Viewpoints

Readers write: January 19, 2015 issue

Mennonites share their faith through their lives

Faith vs. belief (Pt. 3)

I recently came across this sermon illustration differentiating faith and belief.

The Christmas holiday season brought a bombardment of consumerism. Retailers hoped you’d blow your shopping budget on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But the day after this festive frenzy is now known as Giving Tuesday, a day that demonstrates how charities, businesses and individuals can transform the way we think about, and participate in, this season of giving.

My year of reading the Bible

Among other things, 2014 was the year I read the Bible in its entirety. Inspired by Canadian Mennonite Young Voices co-editor Aaron Epp, and with some additional space in my life, I accepted his challenge.

Starting strong

Early in the new year many congregations hold their annual general meetings. This is often the time when various leadership positions and volunteer roles are confirmed. But how many congregations provide an orientation to their new committee members? How do they learn about their church’s ministries and the wide reach of these good works?

Readers write: January 5, 2015 issue

How long will natives be patient with Mennonites?

Readers write: December 15, 2014 issue

Feature takes us ‘where we need to go’

Re: “What is truth?” feature, Oct. 27, page 4.

An uneasy transition

This is my seventh year living in Canada. My transition from Japan to Canada wasn’t easy, since I love my country and my family. I especially love the church where I became a believer, Atago Mennonite, in Miyazaki. I still have a heart that one day my entire family will come to know Jesus.

Movember is the new Christmas

I have a goatee. I’ve had it for a while and, as my wife reminds me, my kids can’t even remember me without it. I can barely remember me without it. So, given that I’m already stubbled, it’s pretty hard to get excited about Movember.

November has become the month—other than hockey playoff time—when men grow facial hair to make a statement.

What statement? Good question.

A deeper view of bread

When I was a child, my mother used to bake buns every Saturday. It seemed to me that she would make hundreds of them. She baked so that on Sunday we could have faspa. There was something sacred about faspa. Something about that light meal contributed to my concept of sabbath. In my mind, I made a connection to the divine when I smelled fresh baking.

Readers write: November 24, 2014 issue

‘Open invitation’ leaves reader saddened and disturbed

Re: “Come out: An open invitation,” Oct. 13, page 14.

Faith vs. beliefs (Pt. 2)

“When the disciples saw him they worshipped him, but some of them doubted.” That’s how the disciples responded to the risen Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (28:17).

So what were these disciples doubting? Nothing less than the resurrection of Jesus.

Serving as a witness to God’s salvation

What is central to our relationship with God in Christ through the Holy Spirit? Do we experience vitality in this relationship? What happens when we encounter people who can’t, or won’t, agree with what we hold as central to our understanding of faith? How do we challenge the discomfort, doubt or uncertainty many feel when asked to seriously consider our role in mission or evangelism?

Talk of sin should start with forgiveness

The best moment of my Sunday school teaching career happened when the children were nearly stumped by a question. My co-teacher began the Bible lesson by asking the 8- to 10-year-olds, “What is sin?” whereupon a rare and rich silence descended as the children contemplated her question. The silence was broken by a spiritually precocious boy who offered, “Isn’t that where we’re forgiven?”

Transformation to generosity

I didn’t grow up in a home steeped in Christian heritage. Instead, my childhood includes only a handful of memories that involve the church or religion. But in 1980, that all changed. My parents moved from having a distant relationship with God to a profound new life of walking with Christ.

Readers write: November 10, 2014 issue

If lesbians can’t be ordained is there still a place for ordination?

Re: “MC U.S.A. will not recognize pastors in same-sex unions,” Sept. 15, page 19.

Writing on the walls of my little room

Phyllis Ramer writes on the walls of her little room.

My mother sternly warned me against doing such a thing, and I’m sure I echoed her feelings to my children and grandchildren as they grew up. Yet, as the years flew by, I had a growing urge to just do it: to write on the walls of the little room beside our master bedroom.

Local worship

For most of my life, I’ve driven to church. Growing up in Regina, the Alliance church I attended was a 15-minute drive away. In Winnipeg, while living at Canadian Mennonite University, I drove with friends to Charleswood Mennonite Church, which is a five-minute trip.

Why we need to follow the leader

Do you remember playing Follow the Leader? Do you recall the squabbles over who got to lead? Most everyone wanted to set the pace and be the example at some point. I’m intrigued by how that changes over time.

Have you ever considered how the growth and maturity of the church depends on us continuing to play Follow the Leader?

The only ways forward

I had the privilege of spending the first week of October on a learning tour in the United Kingdom with eight young adult leaders from Mennonite Church Eastern Canada.

Readers write: October 27, 2014 issue

Communitas follows in the footsteps of L’Arche founder

Re: “Good work” and “Differently gifted,” Sept. 1, pages 4 and 8.

I am writing to thank you for your recent articles by Jason Reimer Greig and Will Braun.

Faith vs. belief (Pt. 1)

A curious lyric caught my attention as I was listening to “Don’t Swallow the Cap,” a song by The National, a melancholic indie rock band: “I have faith but don’t believe it.”

The deadly sin of pride

Melissa Miller

Pride goeth before a fall, I ruefully thought last month, as I limped away from the place where I had taken a nasty tumble.

That’s a lot of money!

Sherri Grosz

I remember a special gift from my Grandpa: a $20 bill in a Christmas card. It came with one instruction: Grandpa had to see my purchase. It was a lot of money for a 10-year old! It was the first time I’d had that much money, and I was a little concerned about using it wisely. It took a few weeks to decide, but eventually Grandpa was shown a sweater and a few books.

Connecting passions

Vic Thiessen

Part of my role in overseeing Mennonite Church Canada’s assemblies includes reading every word on assembly feedback forms. As I reviewed the 128 forms we received this year—a record number—I was struck by how often people stressed the importance of being together as members of our national faith community.