Uncomfortable Questions
Dan Schrock
Jesus is the answer. That’s a message you might hear from other Christians, read on bumper stickers, or see on billboards. At least one contemporary Christian singer and songwriter, Andraé Crouch, wrote a song called “Jesus is the Answer.” A couple of years ago, Thomas Nelson publishers released a book called The Jesus Answer Book. […]
Eyes Wide Open
Mariah Martin
I was young when my fascination for Samson and Delilah started. Children’s bible—thinking Delilah was pretty—I think that I wanted to be like her My affection for this story has changed over the years, but I have always had a particular interest in it. As I have studied this text I keep asking myself why […]
Tending Community in God’s Mission
Sherm Kauffman
“These sheep don’t need a shepherd, they have fences,” story. 1982 Outspokin/TourMagination Anabaptist/ Mennonite history tour. (explain Outspokin) Today we leave the first book Luke wrote and jump into the middle of his second… “Acts of the Apostles.” The first book contains stories of who Jesus was and what he did while he was at […]
Communion and Community
Joanne Gallardo
I have a very distinct memory of my first communion. I was with my mom, at her church, and I was around 7 or 8 years old. We were a small congregation, and we stood in a circle. In the center were perfectly square pieces of white bread and what smelled to be Welch’s grape […]
A Kerfuffle over Skin Color
Dan Schrock
When you imagine what biblical people looked like, what skin color do they have? For instance, what skin color do you imagine David and Solomon had? Or Ruth and Naomi? When you read the letters of Romans, Galatians, and Philippians, what skin color do you suppose Paul had? When you meditate on the stories about […]
Tending the Mission of God in the World
Sherm Kauffman
Some years ago, I had the privilege of participating in several consultations that our denomination was a part of that was led by Church Innovations, a church consulting organization based at Luther Seminary in St Paul, Minnesota. The leadership for Church Innovations was a group of PhD and professor types that were trying hard to […]
Jesus Tending Community and God’s Mission
Sherm Kauffman
Last week we considered the spiritual formation work that Jesus needed to engage…in order to prepare him for the mission he was sent on. Jesus submitted himself to be identified with the fresh spiritual awakening that was occurring. John the Baptist offered a baptism of repentance and Jesus chose to participate even though repentance didn’t […]
Picking up the Cross: A Christian Response to Charlottesville
Joanne Gallardo
Several weeks ago I received an email inviting my participation in a counter-protest happening in Charlottesville, Virginia. People from a non-Mennonite faith community I was a part of in D.C. invited people of faith to a non-violent collective action to protest Neo-Nazis, alt-right supporters, and White nationalists gathering to respond to the city’s intent to […]
The Time Between the Times
Sherm Kauffman
In the spring of 1972 I started a love affair with the writings of Luke… the traditionally accredited author of “The Gospel of Luke” and “Acts of the Apostles.” I’ll blame Professor Howard Charles with leading me down this path. Luke is the only gentile writer of Biblical text. His two volume record has a […]
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