On second thought

I posted a couple of articles this week that would have benefited from some sober second thought before sending them out into the unsuspecting world.  It's not that I think I shouldn't have said what I said, but i think the articles needed to be turned inside out and upside down, with some things pruned … Continue reading On second thought

Homeopathic dilution of Christianity

To put it very briefly, homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats diseases with natural substances that are diluted well past the point where any trace of the original substance can be detected.  Some call it quackery, others say that it works where other methods fail.  It does have this much going for … Continue reading Homeopathic dilution of Christianity

A Closer Walk

This will be my 303rd post since I began blogging 15 months ago.  I believe it’s time to reflect on why I am doing this and where I’m going with it. My original intentions were threefold: 1) to be a witness of the old Anabaptist faith in an era when the Christian faith no longer … Continue reading A Closer Walk

Steel-toed slippers

Non-resistance is one of the prime identification marks of a true Anabaptist.  Many folks take this to mean that we believe it is wrong to put on a uniform and take up arms to defend our country.  What it really means is that we believe in wearing figurative steel-toed slippers so that it never feels … Continue reading Steel-toed slippers

There is a famine – part two

Yesterday I wrote a little about the famine of hearing the words of the Lord.  Today I want to write about another kind of famine that is spreading over our land: a famine of community among those who would follow the Lord.  This kind of famine is just as deadly as the first, especially since … Continue reading There is a famine – part two

There is a famine – part one

Small town churches across Canada are rapidly disappearing.  Fifty years ago, the town where I grew up had five churches.  Only two remain, and they are the churches where one is least likely to ever hear sound Bible-based preaching.  Smaller towns nearby have no churches at all. This is more than a demographic curiosity.  It … Continue reading There is a famine – part one

Uncompromising faith

"Anabaptism was essentially a movement which insisted upon an earnest and uncompromising endeavour to live a life of true discipleship of Christ, that is to give expression in fellowship and love to the deepest Christian faith, with full readiness to suffer in conflict with the evil world order.  So long as this willingness to suffer … Continue reading Uncompromising faith

Why do young people today look so weird?

I remember when duck tail haircuts were all the rage among teenage boys.  I even  remember wearing a duck tail.  For readers younger than 65, a duck tail required hair long enough to be combed straight back and then parted vertically down the back of the head.  It required a lot of Brylcreem to keep … Continue reading Why do young people today look so weird?

Who is the victim here?

A young mother comes into the coffee shop with her three-year-old daughter. - Do you want a doughnut? - No.  I want to go home. - Mommy can buy you a chocolate milk. - No.  I want to go home. Mommy sees some friends at one of the tables and goes to talk to them.  … Continue reading Who is the victim here?

Courtesy

Courtesy and courtship are derived from the same root word and both convey the idea of trying to please someone else.  All other things being equal, the business that will thrive is the one that greets and serves its customers with genuine warmhearted courtesy. On a trip some years ago, we stopped for gas around … Continue reading Courtesy