Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth I guess by now it is evident that I have been meditating on the Beatitudes. The Sermon on the Mount is the cornerstone of Mennonite doctrine. Things like the right understanding of prophecy and the sacraments are important to us, too, but not nearly to … Continue reading Inherit the earth
heaven
Slaying the beast within
A year and a half ago, a young man who had served a sentence for armed robbery appeared in court to explain that he had learned his lesson. He said that he had learned that he needed to stop and think before doing something and consider the consequences. "I have learned to tell the difference … Continue reading Slaying the beast within
The Universalist and the Quaker
A Universalist preacher, who believed that no one would be excluded from heaven, held a series of meetings in a rural town. He was a gifted speaker and many people came to hear him. At the close of the meetings he announced, " Now if you would desire, I would like to come each Sabbath … Continue reading The Universalist and the Quaker
The battles of life
Ah, simple boy! - well had it been for thee Had thy ambitious longing been confined To objects wisely placed beyond thy grasp. But years stole on – thy ardent spirit broke Its childish trammels, and with eager joy Explored the warlike annals of the past, And called up spirits of the mighty dead, To … Continue reading The battles of life
Memories of future bliss
“In speaking of this desire for our own far off country, which we find in ourselves even now, I feel a certain shyness. I am almost committing an indecency. I am trying to rip open the inconsolable secret in each one of you—the secret which hurts so much that you take your revenge on it … Continue reading Memories of future bliss
The Bible is enough
Many years ago, when Hal Lindsey's book, The Late Great Planet Earth was the "Christian" publishing sensation, the pastor of the church we were attending chose to use that book as the basis for weekly Bible study through the winter. I won't name the city, church or pastor. Spring came, we finished the book, and … Continue reading The Bible is enough
The Father himself loveth you
Who do we pray to? And in whose name? I often hear people begin their prayers with "Our Father," "Dear Lord," or "Dear Jesus," and then end with "in thy name." Whose name do they mean? This practice, by the way, is not limited to members of any particular denomination. Hitherto have ye asked nothing … Continue reading The Father himself loveth you
We don’t need better politicians, we need better Christians
Well, better politicians would be good, too. But we get what we deserve; and the present crop of politicians are doing the best they can with the information they have. Better Christians could be a means of making better information available to the politicians, as well as everyone else. "But take heed to yourselves: for … Continue reading We don’t need better politicians, we need better Christians
The baptism of suffering
So soon as the believer has the witness of the spiritual baptism and has received the baptism with water, he should yield himself willingly to receive the baptism of the shedding of his blood for the name of Christ, if required, and take on him the witness of blood, according to 1 John 5:8: "And … Continue reading The baptism of suffering
Paradise
This is Crescent Park in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Not really paradise, just a pretty nice spot to find smack dab in the downtown of a city on the arid prairies. The first home of mankind was in a true earthly paradise, the Garden of Eden. As a consequence of their sin, Adam and Eve were … Continue reading Paradise
Flatlander Faith 