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The Wisdom Jesus

This week I’ve started reading The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind – a New Perspective on Christ and His Message by Cynthia Bourgeault. It was a book recommended last week at AMBS Pastor’s Week.

I’m always a bit skeptical when books claim to have a “new perspective” on Christ given the fact that this is a conversation that’s been going on for two thousand years. After reading the first third of the book it appears that the author is both working on a recovery of a very old perspective on Jesus, as well as some new insights into the meaning of his life.

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Learning to see

Greetings from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana. It’s ccccold with lots of snow on the ground, but a surprising number of people have shown up for this year’s Pastor’s Week.

There’s been a lot of change here even since I graduated in 2006. Aside from some new and upgraded buildings, and a new President, Sara Wenger Shenk, there is a whole generational turnover happening on faculty. The baby boomers are retiring and the gen Xers are coming into leadership. There are some really strong new professors here, and five of them are the featured speakers this...

Coming of Age

How do you know when you’re no longer a child and have grown into a new stage of life?

Cultures throughout time have had various rites of passage that have marked this transition, and at Columbus Mennonite we are beginning a Coming of Age practice of our own, to be celebrated during worship on Sunday, February 16^th. This year we honor six jr. youth: Quinn B, Steven A, Micah N, Jack Z, Phoebe Y-T, and Maddy R-W. The jr. youth will be preparing for this time by helping shape and lead part of the worship service: choosing a scripture, hymns, and words that reflect their...

Gay update

Nothing like starting off the new year with one of the most contentious issues facing the wider church.

There are a number of happenings right now having to do with how the Mennonite Church relates with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and self-identified queer persons (LGBTQ). Mountain States Conference (one of 21 area conferences in Mennonite Church USA) announced in November that it intends to credential Theda Good for pastoral ministry at First...

CMC Advent 2013 haikus

I had some fun writing four haikus that hopefully capture some of the spirit of Advent at Columbus Mennonite this season. If you have one send it my way and I’ll add it to the blog:

Come in from the cold
Mystery saved you a seat
Watch. Christ will sneak in.

Lion, lamb, mice, birds,
Murmurating with Mennos
Peace could find us yet

Isaiah foretold:
Children shall lead them, a play
In which all have parts

How to fill a church:
Create beautiful music
People will show up

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These four comes from...

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