In my previous essay, I reflected on the similarities of the moves toward authoritarianism in Germany in the 1930s to that happening in the United States of America today.
While travelling in the United States recently I was at the same time working my way through Eric Metaxas’ epic biography of Diedrich Bonhoeffer, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, (2010).
Miriam Toews has done it again. She has written a novel with a “not so subtle” purpose of speaking to issues of brokenness within the human condition; this time in the Old Colony world of Bolivia, South America.
The more carefully I listen to fellow Jesus-followers, and my own heart, the clearer it becomes that most of us struggle to maintain an active and consistent prayer life.
I was born in the West where, in my early years, I was known as “Jackie.” Being “western,” I absorbed western notions about Christianity in the little country church I attended with my family.
I recently discovered Marcus Peter Rempel’s new book, Life At the End of Us vs Them: Cross Cultural Stories. I agree with Brain McLaren who says in the foreword to the book that Rempel generously drops “gems of brilliance left and right”.
About 15 years ago, in the wake of a burnout in the context of church ministry, I started to pay attention to the world around me.
Our conscious minds are only the tip of the iceberg which is above water, the largest part of ourselves is unseen below the water, below the conscious level, and it is not easy to admit this, to admit it and not fear that large part of ourselves over which we have little control.
After many decades of defending God, I still keep coming face-to-face with sincere people of faith who maintain that God is the author of everything that happens, including evil.
Our natural inclination toward interdependence as a species was on full display last month as the world cheered on the international effort to free 12 boys and their soccer coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Thailand.
