To the President of the United States
Mar 8, 2010 reflecting, responding
To the President of the United States:
Inasmuch as these are days of stress and trial owing to the conditions of war existing among many of the leading nations of the world and the threatening conditions existing which seem to imperil the peace and safety of still other nations, and since the existing conditions involve the spiritual and moral life as well as the material welfare of the citizens of these nations, and especially those whose religious convictions are opposed to the use of carnal weapons, and engaging in carnal warfare, and who hold that the teaching and example of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace should be followed in loving one’s enemies and doing good to all men, in returning good for evil and suffering wrong rather than doing wrong, which principles and practices are dear to many Christian people, and especially to the Mennonite Church.
Tags: 1915, General Conference, President Letter, WWI
The Church is loosing standards, and 75% of our Kids – is it Related?
Oct 8, 2009 responding
A few years ago I was at a baseball game with my wife and my friend Matt. We were at a Lancaster Barnstormers Game in Lancaster Pennsylvania. I love baseball, always have – shy of Disc Golf and Ultimate Frisbee it is the only sport I like. Sitting just two sets behind the dug out for the New Jersey team was tempting, too tempting for someone like me who can lack filter at times. The Team had ego, and they were playing rough – and the umpires were feeding into their hands. The first innings were already full of sloppy strikes and safes’ at first base that should have been called outs. Then we were up to bat again, and the pitcher delivers a missile like fastball into the clean up batters face. The Batter is down on the ground. Then the next batter is up, he is hit too – our benches stand up and begin to come onto field, ‘Cylo’ the mascot stops dancing on the dugout; I am yelling at the Umpire “Throw him out, Throw him out”. However the umpire does nothing and the Jersey team continues to play dirty and more almost pegging pitches.
Tags: 1 Cor 5:12, 1 Corinthians 5:12, 75% leaving the Church, Baseball, Church, Church Improvement, Excommunication, Fixing the Church, Focus, foundation, Fruit, Improving, Judgement, Judging, Kingdom Living, mandating, Matthew 7:1-5, morality, Sin, Standards, Trees
A Chance To Support God’s Work in Ethiopia.
Oct 7, 2009 responding
Friends allow me to introduce a friend to you, and allow me to introduce a opportunity to you. I am not one to ask for things or to mass email people in this matter, but as I chewed on this all day I felt the need to.
My good friend and mentor, Jerry Shannon, served as my Pastor in the Lancaster Vineyard Church for over six years. I have always felt a calling to subcultures, missionial movements, community rebuilding and a roundabout journey, to reuniting with my Anabaptist heritage – all which I was given the freedom to follow God in under Jerry’s leadership. I interned under Jerry and served under him on the Church Leadership team – and learned much from his openness to God’s leading through the spirit. I had found a home in my church, after a domino effect of brokenness through church abandonment.
Tags: Causes, donations, ethiopia, non-profit
