Vision

Here’s an interesting graphical depiction of all the Churches in the US. Can you picture what would happen if every one of these churches lived out true Christianity and were united under the authority of Jesus Christ?

Friday evening and I’m gearing down the tech part of my brain for the weekend.

Meanwhile, I just put the finishing touches on the website for our church that I recently converted to Wordpress CMS from static html/css. I hope to be able to post the weekly messages and the occasional article of interest or announcement.

I recently found myself starved for the spontaneous creativity that used to spring from my imagination. I think I need to take up photography more. This particular hobby helps me to “think outside the box” and look for the beauty in everything. Who knows? Maybe this blog will become more colorful and “picturesque”.

Long ago, my dad read a short biography of Menno Simons during our traditional evening readings.  It’s been years, so I thought I would go and read it again and rediscover the man who’s name is imprinted on the Anabaptist denomination that I’ve chosen to be a part of.

Some highlights from his life that surprised or impressed me:

•  Menno, like Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic priest for 12 years. He was actually influenced a fair bit by the writings of Martin Luther who was his contemporary in Germany (Menno was a village priest in the country of Holland).
• Once Menno discovered the truth of what the Bible taught, he waited a full five years before abandoning his duties as priest. He still performed mass, infant baptisms, last rites, and all the other Roman Catholic Church initiated traditions during this time.
• He was influential in dissuading people from joining the cult-like, sword-wielding Munsterite rebellion, showing from the teachings of Jesus that violence and war is not for the New Testament Christian.
• Unlike Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin and other well-known Reformers, Menno lived on the run and was never very well-to-do as he fled the persecution that followed just behind him.
• Though he was pursued so fiercely, Menno was never caught, and died a natural death. On the other hand, Ulrich Zwingli who was never persecuted ending up dying a violent death on the battle field of Kappel, Switzerland, fighting the Roman Catholics who he was trying to win to Christ?

I’m somewhat ambivalent about naming a local church or denomination after a man, nevertheless I appreciate the contribution Menno Simons made to the Christian Church.

Sitting here in the Harrisburg International airport waiting for my flight home, I’ve been thinking back over the week at Charity Youth Bible School and wondering what aspects of it I should write about. Spiritually, it has been close to, if not the most challenging week of my life. I studied the Bible along with 569 other students in amazing depth and sincerity through over 20 hours of life changing preaching and hours of prayer and small group sharing. One of the most encouraging aspects of the experience was to meet so many other Christian youth who are passionate about Jesus Christ and His work in their lives, churches and mission outreaches.

I don’t plan to write a whole lot about the details, though I will be sharing these with my home church and friends. The messages that were preached are available to listen to from Charity Gospel Tape Ministry’s website HERE.

If you are a young person and you get the opportunity, I would highly recommend going next year!

“Philosophy doesn’t give us answers; it helps us ask the right questions so that theology and science can give us the answers.”

“Whatever happens, as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together with one accord for the faith of the gospel.”  - Philippians 1:27 TNIV

I just read this verse along with many others that spoke to me from the book of Philippians.

After watching a well-crafted film, the first thing I usually do is to find the “making of” video. I find it fascinating to hear the director being interviewed and learn exactly why that one shot was the way it was, to see the world, real or imagined (but preferably real) through the eyes of the director.

That’s the feeling I get after reading any one of Paul’s epistles. I’d love to hit the menu button and view the “making of” clip for Philippians, or better yet, be the one interviewing him, so I could ask the questions!

I wonder what the Christian church would be like if God had not arrested this zealous individual on that long dusty road to Damascus. Think for just a moment of the doctrines and practices that we take for granted thanks to Paul’s obedience and willingness to be the spokesman, the scribe for God as the early church ironed out the wrinkles of the Christian experience.

I was struck by the clarity of IGO’s Brief Statement of Mennonite Doctrine. As Christians living in this world of swirling ideas and competing worldviews it is not always easy to define quickly what we believe based on our understanding of the Bible and God’s will for human beings. Yes, we can say, “I believe the Bible”. But a people from the LDS or from the Jehovah’s Witnesses can say the same thing and yet be living by a code that is world’s apart from our own.

I’ve really enjoyed reading the blog entries from the first group of young people to go through this ground-breaking form of Bible school and missions work. There is the usual youthful foolishness, however at the same time they seem to have gained a view of the world that is perhaps more balanced than someone who only sees the wealth and luxury of American living.

Melvin Lehman the director of Faith Builders Educational Programs has written an excellent article concerning today’s conservative young Christians; especially those with Anabaptist-like beliefs. It is very insightful and accurately portrays my generation. I highly recommend it.

You can download the PDF at:

http://www.fbep.org/downloads/The%20New%20Conservatives_MBL.pdf

My sister came out to where I was working on my car, with a jar in her hands. “Hey Josh” she said. “I can’t get this lid off.”

Having just changed the oil for my Honda Accord, I wasn’t too keen on trying to open a lid with greasy fingers. But, I grabbed the jar anyway and tried cranking hard on it. Nothing. I started walking toward the house to wash my hands and get a better grip, when an idea hit me.

“That oil filter wrench should do the trick,” I said, grabbing it off the driveway. Sure enough, 5 seconds later I had the lid off. I guess you learn something new every day. I’ll have to keep that in mind for the next time I can’t get at the pickles.

I haven’t updated my blog in awhile!  Oh, well.  Life rushes on.

In my new job working for a local school district, I found this interesting poem:

The day a child realizes that all adults are imperfect,
he becomes an adolescent.
The day he forgives them, he becomes an adult.
The day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.”
~Alden Nowlan,
Canadian poet 1933-1983