I imagine her with grey permed hair and gaudy red lipstick. She entered the...
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One of the attributes of the Good Samaritan parable is its action. It is perfect for dramatization. (One does need to pay attention to casting choices: Certain robbers may relish their role more than...
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We live in a world that is sadly marked by violence and terrorism. It seems like very few days go by, if any at all, without some horrible act of terror or random violence. The lead-up to the 2016 U.S....
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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...
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Perhaps we should start with enemies. Who is our fiercest enemy? A neighbor? Relative? Boss? Past or current president? Another nation? We really can’t understand the story of Jonah unless we reckon with the...
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On a recent trip to Minnesota, I happened to stumble upon a second-hand toy and collectible store among the small shops in downtown Albert Lea. Upon entering the store, I was stunned by the amount of toys and...
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It’s worth reading the Book of Jonah in one sitting. It won’t take more than five minutes. Getting the details freshly in mind as well as the entire scope of the story can make an old, familiar tale come...
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I am amazed at God’s faithfulness to his people as seen in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Three remnants travel from Babylon to the Promised Land. The people go back with the goal of rebuilding their land...
[read more]I have a dream of seeing the church embodying the love of Christ in all its relationships, being hospitable, compassionate and having friendships with all, regardless of their sexual orientation or level of...
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Paul instructs us in what it means to follow Jesus, when he stated, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for...
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We know that everything should be done for the glory of God, but sometimes it’s easy to subconsciously leave some activities off the list. Such as dating. In dating, it’s easy to get our focus off...
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I have started observing Lent early. The hate, anger and animosity I see around me is overwhelming, and I think at its heart is fear. What are we afraid of? This is a question I have reflected on a lot this...
[read more]If our texts from 1 John and Ephesians were the only scriptures available to us, we would have everything we need for a vital spiritual life. John’s letter affirms the deepest conviction of our faith: that...
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As a former “Side B” (the belief that a Christian with same-gender attraction should remain celibate) gay Christian, and a former-former “Side X” (the belief that a Christian should not experience...
[read more]The difference between a death that comes at the end of a long and full life, and one that interrupts things too soon, is subjective. But you know it when you see it. Lately, there has been too much of the...
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“Maybe they are the lucky ones.” His words surprised me. The discussion was about a local faith variety where the young women are easily spotted in their homemade dresses and coverings, while the young men...
[read more]As a white Mennonite man, I am deeply disturbed by my fellow WMM who voted for Donald Trump. I consider his discriminatory rhetoric hate speech. Voting for Trump reflects a disconnect from ethical Mennonite...
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At 3 a.m. Nov. 9, my phone flashed updates so vigorously it woke me up. I rolled over to verify what I had expected from the election news coverage before going to sleep. Donald Trump had been elected...
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