“Are you excited about the new IKEA store?” asked the woman I was visiting. Sheepishly I confessed that I was and then added, “Even though there is nothing I need in my house from that store.” Her husband offered that he was looking forward to enjoying some meatballs, and we discussed the food possibilities in some detail.
We are bombarded with thousands of advertising messages every day. As we approach the holidays it seems everywhere we turn we’re being targeted. Radio, TV, billboards, newspapers, magazines, pop-up ads all deliver a relentless plea to spend more and more on what are often frivolous items marketed as necessities.
The above request came to Philip from “Greeks” who had come to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem. Whether the question came out of their curiosity about the triumphal entry or the resurrection of Lazarus (John 12:17) is unsure, but this was their request.
New Mennonite building can provide synergy
Re: MCC’s big building rationale not compelling.
During a July interview, Rick Cober Bauman—head of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Ontario—spoke with much enthusiasm about the $12-million Menno complex now under construction in Kitchener, Ont. At the end of our conversation he asked whether I found the case for the MCC-led project “compelling.”
I’m fumbling for a third way to define sin. I recently led a Sunday-morning discussion in our church on the topic of the social gospel. In that discussion, I found it helpful to distinguish between two different ways of understanding sin.
I’ve been part of countless conversations where people deliberate over the state of the church. Among church veterans this usually revolves around what the church has lost or is no longer. Among younger types such chatter circles around the church’s failures and supposed irrelevance.
Ever since being part of the North American Mennonite Church, I’ve appreciated the cyclical if not constant emphasis on leadership development. Self-development for personal satisfaction, new and increased competency for pastoral and lay leader success, and a wider range of healthier leadership patterns are needed and wonderful. But at the same time it’s caused me to wonder.
Canada enjoys world-wide respect and admiration
I grew up in a church where 2 Timothy 3:16 was almost as important as John 3:16. It declares, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” This verse was quoted regularly to defend the divine authority of every word in our Bible.
This summer, as I watched the Olympics, I was amazed by the performances of the athletes. I was even more impressed by the stories of determination, dedication and discipline. Years before competing at this level these athletes are determined to be the best. They dedicate their lives, and in many cases, their own resources, to achieve their goal.
On a cold, windy afternoon, the first snow is falling outside my office window. For many, this is a depressing sight, especially so early in October, but for me it heralds the coming of winter and the joys of cross-country skiing, my favourite outdoor activity. Winter is also a time for sitting in front of a fire or under an afghan and reading a good book—my favourite indoor activity.
Food shared with the hungry represents God’s table
America is again ablaze with partisan divisiveness. As two men square off to be king of the biggest castle on earth, I am both captivated and disturbed by the crescendo of polarization.
The world is full of amazing architectural creations and the most impressive stuff takes the longest to pull off. Barcelona, Spain’s famous Sagrada Familia church began construction in 1882—they hope to finish the job around 2026!
Have you ever entered a church and felt invisible? It probably happens more often than we would care to acknowledge. Having a greeter ministry in your church is extremely important, and having greeters who are willing to step out of their comfort zone to strike up a conversation with strangers is invaluable.
Russian Mennonite survivors had admirable resilience
Re: “Community as counsellor,” Sept. 3, page 13.
Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest based in New York. He is the author of "Just Wondering, Jesus" and founder of the Church Wellness Project. His website is http://www.morningwalkmedia.com Follo.w Tom on Twitter @tomehrpiscopal priest based in New York. He is the author of "Just Wondering, Jesus" and founder of the Churi
Why, exactly, does it matter if President Barack Obama gave a lackluster performance in the recent presidential debate?
When I was eighteen I participated in a “street evangelism” campaign at the Boston University campus as part of a Bible course I was enrolled in. A few of the BU grad students decided to have a little fun and interrogate us with some questions of their own. We were steamrolled by their merciless intellectual superiority. My ignorance was not bliss on this particular occasion.
We often greet each other with a question like, “Keeping busy?” For many of us the answer is yes, and we may add a summary of our current tasks or activities to the one who greeted us. Or we may mentally review the kinds of things that are keeping us busy. As we do so, we could feel stimulated by these pursuits and well-engaged with life. Or possibly we feel overloaded and stressed.
Sailboats seemed so idyllic—until I went sailing. I discovered that what looked peaceful from a distance was physically vigorous. It involved constant alertness, team work, and careful attention to the instructions of my friend. Only then could we align the sails of our boat with the powerful prairie wind and experience the exhilaration of being caught and propelled!
Church is called to minister to pagans
Lance Armstrong, the man who wore the iconic yellow jacket seven times as winner of cycling’s Tour de France and one of the greatest athletes of the past two decades, has provided the perfect ethical case study for the world as we now live it. The American has achieved rock star status, and only partially because of his cycling exploits.
Canadians in 1812 were patriotic
I grew up in a church where everything was painted “Sola Scriptura.” I’m not referring to some chic Greco-Roman inspired hue from Benjamin Moore, but a Latin phrase meaning “Scripture Alone” which coloured the way we saw everything under the sun. “Sola Scriptura” was the primary pillar and doctrinal gatekeeper of Protestant faith.
