David always liked Sunday School. His teacher really cared for every boy and girl in the class. She talked about Jesus as the best friend you could ever have. David could hardly wait for each Sunday. But this week all the kids were in the big church room with adults. In the car on the…
Religion, Spirituality, Faith
Darrell and Barbara – an encounter with fellowship
In A ‘problem’ with “Ask Jesus into your heart,” I introduced ‘differentiation’ and ‘integration’ to describe how individuals and organizations work to create their identify. They outline differences to distinguish themselves from others (differentiation) or similarities to show avenues of potential alignment (integration). I shared how Indigenous students in a conservative evangelical college exemplified these…
A ‘problem’ with “Ask Jesus into your heart”
I am 100% Ukrainian on both sides of my parental lineage. Raised in the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church and steeped in Ukrainian culture. It was a strong local church community with a large extended family network through heritage and marriage. From the cradle to the grave.Baptism of babies had symbolic rites including ‘adoption’ by godparents….
Her name was Merrilee
I wish I could find a picture of her. Especially when dressed in her clown costume to do a program with children. She was a woman born deaf but could communicate on levels that surpassed many ‘normal’ hearers. And I believe she was an active agent in saving my life. It was a good day…
Mark and Crystal
It’s a pleasant Sunday morning in September, a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m heading to church. A contemporary service that meets in an old theatre on a downtown street found in every city. You know the one. The street where ‘less-than-desirable-to-meet’ people tend to hang out. I was about to walk past this…
Repenting of Religion
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and theologian in Germany, was killed by the Nazi regime just weeks before liberation of the prison camp by Allied troops. In his relatively brief life, Bonhoeffer set out a path for what he called ‘religionless Christianity.’ It was a call to reject ‘religiosity’ and embrace a living and active…
On ‘Repenting of Religion’
Note: This piece is an extension of the material in ‘Repenting of Religion.’ You may want to start there. (see My Bookshelf). In his book, Repenting of Religion, Greg Boyd tees up against the deficiencies of organized religion. As a successful pastor, he is obviously trying to build the Church and local community of faith…
I Need Your Tears
I have a friend. Actually, two of them. They have both ‘been there’ for me. Even through the years when I didn’t deserve to have a friend. I was too busy. Too much into my own agenda of life. Too self-contained, not even aware of how barren I was. They are very different but equally…
Oh What a Beautiful Morning
Today was so special. I had one of my regular coffee hours with a close friend at our favourite A and W. We are both glad they still receive old coupons for some time after expiry. I made another stop on 8th Street then pulled into Sobey’s to pick up a few things. Not realizing…
I Surprised Myself
This morning I took a risk. I surprised myself. And I’m glad I did. For this narrative I must give you a bit of backstory. All my life I have not shared any food. No arms entwined with my loved one to feed a forkful of meat or vegetables from each other’s plate. No taste…