November's leaves make the mountainside slippery. We're going down to the river, to a remote campsite on the banks of the West Branch Susquehanna River. Four months ago, a friend named Elmer perished at that campsite beside the river, not because of the rushing water, but because of a falling tree. He died when the leaves were full and green, and now when autumn has drained the color from the mountains, we're going to visit the campsite in memory of him. There's sixteen of us picking our … [Read more...] about Down to the River
Faith
Streetcars & Photoshop
Mennonites love history. It's the 502th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, All-Hallows Eve, and there's high winds and a tornado watch, but tonight we're enjoying a lecture on the streetcars of Lancaster County. I'm at the Martindale Mennonite Fellowship Center, sitting in an audience of about three hundred and eighty people. Our speaker is eighty-three-year-old Herb Fisher. Mr. Fisher uses his version of a Powerpoint (Windows Photos, with verbal instructions for his helper to … [Read more...] about Streetcars & Photoshop
Abiding in the Word—A Weekend Well Spent
"You aren't packing that heavy Bible, are you?" Dad asks. He's confused why I'm adding the biggest Bible I own to my overnight bag rather than the numerous travel Bibles we have around the house. "Dad," I chuckle as I lower the ESV study Bible with its crumbling leather cover into my bag. "This is a heavy-duty Bible conference. I think I'm going to need a heavy-duty Bible." I've been looking forward to this weekend for months, ever since I first learned about the Abiding Women's … [Read more...] about Abiding in the Word—A Weekend Well Spent
Tour Guide Teamster: My Friend Susanna’s Unusual Side Job
The wagon, loaded with Tennessee tourists, rolls forward, pulled by a pair of horses named Champ and Nicholas, guided by a tour guide teamster named Susanna, who lectures us on the Amish life as we take a buggy ride through Lancaster County farmland, in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Tourist buggies, which are the size of covered wagons, are a common sight in the tourist areas of Lancaster County. I've seen them for years, and today, I'm taking a ride on one of these buggies for … [Read more...] about Tour Guide Teamster: My Friend Susanna’s Unusual Side Job
Book Review: The Myth of the Dying Church by Glenn T. Stanton
It's a book that seems too good to be true: Christianity isn't declining, in fact, authentic Christian faith is on the rise, both in the United States and globally. This is the message of The Myth of the Dying Church: How Christianity is Actually Thriving in America and the World (Worthy Publishing, 2019). The author, Glenn T. Stanton, is a researcher, columnist, lecturer, and debater, and directs the Global Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family. He makes his living doing research … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Myth of the Dying Church by Glenn T. Stanton