In John 12:20ff, we have a curious story about “some Greeks” who approach one of Jesus’s native Galilean disciples with a request: “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” The text doesn’t tell us whether Jesus said “yes” or “no.” Instead, 23 Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be […]
Judgment: Glory or Grieving? Read More »
Luke 24:36–53 Each year, on a Thursday, 40 days after Resurrection Sunday (Easter), portions of the Christian Church celebrate a holiday about which other parts of the church are fairly ignorant. That holiday is Ascension Day. The Biblical basis for its celebration comes primarily from the Gospel of Luke and from Acts, both attributed to
Rockets, Superheroes, and the Power of Suffering Love Read More »
January 20, 2025 is a presidential inauguration. January 21, 2025, is a different celebration–the 500th anniversary of the inauguration of Anabaptism.
Where are you from? The answer depends on your perspective. The Biblical perspective is that “The Earth is the Lord’s” and we are aliens and tenants. Because we are not the ultimate owners, God requires the native-born residents to “Love the alien as yourselves.” Ultimately, we are citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Where are you from? Read More »
Death is real. So is resurrection. We can experience resurrection even before physical death.
Encountering Jesus on the Way Read More »
When the Powers Take Over The Experience of the Church Colossians 2:6–19 In a previous article, I examined how supposedly Godly people become enmeshed in behavior that is obviously evil. I illustrated this through the story of the Golden Calf in Exodus 32, as well as the contemporary story of a Mennonite farmer turned drug
When the Powers Take Over – NT Read More »
When the Powers Take Over Israel’s Experience Exodus 32:1-14 The dateline on an article in the Los Angeles Times reads “February 1, 2024, Las Flores, Mexico.” It starts out like this: Franz Kauenhofen was once a pious member of his Mennonite community in this tropical stretch of southern Mexico. He read the Bible, tended to
When the Powers Take Over – OT Read More »
Inclusion of people with disabilities. I have been reflecting on how my own journey with people with disabilities coincides with the movement to include persons with disabilities at the center of Christian congregations. My journey began when I realized I was a father of a child with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It continued as a
A Movement Toward Inclusion Read More »
All the Kings’ Horses Deuteronomy 17:14–20; 1 Samuel 8 In the late 1700’s, Scottish inventor, James Watt, was trying to market his newly invented steam engine. A prospective customer challenged him to prove that his steam engine could provide more power for his mill than the customer’s best workhorse. So, Watt started calculating how many
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