Anabaptist and Quaker essays, sermons, and other writings
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, […]
I recently moved from the Washington metropolitan area (aka the DMV) to Polo, a small community in rural northwestern Illinois. I’ve become the pastor of the Polo Church of the Brethren. It’s a big change in a lot of ways, and my wife and I are still making the adjustment. […]
As Common Spirit Church of the Brethren celebrates 10 years of ministry in Grand Rapids, Michigan this fall, it has been interesting to compare and contrast the history of the original Grand Rapids Church of the Brethren congregation to the current one. Both churches were started by families living in […]
Is the Love Feast essential?1 The Love Feast faces a critical moment: will Christians in general, and Brethren in particular, seek to reclaim the Love Feast as an essential communion practice post-COVID? Or…will COVID put a metaphoric nail in the already waning practice of the Love Feast? These past two […]
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 […]
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb… –Rev 5:9 Train yourself in godliness, for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable […]
Why join one of the Historic Peace Churches? Jesus is at the center of this question. Jesus is at the center of this passage (Romans 5:1-11). Jesus at the center of our faith. Jesus is the source of our strength. Jesus is the source of our peace. Jesus is the […]
Think about a time when you were first in love. That dreamy feeling, like the whole world was singing to you, that you had found the secret of life, the universe, and everything, and the most wonderful person in existence was crazy about YOU! Thinking about how lovely it was […]
How many of us still believe in “good guys and bad guys”? Are there such things? We live in a world where political commentators have been describing the difference between parties in starker terms than a lot of recent science fiction movies or even some video games have drawn the […]
I am so thankful to be part of a congregation that asks things boldly, though aware that our privilege does not make us worthy of Jesus’ attention; and also a congregation that serves humbly, aware that as part of the body of Christ, our attention needs to go where Jesus’ […]