After spending two years studying Greek, my professor ask the class what our main take-away was. It didn’t take me long to think of how studying the New Testament in the original language has changed my understanding. And it all started with one word.
Read MoreAs a local church pastor, I’ve seen just how much churches change. The transient nature of church has led to the phenomenon that we refer to as “church shopping.” Church isn’t a commodity that we can buy or sell, so instead let’s ask critical questions when looking for a new church.
Read MoreSo much has changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Is the Church still relevant even though we can’t meet in person? Will the Church be needed after the pandemic is over?
Read MoreOne of the greatest gifts you can give another person is your time. That’s why I was honoured when one of the pillars in our Mennonite church took the time to have coffee with me.
Read MoreMy Opa and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were both German. My Opa was a soldier in Hitler’s army. Bonhoeffer did all he could to oppose the Nazi state. How is this possible? One reason is that Bonhoeffer believed a very different narrative about Germany, Hitler, and those who were different from him.
Read MoreMy family and I experienced both birth and death during this COVID-19 pandemic. While the experiences were vastly different, both solidified for me the importance of relationships and community.
Read MoreI can’t count how many times I have heard talk about a “Gay Agenda” or reverse discrimination. I understand the fear, but if we want to enter genuine dialogue about sexuality, we need to understand what is actually being asked of us.
Read MoreI’ve never experienced an international pandemic like the COVID-19 virus. Although this is a difficult time, I hope that this experience will bring us closer in touch with our humanity and deeper into our reliance on God for life. For that reason, I offer this prayer for our world.
Read MoreAnother Christian leaders falls. How should the Church react? We need to remember that when leaders cross boundaries it isn’t just about morality; it’s about justice. And when it comes to injustice, the Church better take it seriously.
Read MoreI’ve noticed a recent trend. High profile celebrities are coming out as Christian. Their music used to be full of money, sex, power, and partying. And now they are singing about God’s love, forgiveness, commitment, and not living for the culture. What do we make of it? Should we be skeptical or embrace their change of faith?
Read MoreWorship can be defined as what we do in order to glorify God. But what if we used the book of Revelation as a backdrop? We’ll discover that we’re invited to join in the cosmic reality of God through our worship.
Read MoreHere’s the truth: I’m getting old. So it’s got me thinking, what do I want to be like when I get there?
Read MoreIt never occurred to me that people new to church might actually find singing together to be a little awkward, if not outright strange. So why do we do it?
Read MoreIf we think we can be Christian without being a member of the Church, then it’s most likely that our understanding of “Church” is sub-Christian.
Read MoreIf we are called to share God’s hope and healing with the world, how can we do that without actually doing something? And what does it mean to be missional?
Read MoreLet’s be honest. Going to church is becoming less and less popular in our Canadian context. I believe we should be involved in church because, as Christians, we are already part of the Church, whether we like it or not. The question is, how will we participate?
Read MoreNot too long ago, I needed a walk home to reflect on an inspiring conference and a troubling pastor’s gathering I experienced within the span of a week. What I came away with was a conviction that unity might actually be our greatest witness in this age of polarization.
Read MoreIs what we think about sexuality in our day really foundational to the Christian faith? Can two Christians disagree, or does one have to stop calling themselves a follower of Jesus? Here’s why I believe we can be united in our diversity.
Read MoreOnce we more fully understand postmodernism and the changes we are living through, we must ask ourselves how we can move forward, especially as people of faith.
Read MoreWe dig deeper into our study of postmodernism by looking at how Jean-François Lyotard and Michel Foucault have described it. They help us make sense of power, authority and narrative and how they relate to our cultural shift.
Read More