blip : Basic Living Instruction Protocol :

I just finished Bob Ekblad’s book, Reading the Bible with the Damned, and was inspired by his method of Bible study that he uses when leading groups with inmates, immigrants, and others on the margins of society.  What impresses me is the way he is able to weave together scholarly exegesis, facilitating a space for [...]

[Read more →]

Title: Work
Date: February 25, 2009 (Ash Wednesday)
Texts: Genesis 3:17-19Genesis 3:17-19English: Contemporary English Version (1999) – CEV17 . The Lord said to the man,

[Read more →]

As I was trying to think through a sermon for Ash Wednesday, I returned to Genesis 3 where God tells Adam and Eve that they came from dust and shall return to dust: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” God links this declaration of human mortality with labor pains: “By the sweat [...]

[Read more →]

If you want to see me preach this sermon, follow this link to Park View Mennonite

Title: “He descended to the dead…”
Date: February 22, 2009
Texts: Psalm 88; Mark 9:2-10Mark 9:2-10English: Contemporary English Version (1999) – CEVThe True Glory of Jesus

[Read more →]

I wrote an article last summer about my experience of joining a group of people who eat lunch together every Wednesday on the side of the road. The Mennonite recently published it. Here’s a passage:
The lure of Christ’s gracious presence invites us onto a wandering path of discipleship that leads into forgotten places—the margins of [...]

[Read more →]

Title: Now what?
Date: February 15, 2009
Texts: Psalm 30, I Cor 9:24-27r 9:24-27English: Contemporary English Version (1999) – CEV24 Whether Jews or Gentiles, we are those chosen ones,

[Read more →]

Fate and a strong predestination were part of the dominant theology in Israel’s day.  It was assumed that God managed and ordered the world in a fair way such that if you fared poorly, it was because God was punishing you for your sin (or even that of your parents), and if you did well, [...]

[Read more →]

My wife pointed out to Isaac and I the other day that despite all our high-falutin’ theology posts, the most commented on post is Isaac’s post from a few years back on how he makes kick-ass refried beans.  In her words, a post on “Mennonite Martinis” would appear to be more relevant than most of [...]

[Read more →]

Our church has a class coming up tomorrow that we’ve entitled Faith & Economics. It’ll be a workshop on everything from budgeting to getting out of debt to investing as stewardship. Lots of good, hands-on stuff. Obviously, part of the inspiration for putting on this class was the current economic meltdown and [...]

[Read more →]

Title: Demons
Date: February 1, 2009
Texts: Mark 1:21-28Mark 1:21-28English: Contemporary English Version (1999) – CEVA Man with an Evil Spirit

21 Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching.

[Read more →]