Meditations on God, Humanity and Community (via Kenneth Tanner)
Not my idea of God, but God. Not my idea of H., but H. Yes, and also not my idea of my neighbour, but my neighbour. For don't we often make this mistake as regards people who are still alive—who are with us in the same room? Talking and acting not to the man...
“Pope Francis’ Prayer for a Jubilee Year of Mercy”
"Pope Francis' Prayer for a Jubilee Year of Mercy" Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed...
The Cross as Conquest – Brad Jersak
For the first thousand years of Christianity, Christ’s victory was the central theme in the preaching of the Cross. This metaphor is found across the New Testament, the church fathers and throughout Christian worship. Jesus proves himself to be the promised...
The Wrath (of God?) – Matthew Distefano
Like many Western Christian doctrines, the definition of God’s wrath seems to be a given. Frankly though, like so many other “orthodox” views, I cringe at our eagerness to espouse such a belief.
From ‘Refugees’ to ‘Newcomers’: interview with Ray Loewen (Build a Village)
Questions are the Answer: Interview of David Hayward (the Naked Pastor) – with Brad Jersak
David Hayward, better known as the Naked Pastor, is Canada's premier cartoonist and critic of Christian culture. He's also an inspired and talented artist and author. In this interview, Brad Jersak asks David about his recent book, Questions are the Answer:...
Film Review of ‘Spotlight’ (the movie) – by Tom VanGaalen
Spotlight (2015), starring Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci; directed by Tom McCarthy, co-written by Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer “Sometimes it's easy to forget that we spend most of our time stumbling around the dark....
Inconspicuous Hope – Cindy Brandt
“Whenever I’m approached by an evangelist – by a Christian missionary – I know I’m up against someone so obsessed and narrowly focused that it will do me absolutely no good to try and explain or share my own value system. I never want to be rude to them, of course,...
Walking the World as the Pardon of God – Brian Zahnd
To be a prophetic witness against systems of sin and a preacher of God’s pardon for sinners at the same time is the peculiar grace at which Francis excelled and to which the church is called.
Review of Yahia Lababidi’s ‘Balancing Acts: New & Selected Poems’ – by Brad Jersak
I recently became acquainted with the works of Egyptian poet, Yahia Lababidi. His sixth and largest book of poems is entitled, New and Selected Poems (1993-2015). He describes the collection as “twenty-three years of marveling, questing and helplessly confessing in verse.”