Free Tuition, Racist Landscaping Bosses, and VLTs

Based on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16 About a decade ago, there was an article in the newspaper about First Nations students from reserves attending university.  The gist of the article was that some reserves were having a hard time paying the cost of their students to attend university. …

Harry Potter, Evander Kane’s Tracksuit, & Oprah

Based on Matthew 16:21-17:8 This week, as I was pondering this text, I asked one of you a question.  “When you think of the Transfiguration, what do you think of?” The quick response was, “Harry Potter.” Right. Because, Professor Minvera McGonnagall is one of the teachers at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and she …

On Making Space, and First Steps Towards Reconciliation

The following sermon makes the most sense if you heard the people at church sharing about attending Mennonite Native Assembly and Pauingassi Family Camp.   But if you weren’t there, feel free to still read on. Several years ago, I was at a bonfire.  Sitting in the dark, I ended up talking to somebody that …

Panda Bears, The RM of Hanover, and Insurance Companies

The following is a sermon preached at Grace Mennonite on September 7, 2014, based on Genesis 6:9-22; 9:8-15.   A few months ago, the movie Noah came out.  Many of you have seen it.  I have not.  But I’ve loved listening to everyone’s reactions to it. Some people loved it.  Some people hated it.  Some …

Anti-Gay, Judgmental, and Hypocritical? On Weightier Matters of the Law…

“Woe to you, religious leaders.  You shut the door on people.  You make new converts twice the children of hell as you are.  You blind guides.  You snakes and brood of vipers!  How will you escape being condemned to hell?”  (verses from Matthew 23) What a great, uplifting set of verses we heard this morning! …

Unused Gym Memberships, 7-11, and Silence

A big thanks to Mark Yaconelli and Frank Rogers, Kurt Willems and Phileena Heuertz (who use Dallas Willard, Thomas Keating, and Marshall Rosenberg) for their words that helped shape mine. _____________________________________________________ I was having coffee with a young adult a while ago.  We were sitting outside at Oak Ridge, the sun was shining on us, the …

Some thoughts on conversion, communion, and cats.

The following is a short sermon from Pentecost, where we celebrated baptism, membership transfer, and communion. ___________________________________________ These are the words from Anne Lamott’s, as found in her book,  Travelling Mercies. “After a while, as I lay there, I became aware of someone with me, hunkered down in the corner, and I just assumed it …

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