Simply Jesus?

Part of my interest in this project is the opportunity to work with a young adult who would contribute ideas and also serve as a sounding board. Some of the other writers have chosen young adult family members or others who are close by, but I thought it would be more helpful for me to connect with a young adult from central Canada or USA. So on the recommendation of the co-editors, I’m delighted to be working with Peter Sensenig as my writing partner. Peter is currently completing a Master of Divinity at Palmer Seminary as well as serving as a pastoral intern at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia. We’ve never met in person, but we’ve both skimmed each other’s blogs and email back and forth. . . . he’s a little faster at replying than I am though, and right now I think it’s my turn to send him something, so I’d better get going!!

Apr 12, 2008 at 8:38 PM

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Revisiting the Psalms

• look for something specific as you read – you could look for all the names/descriptions of God like I did, or every reference to prayer, or try to determine a key verse in each psalm
• read out loud – enjoy the psalms as poetry 
• use a bookmark so if you only make it part way through, just start reading again from that same point on 
• if you usually start from the beginning, you could start from psalm 150 and work backwards
• read one section of the psalms at a time—the 150 psalms are actually divided into 5 shorter books: psalms 1-41; 42-72; 73-89; 90-106; 107-150
• follow the lectionary readings in the bulletin each week – the three-year cycle doesn’t include every verse of every psalm, but whenever there’s part of a psalm listed you could read the entire psalm, and if you check off each psalm as you read it, you can fill in the gaps on your own and read the others 

As you can tell, I see reading the Psalms, reading Scripture, as a long-term spiritual discipline—the goal isn’t really to get through a certain number of verses in a certain time, but to live with the text and allow God to work through it. I find the psalms especially deepen my relationship with God and offer comfort in difficult times.

Apr 4, 2008 at 7:16 AM

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Easter Worship

As I started living with this portion of Scripture a number of weeks ago, I realized that in 15 Easter Sundays at Emmanuel, I have NEVER spoken on this text.  In contrast, I've spoken 5 times on different parts of the Easter story in the gospel of John chapter 20.  Of course, John's version is considerably longer, but still it was about time Matthew's version received some attention!

Mar 30, 2008 at 9:25 PM

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Waiting for dvd

That's all folks!  but please feel free to add a comment....

Mar 15, 2008 at 10:22 AM

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Bryan Moyer Suderman

That's all folks!  but please feel free to add a comment....

Mar 14, 2008 at 8:53 AM

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Christian Zionism?

1.Where and when did Christian Zionism originate?
2. Basic beliefs of Christian Zionism
3. Who are the influential Christian Zionists today?
4. Who are the CUFI? What are they promoting?
5. Implications of beliefs in US politics
6. How do the American Jews react to this?
7. Arguments against Christian Zionism

I especially appreciated the one resource they consulted at http://mcc.org/peace/pon/PON_2005-03.pdf

Mar 7, 2008 at 5:16 PM

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Reflecting on Lent

    I’ve read through the Psalms many times before—one time I read them taking special note of all the different names for God. All the names are jotted down here and there in my old journals, scattered across the many weeks and months it took me to read the psalms that time. One day I’ll compile the entire list, but for now, it’s interesting to note some of the names for God that appear: “Lord” “my God” “my king” might be expected, but what about “my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2), “the God who girded me with strength and made my way safe” (Psalm 18:32), or the one that surprised me again during my current re-reading “a God who has indignation every day” (Psalm 7:11).
    I’m reading through the psalms quite slowly this time—so slowly that I might not get through them all by the time Easter arrives. But getting through them all in record time is not really the point. Instead, I’m letting them sink in and take root, I hope. Did you give up something for Lent, or add a spiritual discipline? How is it going for you?

Mar 4, 2008 at 9:50 PM

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Cookie Communion

So then I told them, "The church is going to have communion this morning as a special way of saying we love Jesus and we're part of the church, but guess what, it's something that needs to wait until you're older, until you're baptized.  But I wanted you to have a special wy of saying that you love Jesus too and you're an important part of the church, so I made something special for us to share."  Then I showed them the big communion cookie I had made, talked about it being like God's love that we all share, prayed with them, and let them each take a piece.  There were a few pieces left over, so I passed them out to  few of the youth who have just started baptism preparation classes and were sitting in the front row of the church.  For those who asked for the recipe, here it is:

April's Communion Cookie

Cream together: 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup shortening, 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar.  Beat in 2 eggs and 2 tsp vanilla extract.  Add 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups chocolate and/or butterscotch chips.  Refrigerate dough for 15-20 minutes, then spread in a 16 inch (40 cm) pizza pan--I learned the hard way if using a pizza pan with holes, line the pan with parchment paper first!  Bake at 375 deg. F. (190 deg. C.) for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and somewhat underbaked in the centre.  Let cool for 5 minutes, and cut into pieces while still warm.

Feb 20, 2008 at 10:17 AM

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Pastor's Blog

Since I’m not preaching this Sunday, I’ve been able to spend more time this week in pastoral care, making phone calls in some cases and personal visits in others. Over and over again, I hear different versions of: “I am so thankful for all the prayers.” “I am at peace.” “How is so-and-so doing?” “God is carrying me through this.” There is an amazing faith in God and genuine compassion for others even as people face their own personal challenges. It’s humbling and encouraging and faith-building to see this, gives me new energy for prayer, and makes the burden light.  Happy Valentines Day, Everyone.

Feb 14, 2008 at 7:18 AM

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Pastor's Blog

Our guest speaker was Karl Koop from Canadian Mennonite University, who referred to the familiar words of Menno Simons:  "True evangelical faith cannot lie dormant; it clothes the naked, it feeds the hungry, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute...."  What was new for me, was that Karl said these words were part of Menno Simons' answer to the question "Why I do not cease teaching and writing."  That made me wonder for myself, "Why do I not cease preaching and writing?"  Why do any of us not cease teaching or singing or painting or building or serving or whatever it is that we do?  How is my/our answer the same or different from Menno's? 

Feb 10, 2008 at 5:01 PM

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