Divine Inbreaking
Steph Wieand
Thousands of people killed at the hands of the powerful. Buildings, houses, and towns destroyed Revolts crushed mercilessly Massive displacement Pregnant women with no place to give birth- no room in the hospital, or neighbors homes, or the inn Occupation Poverty Oppression This is a heavy place to begin. And maybe not something we want […]
God
Mark Schloneger
What do we say, how do we respond,when we find ourselves at a place where God seems distant and God’s promises seem empty? What do we say, how do we respond, when we feel God’s absence, God’s hiddenness? Isaiah gives us the words, and maybe it’s not surprising that those words are contained in a […]
Show and Tell
Richard A. Kauffman
Until about the age of six, my family went to the East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church in the city of Lancaster, PA. We children were all given a penny bank that was modeled after the church building as it looked in the 1950s. It was made by one of the pastors who was a pattern […]
Viva la Revolución
Mark Schloneger
Isaiah: I see you. I hear you. I am Isaiah, the prophet, and these are my words: I see a king who will reign in righteousness I see rulers who will rule with justice. Each will be like a shelter from the wind, like a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the […]
The Blessing Place
Richard A. Kauffman
Zephaniah, a minor prophet, consisted of nine prophetic oracles (that is, messages from God). Eight of these oracles were judgment against Judah and Jerusalem for their pride and failure to keep the covenant. This book was written during King Josiah’s reign, a reform-minded monarch. Despite his best efforts, there was still a great deal of […]
Welcome, Child
Mark Schloneger
When a baby is born to Muslim parents, everyone in the birth chamber is asked to be silent. The doctor, the nurses, the aids. Silence. Before any other words are said, the father will take the baby in his arms, and whisper in his right ear the Muslim call to prayer. This is so the […]
Embracing Hope
Mark Schloneger
Early in our marriage, before children, Sarah and I went to see Titanic, a movie that was breaking all kinds of box records and would go on to win all kinds of awards. And before I say more, let me just say this. Titanic was a fine movie. It was worth the price of admission. […]
The Source of Joy
Dan Schrock
This morning I want to speak with you about the source of our joy. To do that, allow me to introduce Harry, who is almost never joyful. Harry is slightly imaginary, a figure pulled together with bits and pieces from the lives of many people, woven into one slightly fictional person. Harry is one of […]
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