Extensions Beyond

When I was a young farm kid learning the mysteries of life, I became aware of ordinary and extraordinary. Ordinary farming was kind of tidy and seasonal. It was a couple of cows with either milk or cream shipped, certain fields seeded with oats and wheat or barley, some acres summer-fallowed each year, and of course all dependent on lots of rain and minimal grasshoppers. Buildings and yard maintenance was important for some and not so much for others. That was our neighborhood.

This was not quite the way of our farm. Our operation was this plus a number of other things (not quite as normal)! We were also a mixed farm but a little more mixed up! 😏 Included was some cropland and some pastureland, some beef cattle, a modest herd of dairy cows, a chicken coupe and a pen with some pigs in it. Even at a young age I could tell that our mixed farm was deliberate. My parents’ early beginnings had been on prime land. When my two younger brothers and I were still preschoolers our parents decided to sell that property at optimum price and with those funds purchased the place which thereafter was home for us and the further nine brothers and sisters who came along in due time. This marginal stony land would accommodate mixed farming along with a sideline custom hay and straw baling operation. Main purpose here of course was to keep this growing family very occupied – occupied and out of trouble! It was not good to have a high energy labor force with nothing to do.

In hindsight I now recognize most features of this mixed farm operation quite in character of our dad, and recognizable in yours truly as well as several of my siblings! Innovation is more interesting than routine. For example, a three-ton farm truck is generally envisioned as a grain truck. On our farm the three ton was that and considerably more! It was the transportation for hay and straw bales to the city of Saskatoon, where dad had a contract to provide that needed commodity for certain feedlots. True to market economy, of course he knew that the more we could supply the better the feedlot owners liked it, the larger the cheques for services rendered. The fewer the loads the lower the transportation cost, hence an obvious impact on profit/loss of this operation. And yes, in keeping with Mennonite farm management in those days, the labor was free! 😏

This is where the extraordinary came in. Dad designed and built a maximum legally allowed rear extension to the bed of our truck. After only a few loads with this beginning improvement, a bigger plan emerged. With help from my uncle’s welding shop, our three ton received a full over-cab structure with posts coming up from each corner of front bumper. Now we hauled 365 bales per load instead of the mere 200 previously. Dad's truck became somewhat trademark in the neighborhood. Not only did he now haul the biggest payloads, but his oldest son (me) became known as the kid who could. This sixteen-year-old with a new drivers’ license would drive these top heavy loads into the city, much to the envy of my high-school friends and occasional scrutinizing looks from police officers as they would pass on the highway. Younger brothers were my passengers not at all intrigued by any of this because they were the laborers – essential in the loading and unloading of these payloads!

Looking back threescore and some years, I now see this as characteristic of many things going around. There are ordinary routine things, and there are the slightly extraordinary; both methods part and parcel of life. I think of my favorite sport, last game of the season, Edmonton Oilers lost 5 – 1 to the Colorado Avalanche, both teams with secured playoff spots. It was mostly a game of chance, in that the top-ranked players did not play! Suddenly the sheer joy of hockey seemed missing. Top rank McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Hyman, etc. were spectators with occasional camera flicks to see how they were making out in the luxury suites. Meanwhile on the ice, other good players like Darnell Nurse, Corey Perry, Ryan MacLeod, etc. did their duty to complete last jot and tittle of an 82 game season – ordinary players doing the required thing?😖 I am irritated. Boo to coaches or management for this strategy to either spare the elite for the upcoming playoffs or to visibly reward the extraordinary. Usually we hear much ado about teamwork even in professional sport! Right now I’m confused. Why this elitism in addition to all the million-dollar betting ads this last season? I can’t quite tell whether hockey is for the Bet99 crowd or for those fans who can still afford tickets to the games. I wish professional sport would continue as a celebration of the mix, the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Recently I read an old book. Very old actually, so old that even though a one-time bestseller, now hard to find in libraries (finally got it in eBook). In His Steps by Charles Sheldon [i] is about a church service disturbed by a poor man who hobbled to front of church, gave a woebegone testimony, fell over and died! The pastor, although shocked by this, interpreted it as a divine disturbance. He resolved to begin speaking in subsequent sermons about “What would Jesus Do?” It was unusual and it began a revolution not only in his church, but surrounding community. In this case the stirring reflect on WWJD became a revolutionary equalizer of ordinary routine and extraordinary actions. Theme of this book is that each of us, whether we are perceived as ordinary or extraordinary does not much matter; the important thing is to reflect on the soul-searching Jesus question in all of life's occasions. Interesting about the equalizing is that in this case even the elite business owners and newspaper editors simply re-motivated themselves to act in the best interests of all. Their lives were changed, as well as those impacted by new decisions and relationships. It has been a good read, relevant and applicable even for this day a hundred twenty-five years later.

This morning I had a nice conversation with my barber. A long-standing business in our community, owned by a Muslim family, in early easy conversation this time as I sat down in his chair I felt free to start with something other than weather or state of my hair. I asked whether they are Sunni or maybe Shi'ah. "Just Muslim" was his pointed reply. Ah, I identified with that retort, “Okay I think I get it. Me, I am a Mennonite, but really the important thing to me, I am Christian.” "Yes, yes", he enthused. Now we understood each other on that point; developing relationship even though we have 'done business' for several years. Conversation went on into various things, also blending into more neutral as other customers came in. Somehow we recognized there was no need to go into major splitting of theological hairs, just like I wish us Christians would not need to be constantly occupied with our doctrinal/liturgical/political/declarations. Being human we share a commonality worth claiming. There are ordinary and extraordinary farmers, ordinary hockey players and good hockey players and indeed some extraordinary. Mercifully all essential in the great variety in God’s garden.

One thing the barber and I did not agreed on. Are we slaves (his point) or are we children of God (my point)? - kind of unusual topic for a barber shop, but it beats reviewing the weather. Next time.

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[i] Charles M. Sheldon, In His Steps (Chicago: Advance Publishing), 1897.

Raising High End Money

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves (Matthew 21:12).

Recreation and Sports and Charity and Fundraisers are being rolled into one ball of wax. As indicated in previous post, I have a little more to say on the topic of charity and love. By now I am aware it may just be a little more of same, raising a few hackles even, so why bother? Why? Because I trust my readers to come along a bit more. With modified ambition here goes, some observations out of an ordinary routine activity - and then - a little more.

Last evening, watching a hockey game on my television I get hit three times. The phone rings; the solicitor knows my name, speaks to me as though we are old friends, and then I notice she’s reading from a script, collecting money for a very noble cause helping to feed children going to school hungry, not in Africa or Asia, but in this good country of Canada, coast to coast. Nobody is spared. “Could I donate $500.00 or perhaps 300 or $250.00?” I respond with my perspective, namely that I am aware of the challenge she speaks of, member of a church which is connected to a worldwide service agency, quite concerned also about children in Gaza right now not only hungry but also victimized by war, and I participate in community interfaith charity, also personally know a few refugee families who occasionally need emergency help. “$100.00? Every bit helps.” Perhaps she was not listening to me. I explain a little more clearly she’s talking to the wrong guy. It’s more than just your phone call. Then she ‘gets it’ and thanks me for my time.

At intermission Gene Principe the Oilers' Sportsnet reporter explains the 50-50 pot of $1,400,000 (something like that) going to Edmonton Community Foundation. He interviews gently a mother and daughter who are benefiting from this wonderful charity. Quite touching, and I like 50-50’s, used to buy tickets in small-town Saskatchewan hockey games. Maybe one of these days, 😯 but then I remember I cannot even afford a cheap seat ticket to a game anymore.

Then to add insult to injury, once-upon-a-time world’s best hockey player–become-gambler Wayne Gretzky appears in a commercial for Bet99, and almost on cue there's Connor McDavid and Austin Matthews, showing their high-priced faces in support of the American BetMGM to get a foothold in Canada. The Montreal Gazette recently had a feature article “Sports Betting tarnishes the Integrity of Every League.”[i] I agree with this article.

So this is kind of spectatorly - me in front of my boob tube and not every detail fact checked! I am a hockey enthusiast probably thanks to all the stickhandling back there on the Saskatchewan farmyard outdoor hockey rink. Ever still loving the game, I am however no longer a fan of current trends in professional hockey. So here I go, this waxball of money, maybe charity, and hopefully not too far afield of the love of God. In the previous post I made a  distinction between that love and charity. Love of God is huge, so huge that it cannot be fully encapsulated by us, because its source is beyond, deep in the heart of our Creator, the one who so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (John 3:16), the very One whom we celebrate and give thanks for in Holy Week. 

This love of God is larger than charities, the things we try to do, and most certainly not only the christian thing to do. Charity, community service, and good works are required "things to do" by people of many faiths and traditions. As a Christian (born-again even) I am becoming convinced this love is larger than the tithes and offerings we give in our Christian churches, larger than all we try to do or understand "beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell" (a favorite hymn from an old hymnal).[ii] The positive of this large love inclusive charity is that it can get multiplied (50/50?) and good things are accomplished even if people do it for differing faith or non-faith reasons. The negative is that we Christians begin to slip into calculation mode, being very careful stewards because after all it's the responsibility of everyone in this world (gotta get the total picture)! And so we become cautious, with attention going to charitable status of the receiver, etc. etc. We check with financial advisors rather than our hearts. And yes, those irritating solicitors will probably keep on calling. 😔

The last several years have provided much challenge not only for churches and faith-based organizations, but everyone in our communities. With the steady influx of refugees, a new reality is upon us. Many churches in the last half-century took pride in 'missions giving.' Missionaries would return on furlough from Africa or Asia to tell us of challenges, opportunities and blessings 'over there,' and wealthy church goers would feel good filling the offering plate for 'foreign missions.' Today foreign missions is different. It's no longer out there. It now means getting to know the families in multiple housing complexes in our cities including the challenge of new style of communication in brand new family systems. It may mean an occasional Christian father who needs to pay a visit to his other wife and family back there, while this wife deals with their teenagers' activities and gangs and other things in this city! It's not just about finding a nice church home for our new immigrant friends here. I'm guessing missionaries often chose not to tell us about these cultural stretches because it might negatively impact the funds collected in our churches. Multiculturalism is both a reality and a challenge especially in anti-immigrant political environments. Mission work now includes bridge building, and lots of it in our local communities, requiring lots of phone calls, lots of mis-spelled texts and short-notice meetings and e-transfers and surprise transactions, not just cheques or dollars in the offering plate. "Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked (Luke 6:35).

Many of our charities are now almost in same category as the ‘not for profits’ who are in and among all of this. While it is complicated we do not now have the luxury of closing eyes nor examining each ingredient within these 'balls of wax.' The kingdom of God includes missions, and missions is here AND abroad. Even as I point out these intercultural challenges, I confess to a further surprise (and I may be the old-fashioned one here). I see our worldwide faith-based organizations, service agencies, colleges and seminaries, all into new fundraising methodologies, most of them hiring donor relations personnel, a small part of whose job is to relate to potential donors. The major part of their time is spent organizing walks and races and fundraisers, and learning tours and golf tournaments and competitions and photo-shoots and shin digs with famous people, 50/50’s, etc. The love of God may be clearly evident here. It may also be kind of optional. 

Jesus, the son of God, incarnation of God's love, bids us be careful of the ideas we deal in, and do not even try it without relating to one another. [iii] Fully aware of Passover ceremony and religiosity and the cost before him, Jesus entered the Temple Courts and expressed it clearly to the money changers doing business right there (Matthew 21:12). My prayer is that our mission efforts and neighbor relations and mission dollars may be clearly and simply rooted in the love of God.

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[i] Jack Todd, The Gazette (Montreal, PQ), October 27, 2023.

[ii] “The Love of God”, Mennonite Hymnal (Newton, KS: Faith and Life Press, 1969) #538.

[iii] "Strangers to Neighbors," the theme for 2023 - 2024 Calgary Interfaith Council.

Desperado Charity

Retirement does interesting things to us. One of the things I have discovered in the last several years is that a certain style of living just comes with you no matter what your age. Longtime psychologists like Erik Erikson[i] and recent theologians like Richard Rohr's[ii] stages of life notwithstanding, there are some things that are a given. These are as natural as the DNA which may determine color of skin, shape of nose, or type of hair you have – or don’t have! My style of living has always and continues to include an affinity with down-and-out people. How one lives with an affinity makes for some more 'thinker material.'

An affinity, so it seems to me, is not something to work at or try to learn. It's just there, or else comes very naturally! At best I can identify my affinity as something I observed in my dad in how he related to his younger brother. Dad's youngest brother broke all the rules. Within their Mennonite Old Colony belief system which included his older sisters and brothers who participated in churchy auswanderungs to safe pioneering places like Mexico or LaCrete or Fort St John, this brother joined the air force! He signed up for reasons of wanderlust, probably no more patriotic to his country than any of his siblings. My dad was a diligent hard working farmer, him and mom raising their large brood on our dairy farm. After the war our adventuring uncle would come along and regale us impressionable farm boys with all kinds of interesting tales of adventure. Dad would listen too, but I could tell by look in his eye that he knew a large amount of this to be considerably embellished b.s. Already weathered by years of experience with this kid brother, dad would nonetheless treat him kindly, even offering our place as temporary abode while uncle sorted out marriage and family and job or unemployment issues, which was common lot for many soldiers now looking for what to do next.

I too have a heart for the ones at the edge. Always an awareness during my years of pastoral ministry and to this day I naturally notice the homeless guy(s) occasionally sleeping in a corner of McDonald’s or other fast food joints. I do not pity, in fact even recognize my inner chagrin at possible bad choices that may have led to this circumstance, but if eye contact available I say hello, and even some conversation if there is interest. I believe there is a considerable variety in all of us created beings rich or poor, and it is inappropriate to paint in categorical brush strokes. Anyway, a caring attitude, which may be a DNA feature, a Psalm 139 feature "For you created my inmost being" (:13), may also be nurtured by how one grows up (Heredity? Environment? A related topic). 

And it may be recognized by others. I am a member of Calgary Interfaith Council. Each year we have some sort of charity drive. Almost by default, several times I have been handed a bunch of ‘gift cards’ to hand out at my discretion to any homeless types whom I may deem as appropriate recipients. This comes simply because the group has recognized a certain connectedness without ever having made a pitch for it.

I suppose it is because of an affinity for people at the edge that I find myself thinking a little more about some words related to that (the thinker again)! Charity and love are both translations for the Greek word agape. Seems to me that the charity version is not popular any more, maybe because everybody is seeking to point out the love and the inclusiveness of God, rather than fearfulness (eg 1 Corinthians 13:12 the old King James Version reads “now faith, hope, and charity” and the New King James and every version thereafter “now faith, hope, and love”). It appears to me that charity is a more circumstantial value-laden word than love. Not being a linguist nor scholar of languages, I resist going into an analysis, but this does not keep me from rendering an opinion! 😏

My opinion is that charity, even though a nice word, has sort of a limiting connotation. I remember once upon a time as a young seminarian in 1978 I traveled with my longsuffering wife and our three children all the way from Saskatoon, SK to Wichita, KS pulling our tent trailer behind her brother's van to participate in Mennonite World Conference and gain one final course credit towards my graduation from seminary. We had a/c in the van but not in the trailer and July temperatures hovered around 100 Fahrenheit. We did not have sufficient funds for campground fees. A fellow seminarian from the area offered their place as a parking spot for trailer and kids. His wife was not pleased with his hospitality towards this beggarly Canadian. We encountered a few hail storms during the next two weeks – my wife enduring this 'holiday' each day spending much time with the kids at a local swimming pool while I attended classes in an air-conditioned college amphitheater! Oh shame. The two week stay ended amiably, but for us the difference between charity and love became quite obvious. In this example charity might be described as love under obligation.

For the last several years I have become acquainted with refugees, as a part of retirement committee work (things we do to assure ourselves we're still useful). Many refugees are affected by PTSD and deeply connected to political and family circumstances ‘back home.’ Several of these are now friends amiably unreservedly declared  – not quite to die for, but almost. 😐 In due time I have come to realize every single encounter, social or worship or business, includes a reference to certain hundreds or thousands of dollars which would accomplish this or that project. Even a hint of promise to ‘look into it’ is followed up next visit with “did you talk to…?” These are in fact very convincing concerns presented to someone (me) in this country not necessarily well-to-do, but obviously with good connections here there and everywhere. The irony is that my connections, namely my friends, the people of my church or my denomination become cautious, “what's he up to now?” some even quickly looking the other way when I come along.

Obviously there is a far reach to the topic of love, and a little tightening of the nerves when one thinks charity. There is another angle on this which deserves a hearing. I shall present something of that in next blog. As I think ahead to that, I am reminded of a scripture which once impressed itself on me in a Greek Readings class in seminary. Also it brings to mind a dear professor (RIP Dr. Gertrude Roten) who impersonated its very meaning. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18a). Thinking about this, even as I continue in relationship with new friends and with old friends, I hope and pray that we may learn some more about charity .. and love.

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[i] Erik H. Erikson, Life Cycle Completed (New York: W.W.Norton, 1998).

[ii] Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass, 2011).

Of Revelations and Life

A few days after my latest blogpost I encountered a bit of self-reproach, or was it anxiety. At any rate, it was some further thinking. Unlike most of my tomes (?) which garner considerable responses and some good conversation, this one showed many hits, yet minimal responses. That became reason for this ... reflection. I always instruct myself to write only from my genuine self, and before pressing ‘publish’ the reminder from Shakespeare’s famous line, “to thine own self be true.”[i] I need to be able to live with what has appeared. Within these parameters I allow myself to “say things as I sees em.”😏 This time, had I offended, or even worse in my perfectionist brain, perhaps been unclear in what I was getting at? [One friend, a magazine editor, actually told me so]. It has become clear to me that this was a large subject, very large actually, and somewhat new territory for many. Therefore it's probably appropriate, perhaps even important, to just press on! I am within my parameters and fascinated with topic at hand, enough to dig into it a little more! Also I must say, one of the responders, namely my cheerful learned younger brother, provided some good information plus his ever encouraging perspective, a welcome gift to this old preacher. Hang on folks, there’s a little more on that incendiary topic of Mormonism!

I believe in knowledge. I also believe in wisdom. A humble pursuit of knowledge can be an excellent contribution to wisdom, usually over a bit of time. My brother, whom I cited among the clowns in a recent article, [ii] also contributes to the wisdom column. He does a huge amount of reading, sometimes at night, in his adventurous activist life in Colorado. I will share a few of his quotes as we move along here. 

Mormonism is not the all-inclusive name. Although the referent name in most casual talk, I have become aware that my local Latter Day Saints neighbors cringe a bit if I use that term in conversation. Apparently it’s a colloquialism, almost a slang word. My brother says there is disagreement among LDSers on that, including some denominational alignment/realignment based on use of that term! That is something they have in common with all of Christendom, thousands of mainline and reformed and reorganized denominations all over the world!

Regarding origin, why not quote from my brother. I smile because I know his style will make this piece interesting, possibly even a little entertaining (usually he’s too busy formulating thoughts about subject at hand to bother with capitalization). 😉“they continue to track their origin to sir joseph smith w. unfeigning sincerity.  smith evidently had his first revelation of 1820 in or near palmyra, n.y., where god & jesus christ visited him, w. golden plates. part of this experience (further visions, w. 5 of his friends?) may also have been in fayette, n.y.  anyway, this visit was the 'first vision', as it's often referred to. it began a series of events that would restore jesus's church to the earth.[iii] This information, although not new to me, still comes as a surprise because we have never yet spoken about this! I enjoy his familiarity with so many things. Mormon beginnings are right in there among the Jews, Muslims and Christians. Yes, it's Old Testament plus some additional visioning to a teenaged American boy named Joseph Smith, requiring a move across the ocean and into the middle of the United States. The Bible’s message, of course, is for everyone everywhere, indeed all continents. This is the New Testament's "go ye" mandate of Jesus after he was arisen from the dead (Matthew 28:19-20). To revisualize this as an Old Testament prophecy is premature, and in my mind rather aggressive. But what can be done after a vision has been seen! 😏 Anyway, my brother's email goes on, ...by 1831 joseph led his crew to live temporarily in kirtland, ohio (enroute further west, tho they called it east). i think it was here that hebr. prophet isaiah's vision of ca. 3000 yr ago, was confirmed by the joseph team as proof of god's preordained time to brand utah as the holy land.  here was 'the place' as next leader, brigham young (following joseph's death in 1844) stated it, where salt lake city would serve as the apocalyptic new jerusalem and Utah's Jordan river would serve as the reestablished palestinian jordan river and its flow into the salty waters of sea of galilee.  these and many other geographic construals had to do w. the forging of peace in today's palestine, as necessary prep. for return of messiah.[iv]

Two things happening here. On the one hand, my brother pushes the absurdity button, quite alongside most Bible-believing Christians. The LDS origin, purporting to be back there in the Old Testament, includes a movement of holy writ to another continent. The Isaiah 53 savior promise is one thing; but to present this as a latter-day transference (construal?) of Jesus to a new Palestine in Utah is a presumption akin to rewriting of history (not unknown in some other countries, including present day Russia, Canada and U.S. Just ask the Indigenous)! Both Old and New Testaments warn against adding to or taking away from the scriptures (e.g. Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18). That is likely the reason why Bible scholars and even my early Bible school education places the Mormons squarely among the cults! Much further information is available in libraries everywhere for anyone interested to dig into this interesting topic![v]

On the other hand, there is a futuristic ingredient in these revelations which provide a positive intrigue, especially these days as the world contorts itself in warfare of apocalyptic proportion right back there in the near east, the land of the three monotheistic religions, each believing in that one God. Of note is the Latter Day Saints’ reference to forging of peace in today’s Palestine (Utah? Middle East?), as a necessary preparation for the return of Jesus. No matter how one understands that interpretation, the possibility of peace would be a wonderful answer to the prayers of many! Pacifism, however, seems not in their playbook. In fact their trek from New York to Utah reads like script for a wild west movie, especially the arrest and murder of Joseph Smith in Carthage, Illinois. Furthermore, military and/or missionary service are apparent expectations for their young people as they grow up. These family expectations and their rugged entry into the U.S. may explain why peace churches and genuine pacifists are confused about seemingly contradictory teachings and practice. Surface impression is that Latter Day Saints are big players in the U.S. God and country military mindset along with the evangelical right. 

Obviously this is further grist for the mill. Also I acknowledge I am not fully informed about topic at hand. Further theology and discipleship conversation is needed - including nurture of relationships! What better way to nurture relationships than to be neighborly in the very communities we live in? My LDS neighbors are at forefront of local service projects. Further, the local LDS Bishop is full participant in some honorable dialogue among members of our Calgary Interfaith Council, which includes Indigenous and Colonial Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, B’hai, Sikh - apparently some stressful recent meetings for obvious reasons, and yet a positive contribution to municipal political environment in this city.[vi]

I cannot but conclude with a concern, this directed not only to my Mormon friends, but also to fellow Mennonites and many other Christians. As a believer within the Peace Churches tradition, I say, “if the LDS claim their church is prerequisite to peace in Palestine and of Jesus’ return to earth, would it not be appropriate for them to be practising pacifists?"  And this also!  Why is it that Christians of all stripes, including us peace-churchers, especially our executives, the journalists and media experts, are more conversant in sound bites, in Zionist prophecies or military strategies, along with coffee-shop or watering-hole politician critiques, than in the teachings and the suffering love of Jesus the Messiah and Savior? Indeed Jesus has promised his return, the day and the hour we do not know (Acts 1:7). There is no biblical requirement to first be on membership role in the LDS church or any other church for that matter, but there is a mandate for followers of Jesus to be peacemakers in this broken world. Would that all people regardless of rank or church affiliation (or non-affiliation) might act on what they know in their heart. 

In conclusion I repeat the same scripture text as at end of my last post, and one more for anyone who realizes it's time to get on board with the faith pilgrimage. I present them both in the King James Version, the received and preferred version for the Latter Day Saints.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).

 

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[i] Hamlet, Act I, scene 3.

[ii] 2023, November 22, “Redemptive Clowns”, jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com.

[iii] Peter Sprunger Froese, “email message,” February 17, 2024.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] One fascinating read with comedic storyline is Avi Steinberg, The Lost Book of Mormon: A Journey through the Mythic Lands of Nephi, Zarahemla, & Kansas City, Missouri (New York: Doubleday, 2014). See also a riveting nonfiction by Alex Beam, American Crucifixion (New York: Public Affairs, 2014).

[vi] Sarah Arthurs, “Our Shared Voice During This Time of Conflict,” https://www.calgaryinterfaithcouncil.org, March 5, 2024.

Train Up a Child

“Could we have a little conversation with you?” This was the greeting of two young ladies approaching the people beside me waiting for next Commuter Train. Not at all conversant in English, nor much interested in this forward approach, these people exercised their right to bad manners and just walked away! I was next, perhaps because of a friendlier look on my face.  “Hi could we have a few words with you?” “Certainly,” was my reply; then asked if I might have first question, "Are you Jehovah’s Witnesses?” Along with name tags it was quickly clarified, “No, we're from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.” “Oh, I have some friends right here in this neighborhood who are LDS.” I could tell by look in their eyes this was a good twist for them. In short order a brief conversation ensued, but short circuited by my C-Train arriving. As I took my seat in the train car I was glad for the positive connect with these well-meaning young people. From this Calgarian they had heard a word of appreciation for ‘their people’ coordinating and doing most of the service projects in our community. It was brief and it was pleasant.

I am becoming increasingly acquainted with the LDS church. Many years ago I ‘studied’ them in Bible School in a class entitled ‘Cults’, and over the years have learned considerably more, either by rumor or by personal relationships. The rumors are usually gossipy and the relationships are stellar! During my years of college and seminary I became engrained in biblical, historical and practical education and that became the focus in my ministry of pastoral leadership among ‘my people’ always aware of 'those people' same as a considerable populace of others who kind of fade into the background while one is tending the local scenes. 😔 As fate would have had it (providence?) due to some health issues, the last twenty years of my working life were spent as a long haul trucker on the highways and byways of Canada and U.S. I testify this was a furthering of friendships and neighborliness among all of those ‘others’ - no holds barred, including an occasional graffiti “Welcome back elder ---” painted on barns beside the I-15 traveling through Utah. My thinker is on and my spirit open, probably reason for my hospitality to the young missionary ladies bothering C-Train passengers here in my city.

A few weeks ago, in a discussion about some of today’s societal trends, I heard from one of the participants about a recent study which indicates today's young people are interested in faith but not the church. The reason, I heard, is because they see no evidence of living faith among their parents or others even if involved in church leadership – no heroes of the faith, if you will. Ouch! This is us. Our actions have been speaking more loudly than our words. Lack of attentiveness to our children because we have been busy with careers and livelihoods, to the extent that we have not tended well  to our carefully planned nests of two or three! Interesting, I grew up in a family of twelve and my parents paid lots of attention to us (There is some opinion among my siblings about that. Apparently this eldest son asked so many questions and had so many opinions that he commanded a little more than his share 😏)! Actually in farm families attention was more than talk. It included chores with ‘jobs’ doled out to each one of us. And we also got play, lots of it, both on our farmyard and at school, but always after the work was done. Even some evening extracurricular was allowed once we were endowed with a driver’s license and in good enough grace to borrow the pickup truck! The reason for this adequate attention was not because of many heart to heart conversations, but because we knew ourselves to be essential in the mode operandi of our farming operation. Maybe it was child labor, but we didn't even know what that was! Each of us was a part of the package.

This was how we baby-boomers grew up, and now growing old. Because of our parents’ post-war diligence, many of us had the good fortune to grow up in large families occupied with purposeful things. Work, play, religion all included as post-war institutions were thriving along with a lifestyle that might be labeled as healthy, along with learning about a colonial God who became increasingly optional as the good life developed. Even as some of us (eg Mennonites, Doukhobors, French Canadian Catholics) still grew up in large families, in urbanizing society the greater need became daycare and after-school supervision while parents were doing the careers. Oh yes, as the good life improved there were also better schools of choice, either Christian or charter. Regardless of tradition or faith allegiances, most career parents by now are ‘driving hockey’ (as the commercial says) with competitions, dance or sport, being the priority weekend activity. 

The irony here is that our children are no longer the workforce, not even around the house. They are now the consumers of extra work for their parents. Parents are now required to be experts in pre-adolescence and adolescent and teenage mood swings, including emergency housing when their young adults have employment problems. Back in Saskatchewan each weekday morning we would run to the road to catch the school bus after doing our allotted farm chores, breakfast wolfed down and lunches packed. Today it remains for parents to deal with whoever did not get up on time, to drive the errant one to school. In my day, if there was a slowpoke, he or she would stay home for the day, help out with extra work, and make sure next morning you got your act together! There are exceptions of course to these generalizations  – some incredible parenting even among today’s good lifers, and also some very shoddy farm management back there! It is within this generational change, however, and even as I acknowledge lots of exceptions, some unique ‘institutional’ observations can be made.

Back to the C-Train missionaries. These two young ladies hailed from the U.S., one from Utah and the other from Arizona, if I remember correctly, duly assigned to ‘intercept’ people in this Canadian city. It is their responsibility as members of the LDS church. These missionary assignments are in locales other than where they grew up, obviously to provide occasion of learning church protocol from supervisors other than parents, and to practise the church 'lines' - rote learning if you will. It is a transition from the home base to places all over the world where these faith communities are located (Recent Conference report indicates 20 new temples worldwide scheduled for construction in 2024). I am fascinated by a faith community which demonstrates both the teaching (didache) and the experience, absolutely essential for Spirit and Body to be in tune. 

My hunch is that Mormonism is an antidote to some of the societal trends described above, which may be why family togetherness is priority in their assemblies and homes. In that environment the high school teenager is being prepared for the important assignment coming after graduation. It comes after baptism and confession of faith (in that order). It reminds me of certain patterns also in our Mennonite communities. Not quite as per ecclesial requirement, but among devout church members there is an understanding that one or two years after graduation would be best spent in a Bible Institute or College – this is usually talked up and supported in families and social groupings of similar mindset, in hopes of course to provide a solid base for further career choices and education thereafter. [Albeit some of these education excursions nowadays are fairly high-end fully funded by well-to-do moms and dads!]

Two scriptures come to mind; similar topic, but with kind of an opposite tug.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God (Luke 18:16 KJV).  

[One little aside. I have chosen the King James Version here with a little smile. For reasons not clear to me, the KJV is ‘sacred text’ among all LDS, perhaps because of 'revealed' similarity to Book of Mormon. Another topic! 😉] Back to topic at hand. "Train up a child" in Proverbs we have that proverbial acceptable wisdom similar to sentiments I have noted above. Luke’s New Testament rendition gives us the 'also requirement' - the loving tone of Jesus rebuking his own disciples for shushing the children. His words are eternally heartwarming. Both texts are overwhelmingly true. There is need for training and instructions, and there is need for the mystery of love -  much room for holy pause here.

I am reminded of a good friend – my cousin actually – recently retired after spending most of his lifetime as an international teacher and latter years as executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Alberta, a worldwide service agency. In a recent blogpost, [i] somewhat unlike his many other posts pontificating about everything else under the sun, he writes about his five-year-old granddaughter Sierra. In a mass observance in their neighboring  Catholic church, and at invitation of the presiding priest, along with many others she was ‘invited’ to deliver her toonie offering up to a box in front of the church. After depositing her coin, she returned to her grandparents, face beaming with sheer joy and pleasure at having done so important a job!

Training up children is indeed a rich combination of learning responsibilities, of participating in family, including family jobs and values. Children need to know the faith claims of their parents. We have reason to think long and hard about that! Training up children also includes the possibility of faith or unfaith coming in strange and wondrous ways. It includes divine possibilities such as the Sierra moments of little children and important things like serving as teenage missionaries on behalf of self? parents? church? or on behalf of Jesus Christ, the one who is available among us all “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

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[i] Janzen, Abe (2024, February 13). “Keeping the Devil in the Hole,” Some Messy Notes. https://wordpress.com.

Some Further Thinking

It is about a year and a half since I posted a blog the day after the death of our Queen Elizabeth II. The occasion definitely brought out the best in many of us grieving a beloved majesty. I sympathized with the Royal family and our whole British Commonwealth of Nations now needing to face a new chapter, including the immediate appointment of heir to the throne, Prince Charles now become King Charles III. Here are a few paragraphs of that sentiment.

Charles was the princely boy whom my brother and I watched not like a hero, but as one who would be king someday and who lived his life way out there up there somewhere waiting for the day. That's quite a while ago. And while we were apparently growing up and trying to make something of ourselves, in our mind Charles just needed to show up with his sister Anne, looking handsome and well-groomed and only needing to behave royally. Then Charles changed a bit, as we probably also did during the growing up years, Charles definitely becoming a little more interesting at least according to radio reports and newspaper and journal articles (no sidebars, no social media, in fact no computers yet in our possession)! He was fascinating, somewhat of a free thinker quite akin to many others our age with hippyish inclinations during the 1960s. Then Charles entered into marriage including some behaviors which caused much grief to his beautiful wife Diana, also his parents the Queen and the Duke, and obviously feeding eager journalists and paparazzi with many a juicy tale. The slow maturation of life then included Diana’s tragic death, allowing Charles to marry 'the other woman', quietly enduring the pain caused to his two sons and the ill-repute which has dogged him ever since, even among his own family members. Now at age 74 he is King!

How can a person with spotty personal life, spending an almost total lifetime in training, learning protocol, riding in motorcades, reading speeches written by others, step up to a position increasingly questioned not only by those who idolized his mother, but also wondering about the man who would now be king. I do not blame a people questioning the state of British monarchy, and possibly the state of a monarchy period. Is it an outdated expense for all concerned? Needless to say, the wrinkles and worry lines on Charles’ face suggest he may have already spent considerable time thinking about this.

This begs the subject many have reflected on, many have agonized about, and yes many have made a profitable profession of, including psychologists, psychiatrists, theologians, and of course historians who have provided the story line (?) for our kids in elementary and high schools in the many countries of the Commonwealth. How Should we then Live? said Francis Schaeffer a Presbyterian minister a number of years ago in his famous book of that title (Crossway, 1976), even then already noting the mainstreaming of religion blended into everyday western life. Schaeffer’s still troubling question probably is why Father Richard Rohr's books have come to my mind alongside the Prince. Rohr’s contemporary wisdom of a doing–reflecting life cycle strikes a chord seemingly for many, religious and non-religious, for persons of faith in many religions certainly including Catholics and Protestants, and interestingly with advocates and critics in both the evangelical as well as the liberal versions of Christianity.

Thus went the tone of that ‘tome’ which at the time appealed to positive (sympathetic?) interpretation when things happen in royalty. I am almost surprised at my own civility as I went on to reflect on what is the best way for Christians, albeit of many stripes, to pray for, obey and give service to those whom “God has appointed” (Romans 13:1) to rule over us. Although I am a firm believer in the democratic process in selecting governing authorities, I focused on our responsibility to our leaders. That biblical instruct, however, is being strained these latter days, especially as one observes almost a "divine rights of presidents" mentality as another electioneering year foists itself on our neighbors to the south, while in Canada we claim an equal opposite mentality as we crap on our Prime Minister at will! Much prayerful discernment (repentance?) is needed especially among those of us who call ourselves Christian in our western colonializing democracies.

Yesterday I received a ‘forward’ in my inbox, one of many every day. I read most from this particular sender because I enjoy his vantage on almost everything. He is a spiritually and politically wizened friend, and we both know that some topics may well comfort the afflicted, and others may afflict the comfortable. Here goes.

 Not all Children grow up in fortunate Circumstance

When I was a child, my father cheated on my mother and didn’t love her. Later, my parents divorced.

My mother died in a car accident, and my brother and I had to live in my grandma’s old house.

Grandma’s sister was an alcoholic.

The whole family lived on my grandma’s savings.

Grandma died recently.

My Uncle Andy is barely keeping himself out of jail from day to day.

My brother left home, and won’t talk to us anymore.

Dad, now 73, had to go out to work to support the family, and eventually he is going to want me to do the same thing.

Yours sincerely,

Prince William

Obviously written by another other than the prince, possibly a critic or a friend, this is still continuing fodder for the academics and journalists. It also raises a self-critique in me. I’m not sure that civility is the most compassionate or best response to some of the governing and leadership structures flaunted not only in BCN, but many nations in today's warring world. Children are being victimized.

"A Lifetime in Waiting" was title of that earlier blog. Seems to me now that it is not only thinking but very much our thinking AND our doing which must be part and parcel of whatever we are waiting for.

The Spirit and the Survey

Yesterday morning I heard a grown man cry. This alone is not particularly significant to me, myself one of the male species also given to occasional tears. This time however, it was loud and troubled in a public place. A homeless man woke up in a corner of our local McDonalds and either remembered all the troubles of the night before or else simply did not like looks of the new day. He cried loud, beat his hands on his head and a  windowsill; it was for anyone to hear! My heart went out to him. Although my circumstances so very different than this man, something in me recognized his deep calling to my deep. I walked over and began massaging his neck and then his shoulders and down his back. He quietened down, received it like a grateful child even with a little smile … and then woke up enough to greet me with the line I am quite familiar with, “Do you have some spare change?” or something of like that, not much diction at all.

I did not stay for further encounter, already aware of two employees coming our way, probably to ‘excuse’ him out the door. I gave them a sympathizing smile – no need to stick my nose into their job protocol - and both smiled back. Each of us seemed to sympathize with the wobegones of this poor guy.

I cannot but relate this to a Christian magazine, latest issue which I read a little later yesterday. [i] Several articles seem quite on topic with the McDonalds morning wakeup. This is a quality publication showing spiritual sensitivity as well as openness to widespread deeper issues obviously included in life within and beyond the Christian faith. It is definitely NOT a boring churchy read! An editorial “Survey says …” by the publisher reports results of a recent reader survey, recognizing a societal trend towards digital. Without lamenting this fact, it goes on to announce some adjustments which will be made in order to continue good communication. Then there is the feature article, “To thine own self be true?” a thoughtful commentary on the type of spirituality which we are now ‘growing’ in our young people. "Instagram, Jesus and the quest for the ‘authentic self’" is the subtitle.[ii] Kyle Penner, pastor of a Mennonite Church, describes “identity in Jesus” as something that requires awareness and relationship with those not part of church culture, “it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Faith in Jesus is more than finding a comfortable spot in the church. The deep sadness of the homeless and the deep sadness among wealthy neighbors is a part of the work of the church and not necessarily addressed in comfortable worship chairs or pews, as Pierre Berton once said many years ago.[iii]

To me this resonates also with a call for ceasefire in Gaza. Church members especially of a peace church cannot be duped by corporate and political powerbrokers. It is especially important for us to let the message be clear. Our calling is to be messengers of peace in this broken world, regardless of institutional or personal risks. That is what was lived by none other than our savior Jesus whom we claim to follow, “Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

Voila, this latest edition provides another volley precisely on topic. Ed Olfert, a retired pastor and longtime prison visitor, writes a regular column, this time about his friend Greg, incarcerated for 30 years and now on parole for the remainder of his days. Olfert describes this character friend speaking in his rough style about an academic Christian topic he just came across in his reading, “I wonder how much time this [fancy writer] has spent feeding hungry folks, visiting in prisons, sitting with people who are sick. Do they just sit at home making up theology, deciding what God wants?” [iv]😏 Olfert, obviously enjoying his weathered friend, says, "I giggled at his indignation." What a fine statement about where we find the guidance and the source for our Christian activities.

Now I’m smiling. I remember similar incidents telling stories (theology) with many friends during my years of long-haul trucking. Profound insights and hilarity often came in the same sentence! I was ready for this little blog piece to be somewhat gloomy, given the sadness at beginning, but it is not. Now I cannot but smile. Fact is, there is encouragement here. Our thinking and our holy assemblies are to help us worship God, and on this date at beginning of January, Epiphany no less, the magi came from the East to do that very thing, worship the newborn King. That newborn is available still as the truth and the life (John 14:6) and we so need to worship him no matter what direction we come from.

If I meet the crying guy again, I will tell him about the jailbird guy. On second thought, perhaps not; if they do not know one another they at least know about each other! 😇 The mystery of this holy faith journey, including sadness and joy, always shows up in those surprising places, just outside the doors of the church.

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[i] Tobi Thiessen, "Survey says...", Canadian Mennonite, Dec 15, 2023, p.2. Apologies! This is a magazine! I erroneously used "newspaper" when I first clicked 'Publish' because of the newsprint it is printed on (environment and economy). Type of paper is one of the reconsiderations after the recent survey.

[ii] Kyle Penner, "To thine own self be true?" Ibid, p.8.

[iii] Pierre Berton, The Comfortable Pew (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1965).

[iv] Ed Olfert, "The gift of Greg", op. cit. p.13.