A self-imposed life without wheels
When I moved to the little town of Leamington in southwestern Ontario, my family made the decision to refrain from purchasing a second car. We had just left Toronto, and having even one car for our young family felt like opulence. And guilt. I had prided myself on my Jesus-like life of environmental sustainability through…
Readers write: March 17, 2014 Issue
MCC should consider new partner in Gaza Re: “Flooding worsens Gazans’ plight,” Jan. 20, page 19. I am pleased to hear that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is actively involved in relieving the Gazan people from the devastation caused by flooding in December. This action is an answer to the call of God to help those…
Encouraging parents
I’ve been a youth pastor for more than two decades and if I have any regret, besides the amount of pizza I’ve consumed, it is that I did not pay more attention to the parents/caregivers of the youth in my groups. Research, particularly the recent Canadian report, “Hemorrhaging faith: Why and when Canadian young adults…
Give a crown today
The Olympic Games came and went, and Canada won hockey gold again. I intended to get up early to watch the men’s final game. On the Pacific coast that meant 4 a.m., and thanks to our new baby girl, who cried me awake, I was up. I sat in my comfy chair and promptly fell…
An ear tuned to lament
I’ve never been to a Mennonite church conference before. I’m a little late. I find my name tag on the table, hook it onto the lanyard provided. I’m welcomed by Janette, the administrator I talked to about childcare before registering. She tells me to sit anywhere. I choose a table near the back. I’ve come…
Speaking man to man
We have an important opportunity before us as men. For decades now, women both in secular and Christian circles have been in dialogue and have raised their voices strongly to challenge traditional definitions of femininity, prescribed female roles and violence against women. In response to recognized and experienced discrimination based on gender, women have found…
Cleaning house and Lenten resolutions
I’ve always liked the saying, “My house may not be clean, but my kids are happy.” I took that to heart when my kids were young and I spent a lot of time with them. I’m not sure what my excuse is now. “My house may not be clean, but I’ve read a lot of…
Readers write: Mar 3, 2014 issue
Christ’s death completes the incarnation Re: “Atonement,” Nov. 11, 2013, page 4. The main issues around the atonement appear to centre around two questions: “Why did Jesus have to die?” and, “What does this say about God?” On the first one, after quoting a number of Mennonite theologians, probably wisely, the article admits that mystery…
Make the kids pay for vacation
Sitting on the beach, swimming and building sandcastles all seem like a dream right now as I look out my window at the deep snow banks. Our three children, ranging in age from 2 to 6, are dreaming about summer camp, playing in the sun and bicycling with friends. There’s nothing like a relaxing week…
The deadly sin of sloth
A few years ago, a Mennonite church offered a Lenten worship series on the Seven Deadly Sins. For each of the six Sundays of Lent, the preacher’s sermon focused on one of the traditional offences, like pride or wrath or envy. Given that there were more sins than Sundays, sloth was eliminated from the list.…
