A place for rebels
If you’re reading this blog, the chances are pretty good that you or someone you know attended Canadian Mennonite University or another Mennonite post-secondary institution. My whole life, I’ve had…
Thoughts on a train
In August I took a train trip from Manitoba to B.C. Here are some of my thoughts during and about that trip. I ride the rails of my grandfather and…
Politicians are people too.
Early last week, NDP leader Jack Layton passed away after a courageous battle against cancer. We were in Ontario, visiting my in laws, and after brunch on the deck my…
Young entrepreneurs write and publish electronically
Categories: UncategorizedThree Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) alumni have launched an independent digital press and are currently selling their first electronic book (e-book). The youth adventure novel entitled Owen Grey and the…
I come in peace
Categories: UncategorizedEven in Christian circles, murderers, rapists, child abusers and hardened criminals are viewed as some of the most reprehensible people in society. They are left to rot in jail and…
Connecting with history
Categories: UncategorizedBeing in relationship is one of the best things we can ever do, and yet it is often one of the hardest. If only we could be in perfect relationship…
Bringing Soviet tribulation to life
Categories: ArtbeatAs Mennonites living in the peace and prosperity of Canada, we sometimes wonder how to keep the stories of our past alive. We wonder whether our children and grandchildren will…
On killing bullies
Categories: Artbeat“So you want to kill some Nazis?” Dr. Erskine asks the short, skinny asthmatic wanna-be war hero in this summer’s big superhero film. “I don’t want to kill anyone,” comes…
Getting back to the garden
Categories: UncategorizedNestled in the bend of the Brokenhead River at the very end of a country road is a small Christian community trying to live responsibly and faithfully. Four family units…
‘Churches are too quiet’
Categories: Uncategorized“The sad thing is, the churches are too quiet,” says Kyong-Jung Kim, director of the Korea Anabaptist Center, in Seoul, South Korea. “Either they don’t pay attention to this or…
‘This is not a ladder’
Categories: UncategorizedAt the general meeting of the members of L’Église évangélique Mennonite de Joliette, Que., on June 12, the pastor’s mandate was not renewed. The congregation was shocked and surprised, but…
In praise of stubbornness
Categories: ViewpointsA common interaction at our house goes something like this. Person One says (with some heat): “You’re so stubborn!” Person Two then replies (with some indignation): “I am not stubborn.…
Talking about shopping
Categories: ViewpointsIn the retail shopping world, the dog days of summer are no longer known as “August,” but rather “back-to-school.” This has become the year’s second largest seasonal shopping event behind…
Revisiting 9/11
Categories: ViewpointsSouth of the border, there was lots of attention again this year around Sept. 11, especially given that it was the 10th anniversary of those terrible events. That it happened…
Readers write: September 5, 2011 issue
Categories: ViewpointsTreasurer defends MC Canada cutbacks Re: “MC Canada applauded for unpopular cutbacks” letter, July 11, page 8. I’m heartened to hear that letter writer Jake Rempel is going to send…
For discussion
Categories: Feature Articles1. How are the songs and music chosen in your congregation? How much thought is given to the words when songs are chosen? Do you agree that we focus on…
Paying attention to the words we sing
Categories: Feature Articles“Let me write the songs of a nation. I don’t care who writes its laws.” This statement attributed to 17th-century Scottish politician Andrew Fletcher about countries also applies to the…
Food as faith formation
Categories: EditorialWhat is it with Mennonites and food? We seem to take great pride in the cultural dishes from our German/Swiss/Russian backgrounds and more recently those national newcomers to our faith—Asian,…
Getting over my Mennonite stereotypes
Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend a graduate student conference at Conrad Grebel College, hosted by the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (the “Mennonite club” of my department…
El Shaddai’s Story III
El Shaddai repeats an older command to fill the earth, to spread out. But it’s like the humans have no ears – again they come together in direct obedience to…
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