Arts & Culture

A familiar Scripture passage comes to mind when I ponder how to pray for the upcoming federal elections. According to Matthew 6:9-10, Jesus identifies us as people or citizens of God’s kingdom, and as the children or family of God. In our identity as citizens of God’s kingdom family, we are invited to pray for our nation — for his kingdom to come and his will to be done here in Canada as it is in heaven. 

There seems to be a definite dearth of common sense among homo sapiens. Humour aside, we face a very serious and expanding problem among us, a lack of wisdom. My seminary professor Tremper Longman III said that wisdom is a knowing how – that is, knowing how to navigate life.

Today the word reconciliation doesn’t so much bring me hope as it does hurt. Over the summer, we have awoken to numerous gruesome discoveries on the grounds of former Canadian residential schools. How can we as a country reconcile hundreds of years of inflicting pain and suffering on the Indigenous people…

“What do you do with the mad you feel?” was a familiar song on Mr. Roger’s TV show in the 1970s. His iconic cardigan and the little red trolley were not the only notable things about him. Fred had profound and honest insights into our life struggles, mirrored by his Christian faith. 

Advent is both a season of celebration and waiting. In homes, the Advent calendar (with its daily allotment of chocolates) and in churches, the Advent evergreen wreath (with its coloured candles) are dusted off and set in their hallowed places. These heart-warming symbols telegraph the approaching Christmas Day and also invite us to a period of waiting…

Title: Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion.
Author: By Rebecca McLaughlin
Harold Jantz reviews and recommends this book that will not only equip you intellectually but also call you to compassion and empathy for your questioning, unbelieving neighbour,

Title: Unsettling Truths: The on-going, dehumanizing legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery.
Author: Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah
This book shines a damning light on the “Doctrine of Discovery,” the legal framework that grounded and justified European colonial rule of the Americas, and whose fallout continues to impact Indigenous lives to this day.

Speaking of God Anthony G. Siegrist Herald Press Reviewed by Joshua Nightingale What is the subject? Siegrist sets out to write a “little introductory handbook on Christian theology.” Speaking of…

All That Belongs Dora Dueck Turnstone Press Reviewed by Jon Isaak The novel – featuring a retired Mennonite archivist named Catherine Riediger, who makes several startling discoveries of her own…

Title: Toward an Anabaptist Political Theology
Author: A. James Reimer
Reimer develops a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between church and society so that the church might more effectively understand its role within “the world.”

Title: Peacemaking: A Community Workbook
Author: Matt Balcarras
This workbook encourages everyday peacemaking around kitchen tables, on the playground and at the PTA, in the pew, and at the poll booth.

Raising Disciples: How to make faith matter for our kids Natalie Frisk Herald Press Reviewed by Andrea Toews What is the subject? With Deuteronomy 6:4-9 as her basis, Natalie Frisk…

Commentary calls for allegiance to Messiah’s reign Believers Church Bible Commentary: Philippians Gordon Zerbe Herald Press Reviewed by Eric Jordan Doerksen What is the subject? Gordon Zerbe’s commentary on the…