Christmas in Jesus’ hometown

In the days before and following Christmas, Nazareth Village puts on a Christmas play.  It is staged in the first century buildings and gives visitors a feel for what it may have looked like at that time.  In this play I have been given the role of the Angel Gabriel.  In the lines that the [...]

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When Elephants Fight

“When elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled” says an African proverb.  This saying is often applied to a situation where tensions between political powers result in suffering of the uninvolved communities of people at the grass roots level. Here I am, in Nazareth, in a part of the world where this proverb [...]

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Gibran’s wisdom on Beauty

A few days ago at the beach I was reading Nouwen’s wisdom on hospitality and prayer and then Khalil Gibran. With all the beauty of nature surrounding me, this passage from Gibran jumped out at me:
Beauty is that which attracts your soul, and that which loves to give and not to receive. When you meet Beauty, [...]

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Is my bank’s service prejudiced?

Today I had to run to the bank to deposit a US check that would then be rolled over into investments in Canadian funds. When I walked in, the lady at the greeting/information desk didn’t even look up. I made my way to the teller who soon informed me that this check would be held for [...]

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Back in Canada

So once again time has flown and I haven’t posted as much as I would have liked. The past month was amazing for me. I enjoyed co-leading the group more than I ever thought.  Being outside so much (more than I have been for the past while) was a very welcome thing and I can say [...]

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Of spices, mikvehs, and good company

Wow, the past few weeks or so have gone by in a blur. I am now in Nazareth Israel and have been in the Galillee area since the 9th with the youth venture team that I am co-leading.  Thus far it has been a great experience. We have a very good team of young adults who are enjoying their experience [...]

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Detoxing in Nature

I have two days left in Manitoba before I head for Philadelphia for meetings and for an orientation. I’m co-leading a Youth Venture trip to Israel/Palestine in July and we’ll be doing the group orientation in Philly for one and half days. I’m really looking forward to meeting the group participants and hearing their stories, [...]

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A piece from my old blog

Playing our part in the global symphony of faith
Taken from Canadian Mennonite, Volume 11, No. 09, April 30, 2007 http://www.canadianmennonite.org/vol11-2007/11-09/upclose.php
-Tanzania

On a recent trip back to Tanzania, Hinke  reunited with her childhood friend, Amina, and got to hold Amina’s daughter.

 

“Aaaiii, Hinke!” yelled Amina as she bounded out to hug my brother and me during a [...]

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Deep Calls to Deep

Some weeks ago I went to a Steve Bell concert. His lyrics are basically scriptural and it is the way that he combines this with his musical style (folk?) that is so compelling. I’ve been listening to his music a lot lately. While in India in some sort of monastery somewhere he heard the “Deep [...]

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Maybe you’re asking the wrong question

The following is what I presented this past weekend at the Believers Church Conference (Believers Church includes Baptists, Penticostals, Mennonites, Brethren, etc…adult baptizers). I was the the young adult representative on a panel discussing mission and evangelism in light of denominationalism and congregationalism in the Believers church in our time. My answer is based on [...]

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