Archive for the ‘Family Life’ Category

Well, I wanna; But…

Thursday, June 16th, 2011 by Antipas Harris

A Chinese proverb says, “To be uncertain is to be uncomfortable, but to be certain is to be ridiculous.” Life’s challenges often create uncertainties despite our desire to overcome them. However, there is an inner spiritual impetus for us to triumph “certainty” even though the Chinese proverb calls this approach to life “ridiculous.” I call this a divine inspiration to “walk in the ridiculous.”

Challenges that render uncertainties for us include insecurities pertaining to how we might feel that we look in comparison to someone else, measures of success in education, employment, finances, etcetera. As result, we are often tempted to give up.

Life’s changes, moreover, often lead to adjustments, sometimes for life. Normalcy is interrupted in the event of changes in health (illness that debilitates), changes in finances, car accidents, family crises, etcetera.

About six months ago, I was diagnosed with hypertension and fatty liver. My diagnosis came just after my dad experienced kidney failure. In the wake of the family crisis, my diagnosis startled me. Immediately, I changed my diet, began a physical exercise regimen, and paid multiple visits to the doctor to monitor my health progress. Thankfully, I am now overcome the fatty liver and my blood pressure readings are significantly lower. It is amazing, though, how situations and events alter normalcy; fear of the what might happen grips so tight that it is hard to breathe. Read the rest of this entry »

Finding Peace: A Personal and Vocational Narrative Part 3

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011 by Martin Mittelstadt

Finding peace remains an ongoing search.  I continue my exegetical and practical quest concerning peace-making.    First, as a student of the Scriptures, I persist in my study of peace particularly as expressed among the earliest followers of Jesus. Pentecostals confess the paradigmatic nature of Jesus’ life (and the lives of the Apostles) for the contemporary believer.  Reading from the Gospels and Acts, Pentecostals believe the powerful witness, healings, miracles, and exorcisms performed by Jesus to be core aspects of positive mimesis.  Ironically, Jesus’ sacrificial life and death and his holistic perspective on shalom often fails to inspire the same kind of positive imitation.  The cumulative effect of more than 100 New Testament references to peace deserves greater attention as part of Pentecostal thinking.  As Christians living in the “already/not yet” kingdom of God, the prayer “thy Kingdom come” must provide not only futuristic hope but also present reality.  The present reality of the miraculous must be extended to a theology of peace.  Thus, as Zechariah sings with anticipation concerning the future ministry of the infant messiah: “to guide our feet into the path of peace” (Luke 1:79b), so also the angelic host sings similar praises to God: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).  The gospel story provides consistent fulfillment of these oracles.  For example, Peter proclaims an inclusive ethnic message to Cornelius’ household: “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36) and Paul calls for believers to embrace a similar message: “with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15). The New Testament provides a wealth of Spirit-led oracles that call for peace with expectation for present fulfillment.  Read the rest of this entry »

Finding Peace: A Personal and Vocational Narrative Part 2

Thursday, January 20th, 2011 by Martin Mittelstadt

In my previous post, I shared of my surprising journey toward pacifism. I found my way to this position due to my engagement of Mennonite theologies and communities and only later discovered the rich peacemaking heritage in the Pentecostal tradition. As I meditated further on this new discovery, I also felt immediate disappointment and betrayal.  After sitting through thousands of hours of Sunday school lessons, sermons and then classes in a Pentecostal environment, not only had I never wrestled with pacifism but I had no idea of my heritage.  From my teenage years, I remember no discussion concerning military duty.  In fact, as my angst for college funds began to emerge, I considered joining the Canadian military for the free ride through college.  No one counseled me concerning the biblical or theological pros and cons of such a decision.  To the contrary, I remember specific services championing the military life.  Ironically, and now upon further reflection, I am stunned at the number of preachers particularly American, who came to Canada, trumpeting their military experience.  I vividly recall hearing one such preacher, Dave Roever, on several occasions.  Roever’s emotional story of service in Vietnam left young respondents with little room to ponder the convergence of gospel and nationalism. Years later, I reflected with disappointment upon my 10-year pastorate in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada immediately following completion of my doctoral residency at Marquette University. As pastor of a Pentecostal church filled with many “ex-Mennonites” in Morden/Winkler, a community in southern Manitoba and in the heart of one of the largest concentrations of Mennonites in the world, I never discussed my peace position in private or public discourse. Read the rest of this entry »

Finding Peace: A Personal and Vocational Narrative

Monday, January 17th, 2011 by Martin Mittelstadt

Jesus calls followers to a lifelong journey that requires constant reflection upon theology and praxis.  Honest theological reflection upon culture, the world, the church and the Scriptures results in the evolution of ideas and values.  An intentional Christian embraces such discovery, understanding and transformation of basic convictions both individually and collectively.  With new found convictions, this task requires a new orientation to life, specifically attitudes and actions, a desire to reflect new discoveries. Inevitably, certain core convictions treasured at one point in life may shift in light of reflection upon previously untapped information, thereby leading to subsequent understanding and new orientation.  Finding a theology of peace, specifically pacifism, became one such shift in my life. Read the rest of this entry »

The Pain of Premature Death

Sunday, December 12th, 2010 by Diane Chandler

Elizabeth Edwards (1949-2010)

Over this past week, two public figures died prematurely.  One had cancer.  The other committed suicide.  Both had to deal with a sense of personal and public shame because of a family member’s misdeeds.

This past Tuesday, December 7th, Elizabeth Edwards passed away one day after her doctors discontinued her cancer treatments. Elizabeth was the ex-wife of John Edwards, former senator of North Carolina, 2004 vice-presidential nominee, and 2008 presidential contender. We know Elizabeth for her courageous battle with breast cancer throughout her husband’s campaigns, her public struggle with her husband’s infidelity and illegitimate child, her advocacy of health issues, and her commitment to her children. At 61 years old, she leaves behind three children, ages 28, 12, and 10. 

Yesterday, December 11th, Mark Madoff, 46-year old son of convicted financier Bernie Madoff, took his own life in his Manhattan apartment, while his 2-year old son slept nearby.  The date marked the two year anniversary of when Mark and his brother went to the authorities after their father confessed to the two decade-long Ponzi scheme.  Mark had e-mailed his wife while she vacationed in Florida with their 4-year old daughter, with a parting message and asking that someone check in on their son.  

Both Edwards and Madoff dealt very differently with a deep and agonizing sense of personal and public shame.  For Edwards, she persevered, holding her head up high and her children together.  For Mark Madoff, he succumbed to shame in bearing the family name associated with his father’s dastardly misdeeds, the endless judgment by association, ongoing lawsuits, and unemployment. 

I grieve the loss of both of their lives. 

C.S. Lewis, Christian apologist & writer

When Christian apologist and author C. S. Lewis lost his wife, Joy Davidman, to bone cancer, he wrote a journal that poignantly dealt with the grief.  This was later published in 1961 as the book A Grief Observed.  His heart wrenching  struggle regarding his deep loss reveals that we can be honest with God about our struggles, uncertainties, anger, and pain.  Can you imagine calling God “a Cosmic Sadist”?  Lewis did.

How do we deal with questions related to personal and family identity, forgiveness, freedom, and issues of life and death?  How does the message of Jesus Christ offer hope in the midst of deep despair, guilt, pain, and loss?  

What are your experiences in ministering and/or receiving the love of God during such times?

The End of Marriage?

Monday, November 22nd, 2010 by Wolfgang Vondey

A new PEW study reveals the decline of marriage. Time Magazine asks “what is marriage good for?” and Yahoo! unashamedly claims that 4 out of 10 Americans see marriage as obsolete. Now, it is a far cry from the data of the PEW study to the sensationalist writings of many online sites, but the trend is obvious that marriage is no longer dominating family life and social expectations. Even in Christian circles, marriage is discussed most often in the context of counceling and damage repair. Churches offer little preventive maintenance. Marriage needs renewal! Read the rest of this entry »