Now that we know we disagree
|

Now that we know we disagree

If anything has kept me up at night in my life, it’s unresolved conflict. Lying in bed after a strong disagreement, I find myself wondering how an innocent conversation turned into a stressful debate and then an argument. Have you had nights like that too? Especially lately? The apostle Paul pictured this painful disagreement as…

Affirming or Confessional: Aren’t there other options?
|

Affirming or Confessional: Aren’t there other options?

As pundits and pew quarterbacks are struggling to find descriptions for what transpired at the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod 2022, I’m at a bit of a loss. Most descriptions are two-sided, fitting our bifurcated partisan day and age. When it comes to human sexuality, almost everyone seems to be either affirming or confessional. But I…

Communication in a polarized world
|

Communication in a polarized world

Back in 2011, I wrote with some alarm about polarization. It was a year of federal election. My wife Betsey and I put up both an NDP and a CHP sign in our yard, for candidates who were both men of integrity and conviction. We added two home-made signs: “think” and “vote”.  Things are even…

The box to check 
|

The box to check 

Would you like to take a survey? Please check all the boxes that apply. I check the last box in the age category now, ouch. At least I know that answer. We do not fit as neatly into other categories. Contrary to the individualism of our age, we are defined by our connections. Categories keep…

What divides us
| |

What divides us

Picture a world divided: religiously, politically, economically and socially. Religiously, some stress faithful, traditional worship, as they learned it. Many focus on morality behavior. Others say it is about prophetic action, especially to right injustices. Politically, some like government programs from “we, the people.” Others favor local government for our community. People sometimes fight the…

Fears, lies and freedom
| |

Fears, lies and freedom

Two of my cousins were in Ottawa when the trucks rolled in at the end of January. Wayne Stronks was setting up camp on Slater street after completing the 4500 km drive from Smithers, BC. Daniel Perry was logging into work-from-home video calls, his downtown office closed amidst the uncertainty. I, like many Canadians, was…