1. They isolate members from other people Relationships with family and friends outside the community that do not further the goals of the community become suspect. 2. They disconnect members from the reality of the world around them People who don’t have to choose and pay for their own food, clothing and shelter can hardly … Continue reading Five reasons Christian communes don’t work
Faith and life
Uncharted Seas
Everything is changing and we must change with the times or be left behind. Nothing we knew yesterday will be of any value to us tomorrow. But tomorrow will be better than today and the day after that even better. This is the age of progress. But where is this progress taking us? Hush! It … Continue reading Uncharted Seas
Sins of omission?
James 4:17: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” The last clause of this verse is written in the passive voice which leads some presumptuous readers of the Bible to take it to mean that there are sins of omission which are much less serious … Continue reading Sins of omission?
Some spirits need to be quenched
I was alone in the lunchroom when Rhonda came in. She sat down on the other side of the table, opened her lunch bag and announced “He told me I looked like a horse.” “What? Who did?” “Doug, that young guy who got a summer job here. He just walked up to me and said: … Continue reading Some spirits need to be quenched
She never gives up
Saturday afternoon Bianca Andreescu won the U.S. Open women’s tennis tournament. She is 19 and the first Canadian ever to win a grand slam tennis tournament. A comment made by one of her opponents has stuck in my mind: “She never gives up.” In several matches she seemed to be faltering, on the verge of … Continue reading She never gives up
God loves messed up people
Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Abram was ready to sacrifice his wife to the lusts of powerful men to save his own skin. Jacob gained his brother’s birthright by dubious means, and with his mother’s connivance. David had way too many wives. These were the kind of people God used to accomplish His plans here … Continue reading God loves messed up people
The Christian nation heresy
Time was that most Canadians attended a church where Christian values were taught and claimed to govern their lives by those teachings. In such circumstances governments found it expedient to pay lip service at least to Christian principles and to legislate accordingly. Times have changed. A survey several years ago found that 16% of Canadians … Continue reading The Christian nation heresy
What does “Mennonite” mean to you?
Some people consider themselves to be birthright Mennonites because their ethnic origin is Plautdietsch or Pennsylfannisch Dietsch and their parents held to certain traditional values that they called Mennonite. Those values may have been cultural; language, clothing, lifestyle; or they may hae been intellectual: a somewhat counter cultural emphasis on peacefulness and helping one’s neighbour. … Continue reading What does “Mennonite” mean to you?
The things I believe
I believe in the God revealed in the Bible. The great and terrible Almighty and Eternal Creator of all things, who hates all unrighteousness. I believe that He is at the same time loving, merciful and compassionate, a father for the fatherless. He knows everything about us and wants us to know Him and be … Continue reading The things I believe
Faith vs doubt
Doubt sees the obstacles Faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night Faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step Faith soars on high. Doubt questions 'who believes?' Faith answers, 'I.' Author Unknown
Flatlander Faith 