♪I’ve visited Baptist, Alliance, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Mennonite worship services for various one-time events. I’ve then asked myself, am I at the best church?

♪My attitude can easily fixate on discouragement. Grumbling about the never-ending futility of capturing weeds and losing sight of the higher purpose. Not so with Caleb.

Walter Kruse’s early teaching career got him fascinated by the far north; now, sent by EMC to teach in Paraguay he was intrigued by the cultural landscape of Paraguay: the Indigenous people, the Paraguayans (a mix of indigenous and European), and Mennonite settlers. The observations he made were recorded in the form of letters mailed to Canada; he later edited them, took some literary liberties, and collected them in this book.

♪Our son wrestled with the sense that God was inviting him into full-time Christian ministry while at the same time he saw an opportunity to use his videography and editing skills in the marketplace.

♪Christians agree that God promised land to Abraham’s descendants, but did God intend for that promise to extend forever? In a time of intense disagreement over Israel’s actions in response to Hamas, it’s helpful to consider our belief regarding the biblical case for and against Zionism.

♪In encounters with people with a disability, Jesus shows us:
1. That a person with a disability has autonomy and will—“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6).
2. That a person with a disability is not some angelic, sinless being, but like every human, is also in need of forgiveness—“Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5).

♪Most of us know someone who is autistic, or you may be autistic yourself. Stephanie Fast, teacher and student, works to bring clarity to autism and presents ideas for making autistic people feel welcome in EMC congregations.

♪The sun ebbed, reflecting off the Sea of Galilee. Water lapped against the small fishing vessel, and the familiar cry of seagulls echoed overhead. A young rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, slept as his disciples conversed in low tones.

Then, in a moment, everything changed.

♪I was twelve years old when my best friend at the time shared with me that there was a place where you could go where you would feel awkward for not raising your hands in praise to the Lord while you sang. Hearing this was revolutionary for me.