"Fightin' is no way to make converts; the true way is to win them. You may stop a man's mouth Sam," says he, "by a crammin' a book down his throat, but you won't convince him. It's a fine thing to write a book all covered over with Latin, and Greek, and Hebrew, like a … Continue reading How to choose a religion
History
A light shining in the darkness
In 1671 there arose a severe persecution of the Mennonites in Switzerland, causing many to flee the country. Brethren in the Netherlands came to their aid and gave them refuge. In all, about 700 persons, among them some very aged, fled Switzerland. They were destitute, their lands and properties having been seized by the Swiss … Continue reading A light shining in the darkness
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
A flower that could not be burned
[The following account is found in the Martyrs Mirror, pages 420-421. The English translation is from 1886, I have done some slight editing.] When the believers greatly increased under persecution and the cross, there was in Bavaria a learned priest of the mass named Leonhard Keyser. He examined the writings of Zwingli and Luther and … Continue reading A flower that could not be burned
Soul and body
[This is another excerpt from the Epistle to Diognetus, written circa 129 AD, translated by J.B. Lightfoot, © 1936.] In a word, what the soul is in a body, this the Christians are in the world. The soul is spread through all the members of the body, and Christians through the divers cities of the … Continue reading Soul and body
Remittance men
Remittance men began to appear in the Canadian West around 1880, in the early years of settlement. Well-to-do fathers in England groomed their oldest son to follow in their footsteps. The eldest son generally developed a mature sense of responsibility and found a ready opportunity to show his abilities. The second son often did not … Continue reading Remittance men
A peaceful farmer
This is a story I heard many years ago. It was told as an actual happening, I think the location may have been in Ontario and the time at least 100 years ago. A Mennonite farmer, we'll call him Samuel, one day noticed a large quantity of grain was missing from one of his bins. … Continue reading A peaceful farmer
In praise of pilgrims and strangers
It is right and good to honour outstanding Christian leaders and missionaries of the past, and to follow their example. However, they are a very small part of the story of Christianity. Throughout the centuries since the time of the apostles, a vast number of unknown believers, led by the Holy Spirit, have kept the … Continue reading In praise of pilgrims and strangers
Is God Laughing?
On the strength of 71 years of experience, I have concluded that there is no such thing as normal weather. The figures we are given as “normals for the period” are just averages of many years of abnormal weather. There was the Medieval Warm Period 1,000 years ago when Lief Erickson and his men landed … Continue reading Is God Laughing?
Today we washed the sheep
Another excerpt from When I Was Thirteen, by Christina Young of Waubuno, Ontario May 31, 1897 Today we washed the sheep. I guess I had better describe how it is done, as the fashions may be changed by the time my descendants are able to read this. There are so many new ways of doing … Continue reading Today we washed the sheep
Flatlander Faith 