Just what is a “christian,” exactly? You’d think I’d know, being a minister. I’m sure that I could dust off a long-winded definition I learned in seminary. Or Google it and see what the latest Wikipedia or dictionary entry says. But I guess I’ve become a little confused, so please...
I think “belonging” is a hot topic in churches right now. I want to say that it always has been, but we did go through several centuries where obligation, requirement and fear were pretty powerful motivators. Maybe they still are, for some. But, in these days of declining attendance and...
Cori is a Healing Medium, receiving and sharing messages from past loved ones and guiding angels, and she also teaches intuitive meditation classes and retreats. Her wellness centre, Divine Wisdom, is located in Donalda, AB.
Death and grieving aren’t topics people seem to want to talk about, until they have to. After attending a grief workshop with Bill last fall I knew that he needed to come on the SWFS podcast to share more of his wisdom and his story. As the program coordinator for...
In the history of the Christian church, Paul is certainly a “somebody.” His letters – the epistles – form a significant chunk of Christian scripture in the Bible, though some may be more authentically Paul than others. Perhaps even more significantly, we have those writings because he travelled, establishing communities...
Every year, on the Sunday after Easter Day, we tell the same story. And I don’t mean the same story but a different source. Like, on Easter Day, we tell the resurrection story every year but from a different gospel. The schedule we follow for readings, the Lectionary, says one...
We’ve missed the point of the “doubting Thomas” story, just like so most gospel stories. We’ve been taught to “keep the faith”, and in many ways we’re told that while having doubts is a natural and normal side effect of being human, it’s still something we should try our best...
Between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday there is a lot going on! It’s really the only time of the year when we follow a biblical story in “real time”, probably because it’s the most significant time that Jesus spent on Earth, from riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, to Maundy...
The tomb was empty. The stone was rolled away from the entrance. The linen burial shroud they wrapped him in was still there, but the body of Jesus was gone. Isn’t that just like Jesus. He never seems to stay where we put him. Good thing: if he did, we...
Palm Sunday’s a big deal in most churches. It should be, it’s the beginning of what’s called Holy Week, the week that also includes Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, leading to Easter. It’s pretty much the only time we can chronologically follow Jesus’ story day to day. Sunday, Jesus rides...