Have you ever asked the question, “Does God care about what we’re going through right now? He cares deeply. Let me show you…
Does God Really Care about What Happens to Me?
Tag: scripture
Paul Lamicela on the Importance of Understanding the Storyline of Scripture
When we don’t understand the storyline of scripture, we end up doing “viking exegesis” and miss the beauty and character of God.
Get the Clarity Your Life Deserves
Most of us feel confused about life because we’re trying to figure out why things are the way they are just from our perspective on it. The Making Sense of Life Journey is an online course that walks you through the divine narrative at play in this world.
What Is the Bible and Do I Have to Read It?
The Bible is the collection of writings which reveal God’s message about his good creation and his design to walk in relationship with mankind. This message ultimately culminates in the person of Jesus Christ.
7 Ways My Perspective Has Changed After Four Semesters of Bible College
We end the year, today, and as I reflect on this past one I can’t help but think about the ways my perspective has changed since starting Bible college several years ago.
An Open Letter to My Generation of Conservative Anabaptists: Introduction
The main thing people tell me is that I put to words what they feel. I’m grateful people are finding voice for their unspoken questions about church and faith. But I’ve noticed an increase of people leaving the values of their conservative Anabaptist tradition. Here’s the introduction of a letter to my generation where I wrestle through the current shifting in values.
Is It Wrong to Wear a Wedding Ring?
As an effort to thoughtfully engage “Is it wrong” kinds of questions instead of writing them off, I have opened an “Is it wrong…” column on the blog. Each week we’ll take a look at an issue we might wonder “is it wrong” about and unpack it. This week, we’ll look at the wedding ring.
Dear Church, Please Stop Isolating Singles
I’ve noticed the church tends to isolate singles by giving married people more voice in decisions–even when they’re younger than some others–and by lumping them in with youth. In this post, I address a few underlying beliefs that cause this to happen.
What Is a Woman’s Role in Church?
What can women do (or not do) in church? What is their role? Can they speak? Can they lead worship? Can they teach? Can they be pastors? In this Patron-sponsored post, I share three observations from my church experience and scripture about a woman’s role in church.
The God Who Scares Us
Many millennials are wanting to understand God’s Spirit better. I think that’s wonderful. But I also think some of us expect our discovery of Him to radically change something about Christianity. And maybe it will. I don’t know. I just know there are many thoughts and ideas about the Holy Spirit, and not all of them seem in-line with Scripture.
But ignoring Him, not facing the possibility of having our perspective of God rattled and reshaped, is not an answer. That only limits our understanding of God, and therefore, our relationship with Him.
So, I’ve been going back to Scripture and trying to understand the Holy Spirit from God’s perspective, not from what I’ve heard and been taught before. As a part of this process, and in helping other discover God at a deeper level, I will write out what I’m finding.
Can You Be a Christian and Not Accept Refugees?
Without adding to the meaningless noise of opinions on the current refugee crisis, in this post I want to wrestle with some questions specific to those of us who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Can we say we are “little Christs” and not accept refugees?
Have we in the American church become so obsessed about the cares of this world and deceived by riches, and have we become so in love with other things that God’s word has been choked out of our midst and we are proving unfruitful?
If we do not accept refugees, can we claim Christ as our Lord? If we do not commit to suffering for the Gospel, can we expect to share in the resurrection?
When You Want More Than Your Mennonite Distinctives
Church is confusing these days. Especially with all the different denominations and applications to scripture.
I feel a tension in my generation of Mennonites. We learn in church that a passage of Scripture means this and we should be doing that because of it.
But other believers aren’t. Other people who have authentic relationships with Jesus aren’t necessarily wearing the veiling or dressing in dresses. In fact, some of them are having a greater impact on our culture. So why do we insist on doing things our way?
