Moving thinward (Pt. 3)
One of the many fascinating events to occur in the Book of Exodus is God “leaving” the mountain of God (Mount Sinai) to travel with the Hebrews to the Promised Land in a portable sanctuary called the tabernacle. Yahweh tells Moses: “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live…
Readers write: April 13, 2015 issue
Bible contains the word of God but isn’t the Word of God Re: “Bible written without an understanding of genetics” letter, March 2, page 14. Finally, we have someone pointing out that genetics plays an important part in establishing who we are sexually, and that we do inherit some deviations. I thank Frank Hiemstra for…
Proud banners that need shredding
I was on my Monday morning transit commute sitting near a group of people who loudly reminisced about their weekend exploits. Without embarrassment they relived what could be remembered of a wild party’s excitement, exploits and emissions—despite the presence of strangers and a few grandmas. The visualizations were a challenge to forget. That commute wrecked…
The last church I visited
My wife and I arrived in Vancouver in 1994 with our two sons, aged 9 and 12. I had been an air traffic controller, then law enforcement officer in Hong Kong. As a landed immigrant in Canada, I found some odd jobs before going back to school at the B.C. Institute of Technology and beginning…
‘Islam is not ISIS’
A little girl stood on the snowy steps of Alberta’s Legislature in Edmonton, holding a sign that declares, “ISIS is not Islam,” during a rally by members of the local Muslim community on March 22, to exclaim that they do not support Islamic State (IS). According to a release handed out at the event: “[IS]…
Readers write: March 30, 2015 Issue
‘Well-worn clichés’ can hide the truth Re: “A father’s struggle with his gay son,” March 2, page 29. The well-worn cliché of “God loves the sinner but hates the sin,” just like the well-worn cliché of “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” is the essence of the gospel. Because God…
‘They have taken away my Lord’
These Easter morning words from Mary (John 20:13b) are prophetic for the church today, a time when we may have lost our bearings in our discipleship-oriented denomination. Peace themes are an integral part of our congregations. We are deeply involved in reconciliation and advocacy work. We seek to bring justice and relief to others. We…
Crucial conversations
My ears perked up at a recent seminar when a leader began to speak about crucial conversations. He defined such conversations as ones whose stakes are high, opinions vary and emotions run strong. I was even more eager to hear how he successfully led his extended family in a process related to his aging father.…
Why should I give to your church?
Helping people give money away over the past 15 years has been a tremendously rewarding part of my work at Mennonite Foundation of Canada. Many of these generous people are from the “builder generation” (born in or before 1945). The builders I’ve spoken with give generously, value church institutions and trust the people who run…
It’s time for a vote
“I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). There is so much handwringing going on in Mennonite circles about same-sex relationships, the…
