Who Walked

It’s Good Friday. The irony of that caption has baffled me almost forever. What is good about a demented crowd and religious and political power brokers humiliating one who has been among them teaching and healing? The term used in my mother tongue seems more appropriate, Stelle Friedach (Quiet Friday). While this is only a linguistic or translation observation, it warrants a little closer look.

I must begin with a little rant. These last several days have presented more than ever the argumentiveness of seemingly everybody on social media. I have only to open Facebook, click notifications and there it is. A friend is 'sharing' her latest creative thoughts, which are a cut and paste of another's creative thoughts, fully explaining significance of Jesus’ death on the cross to save me from my sins, including an obligatory request to forward to at least five others if I care at all! Another posting, obviously from a different theological angle, is in pain about Jesus having had to deal with followers – early disciples leaving their day jobs to learn, ask questions, advocate for him, see miracle healings performed, and yet one of them betrays and all scatter when mob action wins. This all in the occupied territory we read and watch on present day news media! I’m not sure whether to go on with this societal critique or get down to the heart of the matter. And if I do that, there will be a number of my good friends, yes relatives, fellow Christians or neighbor across the street who suspect I may be voting Liberal in next election.

My heart yearns Quiet Friday, and mercifully it is available still. This morning my wife and I were blessed to participate with fellow Mennonites in an inter-church service in our city. Attendance was better than it has been last couple of years, clear evidence of a growing spiritual hunger among us wealthy urbanites. I was not one of the planners, but probably the prior instruction to leave the sanctuary quietly after the last word was well advised and even welcomed by us hyper-types to just let it sink in. Perhaps our favorite theories of atonement or sanctification or Jesus as Savior and/or Lord can be laid aside and just … quietly leave. For  the rest of the day we enjoyed considerable quiet, not even a couple of NHL games scheduled. I love it!

So, Quiet was the tone for today. The other option, Good Friday, however, has some sentimental resonance also in my soul.  Good Friday became an important way of staking my faith claims during a stretch of my life when I was a long distance trucker. At mid-career point as identified by the life-cycle experts, fifty years old and my mental and spiritual being simply had nothing left especially after some recent work-related over commitments. I suffered what they label as nervous breakdown. The brief reprieve in the truck was going to quickly get me back preaching and teaching and relating and administering. I recovered, praise the Lord! Only it didn’t happen in the planned two-year reprieve; it took 21 years! South, north, east, west, all over Canada and the U.S. - seasons coming and going during those 2 million miles. AND it was the church year – yes church year (cf. Revised Common Lectionary Advent thru All Souls Day) that became my go-to. Within North America's supply chain service industry (in amazing cooperation with dispatchers and planners), I was able to stake my liturgical claims as priorities for my trips (eg Christmas more important than New Years, Good Friday and Easter very important, and try to stay out of the U.S. May long weekend and 4th of July 😅). There were times when my preferred schedule could not be accommodated. During those trips there was always somebody or something else – another trucker who wished he was home, or a chapel service in a truck stop somewhere, or just the right music, wide open highways, or conversation at a fuel island or wherever relationships might happen. 

Given this bit of drivel with its sentimental twists and turns, from my current retirement vantage, now participating in a lively Interfaith organization in this city, I testify to the wonderful inspiration available in none other than Jesus, the One who walked this lonesome valley. I am ever so grateful for friends, Sikh, Muzlim, Hindu, Jewish, and Mormons and Christians of Aboriginal, Anglican, Catholic, Lutheran, CRC, UCC and even some Evangelical Anabaptists! I am most engaged when I communicate my gratitude for Jesus my savior! He’s walked with me and trucked with me, and on this day – Good Friday or Quiet Friday - gave His life even while setting a best example for each of us.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:16).

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Conviction and Instructions

I heard a one-hour sermon last Sunday morning – sermon, not service. The service was one and a half hours. I cannot recall any previous hour-longs, although half hour sleepers do come to mind, myself the preacher on a few of those occasions I’m sure. Mostly in my preaching years I tried to adhere to the so-called limit of 20 minutes, and then felt badly if it lasted 25. This sermon was already well preached at 25, excellent opening image of cookies that will disappear if we take those bites to suit our own tastes, first one bite, then another, and another, and soon only a few crumbs! Point very clear, complete with biblical references from the OT book of Daniel, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship any other than God and they survive the fiery furnace (Ch 3), and the very convincing NT gospel of John, the promise of Jesus that His absence (death and resurrection) is for our good because he will send the Advocate, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth (16:13 NKJV). He is with us still to guide us in all things.

After a pause to kneel at our seats for personal prayers (I still enjoy memories of that ritual from my childhood years), then another 35 minutes pointing out specific temptations, those habits which so easily get in the way of life lived with conviction. The implications thereof were listed in a kindly manner – seemingly with a love and specificity I cannot remember ever hearing before. The evils of alcohol, of marijuana, foul language complete with local anecdotes, and then into a wider scope - the importance of head coverings for women, more important than jewelry and tattoos we are tempted to adorn ourselves with. Then there are the subtle dangers of modernism which can cloud up our souls, including LGBTQ male-female confusion even in some of our Mennonite churches. Imagine the worldliness creeping in!

The church was full, two services each Sunday morning, brand new building with spacious foyers, modern spotless bathrooms, comfortable seating, and a plain front – no theme verse, no cross, no idols or images before our eyes. And yet one image I came away with and shall never forget. Everyone not only listening but seemingly absorbed in every word of this duo-lingo Plautdietsch – English sermon; young people, middle-aged and elders fully attentive even while young mothers or older brother or sister would take out a squirmy little one (and then return to their seat to continue listening). No exasperated looks and no sleepy heads. I cannot forget.

As per my preacher-trucker style (most readers of these tomes know all about it), the thinker often kicks in after some incident, and then I “says it as I sees it.” My thinker has mixed feelings about hour-long sermons. On this occasion, however, I would say the second half hour was not wasted time; it met the requirements of holy assembly. The examples were obviously clear to a congregation who knew where he was coming from, no boring explanations or theologizing with quotes from smart authors somewhere. I could not but notice some of the muscular young men, some already married to pretty young ladies complete with head coverings – some not. These are hard-working Mennonites. They are welcome immigrants to a province [i] which welcomes entrepreneurs (Could not but notice the parking lot full of late model Yukons, Rams,  F150’s and many SUV’s, even an Escalade. No horse and buggies here). This was a pastoral sermon directed to these high-energy recent immigrants, many of them quite youthful. Needless to say the preacher knows about local concerns even in this province of opportunity (local police know about it too - Mennonite kids also know how to get into trouble like others in nearby towns and villages). Understandably, in order to really cover all bases, instructions from one of their Ohms would include a caution regarding the worldly resident Mennonites who have compromised to societal trends. Misbehaviors and worldly values: all must be included in those bites we might be taking out of the sacred cookie.

So, my thinker has not yet fully integrated this into the further thinking, sometimes referred to as philosophizing. One initial thought has to do with evangelism. I am disappointed with the impression of these ‘returning Mennonites’ that we 'resident Mennonites' have compromised with the world. Their hesitation about us is legitimate and their caution is in order. Us urbanized educated woke Mennonites preach more about inclusiveness and love, working hard at diplomacy, while admitting that there is not much for our young people in our gathered assemblies. We are just like all the mainline churches. Are we inviting our young people to church, inviting them to the rigors of faith or are we excusing them? 

A second thought, and this is a challenge to these immigrant brothers and sisters. Even as we all need the Advocate, the presence of God’s Holy Spirit to help us live with conviction, are they also willing to discern with all of us, rather than stand off? The worldwide Anabaptist community of faith is facing deep challenges especially in these days of very confusing politics. How might we as a peace church be a peaceable witness even as we await the imminent return of Jesus? I say this in defense of us who have lived our whole lives here. Many of us are now ‘educated’ and at risk of losing some simple gospel truths. As Anabaptist Christians, we need to become reacquainted and speak with one another in this God-given land, including those of us in the cities. [ii] My family and I, having lived in Alberta for 45 years, now in Calgary with immigrants flooding in, we have daily opportunities to learn neighborliness with ALL of our neighbors! [iii] 

The Mennonite sojourn from Europe to the West and then the auswanderungs within North and South America is colonialism (including liberal and conservative organizational readjustments - splits).😏 And now we have run out of places to move to in pursuit of special privileges (privilegium). We dare not merely vote Conservative (or Republican) just because conservative politicians like immigrants who give them no hassle. That is not the calling of a people committed to a peace ministry. 

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV).

Perhaps in a future blogpost, and I will appreciate responses from anybody reading this. For now I express my appreciation. I was deeply blessed to hear the word of God fitly spoken to a people gathered to hear exactly that.

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[i] In 2000 then Premier Ed Stelmach facilitated the building of a public school named Two Hills Mennonite School. Started with 36 students and now has over 400, with teaching staff of 55. https://www.twohillsmennoniteschool.ca/

[ii] See Palmer Becker, Anabaptist Essentials: Ten Signs of a Unique Christian Faith (Harrisonberg, VA: Herald Press, 2017).

[iii] Calgary Interfaith Council theme for 2024 – 25 is “Courage to Connect.”

 

History and Media

This is a bland title. History is a study of the passing of time. Historians are those who interpret this passing of time and present their findings either in journals written or spoken word. This requires research, hours and hours in archives among the documents or perhaps some travel to the places of interest if a study proposal yields the grant money.

Media is media. They are the ones on hand while history is being made. For most of them travel is a way of life, usually with large expense accounts, to report about the action wherever it is and telling the story as it happens. Media offerings, whether with headlines, regular features or editorials, develop a personality, an attitude or a theme which subscribers will turn to (CNN or Fox News? Not everybody has the same preference). “As it Happens,” a CBC program, is good example of unique stories mixed with entertainment, which is why it is surviving the test of time.[i] Indeed, media are the ones telling us about world conditions, of politicians and countries, creating a theme which may or may not be accurate, but they are 'the news.' So the title may be bland, but stay tuned, the content is newsy.

In contrast to the historians' scholarly contribution, the media are our contemporaries; people doing their jobs with skills required to do it in a smooth, interesting and convincing manner. Inner convictions may be optional but do show up in their performance - their account of what’s going on. Excellent presenters will do better because their words will match the persona. Inner consistency communicates. The ones who can do this best, whether newscasters, writers, editors, etc. are the ones who become successful in their careers. It may be possible to fool the public – for a while. Forest fires or political headlines or sports broadcasts (along with advertising) can be provided by either entertainers or experts. Time will tell; careers are developed, demographics change, seasons come, seasons go.

True also for those who either choose or are called into Christian ministry. I say ‘call’ because this is a deeper reach into that inner consistency (conviction) that makes for good communication. A recent magazine article by one of our local pastors makes a related point. It is his article which got my thinker going on similarities of preachers and media! Caleb Kowalko [ii] writes about inspiration, citing a contemporary appetite for inspiring sermons. This may be a hubris for preachers, he says. “Words of a sermon should carry a greater responsibility than to fill up the inspirational tank.” I agree with him. Important as inspiration is, preachers have a responsibility to convey an inner message, even if not inspirational. Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2). “After all”, says Kowalko, “they are words intended to mingle with eternity, to witness to the truth, to expound upon the word of God.”

Even as I affirm the perspective of this young pastor, I must also acknowledge that my linking of pastors with media is a bit of a stretch. The stretch is in the reality that pastors (faith leaders if you will) are living and doing their work from a vantage that is indeed beyond the career (Some pastors need to be reminded of this). “Call” is more than a career. In my faith community, the Mennonites, this understanding of Call has its beginning among the Anabaptists of the sixteenth century Reformation, Christians who  claimed their ultimate authority is within the gathered group. “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Modern day Anabaptist leaders are still ordained by virtue of that discerned call from among the people, rather than appointment from an outside authority. By their message and by their leadership giftedness they may gather listeners and followers, but this dare not be mere lectures or Ted Talks or political or social education, no matter how interesting they may be. Good sermons may or may not enhance the career.

Now a concluding thought - kind of an afterthought!😏 I just said the linking of pastors and media is a stretch. Perhaps I need to modify a bit - at least from the vantage of my faith community where the preacher's position and message comes from within - never a position of authority but a position of service. From our vantage therefore, media and preachers are in a similar state these days! Reports or speeches by members of the media and sermons or lessons by preachers have fairly equal risks or possibilities, especially in today's instantaneous digitalized world. Reporters who run afoul of a desired party line may risk their careers or livelihood, similar to preachers' longtime experience. Not only do populations and preferences change, but also the political environment. Us post World War II baby boomers, whether secular or religious, have grown up living the good life, full freedom of political or religious opinion. My above comments about careers obviously from that vantage. Times do change, however, as one of our fellow good-lifers Bob Dylan crooned once upon a time. Some of the most recent world political events might suggest we're back into the time when Jesus walked among Romans and Samaritans and Jews, democracy an unknown entity in those days. The good life was not a guarantee for Jesus followers. Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34).

Today's preachers have a responsibility to be 'in there' as participants in all topics and events. Media people face similar career (or life) risks. To all my preacher and media friends, pay much attention to the inner voice. Your understanding and experience of God must be the message, whether inspiring or not. It may or may not be well received by the authorities or the fan base or in the historical documents. Regardless of historical record, inner consistency is essential whatever the risk, for the preacher and the media and the gathered community.

Teach me, O Lord Thy way of truth.[iii]

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[i] As it Happens is a Canadian Interview show that airs on CBC Radio One in Canada and various public radio stations in the United States through Public Radio Exchange. It’s fiftieth Anniversary was celebrated on-air on November 16, 2018. Source: Wikipedia.

[ii] Caleb Kowalko, “Beyond Inspiration,” Canadian Mennonite, Vol 29, Issue 2, February, 2025, p.7.

[iii] Based on Psalm 119:33, Hymnal: A Worship Book (Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1992), #487.

And Then Comes the End

The title of this post may appear kind of abrupt - apocalyptic even - and a few readers may quickly skip onto something else to read, perhaps skeptical of what this old preacher might want to say about end times. Well, it is indeed about things coming to an end, but rest assured, the topic is more down to earth than bye bye into the sky. It is about a conversation in drivers’ room in one of our local truck stops.

Yes, I still make the occasional stop at old stomping grounds, not to hang out, but perhaps to catch a wifi signal for an email that needs reply, or a meal in the restaurant, or even to shop for an occasional truck stop flavored birthday (Christmas?) gift for my daughters who enjoy the sentiment of those many years when dad would bring home ‘gadgety presents’ from truck stops all over the U.S. So there I was in the drivers’ lounge in a comfy chair with my laptop; eventually could not ignore an old guy half asleep in the chair beside me – and seemed to be going nowhere.

“Are you waiting for a load?” a fairly appropriate open ended question in this place. “My truck got stolen” was the grumbly reply. Well, that was beginning of long lament about absolutely everything. He’s been sitting here several days. The stolen truck is actually his pickup which got removed from the four-wheeler parking lot by “two sneaky sobs.” The missing truck contains thousands of dollars worth of equipment (not sure equipment for what) very important to make short trips. I'm guessing he may also be a part-time cowboy. To add insult to injury, the cops have not even bothered to come and talk with him. They’re doing some kind of legal checklist first. This is not an emergency – he’s in a safe place! I rant and rave on this point! Seems like police or tow trucks or ambulances all in similar priority scale these days, take lots of time if not an emergency.

It gets more complicated. Actually this is about two trucks, the one that got stolen and the real one in the big lot out there. His big truck has a FOR SALE on it. “Price of fuel too goddamn high. Can’t afford this anymore.” This is a 2018 Pete; my truck knowledge albeit outdated, still recognizes a high-end asset here. I hazard a guess about $250,000? “Nope, was asking $320, now come down to $290 and that’s it. I’ll just let it rot if I can’t get that!” In spite of this woebegone story, I notice by now that his eyes have a bit of sparkle. I sympathize with this new friend. Although still confused about details, I’m glad I asked the question. There is little I can do about the circumstances, and I do need to run along - retired trucker you know, busy. 😏 I bid him a fond adieu, wishing him success in at least finding his little truck. He lifts his cold coffee and says thank you.

It is on the way home after this little exchange that my thinker kicks in again. To date I have never had this type of conversation. In my previous post retirement stop-ins at this truck stop it has always been truckers, swap a few tales with a little embellishment (bs) and occasionally a job offer – just in case I’d like to get behind the wheel a bit more! None of that today. This was conversation between two old guys! Back there those -- sessions were full of the vim and vinegar of the truckers’ world! Suddenly it dawns on me that all those years of truckers stories have been mostly in the English language. Today's visit was in presence of other truckers who do not speak English in drivers’ rooms. It was a trend already beginning near end of my years. Truck stop conversations are in other lingos. English only at bare minimum to try to communicate with dispatchers or shippers and receivers, reminding me of occasional meet-up with Mexican Mennonite truckers anywhere between Texas and Manitoba; the visit would immediately revert to Low German. Today’s English visit is good illustration of something coming to an end.

Now in addition to this language issue, a little more from the thinker (as many know, after a little ‘thinking’ I get going with the philosophizing – in college we would call this the long-haired stuff). I’m guessing my senior citizen trucker friend may not have the options I have had, even though his financial assets probably higher than mine. I cannot but give thanks. Thinking of my life journey which has included some good educational pursuits and many good books, two Roman Catholic priests come to mind. They have been lifesavers for my journey [i], and I recognize that my options have been good. I too sold a truck a number of years ago, not at the magic age 65 but at age 71, when it seemed right. With gratitude for a few million accident-free miles, there was sentimental sadness, but not desperation about what to do next. Life would go on. Since that retirement I have been enabled to practice what I still believe and able to participate in very meaningful activity quite in keeping with my training and profession which at one point needed the life support of open highways. Open highways contained space, relationships, and of course the satisfaction of being an owner operator, a sole proprietor with my wife the financial manager, plus the joy of continuing and improving relationship with my Savior as well as new discovery of God everywhere!

Work is only work. Employment is only employment. Professions can be very satisfying and also meaningless if all they do is provide an income, a title or a career. And looking around me these days, I know that even for us in this good land, our lives could come to an end either before or after retirement. That's good to know, quite reassuring actually.

Two quotations have come to my attention; first a non-negotiable from the Bible, and a second from one of those favorite authors.

"People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).

“Pay attention to the people God puts in your path if you want to discern what God is up to in your life.” [ii]

Now after this bit of thinking and philosophizing, perhaps I should check back with my friend and see how he’s coming along.

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[i] Richard Rohr, Falling Upward: A spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass, 2011) and Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Wounded Healer (New York: Image Books, 1979).

[ii] Nouwen, Discernment: Reading the signs of Daily Life (San Francisco, CA: Harper One, 2013).

For a Time Like This

“A presentation like that is what makes it easier for me to retire.” Those words are forever inscribed into my memory. It was springtime 1980, Rev Henry Gerbrandt, recently retired General Secretary of then Conference of Mennonites in Canada, shared these encouraging words with this young pastor who had just braved a slightly controversial topic to a church full of delegates.

Now, forty-five years later and still in Alberta, I also remember title of that speech, “Evangelism and/or Christian Education,” definitely not an earth-shaking topic then and still not creating headlines! The occasion of this little tome, however, is kind of earth-shaking, not because of these few words I am writing, but because of this present date and time in history. Our neighbors to the south of us have a problem; they have elected themselves an autocratic would-be-dictator President. Seems to me that our next generation of church leaders – and politicians - are being set up for a slightly greater challenge than what appeared before me back then.

I have always been a reader, this probably in character for an Old Colony eldest son back there who wanted to figure out many things (nesheah is the low German word used by my dad). So, this morning I was reading again, not so much to gather news (no end of that since January 20, day one), but to meditate, pay attention along with brothers and sisters, fellow Christians and many other Americans reeling in shock at what they have just done to themselves.

I find the Americans’ material quite compelling especially in these days, and courageously presented in Sojourners, a Christian magazine which I have subscribed to forever, valuable info from a larger vantage than our Canadian Mennonite. Here are several quotes from latest edition, published next door to the US Capitol, Washington, DC.

[Donald] Trump is arriving at a time of great social distrust: There’s more distrust of the media, medical professionals, experts, politicians, community institutions, and membership groups. There are rifts among friends and family. Even our trust in … weather is diminished. Distrust fuels the flame of autocracy because it makes it easier to divide people. [i]

A second quote by same author, On her bedroom wall, my mom had a copy of the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr wrote this during the rise of Nazi Germany. [ii] There are several alcoholics in my family, and addictions are a common malady in today's society. That prayer as important today as it was then for us North Americans who have been living the good life for the last 50 or so years.

Most western Canadian Mennonite forebears have been through European, Prussian, Russian history. Now we still have unresolved indignations about WW2. Most of us arrived with colonialist agendas, privileged immigrants moving in on Indigenous land, while our Swiss brothers and sisters in the U.S., along with other white settlers, reaped benefits from the Indigenous as well as the ‘colored help’ brought along by the shipload from Africa!

History has some critiques for us. Firstly, it’s Anabaptism at 500 time, and of course much attention to our early sixteenth Century beginnings. Among the celebrations, I cannot but make note of a recent podcast series by our former pastor and budding historian, Will Loewen. [iii] The original Anabaptists, even alongside deep convictions of peacemaking and adult believers’ baptism, were not all of stellar character, inflated egos and sin also part of those early beginnings, even as they sought to correct the Church and the Governments of their day.

And secondly, this one quite recent, well recorded in the books, and already hindering our effectiveness as a denomination. The year 2002 marked the end of General Conference Mennonite Church and beginning of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church U.S.A. Had that not happened, our life and witness would be of a greater wholeness especially at a time like this. North America could benefit from a continuing peace church not divided by a 49^th parallel.

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[i] Daniel Hunter, “Now That Trump has Won” Sojourners (Volume 54 No. 1), p. 27.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] https://www.freeradicalspod.com /

Gout Kills

Once upon a time I was a long distance trucker. I have clear memory of a very unsolicitous incident. 

Driving down an inter-state highway in California, my right foot was killing me. It was so bad I could not touch the brake pedal without yelping in pain, dared not even hover around the pedal, so it seemed! Fortunately, with air brakes I was able to resort to trailer brakes via handle on the steering column of my truck, left foot doing the necessary fine tunes (clutch or brake) on the floor only as needed! Ow! [My 18 speed manual shift not yet one of those auto transmission units gliding along these days] I messaged dispatch to inform of my plight and that I would stop in at a nearby walk-in medical clinic. Message reply was reminder I had another appointment, namely delivery of my load! I responded to that with uncharacteristic bravado, "ER foot pain first." My dispatcher agreed (knew this operator's on time every time delivery record). End result was my first experience of 'miracle medicine.' After a considerable wait at the Walk In Clinic, this unbeliever limped into a nearby pharmacy and picked up ... a small prescription of Colchicine! Two hours later I was a believer happily singing down the highway, pain-free (almost), and next morning my load delivered as per usual on-time in Los Angeles. How undramatic the life of a trucker who delivers his loads on time! 😖😉   

Los Angeles in the Morning

This is the story I was reminded of when my wife woke me up this morning after an all-night sleep, the first time in months not even with the normal 3 a.m. pee. The evening before, after a few days of increasing pain in my right ankle we called an emergency hotline, immediately warned it may be a blood clot. Off to our local Urgent Care, after short exam asked if gout was in my medical history I said "no" - and then corrected myself, remembering suddenly every detail of that incident years ago. Bingo, this was it again as per these ER medical professionals. Again a little trip to a pharmacy, and again a prescription, this time Indomethacin, latest medication for said pain immediately recognized by my daughter, a pharmacy technician now - and a teenager back then! 

Dreadful pain to no pain fits into the miracle category for me. Biblical examples come to mind. There are so many instances of Jesus performing a healing - like instantaneously - and then issues to be dealt with, often raised by onlookers: Should you do that on the Sabbath? (John 7:23); who sinned to get you a blind son? (John 9); or inter-relatedness of healing or sins forgiven (Matthew 9:4-7). Seems like ofttimes the healing becomes the immediate context performed by Jesus the protagonist, and that followed by discussion, debate, learning, and even leaving it for another day (Luke 4:30). 

These gout occasions, although terribly painful, are not necessarily thought of as potential miracle incidents, but I do know if Jesus was going by just when the uric acid crystals scratch my joints, I also would cry out, and so rejoice if the pain would end right then and there! My doctor, although a man of faith, speaks calmly about many body functions including gout or brain waves seemingly all treated with medications. "It's all about chemicals," he says. Although I don’t quite believe him on this point, when he prescribes a helping drug, my disposition is near to proclaiming him the miracle worker. So it goes! Although I stop short of idolizing him (because sometimes he's wrong) 😇 his words are on par with topic at hand. Health and pain is similar to flowing water and plugged pipes or veins, living breath (ruach) given or taken away, Holy Spirit and Evil Spirit? Among the many dramatic healing and forgiving stories of Jesus, I note he also was known to 'follow up', namely sit with a freshly healed or forgiven beggar or prostitute to help them make new life decisions, e.g. "go sin no more" (John 8:10-12). His healing love probably also included tough love. Much to ponder and also give thanks for. 

Whatever my prognosis in these few paragraphs, I maintain that God is here among our pains, whether stretched out for long periods or terrible 911 occasions. Sometimes the healing seems miraculous if someone knows how to make the right diagnosis, and even more so if in the acknowledged presence of the One who's been there all the time, and knows how to retain the healed life. Thank you Lord.

Sacred Text

Here is sample of an unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday. I had started a blogpost about a week ago. It took a while because I needed to check a few details so it might read with some credibility. Among other things also commanding my attention, I whittled and researched and fretted, finally decided it was okay to post. Copy and paste proceeded as per usual, at least so I thought, until my Control V yielded ... nothing, only a blank page at the blogsite destination. Gone! Gone, not even a whimper. It was hard to believe, but after two requests for technical help from library staff, my plight began to sink in. Gone! Gone, still gone.

It was at that point that I began to do my usual - put the thinker in gear! Why is this document hidden in the netherworld somewhere? Is there perhaps a reason? Is the topic perhaps ill founded, perhaps unnecessary? I could definitely live with that. If, however,  it is merely a stupid copy and paste mistake that I had made, I’d like to know about it. I need a little more computer education anyway; I headed down that trail.

So here it is another day later. Among the suggestions I had heard yesterday “perhaps type it again” both from the librarians and from my son the residual expert for all problems of this nature (He lives in Ontario but that does not keep me from crying help from him). Typing again seemed like an impossibility – until late last night. Why not give up on retyping, but perhaps just ‘recreate’ using the same title and tell it with a different slant. There are actually several books written about that.[i] This is risky because I am a bit detail-challenged, even if concept-creative! And my only handwritten notes were a few scratches I had made while checking those above-mentioned details on Google! Here we go!

It all begins with my slight frustration with the endless variety of versions of Bible readings I hear in church services these days. In fact more often than not a ‘creative’ reader is doing away with the Book and the scriptures get read from an 81/2" x 11" sheet of paper or even a cell phone! 😒 I know the inspired word is not conditional on the type of book we hold in hand, but is this not an occasion of reading the Word? Public worship of God is best served if we read from only one version of the Bible. Does it not make sense to focus our readings on God rather than our variegated preferences?

A quick survey of Bible Gateway reveals 64 English versions without even signing in. Sign in to Gateway Plus and you get 233 Bible versions in a total of 74 languages! That is a lot of information, or should I say many different ways of saying the same thing. In this computer age we have resources to pursue whatever our language or version - or preference!

This is in sharp contrast to some recent experiences in our city's Interfaith Council (my main point). Scripture Reasoning is one of its program offerings. It has a narrow dogmatic sound to it; but it is exactly the opposite. It's a virtual or occasionally in-person get together, and one person, on a chosen topic will share the ‘Sacred Text’ from their particular faith. That is followed by questions for clarification and then reflections from anybody, either comparing to info from another tradition or spiritual reflection on the reading just shared. With help of a moderator, we do not critique it too death, just listen for the personal meaning, ofttimes leading to some quality testimonies of personal faith. I guess that is exactly what we're trying for, interfaith encounter! 

Also, yes ALSO, these sacred texts are shared in unadorned original form (at least my impression)! Coming from my non liturgical church tradition with Bible readings from pieces of paper, I have heard in last several years in this modernist environment a considerable rendition of King James English, an old unadorned sound whether from the Bible or from Book of Mormon, or from Writings of the Baha’i, or the Quran.. I hear gentle witness from a Hindu participant who from their Bhargava Gita does not participate in Creation arguments or theologizing because creation is so far back that it is just ‘eternity,’ totally unnecessary to waste energy speculating about. Now that is something that both modernist and fundamentalist Christians need to take to heart, allow that into our creation accounts as well as apocalyptic speculations.

So this is the context. I wrote about this, and then I lost it, probably because I was a little too adamant with my Ctrl button on my laptop. Turns out the development of my thoughts was not that important after all. This is shorter! No need to wade through my earlier expanded version of that scratchpad! In interfaith it is possible to do a personal version of our various faiths in a large peaceable manner! We do not argue, no debate, and our kindly moderator always thanks the presenter and each participant for their particular contribution to the topic. [Know-it-all moderators would have greater difficulty!]

Wonderful. Coming out of these sessions I am more grateful than ever for my faith, for Jesus, indeed my Savior and to the Latter Day Saints, acknowledged as Prophet to the Muslims and absolute example to the Buddhists (hear Dalhi Lama) and to the Hindus (hear also Mahatma Gandhi, giving witness and inspiration to fellow people of India as well as British colonialists). The inspiration for me in this ‘scripture reasoning’ is that when sacred texts are shared in a relational way, then there is little reason to debate. Positivity within this group becomes a positive contribution to our city.

Enough already. I see little need for more modernizing of our Holy Bible. More important is that we be in receptive posture to receive God’s Word for our worship and for our life. Sacred texts speak to us. No need to contort scriptures to please each and every one. Holy writ is not about us. It is about the One who is above and beyond.

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). This is what I was trying to say before it all disappeared!

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[i] Brenda Miller and Suzanne Paola, Tell it Slant 3,2,     https://www.overdrive.com .