Ponder Anew

The same social Merry-go-Round

June 5, 2025

Good afternoon,

I am reading a book called The Road To Wigan Pier by Geroge Orwell. He is famous for the two books of fiction, 1984 and Animal Farm. But this is one of nonfiction. Orwell was a political commentator and a socialist , writing mostly between the world wars. The Road to Wigan Pier is a book about high unemployment in England in the 1930’s . There were many programs for the poor and, and it was similar to today , We have all kinds of social programs to try to keep the poor just enough to be alive. Orwell points out how he was was prejudiced against what he calls the ” lower upper middle class “. They were just limping along, and his family has a bit more money/resources . Then WWII began and many people were employed, and poverty went down. That is another whole soapbox.

We have Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program here in Ontario. No one is going to get rich being on social assistance. It is not a waste of money. The government has built in many other supports for the poor and unemployed, but we have more homeless and housing is at a premium, and not affordable. Food banks are used more than ever. The rich get richer, and the poor and middle class just get by, eking out a life here in Canada, the best place in the whole world ( according to some.). What can and should we do ?

The Old Testament prophets, like Jeremiah, Ezekial and Isaiah rail against inequality but it seems to be always with us. Why can’t we build into the economic systems more sharing possibilities ? We are smart and compassionate. And now we have AI, Artificial Intelligence .We all want a fair and equal society or do we, really ? We are not all the same, and some of us are very skilled, and some of us will need help all of our lives. After thousands of years, we still have not got it right for everyone to flourish.

Praying for a fair, peaceful and equitable life in Gaza.

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

Am I complicit ?

MPL

Diversity in the Bible !!?

June 6, 2025

Good evening,

” Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.” John 2:23-25

There are four Gospels. Four biographies of life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, and so much more. The early church ( around 375 AD ) selected these four stories as authoritative of the life of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour .They did not have concerns that these four different writers might focus on different aspects of the gospel story. Matthew and Luke tell different parts of the birth narrative, while Mark and John do not say anything at all about Bethlehem. All the gospels have slightly different resurrection stories. What does it mean for the church and its belief system that we have such a diverse set of stories ?

Matthew, Mark and Luke are similar. John is very different. When thinking about a story to guide me in my faith these next years, someone mentioned the Gospel of John because it is so different. In the text above John writes about the Passover. In the other three Gospels Jesus only goes to Jerusalem at the end of his life to celebrate Passover. In John he goes already in chapter 2. The Jesus we find in John tells no parables, but has seven sayings of ” I am “. This paints a diverse picture of Jesus. The above text says that Jesus does not trust humanity. What does that mean for us ?

In the church we are always trying to define what we believe in more narrow terms rather than having a wide expanse of belief. The gospels give us a way to include everyone. We should be committed to the church, and then discuss issues with the understanding that we are committed to each other. In the Anabaptist tradition we have been quick to leave each other behind, if we have a theological disagreement, rather than be in the right relationship with each other. We have to trust each other and the Spirit of the Gospels.

Salaam and strength for our journeys of life and faith

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ? MPL 2025

Being in the presence

June 4, 2025

Good evening/morning,

” Prayer is not doing but being. It is not words but the beyond-words experience of coming into the presence of something much greater than oneself. ” Katheleen Norris in Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith. page 350

I have had Norris’ book for a long time but never read it. I guess I have time now. She grew up in the Presbyterian Church, but left it during her university years. She became a poet and a teacher. She and her husband moved to North Dakota later in life, and she returned to faith. She was shaped by the local church of her grandparents, and by the local Benedictine ( Catholic order ) monks and monastery.

When I had my heart attack, I could not pray nor read the Bible. I cannot remember how long this experience lasted, but I would say at least three months. I invited the Floradale church to do my praying and reading for me. I was trying to recover from the trauma of the heart event and surgery. I needed someone to do it for me. I was trying to exist or to be.

In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Jesus says, ” Ask and it will be given to you “. Pray and you will receive whatever you ask for. I do not know what this means, because we all know we do not get what we ask for. We try to explain it away with this thought and that argument, and any new idea. Maybe it is better to just “be” in the presence of God. I have been trained for 66 years to ask, and so it is hard to just ” be”.

I have been blessed by the songs of Taize, and they are all about ‘ being ‘. ” Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom. ” is one of their songs. It is hard to learn new things especially about prayer. God says to the Psalmist in Psalm 46, ” Be still and know that I am God. ” I still need to pray for peace in the Middle East. I will try to be in the presence of God for my life. What is your prayer life like ?

Dear Lord, continue to be the voices of peace in our world. AMEN

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ?

MPL 2025

A text for the future

June 3, 2025′

Good afternoon,

About a week ago I invited you to think about a verse, story or a book from the Bible that might guide me in the next week, month or year. Three things have come to me:

Psalm 46 ” Be still and know that I am God. ” verse 10

Psalm 51 ‘ Create in me a clean heart, O God …’ verse 10′

John 13:4-5 ” So, he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him . “

The first two are about worship. I need to be in the presence of God. These two psalm readings have many songs related to them. The focus is about God, and God alone. I want to sing. Psalm 46, God is speaking through the writer, while Psalm 51 is the writer speaking to God. The passage from John is at the beginning of the final meal, the Last Supper, that Jesus has with his best friends. Only John records this act of service of footwashing done by Jesus. I still want to do acts of service, and be open for people to do acts of service for me. John 13-17 takes place during the Supper. It is the final words Jesus has for his friends. There is great trouble at the table. Judas is there. James and John want to be the best. And Peter does not want his feet washed.

The last time we had footwashing at Poole, there was only myself and one other man who washed feet. All the other men washed hands. More women washed their feet. I think it is dying out as a symbol of service. We are one of few denominations who have been doing it. What should we do ?

I will let you know next Monday of my selection.

The road of life and faith is filled with light and dark.

Praying for Gaza, for the mothers and fathers of the children. AMEN

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ? MPL 2025

It has been too long… just saying

June 2, 2025

Good afternoon,

I do not get Ascension Day. It was celebrated last Thursday in the conservative Mennonite churches. After the service, in the afternoon the men and boys go fishing. This is not why I do not get the Ascension of Jesus. The Catholic Church and the more liturgical churches also have a worship service for it. The reason I have trouble with it is because why did Jesus have to go back to heaven without us ? I thought salvation had arrived in the resurrection of Jesus. I guess it did not or not in a way I understand .

The four Gospels are about Jesus’ life told in four different ways. There is mystery all over in the stories of Mary, Joseph, Zechariah , Elizabeth, Anna and Simeon. I am fine with mystery. The Gospel stories seem to be leading up to a story of redemption. It gets sidetracked with the death of Jesus, but then the Resurrection arrives after three days of death. But… but…. Jesus leaves to go back to heaven. He says he is returning, but has not yet come back, or we missed it. The Gospels were written after all of these events including the Ascension, so the writers have to deal with this. They do it by talking about Jesus’ return and he has not left yet !

Paul says in First Corinthians 15 that ” death has been swallowed up “, but people are still dying . I do not get the delay, and I do not think I am being impatient. Two thousand years is a long time. Jesus destroyed death, so why didn’t the world end, when he rose out of the tomb ? Why did he stay around for forty days, and then leave ? Why did God not redeem the world at that moment in time ? Then I, and you, would not be born or have to die. So many questions.

As many of you have told me, I ask a lot of questions of myself and my faith. It keeps me engaged with myself and with my faith. Without it where would I be ? I would rather struggle with doubt and questions rather than be apathetic about God.

GAZA. Amen.

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ?

MPL 2025

every step I take

June 1, 2025

Good morning

Wendell Berry is an American poet from Kentucky. He is a novelist, essayist, teacher, cultural critic , farmer and ,of course, poet. I have read his poems and essays over the years. His style is precise and thoughtful. He might be seen as a nature poet. As a farmer and a lover of the land, he has over 100 acres, he writes a lot about living on this same piece of land for decades. Here is my prayer for the day, and then I will share one of Berry’s poems to end the blog.

Prayers to God

God,

You know my every step.

are they recorded somewhere

in the heavens?

or here on the earth,

in the CLOUD.

As I walk in the morning,

I try to think of every step,

but,

as you know mind fills up

with politics, faith and weather and war

but, I try to quiet my voice

so your thoughts can become my thoughts

and your voice might become my voice.

that is my hope for today,

unrealistic

but my hope,

for the steps I take,

towards heaven. AMEN

From Wendell Berry Another Day: Sabbath Poems 2013-2023

2013 I

This is the poet of the river lands,

a lowdown man of the deepest

depth of the valley, where gravity gathers

the waters, the poisons, the trash

where light comes late and leaves early.

from the window of his small room

the lowdown poet looks out. He watches

the river for ripples, flashes, signs

of beings rising in the undersurface dark,

or lightly swimming upon the flow,… Page 3

Salaam and strength for this day, your day with the Lord of the Starfields and Ancient of Days. AMEN

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ? MPL 2025

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ?

no more gopher holes

May 30, 2025,

Good afternoon,

” I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntchye to be of the same mind…

Philippines 4:2

We do not know anything about the two women mentioned above. There is nothing about them in the book of Acts about when Paul and Barnabas visit there in Philippi. But, Paul has heard that they have a problem with each other. We do not know the issue that seems to be bringing them into conflict. Is it about the nature of Jesus, or the organizing of the community of believers or about food, kosher or not ? We do not know. In today’s world, you should not write about this conflict between two people in public. The letter was meant to be read in public. This would be shameful and embarrassing today. Back then, the first century after the birth of Jesus, I do not know. Maybe this was how things were done.
Now you shame people on the internet. No face or responsibility. On the site, Threads, there is mostly slander and hateful speech. One person says something about a news item, and hundreds of thousands state their opinions. Many are Artificial Intelligence responses. No person in reality. But , here there is no plan for reconciliation or peace. It is all about letting your anger fly off into the abyss of social media. I read only about three responses and then I refused to go down the gopher hole. But it is so depressing .

What is this negative polarizing attitude and speech doing to our collective soul ? Or has this been the norm all along, and social media is highlighting it for all the world to see ? What can we do as the church or individuals ? I hope Euodia and Scyntchye resolved their problem. Glory be to God. May the reconciling words of Jesus always be our guide to relationships.

May no more children be slaughtered in Gaza. AMEN .

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ? MPL 2025

Trouble at the Anabaptist Table

( You can access my blog at ponderanewsite )

May 28, 2025

Good afternoon,

There will be a worship celebration in Zurich, Switzerland tomorrow at 11:00 am EDT. It is to be a celebration of 500 years of Anabaptism. I am not sure how many people are to be at the Grossmunster Cathedral in downtown Zurich. When our group traveled there in April, we were able to sing a hymn in this church. It was a holy moment for us. This church is where sermons were preached denouncing re-baptism, calling for the death of the Anabaptists in the 1500’s. Across the river is a plaque pointing out the place where one of the earliest Anabaptists, Felix Manz, was drowned for his faith.

Anabaptists believed the war and sword was not a Christian thing to do. This was heresy for the Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed churches. It was part of the early Anabaptist confessions of faith at Schleitheim. We will not take up the sword. Peacemaking and peacekeeping has been part of our witness for 500 years. We have searched the world for places of peace. But, but, but, we have not always been peaceful to each other. There were various groups at the beginning of our history too that did not get along, but called for peace.

Tomorrow there will be a problem at the celebration table. I do not know if communion will be celebrated. Mennonite Central Committee is under scrutiny for some of its practices to some of its volunteers. Over 20 former volunteers have shared about MCC abuse, gaslighting and non-disclosure agreements. I have read the statements and they are awful. I cannot believe MCC would act in this way, but I cannot believe these former MCC volunteers would write these things if they were not true.

At the gathering tomorrow, people are asked to wear teal coloured ribbons to call MCC to task and for peacemaking . Again, there is trouble at the Anabaptist / Mennonite table. Unfortunately, this is not a new thing for us. Our faith is embedded in us, and we want all things to be in the right order, and we want to be in the right relationship with each other, and God. But, again we are at war/disagreement/differences of opinion with each other. This trouble has been in the Mennonite press. I am hoping for reconciliation, for everyone.
” If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ” Romans 12:18

LORD HAVE MERCY ON US ALL. amen.

Gaza.

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ? MPL 2025

lectio: Holy Reading

May 29, 2025

Good afternoon,

“So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:23-26

Lectio Divina – four movements

1. Lectio

Read the passage twice.

2. Meditation ( Ponder Anew the passage ) pick a phrase or a word.

” know everyone’s heart “

3. Prayer

I pray for the healing of my heart. There is such evil and brokenness in our world, and my heart is cracked and bleeding to the core. You know my heart O God. What must I do, or be, to move towards healing the heart. Do I need another bypass surgical procedure to heal all of who I am ?

4. Contemplation

Entertain the Fruits of the Holy Spirit into my heart, O God

Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-Control 20250420_144255.heic

Fruits of the Spirit in Arabic . Amman graffiti

Amen.

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ?

MPL 2025

Full of Beans and Seeds

Good afternoon,

Self-Portrait by Mary Oliver

I wish I was twenty and in love with life
and still full of beans.

Onward, old legs!
There are the long, pale dunes; on the other side
the roses are blooming and finding their labor
no adversity to the spirit.

Upward, old legs! There are the roses, and there is the sea
shining like a song, like a body
I want to touch

though I’m not twenty
and won’t be again but ah! seventy. And still
in love with life. And still
full of beans.

I seem to retreat to Mary Oliver often. Besides history books, I only took one poetry book of Mary Oliver, Felicity, to Europe and Jordan. She seems to have the words I need at this stage of life, and for the last five years too. The Psalmist is that kind of writer for me too. Poets always paint pictures out of their lives and experiences. They speak into the heart of the soul, and the soul of the heart.

Painters, poets and preachers ( at least I think so ), are always trying to discover themselves with a good self-portrait. Can I ever get it perfect ? Who am I ?

in front of God,

in front of the Bible,

in front of my family,

in front of my friends,

in front of myself ?

Vincent Van Gogh painted a lot of self-portraits, and he is often different. Did he see the subtle changes in his face, his hair and his life ? I know I have changed since I was 20 years old, in my whole belief system, my body and my mind. I would not want to be 20 again . How are you still changing ? And are you still full of beans ?

GAZA

Fred

black and white shadows

crush humanity’s freedom

am I complicit ?