Changes for the church
If there was one book in 2014 that had me despairing and cursing, but fired up to hope, it was Naomi Klein’s This Changes Everything (Knopf Canada). Klein is a journalist-activist who writes game-changers that dismantle the powerful myths of corporate culture. In her most recent book, she makes the case that capitalism is destroying…
Take on a demon
Whom are you battling? Can you picture them or it? Everyone is at war, some on numerous fronts. “Be kind,” wrote Philo of Alexandria. “Everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.” This is an important point. To remember that every irritating person is human like I am, confronted daily by battles, would certainly make…
‘Walk alongside’
Twitter informed me this morning that Bethany College in Hepburn, Sask., is closing in 2015 after 87 years of teaching. Ron Toews, director of the Canadian Conference of MB Churches’ leadership development arm, says, “The closure of Bethany doesn’t change the reality that we need to continue walking alongside young women and men as they…
Readers write: January 19, 2015 issue
Mennonites share their faith through their lives
Faith vs. belief (Pt. 3)
I recently came across this sermon illustration differentiating faith and belief. In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar makes a golden idol 30 metres tall and commands everyone to bow down and worship it. He declares that anyone who refuses will be thrown into a fiery furnace. Three Jewish men named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse. When…
Year-round generosity
The Christmas holiday season brought a bombardment of consumerism. Retailers hoped you’d blow your shopping budget on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But the day after this festive frenzy is now known as Giving Tuesday, a day that demonstrates how charities, businesses and individuals can transform the way we think about, and participate in, this…
My year of reading the Bible
Among other things, 2014 was the year I read the Bible in its entirety. Inspired by Canadian Mennonite Young Voices co-editor Aaron Epp, and with some additional space in my life, I accepted his challenge. In retrospect, it really wasn’t an arduous challenge, but rather an intriguing journey through the 66 books and 1,189 chapters…
Starting strong
Early in the new year many congregations hold their annual general meetings. This is often the time when various leadership positions and volunteer roles are confirmed. But how many congregations provide an orientation to their new committee members? How do they learn about their church’s ministries and the wide reach of these good works? And…
Readers write: January 5, 2015 issue
How long will natives be patient with Mennonites?
Readers write: December 15, 2014 issue
Feature takes us ‘where we need to go’ Re: “What is truth?” feature, Oct. 27, page 4. I want to thank writer Dave Rogalsky and Canadian Mennonite very much for this excellent and important feature. I greatly appreciate Rogalsky’s courage and honesty for “telling it like it is.” He presents us with a glimpse of…
