Sunday School

It is not often that I get inspiration from the Calgary Sun, one of our local newspapers. Referred to as The Rag by those of us not fans of its political orientation, I nonetheless read it as a freebie along with my coffee at our local McDonald's halfway through each morning’s constitutional walk. This morning’s read was one of those tolerable ones. The front-page article was a begrudged affirmation of our Prime Minister’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Next page was equal print to Donald Trump’s rambling speech obviously not pleased with the standing ovation "Mark" had received. 

Today’s free read was …. almost balanced. In fact, a little further in and back to the Calgary scene, Rick Bell the Rick Mercer of the Conservatives, went as far as to identify some ‘problems’ in Alberta’s healthcare system after his recent experience in an Urgent Care facility! Interestingly, Bell, the unofficial PR man of Alberta's UCP, gets immediate response from our government Hospitals Minister Matt Jones also admitting there are some problems (Really? Nice to at least have it acknowledged, even if it's only damage control). 

So our Rag was uncharacteristically balanced today. Media is indeed a form of communication; it includes words, images, art, and a whole lot of posturing, and also 'conforming' to the ones who are buying in, i.e. paying their wages. Media will give a balanced perspective if it is consistent with identified business goals. Today’s limited and fairly humane depiction of the media message, which is the reason for the title of this post. Given the vested interest and inaccuracy of media and the deep contrariness of speeches in the big arenas, we need to relearn sitting with one another, quite available in Sunday School!

Here we go! Given our privilege of at least to date still living in a free and democratic society, it is even more important (urgent) that churches and faith communities learn - perhaps relearn - how to speak with one another! The media situation being what it is, we cannot but admit that the truth of all 'stories' is larger than information, whether that come from journalists, politicians, or from preachers behind the pulpit (Yes, clergy we must admit this). In the congregation I belong to we have devoted recent months to an intentional transition process - preparing ourselves for engagement with the next pastor, reimaging our future. Guess what, now that we think we know what we want, nobody is applying. Pastors are hard to come by (correct me if I'm wrong). There is none who will say it just right, sufficiently educated, computer and media savvy, well read, and sufficiently committed to the Lord Jesus as Savior and Lord to impress us with 'good messages' – someone who will provide adequate leadership for this day. 

The challenge for churches is the same as the challenge to the media. We do not have adequate articulation, and our views at best are all over the place; raising the impossible challenge for well-educated pulpiteers to say it just right. I posit that it would be good for all of us to head back to Sunday School. And guess what, this is where I continue to be a fan of and a strong supporter for those of us in the low church tradition, the Mennonite church, if you will. We don't have to unlearn the dependence of many fellow Christians in the 'big churches' since we have never become dependent on those authoritative highly qualified pulpiteers. [Although our history has definitely had some 'strong personalities'] Our strength is in what we are apparently known for - community of believers. This means we practice the scripture at the heart of our theology, For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them (Matthew 18:20).This is what orders our life.

It also is a natural solution which we need to offer unapologetically in our media dependent world (worldliness). So even in our low church media there are little quips like “Sunday School faith” apparently inadequate in today’s progressive world, but we have an opportunity to relearn the power thereof. Jesus, the Messiah and Teacher, is still available as the paraclete (Holy Spirit), is right in here when we speak truthfully and interestedly with one another (John 16:6-8). I suggest that we need more Sunday School faith. It's more important than if we get some interesting information or a barn burner of a sermon from a high-paid professional.

The Word as touted by many these days, is not adequate. It would be good for all to either return to, or perhaps begin some Sunday School lessons. Jimmy Carter, even during his years as President of the United States, served his country and his people well, regularly teaching Sunday School in his local church. 

To Babylon and Back

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV)

My latest post was kind of academic, but like usual, ignited by a little personal incident. I started writing it, and then the good seasonal distractions. It almost didn’t make it as a 2025 model; finally hit publish on New Year’s Eve! This one in front of me now has no incidental ignition. It is merely ‘thinker material'. Here it is, thanks to whatever has accumulated to date!

Theology is a large subject that most people steer clear of. So I do not expect many to read this because there is no interesting sparkplug opener. Instead of reading theology the preferred option for most people is to find a tradition or a conviction or a “comfortable pew,” as Pierre Burton once put it,[i] or the standard go-to for many, which is ‘nothing.’ No readers? That's okay with me; this still must be written.😀 These days many things are changing; given new demographics and humanitarian conditions, along with increasingly autocratic politicians. The inhabitants of this world (that's us) are having second – or hundredth – thoughts about religion! Theology will never be outdated.

I have been thinking about the Babylonian captivity, right there in my Old Testament college memories of long ago. Interesting how when reflecting on new things, it is old things that come to mind. At this point the stimulus for me is my involvement in an Interfaith community in our city. Ironically, it is conversations with persons of other faith traditions that is getting me to review some so-called familiar stuff right there in our Bible. Muslims, Jews, Aboriginals, Latter Day Saints, Sikhs, Seventh Day Adventists, and a variety of both evangelical and progressive Christians provide a good environment to talk about and think Old Testament history, more-so than in the years when I was preaching sermons.

I am fascinated (inspired, relieved) in a new way to review some basics about our Bible - the helpful way our sacred text is arranged. There is law, prophets, and writings in the O.T. and gospels, epistles, and a bit of review, or overview (e.g. Hebrews and Revelation) in the N.T. Interestingly, there is an O.T. - N.T. pattern: Law - Gospels; Prophets - Epistles; Writings - Overview. [No footnote needed here; just a recent observation, thanks to paging around in my favorite book 😋]. There is some New Testament in the Old Testament and also vice versa.

This morning, again in usual routine, my wife and I were reading from Jeremiah 31, and suddenly a surprise - surprised that we got a surprise! This chapter is uncharacteristically positive in a book generally thought of as the scolding “weeping prophet” warning his fellows, the people of Judah, that they have much suffering ahead of them because the Babylonians are coming, and this is consequences for their lackluster self-centered living. Now, near the end of all that gloomy doomy material, near end of the book, surprise, we have that same prophet’s message of a joyful people coming back. 

See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor together; a great company, they shall return here (:8).

All is well? Happy? Time warp? Coming back from where? What gives? Is this a prediction of those same people coming back - or an even further look into the future? That opens a centuries old interpretive scenario. Given that this was written well before they returned, and we kind of know some subsequent history - good vantage for me to think about this. It is clear not all people left for Babylon in 587 BC, some already in 596. Some got taken, some stayed back; unresolved tensions, different voices, family issues even, along with the grumpy prophet. And when they landed in Babylon they spent some 70 years trying to figure out what to do in the strange land (read Jeremiah 29). But there will be a coming back, so we read this morning.

Furthermore, there are other religious communions with origins and lineages also involved here. As per earlier Old Testament history (Genesis 16), it was Hagar, the 'other wife' of Abraham, who became mother of Ishmael who had twelve sons (12 tribes) one of which, Quraysh, was the tribe of Mohammed, the Prophet who became the father of Islam about a millennium later. Mormons claim their space here also. Their extra-biblical, but historic records have this time as essential in their formative story. Prophet Lehi and two sons Laman and Nephi) [ii] avoid the Babylon captivity by loading up their tribespeople on ships, crossing the ocean to the Americas and they are now part of that new world history. The return to Jerusalem for them is an anticipated apocalyptic scenario. 

Then there are those of us who accept only the Bible as sacred text. Yes, as per the epigraph above, we believe in the whole Bible, complete with its firm packaging at the end of the last chapter. If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll (Revelation 22:18-19). Within ranks of all who live by this canon we still have a huge variety in our denominational palates. There are the Catholics, Anglicans, Episcopalians, the Reformers, the Anabaptists (including dunkers and sprinklers), with evangelical and charismatic and progressive and fundamentalist variations in almost all of these. So, even as a believer in the adequacy of the Word in our Bible, I do find it interesting that, although not highlighted, the O.T. has some historical ingredients not recorded, yet with consistent prophecy of a messiah. The N.T. is celebration of that Messiah - Savior available for even those whose story line deviates from ours.

Anyway, this is long-haired thinking, and now I'm reminded of some good advice also in our Bible, Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body (Ecclesiastes 12:12). At the moment I do not need to go on and on about this. Now my head is back to the next Sunday School lesson in our church. It is based on John 14, including some verses about Jesus going to prepare a place for us, no specifics about how many (144,000?) or who (only those who say Lord, Lord correctly? Matthew 7:21). This first lesson of the new year - January 4, 2026 - nothing complicated or long-haired about that; just good material for us to chew on with one another.

Back to the Jeremiah 31 passage, that 'happy return' passage, including the extra-biblical content just referred to. Both of us in conversation about all of this, Verna makes a catch-all statement, “They’re coming back from captivity not because they have been perfected, but they've learned something of the grace of God.” Yes, so true! We found ourselves rejoicing, suddenly hit by that New Testament message of grace already so present in the OT. Right there in the prophets is beginning of the New Testament! God’s grace, God’s unmerited favor already there, and very much what we need to claim these days. Nothing new really, but a pleasant discovery, even among all as us of the faith communions look sideways at, or relate with one another. 

The biblical message of grace, the birth of a child come among us. This next Sunday of the Epiphany we will note that Good News so very important also to those kings coming from Persia or Iraq.

So surprise. It's good news heading into this New Year, and we need it regardless of the circles of comfort or discomfort we find ourselves in. Happy New Year!

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

[ii] 1 Nephi chapters 1-3, The Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, UT: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Intellectual Reserve, 2013).

And Then Everything

This morning my wife and I had a far stretching conversation. It grew out of ordinary morning habit - light a few candles, read from the Bible alongside a brief devotional. Over time, now as senior citizens and as members of a church which emphasizes community of believers more so than preaching, it is obvious to us that this habit is a good one, not to uphold some long held tradition, but to receive inspiration and instruction for each day, not only Sunday mornings. Vital.

Vital, especially if you are tuned in. Ready! Set! And then we read about rubix cubes! 😏  Yup, that was it, kind of! The devotional habit promptly got into “what might be biblical or inspirational about rubix cubes?” At first kind of blank, and then mysteriously interesting for us. The writer’s brief review of the cube’s history at the hands of one Arno Rubik, a reclusive professor of architecture (yes!) and the long trek of finding right materials and then the eventual challenge to solve the very device he had created. Interesting! Conclusion? There is need for our Creator God to ‘lean into’ the many challenges we face today. Right.

Then just a bit of tuning in; given this overtly simple (simplistic?) conclusion we began thinking about challenges we have before us, relational and spiritual hunger not only in family, in neighborhood and also our church. Then how about the age factor? There’s quite an age range we think and talk about every day (yes, old people have the luxury now to think about many things). Now in midst of devotions, Erik Erikson comes up, a psychologist whom I read once upon a long time ago, [i] and more recently Richard Rohr. [ii] It became a conversation about God not only leaning in, but present in all things, all life stages, not only hard challenges, but very subtle possibilities of meaninglessness. We talked about our story, my own burnout at a point of my life when ‘successful preachers’ might be hitting the speakers’ circuits and modeling the very best of what I had been preaching about. I was a pastor with a success label - top of the career you might say – and I had only a wish to die. My recovery began when I admitted first to myself and then to some trustworthy people around me that my spiritual thirst was deeper than career success. I admitted a longing for the open road, recognized the wonderful gift of a Class 1 truckers license ever present in my back pocket during those years of pastoring.

It was indeed the open road which began to reveal unexpected benefits, like the sheer joy of getting to know my youngest two, whom I had had no time for during their high school years, and now they were college students in Winnipeg. I got to see them often on my way through that important hub for international trucking. What a joy to hear them tell stories about friends or studies or whatever.

Erick Erickson’s psychosocial approach identifies eight stages of the life-cycle. At that time I was probably in his Stage 7 (Middle adulthood; generativity versus stagnation). This shows up in immediate challenges like parenting, says Erickson. I interpreted that as permission for the very thing now happening - a need to be authentic, regardless of the job. Rohr, from his priestly vantage, focuses more on the adulthood stages. Life is more than a career path. 

Especially meaningful to us, was both authors’ assertion that the first half of life includes getting established and known for something; the second half involves filling that identity with meaning, spiritual richness, often after experience of necessary failures or suffering, transforming down into a more authentic self. Although the devotional made scant reference to the scripture of the day, Psalm 80 made good contribution to our conversation, e.g. Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? (:3-4).

We had here perfect reference to what might be personalized middle adulthood issues. Most middle adult devotional writers, or preachers, or business executives, are now the Generation X. They are the ones born to the baby boomers. Us BB’s are the good lifers. We have suffered no wars and most of us hit hard on making a good living. Now as senior citizens we live with some consequence. Our children, having noted our busy-ness during their growing up, are a product of this value system. Many of them have hi-tech knowledge in matching career paths, at least two incomes, several cars or SUV's, vacation trips, etc. etc. These are feel good qualities for us good lifers, endlessly what gets bragged about in coffee klatches. We try not to talk about our children's middle adulthood issues possibly soon encroaching on their journeys.

Today’s Gen Xers are in two worlds – values picked up from us good-lifers and a skillset to accomplish all things! The digital age is their language, and it may show up as a rubix cube demonstration. It also shows up in their faces, their memos, their business plans, their conversations and of course social media! They are today's workforce, today's teachers.

X indicates any of many things. Our children, the professionals and/or business owners we believe they are, live with all those opportunities and possibilities of pitfalls before them. X is in most mathematical formulas (Hmm, our oldest son is a math teacher). 

Finally, in consideration of all this ... everything, X may also be a challenge for those among them who have claimed a faith and seeking to live and express it in a believable way in today’s needy and broken world. Big challenge indeed. We may soon be watching that action from the vantage of the 'cloud of witnesses' up there (Hebrews 12:1).

Lots of conversation this morning. And then we prayed.

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[i] Erik H Erikson, Identity and the Life Cycle (Scranton, PA: W.W. Norton Publishing, 1994).

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

The Fourth and the Eternal

There is a saying probably well rubbed into the annals of time, “It’s hardest to show love to those who are closest.” That sentiment is near at hand these last several days as my family and I are dealing with the death of one of us. The imminence of my brother’s death, his colorful personality and life journey are well inscribed if not in the history books, then at least in the memories and the family lore. Philip was a character person. Having written somewhat theoretically about end-of-life a few years ago [i], this blog will be very different. I now write anecdotally, and I know each of my siblings could add many variations and probably corrections. I shall try it this way: First, Did he die? Then secondly, A House Party; and finally, New Life? Here we go.

Did he die?

I received a text message the morning after Philip’s passing. This was after the rumor mill had already been active for a day or two - customers at my younger sister’s and my brother’s local businesses enquiring, and they were not able to provide clear answers. As soon as I received the text I notified with an email to the whole clan. Next up were the funeral queries. Where, when? Now I really felt badly for my younger sister and brother as again they did not have an immediate answer. I was invited, the only family member to make the cut among friends and fans!

Thoughts to myself: I shall participate in this gathering which will be one of those Celebrations of Life quite common these days. By invitation! Not quite sure what that means, my mind into “I wonder who’s not invited.” Being the eldest brother, my brain is busy. Grateful for the invite, I also feel badly for those not so. Why? And then of course the next thought, “How can I manage some appropriate communication with all the others” (family of twelve now whittled down to nine)?

And very important, how might I listen and speak clearly with his youngest daughter and business partner? [ii] She knows who her dad liked and didn’t like; 😏 she’s grief stricken, loved her father dearly and lost her mother just over three years ago. I’m guessing her dad may even have left a few instructions, “Don’t bother with all that funeral crap; no need for a service”, etc. etc. Not being a church girl nor well connected with her dad’s siblings (most of them also not church goers), I hate to think of her vicariously living with her dad’s agenda. She is a charming and articulate person, well respected by the people she knows. She will be a great host to all the guests. All this while Philip slips away into eternity.

A House Party

I arrived a few minutes late (nothing new to my friends here in Calgary 😔), no problem for this full house, a number of others right in behind me! The comfort of conversation is a blessing, especially when you know hardly anybody. My pretty niece ever so sweet and hospitable in this the home of her growing up. Approximately half an hour into the hubbub, as agreed, she introduces me her uncle, “dad’s oldest brother, and he will say a few things and a prayer.” It was but a few extemporaneous family comments and then a Committal Service similar to many I have done before.[iii] Fascinating to me was the rapt attentiveness and looks of hospitality ranging from Philip’s grandkids all the way through neighbors and longtime AA friends. The party needed a Divine reference; ashes in the urn and spirit in presence of our resurrected Lord Jesus.

New Life?

As many of my readers know, it does not take long for ‘my thinker’ to kick in. It is now a few days since the goszgebat (Low German for celebration). My reflections now include not only the holy party but a delightful dinner with my younger siblings later that same day. Already life is going on. We could not help but reflect on our brother’s persona, his creative crude language and his declaration of life in the fourth dimension. It is after some earlier research that I have come to recognize a commonality between the two of us – probably why we enjoyed one another, me the preacher and he the alcoholic (yes I also have some alcoholic preacher friends). According to Google the spiritual 4D is a plane of existence that allows us to understand the internal processes behind everything we experience - life, death, dreams, insights, wakefulness, sleepiness. He claimed this life-view never caring whether you agreed or disagreed with him. Fascinating to me, his daughter refers to his shop - the place of his fabrications and repairs – as his sanctuary!  Once when he was telling me about this all-inclusive spirituality, I responded casually that it sounds like the Christian life empowered by the Holy Spirit. He agreed.   

I could slip into theologizing, but no need. Philosophizing? Well maybe a bit. I was oldest of the first third of our large family; he was eldest of the second third – teenagers getting into trouble when us older ones were in college or universities; and then there were the kjliene, the youngest four who already had tired parents still reeling after the eight to date! Philip and I were the eldest in each of our segments, and we understood one another (kind of)! And then there was Joe, oldest of the youngest, entrepreneur, world traveler, also a force to be contended with, deceased seven years ago.

Thus spake Zarathustra. Oops, I was going to stop theologizing! Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism, is in my brain thanks to a once-upon-a-time college course. Now this preacher is starting to sound intelligent! Once at one of those profound moments of conversation when Philip and I were quite impressed with one another, he quips with childlike clarity a memory verse learned when he was a kid in our Old Colony Sunday School, “Ich bin nur klein. Mein hertz ist rein. Soll niemand darin wohnen als Jesus alein.” 

As indicated at top of this tome, families may present the biggest challenge to deep love. Right in there is also the wonderful possibility of that love which mature adults can reclaim like little children. I cannot but refer to that very same teaching from Jesus one day when his disciples wanted to learn many things, He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me” (Mark 9:36-37a). The memory and the brains and the mystery of our Philip will be remembered and retold for years to come. Rest in Peace dear brother.   

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i  “Death the Omnipresent,” https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/. May 31, 2022.

ii  Also present was Philip's older daughter from his first marriage.

iii Heinz and Dorothea Janzen, eds., Ministers Manual (Newton, KS: Faith and Life Press, 1983).

The Supernatural

I can still see it in my mind’s eye, a clearly written neatly typed bulletin note just outside the student lounge. It was addressed to all of us, from a fellow seminarian, a good friend who was a ‘recovering hippy.’ He had seen it all, tried it all, and at that time not pleased with us, his fellow Christians in this grad school, participating in on-campus or community trick or treat door knocker festivities. He knew and had had experience with the dark origins of Hallowe'en. Although he and his wife were both kind hearted and soft-spoken, they sparked considerable conversation and fresh perspective especially for those of us with children who loved to dress up and collect a few candies and cheery greetings in the neighborhood.

Created by David

Today’s Canuckle word is SCARY – yup, got it in three tries 😊 – and the Fun Fact is a continuation of this very topic. “Halloween is the perfect time for all things scary in Canada. … Creepy costumes, scary decorations, and spine-chilling stories make Halloween the perfect time to embrace the supernatural.” That’s where I cannot but gulp a little. It is now fifty years later (I just did the math) and today my friend's (R.I.P.) admonishment comes to mind. As we prepare treats for the little hooligans who will ring our doorbell tonight, my mind goes back. What are we including, or possibly excluding in our celebrations? In my previous blogpost just a week ago I write about the nature of Jesus’ ongoing presence. [i] Considerable reference to the supernatural there, this could now be a continuation of that.

Now here is my question. Do we believe in the supernatural? Even among people of faith, much energy is spent aligning ourselves with various spiritual or political or personal viewpoints, but do we actually believe in the supernatural? Fact is, All Hallows’ Day, in medieval Christianity was recognition of a mysterious thin line between the living and the dead, and the day before came to be identified as All Hallows Eve, easily shortened to Hallowe’en. My knee-jerk response to the Fun Fact is “Do you also believe in the upside of supernatural? How about God, how about Jesus, about resurrection, ascension, about the ongoing presence of Holy Spirit among us?"  What is not supernatural about that? In other words, what is not supernatural about weekly worship services?

The writer of that fun fact may even be a church goer – just maybe not very often 😏 or perhaps just not made the connection. It is indeed almost par for the course, very easy to put church or ceremony or liturgy into a lifestyle ritual, devoid of any supernatural expectations. And so Halloween has become the commercialized fun evasion of that which we all yearn for.

The Apostle Paul seemed quite aware of this possibility even back there in one of his epistles, “It is my eager expectation and hope that … Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20). Whether by life or by death, we dare not forget the supernatural in God’s daily redemptive presence, not only the ghoulish coffins we put on our lawns on October 31.

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[i] “Who is Jesus?”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/. 

Who is Jesus?

This is one of those modest titles that may well qualify as hyperbole. Everybody knows, duh! And if somebody else titled their post this way I might also look for something else to read. I am sure I have heard the name Jesus, or at least that word uttered when people run out of vocabulary, every day of my life to date, including the formative, the trucker years and the churchy years. And now it is front and center each day almost all day in this old thinker. 

Why this attention to something so familiar? Libraries already full on this, so why bother? For me, it's a thing I cannot but share even if it never goes into the annals of time. The source is probably twofold; I still have a bit of social life, and I still enjoy reading. Social life? It’s expected of me, a lot of ‘visiting’ which includes considerable b*s* and also some good focus on what's right or wrong or an occasional WWJD - what would Jesus do. Reading? I have always been a reader, but now in these latter years find it ever more important - even if my eyesight is protesting - because the other option is the digital world, gamers and movie buffs now addicted to AI characters and creatures mostly at war with one another – including some almost credible attempts to identify a spiritual force (as explained to me by my grandson the other day).

This is not to say reading is the obvious better alternative – lots of junk available on the printed page too. Yesterday, clicking the headlines of New York Times, I discover that Eric Trump, second son of the Donald, has just published a book entitled Under Siege, his own memoir which assigns almost messianic qualities to the work and accomplishments of his father. [I do not plan to read it] Definitely there is reason to be selective in one’s reading material, deceptive best sellers available even when one is reading religious material. Do we remember Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey? [i] He wrote thirty-some books on end-times apocalyptic theme, and died at age 95, a very wealthy man. Who was, who is Jesus in this passage of time? This is what has sparked the title of this post. 

Who is Jesus? I wish I might have been in the audience on that occasion some 2000 years ago when John the Baptist encountered Jesus standing before him at the Jordan river, wishing to be baptized, and with that rite came the voice from heaven, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). I claim this Jesus my Savior and my Lord and, no news for most people who know me, have been making that reference increasingly in these last several years. To me Jesus is exactly that – the Savior who has provided my access to God via his body broken (e.g. 1 Peter 2:24), and also Lord whose help I need daily for attitude and behavior as a born again Christian (e.g. Luke 9:24).

It is in context of today’s day, today’s multiculturism, that the old question “Who is Jesus?” begs the further thought. Many contemporary Christians are in grip of right wing extremism, claiming more aggressively than ever a need for pure believers, those who adhere to a narrow Zionist fundamentalism (special place and rank for Israel) to be protected by ascribed political and religious leaders. [ii] Then there is an equal pushback from many Christians who claim that this ‘narrow mindedness’ is a complete denial of the Jesus who was promised and recognizable by his loving presence in the gospels. That open-minded progressivism – woke faith – is often devoid of any attention to a relationship with Jesus.[iii]

Let’s move beyond this conservative liberal dichotomy. Believe you me there is more, and it’s interesting. The Four Vision Quests of Jesus, written by Steven Charleston, a Choctaw Episcopalian minister, interprets four key events in Jesus’ life – Wilderness, Transfiguration, Gethsemane, and Golgotha as spiritual journeys inspired by the Native American vision quest tradition. My experience with this book has been like many books one reads – kind of interesting but – until I think about a friend I have, an Indigenous United Church Minister, a fully committed Christian very active in this city’s Interfaith Council, as well as endless pastoral presence among his people on nearby reservations. There’s nothing like knowing someone who lives what they believe.

A second example not uncommon to many. The Mormons, or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are a faith community who have been around for a long time, in fact already on this continent when the explorers, the Spaniards, Puritans, etc. ‘discovered’ America. In 1832 a young man named Joseph Smith, in upstate New York experienced a divine instruction from an angel Moroni to unearth certain golden plates hidden near his home and to translate the text inscribed thereon. This holy find would eventually become book of Mormon (verified to varying degrees by 11 witnesses). 

This interesting and entertaining story, to me is a little less convincing than vision quests of Jesus. My hesitation must be tempered, however. I am fully aware there is a seeming 400-year lull (lack of reporting?) between the Old and New Testament of our Bible. Yes, the apocryphal writings are there, but did not seem convincing enough when a Council of Nicaea established the biblical canon in 325 CE (yes, those years already after the earthly time of Jesus). [iv] So, who’s to say that God did not provide further revelation to those seeking faithfulness, even if they were already across the ocean during the time of Jesus? The Mormon story is two-pronged, first the Jaredites who departed for America already at time of the Tower of Babel, and then later the Nephites and Lamanites, descendants of a prophet Lehi, who eventually also opted for an ocean crossing rather than the Babylonian Captivity as experienced by the people of Israel and Judah (587 BC). The Book of Mormon presents the Americas as part of God’s plan, alongside the history of the Israelites in the Old Testament, with the prophets in both narratives testifying of Jesus Christ. Fast forward to many of our present-day LDS neighbors. The celebration of Jesus the Savior and the involvement and participation of whole families in Church life and ministry is an inspiration to all of us trying to raise families these days.

Seventh Day Adventists adhere to the evangelical gospel message of Jesus, looking for his second coming as promised. I have received and read articles in their Ministry magazine during all my years as pastor, and aside from their somewhat onerous requirement of church leaders to spend hours and hours in prayer (considerable challenge to this workaholic Mennonite), I do appreciate their emphasis on Sabbath rest. Someday I will ask Jesus about this, as he did not hesitate to perform healings on the Sabbath.

Sikhs, Unitarians, Bahia’s, Hindus, and a number of other faith communities honor Jesus as teacher and exemplar, but not as God. Muslims list him among the prophets, also with clear understanding that a prophet can never be God, that reserved for Allah alone. Then of course there is Creator, non-doctrinal but very generously acknowledged as the One above all humans, animals, and plants.

This brings me back to my opening observation of liberal Christians emphasizing mostly the love of Jesus rather than his divinity. As an Anabaptist Christian fully committed to the peace teachings and social implications of Jesus, I also heartily agree with the evangelical stance so clearly stated at beginning of the Gospel of John, "He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (John 1:10-12). To varying degrees there are evangelical groupings among Indigenous, Unitarians and also Anglicans, Catholics, Mennonites, Quakers, and other non-declarative traditions who fully adhere to this text. To me this is testimony of the Savior’s ongoing transcendence beyond denominations and traditions, an ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.  Praise the Lord.

The invitation to relationship with God through Jesus needs more emphasis these days. Too many progressive Christians are explaining Jesus as a good teacher but one to be admired at some distance, lest perhaps we impose pressure on someone to accept him as Savior. The call to follow Jesus is not an imposition; it is an invitation.

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[i] Hal Lindsey, Late Great Planet Earth (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, first edition 1970). Of note, multimillion dollar estate at time of his death in 2024. Four wives and three divorces during his lifetime. https://en.wikipedia.org.

[ii] See recent blogpost reference to funeral of Charlie Kirk, “Crowd Addictions”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/.

[iii] An awareness of this reality clearly depicted in “Church for Young Adults by Young Adults” Canadian Mennonite, Vol 29, no 9, September 2025, p.19.

[iv] “Biblical Canon”, https://en.wikipedia.org.

Crowd Addictions

Whether news headlines or social media or city traffic, there seems to be a competition going on somewhere. Just yesterday driving up one of our longtime congested thoroughfares, Macleod Trail, I was passed by a noisy smoke-rolling diesel pickup truck. Only a moment later at the next light we sat side by side, light turned green and immediately in mid-intersection he changed lanes at full acceleration to get around the car in front of him, about 100 meters later back into my lane, and then one lane over. At next red light I sat quietly smiling, again in the lane beside him! The young man in this truck, in a hurry to get somewhere, was making about same progress as all the rest of us. This morning’s newspaper has an article, “Step up reckless Driving Crackdown.” Our city (and province) is providing increased funding for digital speed signs, intersection upgrades, etc. but a concern is raised that “vehicular violence” needs more personalized attention, like more police officers with speeding tickets. 

What is it that might satisfy the loneliness or need for attention? Is it people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder who are acting out? Lots of that also in our public school system. Student aggressive behavior one of the issues in a possible teachers strike coming up. Increased ADHD may be here, but is it realistic to solve education things only via medical diagnoses or teachers' wages? Not only kids and young people; a middle-aged man comes to mind, a friend at the swimming pool. Recently he kicked and swore and raged at his locker door which was not working properly. Then I think he recognized his own lunacy and was awkward and embarrassed about it, but I can't forget. What was he looking for?😉

Another example, Christian gatherings - large worship assemblies - somewhat akin to media melees. Services begin not with organ preludes and silent prayer, but with a band or piped in stingray music as people come in sipping their coffees. Is it the crowd or the  caffeine which is the draw? Another example, this one at even larger scale. In the last several days everybody has seen news clips of the public appearances of one Charlie Kirk, a right-wing Christian activist whose funeral a few days ago was aired from a football stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Killed by an assassin’s bullet while conducting one of his evangelistic crusades, Kirk was cut down in same dramatic style as the noisy confrontive services he had starred in. Included in this funeral crowd and participant in the service was one of his bigtime supporters, U.S. President Donald Trump!

Crowds, a place of security? Politicians and religious egomaniacs need the crowd. I too confess my preference for a full house rather than a few people in the seats. But crowds can also be demonic. Jesus, the infamous teacher, healer, Son of God (Matthew 3:17), encountered the about-face of the many who had followed him. At the end of each gospel account is this grizzly crowd narrative, They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ (Mark 15:13). Not as gruesome but also chilling, I recently heard story of a huge crowd of ‘fellow churchmen’ who showed up on the farmyard of a Mexican Mennonite who was choosing to send his children to a school other than the village designate. It was an occasion which led him to leave that version of church.

So what purpose the crowd? I am a member in a low-church denomination. Our origins and our theology is a very basic belief that the presence and the blessing of God is available whenever, wherever “two or three are gathered in my name" (Matthew 18:20). No need for officially sanctioned liturgies and no need for standardized preacher qualifications. Our Calls to Worship claim the presence of almighty God every time we meet! This theological stance nonetheless falters especially among today's urban Mennonites who also get nervous when a gathering does not provide the numbers security. Many in their spiritual search (comfort search) will opt for the crowd. This is no different than political rallies where the goal is to incite momentum, always in opposition to viewpoints espoused by other candidates or political parties. The occasion and the words seem to need the assurance of many likeminded.

These days it is a common malady. The comfort of full churches or political rallies with lots of ‘rah rah’ has a similarity to restless traffic. Something exciting is needed but we know not what. Especially ironic is the complicity of us peace churches in that very same societal trend. Today’s morning devotional provided considerable food for thought for my wife and I.[i] We read about crowd following which was also evident in pre-WW2, a sad reminder of European German Christians, including some Mennonites no longer the radical pacifists of the 16th Century, joining the Nazi regime under dictatorship of Adolph Hitler. Some members of the Confessing Churches, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, were executed for their troubles. Denominational affiliation; is it becoming meaningless as time moves on? Another question; how important is it?

"Times, they are a' changing", so crooned Bob Dylan back there in the 1960s, critiquing his country's involvement in the Vietnam war. Have the times changed? 

Yes, earthly seasons come and go, not the least of which is current U.S. self-discovery (self-denial?, e.g. government shutdown) of its new place in a multicultural multilingual world. Americans today are divided on whether they need to be great again.

In another sense, No, nothing has changed. Our eternal citizenship still available, "God so loved the world" (John 3:16), is best acknowledged (and experienced) by all who will humble themselves and, in gatherings big or small, worship that One. And having worshiped we will be in a good state to go home gratefully, graciously, quietly, peacefully in whatever means, be it a pickup truck or hybrid or minivan or public transit or bicycle or walking or.... It's an eternity thing.

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[i] Byron Rempel-Burkholder, “Trust Your Word”, Rejoice! , Mennomedia, Vol 61, no 1, 2025, p. 38.

Of Thinking and Revelations

Two days ago, walking home after a fine breakfast with some friends, I was approached by a homeless-looking guy – familiar experience for me. Just as I was rehearsing my friendly but possibly firm response to a request for handout of some kind, he reaches out and hands me a nice saran wrapped Quesadea. Hardly any explanation, just a look of mutuality in his face. He is sharing! I say thank you! As I continue the walk home I think a little more about this. Wow, good deal, my wife not home right now and lunch plans in place! Then a little more thinking; do I look homeless? Was he testing me? Had he seen me before, perhaps a recipient a couple years ago when I was handing out gift cards from Calgary Interfaith? Was God testing me? [I believe in angels you know].

Yesterday we had a sermon in church about a vineyard owner who hired workers throughout the day, morning, afternoon and evening, and at quitting time, end of the day he paid them all the same amount. Why should early risers be paid the same as afternoon slackers? Good question poised in Matthew 20 and preached by one of our members who happens to be a financial planner, one who meets daily with clients to be good stewards and perhaps maximize present earnings. Our preacher of the morning identified this as a perfect illustration of what is expected of us at end of our days. It is not just an hours of service calculation. Longtime faithfulness or last minute faith commitment are equally important to our God who deals in grace. It was a sermon helping us not only with values and inner demeanor, including our attitude to one another, whatever the income bracket or financial situation. This coming from one in our midst added a special clarity easily understood by all. Lessons are everywhere. Sometimes beggars are gift givers, and experts will speak simple basic truths.

These last several months my faith community, the Mennonites, have been celebrating our history, “Anabaptism at 500.” As the celebrations got going, I suddenly, surprisingly have become more intrigued by the larger church history picture. Especially as there are some considerable variations in that sixteenth century narrative, it is obvious that our chapter (these 500 years), is not a full descript of what the Kingdom should be like! Ours is but part of the larger story, no matter how much we try to detail those exciting beginnings. Yes, it’s been an interesting 500 years, but as most celebrations go, the focus has been on us, even though our version is only one quarter of the 2000 years of denominationalism immediately following the resurrection of Jesus Christ (3000 years for the Mormons who were already in America at the time of Jesus). 

How is God communicating with us? As a Mennonite (yes one of those Anabaptists) I claim, and still very much appreciate, the belief that God is never satisfactorily understood via explanations; it must be by experience. This means we do not depend exclusively on systematic theologians to tell us how the incarnation works or how salvation was wrought by Jesus dying on the cross (although to varying degrees considerable emphasis on that in our circles also). Nope, beyond declarative explanations we have need to listen anew for what God may be telling us now, including implications for discipleship. We believe Jesus’ death was a consequence of His life and teachings, and to accept Jesus as savior is not merely a transaction to purchase salvation, but invitation to follow his teachings, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me”(Luke 9:23 NIV).

Our emphasis to follow Jesus as both Savior and Lord is interpreted as added legalisms by many fellow Christians, including Mormon friends who definitely claim the Savior but advocate going to war so as to protect God and country, Indeed there are scriptures which suggest that we not become too diligent or preoccupied with the good things we do - E.g. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). We have been saved... and indeed by grace and not by works. This is a scripture readily touted by those who would disagree with Anabaptists, Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses and others of a peace stance because we have seemingly added some works, like pacifism. The rebuttal which us pacifists can offer our fundamentalist and/or conservative Christian friends is that they also live with an inferred works obligation, military service (and for Mormons an extra docket of requirements to get into a 'good place' in heaven). It's complicated. 

Pointing out these two differing perspectives among Christians can easily sound like old hat. Yes, to this day I still see the avoidance of these testy faith topics so as not to spoil a family dinner! Why bother replaying old debating points? Why? Because this is not old! It is new; alive and contemporary especially in today's many different cultures of Christianity. We do not necessarily represent all viewpoints when we sit at family dinner table! Good example; I have several Christian friends in Calgary's South Sudanese community. These brothers and sisters affirm the peace position of us Anabaptists. However, from the relative safety of Canadian coffee shops, the atrocities by the 'other side' in their home country has become  legitimate reason to enter into tribal warfare. They see it as absolutely essential in order to create some order among the chaos back home. Old hat? Not at all; quite similar to many North American Christians today trying to justify the genocide being inflicted by the secular state of Israel on the citizens of Gaza.

So why hypothesize here? Certainly not because I am a debater nor a strategic thinker; only as illustration of what I hear and read about in the news and social media every day. The challenge is stringently before us. Speaking as a contemporary Christian committed to Jesus as Savior and Lord, the question is very valid, “How is God communicating with us?” A good sermon from a layperson is one example. And as indicated in recent posts, holy silence also important [i], and so are those surprise special unexplainable kairos moments [ii] which may well be the voice of God. So here we are, us Anabaptists fully part of, and also some differences with the larger Christian community. Among all these blogposts and dinner conversations I cannot but wonder about revelation. Yes, the R word, and I shall conclude with that..

According to sacred texts, God spoke to Moses at a burning bush, to Mary before the birth of Jesus, to John on the Isle of Patmos, to Mohammed at Mecca, to Joseph Smith in upstate New York. [And there are more]. I wonder how our God - "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14), and "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2 et al) is communicating to all, including those in other faith communions. No big tome for now, but I posit this because I must, and fully aware of another teaching of Jesus, quite humbling actually, "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven“(Matthew 7:21). 

That's it for now. These paragraphs have come because I was energized by a sermon telling me to throw a little grace into my values, and also the homeless guy who provided my lunch the other day.

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[i] “And then a Moment of Silence”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com/. July 13, 2025.

[ii] “Magic Words”, https://www.jcfroomthoughts.blogspot.com. August 16, 2025.