Pyromaniac
Dan Schrock
Today the gospel of Luke confronts us with some very difficult words of Jesus. Jesus sounds as though he’s come to bust up the nuclear family: 51Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52From now on five in one household will be […]
Refocusing on the Present Moment
Dan Schrock
I had a friend who was afraid most of the time. When he and I strolled together on the sidewalk, he’d sometimes open up and tell me about all the things he was afraid of. One winter morning when we were out walking, he admitted he was afraid the cold temperatures would kill off all […]
Rich, But Not Distracted
Dan Schrock
Most sermons on this passage in Luke offer the same basic interpretation, more or less. That basic interpretation runs something like this: Be generous with your wealth! Don’t be like the fool in this parable, who one day decided to hoard his bumper crops. But because he died that same night, he never got to […]
Praying with What Distracts Us
Dan Schrock
One day not long ago I sat down to pray for 20 minutes. On this particular day, I sat in my black leather chair in my study at home. First I took a minute or two to slow down and become more aware of God’s presence which is always around us and through us, closer […]
Giving It Our Full Attention
Dan Schrock
Several years ago an American newspaper reporter flew to Paris. After arriving at the airport and collecting his luggage, he found a cab to take him to his hotel. During the ride in the cab, he and the cabbie collectively did six things. The cabbie was driving the cab, of course. But he also had […]
Collaborators
Dan Schrock
The parable of the good Samaritan might be Jesus’ most famous parable. If you interviewed random people on the sidewalks of downtown Goshen and asked them whether they know Jesus’ parable of the alert slaves in Luke 12:35‐40, they’ll probably stammer around a bit, then admit they don’t know that parable. But if you ask […]
Citizens of God’s Kingdom
Marilyn Rudy-Froese
I’ve been thinking about hospitality and citizenship this past week. Monday was Canada Day, the day when Canadians celebrate Canada’s birthday. Thursday was the 4th of July, the day when Americans celebrate their independence. I’ve been following the convention in Phoenix, knowing the youth would be sharing about their experience this morning. The convention theme […]
Witnesses to the Truth
Jonathan Neufeld
Up until June of 2010 there had been 20 perfect games in the recorded history of major league baseball. A perfect game is one in which no runner from the opposing team reaches first base safely. Every opposing batter is retired—27 outs in a row. Up until June of 2010, only twenty pitchers in major […]
Gardening with the Enemy
Jennifer Schrock
Jeremiah 29 is not a text that I chose. Nor is it what the lectionary prescribes for this morning. This scripture comes to us from Daniel and Brenda Grimes, who won the creation care raffle a couple of months back by getting their energy audit done. Thank you, Brenda and Daniel, for bringing this powerful […]
Extravagant Love, Extravagant Mercy
Marilyn Rudy-Froese
There are some stories we know and there are some stories we do not know. Last fall, I noticed on one of my early morning walks in the neighbourhood, that a particular house had about 6 of those very large garbage cans at the street on garbage day. I was horrified that 1 household would […]
Page 44 of 46
