Category: Columns
Living life in ordinary time
by Mathew Block My wife and I recently began renting a new home, so much of my “time off” lately has been spent unpacking boxes and trying to put the house to rights. Getting the garden in has also been a major concern. Add in…
Star Trek Into Darkness: “Greater love has no one than this…”
[Note: Spoilers follow.] by Ted Giese A crew member says, “It’s a miracle!” Spock responds, “There are no such things.” Star Trek Into Darkness is a big budget blockbuster film, chalk full of explosions and intrigue, but it doesn’t have the luxury of existing in…
He who dies with the most toys… North Americans and cargo-cult religion
by Peggy Pedersen Cargo cults have appeared in the past in various undeveloped countries, such as Papua New Guinea and Melanesia, in response to exposure to the wealth of outside cultures. In these religions, which are typically led by a charismatic leader, material goods are…
42: A film of faith and baseball
by Ted Giese The movie 42 (The Jackie Robinson 2013 Bio-Pic) is about the life of two Christians—Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson—and how they lived their Christian faith in their vocations. Rickey was the General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Robinson was a player…
Youth! Grownups! Join me in Winnipeg this summer!
by Robert Bugbee It was 25 years ago this May: our church family came from all over the country to the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Nearly every congregation sent a representative. Nearly every pastor came. It was the organizing convention of Lutheran Church–Canada. After we had…
A sea of death, a river of life
by Mathew Block I was privileged to visit the Dead Sea while on a recent trip to Israel. This sea is famous for two reasons: one, it’s the lowest place on earth at 424 meters (1,391 feet) below sea level; and two, it’s one of…