In March I stood in a familiar yet electric space: at the arrival gate for passengers coming off international flights at Dulles International Airport in Washington. One of our sons was returning from a trip to Africa. Last month, my husband stood in the same space. Another son was returning from a trip to central Asia …
During my time of theological formation in Bible college, I was taught that our mission is to get as many people as possible right with God and ready for heaven before Christ returns. This world was getting worse, and little could be done other than getting people ready to leave this world for the next …
Karl Barth, one of the great theologians of the past century, famously said that when we read the Bible we should hold the daily newspaper in our other hand. He was making the point that the ancient Scriptures are a tool for interpreting modern life. The old text is the key to understanding the events happening all around us in our community and the world, and these events in turn are the context in which we read and interpret Scripture …
Every fall we put a fence around our raspberry patch to keep the rabbits from feasting on too many thorny berry branches. If we want fruit next year, a keep-out is fence essential. Down the road is a keep-in fence. It keeps our neighbors sheep in and away from the crazy drivers on our road …
Every year Mother’s Day provides an opportunity to hear tributes to mothers and many suggestions for gifts. It also provides an opportunity to think about Mary, Jesus’ mother, and ponder what her life was like. What did she experience as a woman, a wife, a mother? What can we learn from her and her faith? …
For most of the last 25 years I am blessed to have participated in a regular, relatively serious Bible study in the context of a Uniform Series Sunday school class at Scottdale (Pa.) Mennonite Church …
A Chicago Sun-Times columnist, along with other print and electronic media people, discussed the word “proud” in regard to comments by Michele Obama and Cindy McCain …