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# Young Anabaptist Radicals

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## Posts

- [The GC/MC dance of authority and autonomy: An interview with Lin Garber](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/07/26/the-gcmc-dance-of-authority-and-autonomy-an-interview-with-lin-garber/) - Cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled (with different introduction) Over the years here on YAR, discussions about the differences between the approach of the (Old) Mennonite Conference (MC) and General Conference (GC) have cropped up now and again. This comment from AlanS from 2010 is probably one of the most insightful. For non-Mennonites or those
- [Is discernment a bureaucratic or a brotherly-sisterly process for Mennonite Church USA?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/10/08/is-discernment-a-bureaucratic-or-a-brotherly-sisterly-process-for-mennonite-church-usa/) - In a May 2014 letter in The Mennonite, C. Norman Kraus asked whether the role of Mennonite Church USA Executive Director (ED) and has begun to look like a "new papal office." He said, "...are we not loading an institutional position with official authority that our polity does not accommodate?" By bringing the pope into
- [Voices for LGBTQ inclusion from Pink Mennos](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/02/16/voices-for-lgbtq-inclusion-from-pink-mennos/) - Cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled The Mennonite Church USA executive board meetings in Harrisonburg wrapped up yesterday. It's been an intense two weeks. On Feb. 4, the Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) website posted Ervin Stutzman's response to the "Rule of Love" letter from 150 pastors calling for MC USA "make space for congregations
- [Haunting straight Mennonites moderates, pt 2: crisis and conciliation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/05/24/haunting-straight-mennonites-moderates-pt-2-crisis-and-conciliation/) - I've been reading the thread of comments in response to my post on Anabaptist Ghosts on The Mennonite. I think the concerns by the Aaron Kauffman (read his comment) and Harold Miller (read his comment) are shared by others as well and need to be addressed. As I understand them, one of the key arguments
- [Bureaucracy, professionalism and dissent in Mennonite Church USA institutions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/04/26/bureaucracy-professionalism-and-dissent-in-mennonite-church-usa-institutions/) - This is the second article in a series on Mennonite Church USA and its institutions. Part 1 is here. In the first article of this series, I critiqued "professionalism" in Mennonite institutions without defining it clearly. In the comments responding to the article, a number of people rightly pointed out that professionalism plays a very
- [Haunting straight Mennonite moderates: the Christian tradition of confrontation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/05/09/haunting-straight-mennonite-moderates-the-christian-tradition-of-confrontation/) - This piece was originally published on my blog for The Mennonite magazine on May 9, 2011. You can read part 2 of the essay, Crisis and Conciliation here. You can read more blog posts related to the legacy of Ervin Stutzman here. In this month's editorial in The Mennonite, editor Everett Thomas quoted Mennonite Church
- [A Pink Menno case study: Tension and Nonviolent Direct Action](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/07/11/a-pink-menno-case-study-tension-and-nonviolent-direct-action/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled An energetic mix of excitement and anxiety hung in the air. It was 10 pm on July 4, the second-to-last night of the Mennonite Church USA convention in the Pink Menno space. I was sitting with 40 others as we talked through the following morning. We planned to enter
- [Mountainhead Glossary and Further Reading: Accelerationism, Longtermism, Doomers, Decels, Technofeudalism and the Shield of Boringness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2025/06/27/mountainhead-glossary-accelerationism-longtermism-doomers-decels-technofeudalism-and-the-shield-of-boringness/) - Mountainhed explores competing concepts among tech billionaires. Is the future of artificial intelligence progress or peril? Should tech leaders pursue Accelerationism or Decellerationism?
- [Response by Jennifer Yoder to the Response by Ervin Stutzman](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/02/06/response-by-jennifer-yoder-to-the-response-by-ervin-stutzman/) - You can read Response by Ervin Stutzman here, if you missed it. Several days ago I noticed a flurry of activity — a letter signed by 150 pastors calling for welcome of LGBTQ folks, the Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA in response “earnestly desir[ing] that our church be faithful to scripture and God’s call,”
- [Transformationist Anabaptism: the missing fourth stream from the Mennonite Church USA imagination](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/10/27/transformationist-anabaptism-the-missing-fourth-stream-from-the-mennonite-church-usa-imagination/) - This post was originally published two years ago as MMMMs: Expanding our Churchly imagination in my blog for The Mennonite. Thanks to Hannah Heinzekehr for adding photos to illustrate this piece. In the wake of this summer’s Mennonite Church USA convention and the pending departure of Lancaster Conference, I am reflecting on the role of
- [Mennonite/s Writing Conference 2022 at Goshen College in Indiana](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2024/11/13/mennonite-s-writing-conference-2022-at-goshen-college-in-indiana/) - This piece was originally published on October 13, 2022 on the Anabaptist Historians blog The Mennonite/s Writing conference was September 30 to October 2, 2022 at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. It was a meaningful space for me of cross-pollination, listening and learning. Here are a few highlights for folks who weren’t able to attend
- [Beyond George Blaurock and the 500th anniversary: Vincent Harding and the Transformationist Anabaptists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2024/08/27/beyond-blaurock-the-other-origin-story-of-anabaptism/) - This article was originally published in the Fall 2024 issue of MennoMedia's Leader Magazine. Illustration of George Blaurock generated using DALL-E by Tim Nafziger, August 26, 2024 As Mennonites and other Anabaptists prepare to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism, we are marking the anniversary of January 21, 1525, when George Blaurock and Conrad Grebel
- [A study in Tweaking: Steve Jobs, Vincent Harding and Mennonites](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/11/27/a-study-in-tweaking-steve-jobs-vincent-harding-and-mennonites/) - This month Malcom Gladwell had an article in the New Yorker looking at the legacy of Steve Jobs. His central thesis is that Jobs' gift was not originality, but rather tweaking: the ability to take the inventions of others and refine and improve them dramatically. Gladwell points out that the iPod came out 5 years
- [Redefining a Historic Peace Church Against Whiteness and White Supremacy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2021/02/15/defining-a-peace-church-against-whiteness-and-white-supremacy/) - Photo: Participants at the February 2017 Hope for the Future gatherings. From left to right: Rafael Barahona, Calenthia Dowdy, Ann Jacobs, Evelin Gonzalez and Colleen Whigham-Brockington. Photo by Jenny Perez Castro. This piece was originally published in June 2017 in The Mennonite magazine. It’s been seven months since I last wrote in this space about
- [Mennonite power dynamics and status markers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2023/08/27/mennonite-power-dynamics-and-status-markers/) - This essay was originally published in Anabaptist World in July 2022 as Quilts and Power: What Malcolm Gladwell is missing about Mennonites On June 22, author and speaker Malcolm Gladwell published an essay on his participation in a Mennonite wedding in the town where he grew up in southern Ontario. Gladwell opens the piece by
- [Patterns of this World, part 3: Patriarchy, Pacifism and Powerlessness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/21/patterns-of-this-world-part-3-patriarchy-pacifism-and-powerlessness/) - In the first article of this series, I did a broad overview of the bureaucratization trends in the Mennonite Church. In the second article, I looked specifically at the philosophy of institutions put forth by J. Lawrence Burkholder and practiced by James Brenneman and Howard Brenneman as presidents of Goshen (Ind.) College and Mennonite Mutual
- [Patterns of this World: Institutions and Bureaucracy among the Mennonites, Part 1](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/28/patterns-of-this-world-institutions-and-bureaucracy-among-the-mennonites-part-1/) - A few weeks ago, I referenced Romans 12:2 in a comment on SteveK's post on fire codes and faith. Tim B questioned whether this was a relevant passage. This post represents my further thoughts on the passages relevance to bureaucracy. "In the world, but not of it." This is a concept long embraced by Mennonites
- [Social Media as a tool for holding those with power accountable](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/08/23/social-media-as-a-tool-for-holding-those-with-power-accountable/) - This blog post was originally published on my blog for The Mennonite two years ago. In his address to graduating students at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) on May 2, President Loren Swartzendruber complained about social media. On May 2, the Daily News-Record quoted him: “Here’s the challenge we face,” he said, “namely the question of
- [Amish Cyberpunk: ChatGPT self-corrects its theology on peace in a short story](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2022/12/13/amish-cyberpunk-chatgpt-self-corrects-its-theology-on-peace-and-community/) - For the last few weeks I've been hearing a lot about ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that can tell stories, write code and answers questions. My brother had told me he'd had it write code for him and then correct bugs in the code when he pointed it out to ChatGPT. I was intrigued. I'd
- [What the London rioters and the early Anabaptists have in common](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/19/what-the-london-rioters-and-the-early-anabaptists-have-in-common/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled. Tottenham High Road by Nicobobinus Some Rights Reserved Last week, riots and looting moved through neighborhoods in London that I know well. The broken windows, fires and shouts of "I want a satnav*" were juxtaposed with a familiar map that I bicycled through to work for nearly two years.
- [The last, best hope of earth: John McCain and US weakness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2022/02/12/the-last-best-hope-of-earth-john-mccain-and-us-weakness/) - This was originally posted on Facebook on February 12, 2008. I just read John McCain’s victory speech after today’s Republican primaries. This passage caught my eye: They will paint a picture of the world in which America’s mistakes are a greater threat to our security than the malevolent intentions of an enemy that despises us
- [Listening to Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and James Cone](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/18/listening-to-martin-luther-king-malcolm-x-and-james-cone/) - Crossposted from my blog for The Mennonite. Last evening I sat around our living room with 22 other Living Water Community Church folks and had a frank conversation about racism. The conversation was passionate and open. It ranged from personal stories to talk of definitions of racism and even touched on the practical. It was
- [Armed Flash Mobs: insurrectionist crowd dynamics, technology and guns in the storming of the US capitol on January 6, 2021](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2022/01/06/armed-flash-mobs-the-storming-of-the-capitol-on-january-6-2021/) - In understanding the storming of the capitol one year ago today I'd like to focus on the framework of the "armed flash mob," a term used by scholar Darrell Miller that connects with concepts introduced to me by Bill Wasik, an article in Wired magazine 10 years ago. I’m also drawing on the 40 minute
- [Jesus Radicals! Anarchism and Christianity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/06/25/jesus-radicals-anarchism-and-christianity/) - New Heaven, New Earth: Anarchism and Christianity Beyond Empire August 14 & 15, 2009 Location Caritas Village 2509 Harvard Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112 This year's anarchism and Christianity conference, hosted by Jesus Radicals, will look squarely at the economic and ecological crisis facing the globe, and point to signs of hope for creativity, for alternative
- [Establishment Anabaptists, part 1: David Joris' authority and Menno Simons](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/06/23/establishment-anabaptists-part-1-david-joris-authority-and-menno-simons/) - This multi-part post is the first in the Anabaptist Streams series here on Young Anabaptist Radicals, in which we'll be looking at different streams of early Anabaptism and making connections with our own context. The series will feature different authors over the coming months and is loosely based on Rodney Sawatsky's model of four streams
- [Anonymous as a Tactic](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2021/09/05/anonymous-as-a-tactic/) - This was originally published by Tim Nafziger in Jesus Radicals on December 18, 2010 The arrest of Assange and attacks on Mastercard, Visa and Paypal by “Operation Payback” have garnered far more attention than the cables themselves. Their denial of service attacks shut down these major sites by loading the site over and over again very quickly.
- [The complicity of nonviolence with white supremacy amidst the fires in Minneapolis](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2020/05/29/the-complicity-of-nonviolence-with-white-supremacy-amidst-the-fires-in-minneapolis/) - This post was co-written by Tim Nafziger and Mark van Steenwyk in 2017 (see original) in response to the backlash against anti-fascists actions in Charlottesville, Virginian in August 2017. We're reposting it with a new title because it feels even more relevant today as we watch the white liberal response to the burning of the
- [A poem for Michael J Sharp](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2019/09/18/a-poem-for-michael-j-sharp/) - This poem was written two and a half years ago when I heard of the assasination of Michael J Sharp in the Congo. This poem previously published here. MJ was a contributor here on YAR for a few years. You can read his blog posts here. Lima Bean Eulogy We planted lima beans the morning
- [Learning from Bernie's mistakes: an analysis of "How It All Came Apart for Bernie Sanders"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2020/03/21/learning-from-bernies-mistakes-an-analysis-of-how-it-all-came-apart-for-bernie-sanders/) - This morning’s NY Times piece, "How It All Came Apart for Bernie Sanders" is a must read for every supporter of the Sanders campaign. It’s not a pleasant article, but learning from mistakes is critical collective work, even when it happens in a painful public way. While the focus of my political work has not
- [Queerness, Mennonites and Bullying: Beyond Spirit Day and Wearing Purple](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/10/25/queerness-mennonites-and-bullying-beyond-spirit-day-and-wearing-purple/) - This week on Thursday, people around the world wore purple in response to a spate of suicides has raised the profile of bullying dramatically. Specifically, bullying of gay and lesbian adolescents and teens. Watching this video of Google employees got me thinking about my own experiences of bullying as I grew up. For the first
- [Consistency in small things: wrestling with the vocation of administration](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2015/01/14/consistency-in-small-things-wrestling-with-the-a-word/) - I wrote this piece on my blog for The Mennonite back in October 2012, but never got around to posting it here. I finished up my role of interim assistant director at Christian Peacemaker Teams 5 months ago and I have moved back to doing web site building. However I continue to ponder the themes
- [An invitation to Mennonites to the 2019 Bartimaeus Kinsler Institute](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/12/03/an-invitation-to-mennonites-to-the-2019-bartimaeus-kinsler-institute/) - Two years after the election of Donald Trump as the next president in the U.S. it is easy to feel like there’s nothing left to say. However, I want to engage with my family of faith: Mennonites stretched across this country and far beyond who are committed to living out Jesus’ call to shalom: peace
- [Poem: Advent’s Eve, 2005](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/11/26/78876/) - I was a reservist with Christian Peacemaker Teams living in London in 2005 during the kidnapping of Norman Kember, Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Tom Fox. Today is the 13th anniversary of the date they were taken. On that last day of ordinary time Norman, Harmeet, Jim and Tom walk across a parking lot
- [Laughter is Sacred Space: Memoir of an Anabaptist comedian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/12/10/laughter-is-sacred-space-memoir-of-an-anabaptist-comedian/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled This is the funniest book about the pain of suicide you'll ever read. It may also be the most profound. By diving deep into what it means to lose your comedy partner, Ted Swartz squeezes us through windows of surprising grace, lubricated by laughter. Scene 2 of the book
- [A Poem for Hiroshima Day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/08/09/a-poem-for-hiroshima-day/) - The Necessity of Hiroshima: why we must believe Act I in The Year of Decisions, our savior Harry asked "a committee of top men" Men all carved from the same superior Aspen, carefully lathed of their "to study with great care" care. Eviscerated as children, smiling beneath strange fruit. They died for "the implications the
- [Mennonites and #MeToo: 4 Ways to Challenge Rape Culture](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/09/21/mennonites-and-metoo/) - This post was originally published on my blog for The Mennonite two years ago This week we’ve seen audio of Donald Trump’s bragging about sexual assault open up a nationwide conversation about rape culture, which is the set of beliefs and ideologies which blame victims of sexualized violence and normalize sexualized violence, often by men
- [Divisiveness and nonviolent direct action](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/09/10/divisiveness-and-nonviolent-direct-action/) - Note: This piece was first published two years ago on my blog for The Mennonite. It was written in response to the 2016 shooting of police offers in Dallas by Michael Xavier Johnson. In the wake of the shootings of police and civilians in Dallas, many voices are blaming the Black Lives Matter movement and
- [The silencing of Mennonite women and feminists who speak up](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/05/20/the-silencing-of-mennonite-women-who-speak-up/) - This post was originally published on my blog for The Mennonite two years ago. On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Ruth Krall wrote “A Considered Response to Lambelet and Hamilton: Vis-Ã -vis the topic of being made invisible…one more time” on her repeated experience of invisibilization by male Mennonite colleagues who pigeonhole her as a “very angry
- [An interview with an Emerging Church leader drawn to Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/18/an-interview-with-an-emerging-church-leader-drawn-to-anabaptism/) - This interview is a repost from my blog on the Mennonite of an interview with Jarrod McKenna, a leader in the Emerging Church movement in Australia and founder of Empowering Peacemakers in Your Community, an organization that runs trainings on nonviolence and ecology in Australian schools, churches and prisons. I've previously referenced an article Jarrod
- [Towards an Anabaptist Response to Terrorism?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2018/02/08/towards-an-anabaptist-response-to-terrorism/) - I originally published this review in with the Anabaptist Network in November of 2005 while working with them in London, England. I've been surprised how often the themes in this book have come back to me over the years and its one of the few books that made its way with me all the way
- [What if we let subversive play leak into our lives?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/12/22/what-if-we-let-subversive-play-leak-into-our-lives/) - This article was originally published two years ago today in Geez Magazine two years ago today. The photos in the spread above and the slideshows below are from my role in the the Carnival de Resistance as resident clown and constantly conflicted documentarian. The Carnival is coming to Philadelphia, PA in July and August 2018!
- [Holding sexual predators and those who protect them accountable in Mennonite Church USA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/12/20/holding-sexual-predators-and-those-who-protect-them-accountable-in-mennonite-church-usa/) - This article was originally published two years ago on my blog for The Mennonite here. On December 1st, Mennonite Church USA’s (MCUSA) Executive Board staff cabinet announced the members of a new sexual abuse prevention panel. This panel is a direct response to the Churchwide Statement on Sexual Abuse passed by the delegate assembly this
- [Time to confront John Howard Yoder's sexual assault and abuse and Mennonite Church complicity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/07/17/time-to-confront-john-howard-yoders-sexual-assault-and-abuse-and-mennonite-church-complicity/) - by Barbra Graber This is cross-posted from Our Stories Untold I remember the Sunday morning two Mennonite Youth Fellowship friends were made to get up in front of the congregation to publicly confess their sins. They were pregnant out of wedlock. Meanwhile John Howard Yoder, the most acclaimed Mennonite theologian and symbol of male power
- [Four Streams of Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2015/04/24/four-streams-of-anabaptism/) - This is a cross-posting of a piece first posted eight years ago on my blog for The Mennonite. Since then we organized a series here on YAR looking at some of the historical groups that Sawatsky highlights. You can read the articles in that series here. What if rather than one unified view of Anabaptist
- [The Altar of the Gun](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/16/the-altar-of-the-gun/) - Note: I found writing this piece to be a way of channeling my own anger at the massacre this morning. But I recognize that anger is only one part of the grief process. Please join me in praying for the families and friends of those killed. American worships the gun. Today, 33 more were sacrificed
- [The interview with Leah Wenger that helped launch the MCUSA Step Up program](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/09/04/the-interview-with-leah-wenger-that-helped-launch-the-mcusa-step-up-program/) - I published this interview with Leah Wenger two years ago today on my blog for The Mennonite under the title Moving beyond the belittlement of the youth: An interview with Leah Wenger. Glen Guyton and other Mennonite Church USA convention staff rose to Leah's challenge and worked with Leah and others to launch the Step
- [Timor Leste & Detention](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/11/04/timor-leste-detention/) - Well I am sitting down, forcing myself to write this. I’ve been back in my community in Perth Western Australia for about 2 months — I guess that’s long enough. The title is a lame attempt to sum up what the content of this entry is - you know like titles used to. I’ve not
- [Bioregionalism, peacemaking, fig trees and vines](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/28/bioregionalism-peacemaking-fig-trees-and-vines/) - Cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled Earlier this month I was talking with my friend Chris about a talk he heard last weekend by Ched Myers on bio-regionalism. One of the key concepts from the presentation was: "You can't save what you don't love and you can't love what you don't know." In other words,
- [The practice of bioregional discipleship: herbalism, murals, bible study, permaculture, and Wolf'ems, oh my!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/07/30/the-practice-of-bioregional-discipleship-herbalism-murals-bible-study-permaculture-and-wolfems-oh-my/) - It's been a month since Charletta and I arrived in the Los Angeles airport direct from our time with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Colombia. Now that we've caught our breath, I wanted to share with you a window into our first two whirlwind weeks here in the Ojai valley working with Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries. Charletta
- [Hope in the face of apocalypse: A review of Inhabit movie](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/07/30/hope-in-the-face-of-apocalypse-a-review-of-inhabit-movie/) - This review was originally posted two years ago on radicaldiscipleship.net 8 years ago, I showed “What a Way to Go” to my family. I hope they would, as the movie tag line says, come to grips “with Peak Oil, Climate Change, Mass Extinction, Population Overshoot and the demise of the American lifestyle.” Halfway through the
- ["We did it in Detroit": Working for racial justice in Mennonite Church USA is not done](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/07/24/we-did-it-in-detroit-working-for-racial-justice-in-mennonite-church-usa-is-not-done/) - This interview, originally published two years ago, was the eighth interview in my ongoing Anabaptist Camp Follower series in which I interview people who have been drawn to Anabaptism and Mennonites. Kelly Bates Oglesby is pastor at Park View Mennonite Church in Kokomo, Ind. Our interview happened before the massacre of nine Black Christians in
- [Wrestling with the Evasiveness of the Evana Network](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/07/16/wrestling-with-the-evasiveness-of-the-evana-network/) - This blog post was originally published two years ago soon after the launch of the Evana Network On April 13, 2015 the Evana Network officially announced its new name and its first staff person, John Troyer, in The Mennonite. For those who haven’t been following things, the Evana Network may simply be a network of
- [Transitioning Young Anabaptist Radicals to personal blog](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2017/07/15/transitioning-young-anabaptist-radicals-to-personal-blog/) - The last few years here at Young Anabaptist Radicals have been fairly quiet apart from two anniversary posts, in part because I made a decision to stop cross-posting my blog posts from my blog for The Mennonite here after the YAR blog was hacked in the spring of 2015. I've since transitioned the site to
- [Gregory Boyd: "Mennonites: they're in trouble"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/26/gregory-boyd-mennonites-theyre-in-trouble/) - A friend just sent me It turns out I'm a Mennonite! from the blog of Greg Boyd, a prominent dissenter in the mega-church movement. In July 2006 he was profiled in the New York Times after he lost 20% of the membership of his mega-church after refusing to endorse conservative political causes. He is author
- [Mob a local store for the Environment!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/26/mob-a-local-store-for-the-environment/) - Ever wander what the opposite of a boycott is? Wonder no more. An innovative nonprofit called Carrotmob this fascinating new strategy for environment action that remixes those old Hacienda fundraisers where everyone shows up for a meal and 5% goes to your local high school. In this case, Carrotmob took bids for the highest percentages
- ["That which exists is possible"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/22/that-which-exists-is-possible/) - Today I had the chance to hear Gene Sharp speak at the John Howard Yoder Dialogues on Religion, Nonviolence and Peace at the University of Notre Dame. I was not familiar with Sharp's work prior to this event, although his most famous book is The Politics of Nonviolent Action. Sharp's talk, entitled "Principled Non-violence: Options
- [second time around](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/22/second-time-around/) - for thos of you who missed it the first time around (and i guess now a second time, since we just got Katie's new posts up), Katie posted a link (hidden deep in her introduction) to a great little speech she gave. i wanted to pull it to the forground here and identify some of
- [YAR Travelogue from Venezuela No. 3](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/21/yar-travelogue-from-venezuela-no-3/) - On Tuesday we took a tour of the area around Merida with our guide named Alberto. Alberto was born up the valley from Merida in the Andean foothills and for the last 7 years has been a guide for tourists. He told us stories of mountain rescues and handling Anacondas. When I asked him what
- [an event to attend](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/21/an-event-to-attend/) - In addition to this event that Lora pointed out a few days ago is another event that y'all should consider if you are Mennonite*. I went to the Young Adult Fellowship retreat last year in Ontario and it was pretty cool. This year it is near South Bend, IN and is happening the weekend of
- [YAR Travelogue from Venezuela No. 2](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/17/yar-travelogue-from-venezuela-no-2/) - So today I had another opportunity to get a skewed sampling of Venezuelan opinions on Merida´s cable car, the highest and longest in the world. In one of the stations on the way up, Charletta and I struck up a conversation with an professor of computation (accountancy?) and her husband an economics professor. Not surprisingly,
- [Confessions of a Tattooed Mennonite](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/15/confessions-of-a-tattooed-mennonite/) - Hello, everyone. This blog does the body/soul good! For the past few years, I've been addicted to "confessional" forms of literature. As a poet, I just can't stay away from bringing skeletons out of the closet or mucking through some pretty big issues in my own work. The other young women in my grad workshop
- [Intro to Katie](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/14/intro-to-katie/) - I guess it is about time I introduced myself and wrote something. I'm Katie Hochstedler, aka Katie Ho. I'm young and Anabaptist and I'd like to think I'm radical. Who know's who's really radical and who's not? I spend my time living in Minneapolis and working for Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
- [while we're doing introductions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/07/while-were-doing-introductions/) - we should also be doing trust falls and walks-a-miles. maybe. on the other hand, here's a bit about me: i've been involved with cpt and various other activist groups on and off since attending my first (gateway) SOA protest. i was in South Dakota for a bit, with the warriors on La Frambois island back
- [Why Young Anabaptist Radicals?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/06/why-young-anabaptist-radicals/) - Why start a blog for Young Anabaptist Radicals? I'd been thinking about the idea for a year or two since Michael Sharp started up the Mennonite Progressive list. It seemed like there was interest among folks, but an email list didn't seem to be the best focus. I bounced the idea off various friends and
- [design update](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/04/01/design-update/) - just a few changes left to make. there'll be a new background graphic for the footer, with a border that spans the whole page. also some other things maybe. i'll do some work on the sidebar features and see what sweet plugins i can find. done all that. if you're up for some real excitement,
- [first yar meeting](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/31/first-yar-meeting/) - some of us met today to rant about various things and worship golden calves. the usual. it was great. i see this being a fabulous little blog in the near future - and a major menno hit down the road. we've got ideas from hot topics (boring) to mennonite organizations (lame) to 'evil vs. good'
- [selective systems of service and poverty](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/23/selective-systems-of-service-and-poverty/) - This afternoon I was taking a test for a course called Jesus and the Gospels. I was laboring over questions and getting irritated with myself for not studying more. But there was a time issue — not only a commitment issue. I like Jesus — and the Christian Scriptures that recall the good news that
- [the queer radical Mennonite conundrum](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/21/the-queer-radical-mennonite-conundrum/) - I'm going to do a spin-off from the speech I pointed you all to last week. So here is the conundrum. I grew up Mennonite. I went to a lovely, nurturing, happy, rural church (East Union Mennonite Church) where I was baptized at 16. I went to a Mennonite summer camp (Crooked Creek Christian Camp)
- ['peace play'](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/17/peace-play/) - those of you around the Goshen College scene have probably heard of, witnessed, or even participated in the famous Goshen College Peace Play Contest. you should have - we're talking submissions from international playwrights and... well... some fairly major questions about what a 'peace play' is. my least favorite is the "crash" genre - airbrushed
- [A White Supremacist Theology of Liberation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/16/a-white-supremacist-theology-of-liberation/) - A friend recently told me that I should start saying things, whether I have them right or not — that the saying, the conversation is what matters. So, in that spirit, here’s a glimpse into what I consider, along with Robin Hawley Gorsline, to be contemporary white-supremacy. And why we can’t just say white supremacy
- [YAR Travelogue from Venezuela No. 1](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/15/yar-travelogue-from-venezuela-no-1/) - Yesterday my wife (!) Charletta arrived in Venezuela for our honeymoon. We decided its the first time for both of us that we´ve been in a Latin American country as purely a tourist (previously it was studying, volunteering or CPTing). Venezuela seemed like a great place to go to see beautiful countryside and do some
- [dreaming the day away](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/15/dreaming-the-day-away/) - A few days ago, I was asked what I dream of for the church. It came just after an unrelated discussion about this event. The truth is, I couldn't answer that question at the moment. I'm still stewing over it; it involves something along the lines of a place where we can share our joys
- [Things Biographical](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/09/things-biographical/) - Ohh…internet blog sites. I’ve never tried one…this is my blog cradle. I will be nurtured here — or shaken out of my comfort to my metaphorical baptism by carpet-burn. And I choose to sign my name to YAR, because I think it’s got potential. The potential to hurt and heal - to annoy us in
- [Bible verse of the day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/03/08/bible-verse-of-the-day/) - One of my old professors teaches a course on international development in which he instructs his students in each of the three theories of development (read: why people are poor and what they need to be not poor). At some point during the semester, he requires his students to decide which theory of development they
- [Running from the Military Police](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/09/04/running-from-the-military-police/) - This last weekend, I had to decide exactly how radical I wanted to be. I was put in a situation where I stood between an AWOL soldier and the military police, who very much wanted to arrest him. If only I had a nickel for every time this happened, I'd have close to five cents.
- [Time is short ... until 1700 years shall have been completed!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/04/13/time-is-short-until-1700-years-shall-have-been-completed/) - My young, my very young anabaptist radical friends, you're all much too young to remember this, so let me - as an ancient of days - tell you about something that is much older than you. ... No actually, I don't want to talk about the past, but rather about how a past event is
- [Prayer Warriors](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/12/05/prayer-warriors/) - Please, I am wondering if anyone knows of a less militarized way of labeling a group of people who commit to praying for an event or process. I am gathering a group of people to give SERIOUS prayer support to the process of pastoral transition at church. Traditionally, the term "prayer warrior" has been used.
- [DADT: Why I'm Surprised](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/09/23/dadt-why-im-surprised/) - So I'm a Christian, a Mennonite: anti-war, anti-violence, anti-military. My Dad would say I'm a good liberal Mennonite (since those two words are, in his mind, synonymous) but I'm also gay. So I was surprised when I watched the video on YouTube entitled “Telling my dad I am gay- Live” (see below) and I was
- [The Alternative Method of God](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/07/27/the-alternative-method-of-god/) - Being different One thing that I find so inspiring in South Africa are the countless people who do and participate in miraculous activities day-in-and-day-out as they strive to make their community better. In working for the Anabaptist Network in South Africa, my wife and I have the honour of meeting different people all around the
- [Widening the Circle Book Discussion and Signing](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/11/21/widening-the-circle-book-discussion-and-signing/) - YAR contributors ST and TimN have chapters in the new book, Widening the Circle: Experiments in Christian Discipleship edited by Joanna Shenk, also a YAR writer. If you are near Goshen, Indiana, we'd love to have you join Joanna, Tim and other chapter authors for discussion and a book signing on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
- [Corporations, Scriptural Sacrilege and Saucepan Revolutions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/05/27/corporations-scriptural-sacrilege-and-saucepan-revolutions/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled Every once in a while, I stumble across a bunch of links all at once that don't quite have the coherence to link together in one story, but each offer a compelling perspective. Here are the links that caught my eye this week with brief summaries of the stories:
- [An Introduction](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/16/an-introduction/) - [NB: This post originally served as my "application" to YAR, and Tim thought it would be good for me to share with you all as well.] Hi. My name is David Cramer, and I'm the newest member of the Young Anabaptist Radicals. I'm young because I'm 25 and because I've only been Anabaptist for about the last
- [How would you translate Menno's TEF?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/02/15/how-would-you-translate-mennos-tef-quote/) - As part of the conversation that often occurred in response to Mennonites in Northern Ghana, who were asking me "what does it mean to be Mennonite?" I would quote a snippet from Menno's document. (I mean, only sometimes, when they asked specifically about Simons, because "church founders" are a BIG deal there). But the language
- [New Wine/New Wineskins Follow-up](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/09/22/new-winenew-wineskins-follow-up/) - Since I last wrote, Allan has provided this info that completes the reporting from the Winnipeg meetings. (Thanks Allan)! A document entitled “Recommendations from September 2009 Inquiry Task Force Meeting” has been posted on MCC’s website that gives further context, and charts a path forward in addressing the concerns that were named. I would encourage
- [Reviving the wake: being present with those who mourn](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/02/13/reviving-the-wake-being-present-with-those-who-mourn/) - On Saturday, Feb. 4, Charletta and I had just left a day-long church meeting when we got word from her father that their pastor, Mick Murray, had been killed in a car accident. Mick was pastor at the Kalona (Iowa) Mennonite Church where Charletta's family has attended for 16 years. Charletta and I decided to
- [Love Wins - the book review](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/23/love-wins-the-book-review/) - This post is a followup to my thoughts on the controversy that preceded the release of this book. You can read those thought on the wandering road here, and on YAR here. This post is also on the MWR blog here. An artist is, first and foremost, someone who sees the world differently than other
- [The morning after: politics beyond an election](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/23/the-morning-after-politics-beyond-an-election/) - Now what? I woke up the morning after Election Day politically disoriented. The empty feeling in my stomach didn’t go away after eating my usual yogurt and granola. What would I do in a world without politics? Do I have to wait another four years to fill that gnawing political void? Not according to Romand
- [The Trouble with Thanksgiving: A Reflection by Nekeisha](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/25/the-trouble-with-thanksgiving-a-reflection-by-nekeisha/) - Thanksgiving makes me nervous. For years, I’ve gotten a sinking feeling in my stomach as the month of November draws to a close and this day looms. On the one hand, Thanksgiving is about joy and gratitude. It is a time when I travel to see family and friends, welcome a few days of rest
- [Running in Fear](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/12/13/running-in-fear/) - Ever feel like you’re somewhere where you shouldn’t be? Yesterday I was running on the Coal & Coke Trail outside Mount Pleasant when I found myself in the midst of hunting season in Western PA. Orange-clad hunters with rifles patrolled the woods on either side of the trail. This isn’t abnormal this time of year…after
- [A review of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/23/a-review-of-animal-vegetable-miracle-a-year-of-food-life-by-barbara-kingsolver/) - This review is cross-posted from La Fleur Epuisee This week, I finished this lovely book. I'm a bit behind on the bandwagon, but I'm glad I finally got around to it: finishing Animal, Vegetable, Miracle left me feeling challenged and alive and hopeful. The book is Kingsolver's account of a year's experiment in local eating.
- [Wife Swap looking for one good Mennonite family](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/12/wife-swap-looking-for-one-good-mennonite-family/) - This is not satire. Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled This past week, the producers of the Television show "Wife Swap"Â sent out an email soliciting a Mennonite family to participate in their show. The email, with the subject line "Seeking Strong Families with Strong Morals" says "we are hoping to reach a Mennonite family that
- [YAR will join SOPA strike tomorrow](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/01/17/yar-will-join-sopa-strike-tomorrow/) - Read all about the strike and why its so important to oppose SOPA and the Protect IP bill here: SOPA Strike. Or you can watch Stephen Colbert explain it: Here's another video: P.S. We didn't actually getting around to the technical work of taking the site down. Sorry about that.
- [More with Much Less: An Anorexic's Guide to Mennonite Cooking ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/06/03/more-with-much-less-an-anorexics-guide-to-mennonite-cooking/) - Since becoming Mennonite, I have thought more about the ethics of consumption than I had previously as a generically evangelical Christian. I have been challenged to analyze the impact of how I spend my money (and how much I spend), where I shop for clothes, what food I eat, etc. I imagine that--like me--many Mennonites
- [Bruderville 2020: An urban anabaptist odyssey](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/01/18/bruderville-2020-an-urban-anabaptist-odyssey/) - ... Picture this: As the new millennium dawns, anabaptists do a new thing in the city: Build a communal neighborhood populated by tens of thousands of simple-living sectarians. The project is initiated by the Bruderhof and some Old Order Amish, partly for practical reasons: (1) the Amish and Bruderhof population explosions, making it necessary to
- [tell a story](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/09/11/tell-a-story/) - I was a senior in high school in September 2001. I was to have a cross-country meet that Tuesday evening, the 11th, and the boy’s soccer team at my school was to play its archrival. I remember not being surprised that we were attacked. Previous visits to Africa and Latin American revealed to me glimpses
- [Why I Don't Vote](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/01/why-i-dont-vote/) - I just want to say at the onset, that I am not really an evangelist about not voting. But I am tired of people telling me that I am immoral or unpatriotic for not voting. And given that some have spoken of the presidential election on this site, I figure I can give my "third
- [Herding sheep and video games](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/29/herding-sheep-and-video-games/) - This morning the sheep got loose here on Crazy Rooster Farm. One figured out that the fence wasn't electrified and the rest followed it over. Rounding them up was harder than I expected, but also much more fund. It got me thinking about video game mechanics and the way they reflect real world challenges that
- [Paul and Slavery: A View by NT Wright](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/24/paul-and-slavery-a-view-by-nt-wright/) - Colossians and Philemon N.T. Wright Tyndale New Testament Commentary Series, Vol. 12 Released: Dec 30, 2008 ISBN:083084242X Available at: Amazon Westminster Bookstore Christianbook.com Since N.T. Wright's recently released book, Justification, is currently getting a lot of attention around the blogosphere, I thought a review of a less controversial volume of his writings would be a
- [A Report on #Occupy Empire: Anabaptism and God’s Mission](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/06/01/a-report-on-occupy-empire-anabaptism-and-god’s-mission/) - It’s difficult to know where to begin reporting on the #Occupy Empire mini conference that took place at Eastern Mennonite Seminary back in April. Though the conference was short, there was nothing “mini” about the content lined up by the conference planners, Brian Gumm and Aaron Kauffman. Thus what I offer here is a reflection
- [Avatar for real: Colonel Quaritch wins, Aka-Bo exterminated](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/02/26/avatar-for-real-colonel-quaritch-wins-aka-bo-exterminated/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled. In January, Boa Sr died. At 85 years old, she was the last speaker of Aka-Bo. Until the 1850's those who spoke Aka-Bo were one of 10 Great Andamanese tribes living their traditional life ways in the Andaman islands. Today, there are only 52 members of the remaining Great
- [Book Review of "A Map and a Mule: A Peace Story of Queen Isabel of Portugal." ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/01/28/book-review-of-a-map-and-a-mule-a-peace-story-of-queen-isabel-of-portugal/) - I am a frequent reader of children's books. I can't help it. I have two small children of my own who have voracious appetites for books, so reading and reviewing this book seemed a welcomed challenge. As many adults can attest there is no lack of books for children and most of it just doesn't
- [Coming Clean: A Confession](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/11/coming-clean-a-confession/) - [Note: This post was originally posted at Cramer Comments. I understand that its revelation may not be quite as shocking here.] I have a confession to make. Some of my friends and colleagues are already fully apprised of what I am about to say. But for many other family members and peers, all they know
- [An In-Between Place](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/11/28/an-in-between-place/) - Last Friday, the city of Philadelphia handed out eviction notices to Occupy Philadelphia, notifying the residents that they had to leave by Sunday at 5pm, or they would be removed. While, I haven’t been a part of this movement, I’ve been observing them from the edges. And, when I heard about the eviction, I was
- [A Practical Christian Community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/19/a-practical-christian-community/) - Lately I have been doing a lot of communicating with God via the Holy Spirit; or is it that God has been doing a lot of communicating with me via the Holy Spirit or even still a combination thereof? God has been giving me a desire to become a "United Front" with my Christian Community
- [Theology of Christendom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/13/theology-of-christendom/) - Anabaptism, to me, is one of the few beacons of hope that Christianity can still be relevant and authentic. Anabaptism is one of the few strains of Christianity that has not been completely co-opted. However, I still find myself in an awkward place that makes it somewhat problematic for me to call myself an Anabaptist
- [US gun manufacturers fuel Mexican drug cartels](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/20/us-gun-manufacturers-fuel-mexican-drug-cartels/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled It's rare I pick up the newspaper in the morning and read an article about the war on drugs that leaves me feeling encouraged. In fact, I don't think its every happened before. But this morning, I read about hearings in congress that are identifying the role of the
- [Joining the community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/18/joining-the-community/) - To quote one of my favorite Sesame Street characters of my early years: "Hello, Everybodeeeee!" (gotta love Grover). I've just been given the privilege to be a contributor here on YAR and it was suggested that I give a bit of an intro so y'all know who it is writing this stuff. For what it's
- [When will they update the 12 marks?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/29/when-will-they-update-the-12-marks/) - In class we've been studying a lot about New Monastics. Lots of good stuff that you can read about it in many places, some even on this blog. Since it's a fluid movement, I was wondering when they are going to update, change, or adjust their 12 marks. I have some comments on a few,
- [Recession Revolution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/17/recession-revolution/) - This is part of a discussion on the PNMC Peace And Justice Forum: I think it is time for the church to reconsider its politics.. I'm not advocating that we all try to get elected or take over the government necessarily. But I do think we might be entering a 1930's scenario where if we
- [Anabaptist Revival in Allegheny County](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/12/12/anabaptist-revival-in-allegheny-county/) - It is strange that I live in Pennsylvania, a state with a strong Anabaptist population and history, but in my county (Allegheny) there was very little presence. Part of the problem is that I live in western Pennsylvania, while the historic Anabaptist populations primarily settled in the east, on the other side of the Appalachian
- [Anawim Theology and Avatar](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/28/anawim-theology-and-avatar/) - Anawim theology is the biblical theology of God's salvation of the poor and outcast. It is strongly linked to anabaptist theology. "Anawim" is a Hebrew term that means "the poor seeking the Lord for deliverance", is used in the Psalms extensively and is referred to in the Magnificat and the Beatitudes. If you are interested
- [Mennonite justification for removing prayer from public schools](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/04/03/mennonite-justification-for-removing-prayer-from-public-schools/) - Some people find it odd that I am both a pastor and against having mandatory prayer in the public school system. After all, didn’t Jesus say things like, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation,” and “Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them
- [John Chinaman](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/07/12/john-chinaman/) - Reading old Newspapers can often be an exciting experience. Especially in small town newspapers many editors were quite blunt and do the point. Sometimes this makes for rather humorous descriptions of the rough and tumble life of early white frontier settlers. Other times, their bluntness cut straight to the heart of an issue, convicting not
- [Anabaptism and Progressive Christianity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/01/13/anabaptism-and-progressive-christianity/) - (This is a blog I just wrote for my own website, but I felt that it should be shared here too.) As I am sure many already know, I am training to be a minister of the Progressive Christian Alliance, yet I also identify as an Anabaptist. At first glance, it would appear that I
- [Toothbrush Revolution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/06/18/toothbrush-revolution/) - Yesterday I was at the dentist‘s and they gave me a toothbrush. Now I hear in the States that‘s not an usual thing, but in Germany it‘s actually really strange and so after the dentist thought she had put her fingers in my mouth long enough and I was allowed to go, I was carrying
- [The Universe Loves You! (A publication of the Marginal Mennonite Tract & Propaganda Dept.)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/28/the-universe-loves-you-a-publication-of-the-marginal-mennonite-tract-propaganda-dept/) - The Universe Loves You! ... & thinks you're perfect just the way you are! The christian church teaches the doctrine of original sin, that everyone is born with a sinful nature. ... We, on the other hand, believe in original goodness, that the spark of the divine resides in each and every human being. (Psalms
- [The Golden Thread: The promise of universal salvation throughout the Jewish bible (Bronx Streets Translation)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/02/06/the-golden-thread-the-promise-of-universal-salvation-throughout-the-jewish-bible-bronx-streets-translation/) - "God says: I'm gonna have mercy on whoever I'm gonna have mercy on. And I'm gonna have compassion on whoever I'm gonna have compassion on." (Exodus 33:19) "God got mad mercy. Mad grace too. She don't get pissed off much. Her love stretches down through the years. She lets people off the hook pretty easy."
- [Manifesto of the Mennonite Anti-Mission Association](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/07/07/manifesto-of-the-mennonite-anti-mission-association/) - We are Mennonites (and fellow travelers) who reject the church’s mission activities. We believe Christian mission, historically, goes hand-in-hand with cultural destruction. We love human diversity and seek to preserve it. Thus, we oppose evangelistic crusades and mission boards that proselytize, no matter how well-meaning they claim to be. We reject the authenticity of the
- [Hell's Empty!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/09/18/hells-empty/) - When God tells us to love everybody, even those who don't love us back (Matt. 5:44/Luke 6:27-28), isn't this an imitation of the way God loves? When God tells us to be generous and give to everyone (Matt. 5:42/Luke 6:30), isn't this a reflection of God's universal generosity? When God tells us to be merciful
- [A Modest Proposal (or A Post-Yoderian Strategy)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2016/10/06/a-modest-proposal-or-a-post-yoderian-strategy/) - Editor's Note: 10 years ago, we kicked off this blog. Over the coming months, we'll be hosting a series of posts reflecting back on the last 10 years. Thanks to Tom Airey, co-editor of our sister blog, RadicalDiscipleship.net for this second post in this series. - Tim Nafziger Caption: Tom (right) listening to Ched Myers
- [Celebrating 10 Years of Young Anabaptist Radicals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2016/08/31/celebrating-10-years-of-young-anabaptist/) - Editor's Note: 10 years ago today, we held the founding meeting of Young Anabaptist Radicals and kicked off this blog. Over the coming months, we'll be hosting a series of posts reflecting back on the last 10 years. At the end of that series, this blog will be converted into a personal blog for my
- [Closer: reflections on the trinity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/06/19/closer-reflections-on-the-trinity/) - God created us without us; but God did not will to save us without us. ~ Augustine of Hippo I have always found good company with the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans when he writes about the groaning inside all of us: “for we do not know what we ought to pray
- [YAR Christmas Reflection](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/12/24/yar-christmas-reflection/) - Dear Friends, Enemies and Pirates, This Christmas I want to let you know that I'm grateful for this little corner of the internet that you create through your presence and participation. It's been more then four years since a group of us came together around the idea of a blog for Young Anabaptist Radicals. Most
- [Report from Christian Peacemaker Teams in Greece](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/04/14/957/) - For the last week, I have been part of a delegation from Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Europe to Greece to listen to the stories of refugees into Europe and those working with them here. Here are a few windows into our time so far. Thursday morning our boat arrived to Lesbos. We rented a car
- ["Wow. What a ride!" - in memory of Gene Stoltzfus](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/03/12/wow-what-a-ride-in-memory-of-gene-stoltzfus/) - "None of us is promised tomorrow, which makes me wonder if maybe we all shouldn’t be living as if we’re on our final journey home... Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,
- [Who do we want to be?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/09/06/who-do-we-want-to-be/) - I'll admit at the outset--I used to read YAR and comment on post back in the day, but got busy with seminary. Â But, now that I'm out of school I've had renewed time and interest in reading again. Â I don't feel like I have much of a right to comment on the state of YAR,
- [United States National Religion](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/09/14/united-states-national-religion/) - I'm guilty of a form of idolatry. It is really rather insidious. It has a guise of being in keeping with the Kingdom but it ends up taking away my time that I should be doing following Christ into the world. I listen to a whole different set of priests. I read a different set
- [The Occupy movement through the lens of love](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/15/the-occupy-movement-through-the-lens-of-love/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled Occupy Love is an ambitious documentary. In an hour and 30 minutes, it attempts to offer a short history of Occupy Wall Street. It traces the roots of the movement back to the streets of Tunisia in December 2010 and through the plazas in Spain in the summer of
- [Violence Begets Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/11/14/violence-begets-violence/) - "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." -- Matthew 26:52 (KJV) ‎"Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love... " -- Rev. Dr.
- [YAR Meetup on Wednesday at 9 pm at Mennonite Convention in Pittsburgh](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/06/29/yar-meetup-on-wednesday-at-9-pm-at-mennonite-convention-in-pittsburgh/) - Who: Readers of and contributers to Young Anbaptist Radicals blog of all ages and anyone else who wants to join us. What: To meet each other in person and to hang out and talk When: Wednesday, July 6 at 9 pm Where: Young Adult Lounge in convention center (map forthcoming), David L Lawrence Convention Center,
- [Blessed Are the Poor](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/08/09/blessed-are-the-poor/) - This post originally appeared on my blog, Koinonia Revolution. I was reading a really interesting and really disappointing article about poverty and our perception of it yesterday. It does not say anything I did not already know, but it did get me thinking about something when I read this: Prejudice against the poor increases during hard
- [Foot-washing and Conscientious Objection: An Adventist Finds His Roots in the Radical Reformation (Part 2)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/12/14/foot-washing-and-conscientious-objection-an-adventist-finds-his-roots-in-the-radical-reformation-part-2/) - This is the second in a three-part series comparing Seventh-day Adventists and Anabaptists. The CBS television program “World Religions: Sikhs, Seventh-day Adventists, and Mennonites” (description, program, schedule) provided the motivation for this series. Please see the introduction to Part 1 if you have not yet read it. As I explain in the introduction, this project
- [Review of "Pink Smoke over the Vatican"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/07/15/review-of-pink-smoke-over-the-vatican/) - "Pink Smoke Over the Vatican" tells the story of the struggle for women to be ordained in the Roman Catholic Church. Through interviews and historical vignettes, it portrays the tragedy of deeply gifted women, called by the spirit, but rejected by their own leaders. In watching the movie, it was tempting at times to distance
- [Report from CPT Aboriginal Justice Delegation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/04/12/report-from-cpt-aboriginal-justice-delegation/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled One of the things I've noticed in my work as outreach coordinator for Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is that the least well known project is CPT's work with aboriginal peoples here in North America. So this spring I decided to spend time on the Aboriginal Justice team in order
- [Here we go...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/05/04/here-we-go/) - Note: This is a repost from my personal blog at http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/. Since there are a number of post-modern/post-Christendom Anabaptist radicals hanging out here, I thought y'all would enjoy participating in the conversation. Remember this post? http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2008/09/post-anabaptism.html And this one? http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/2009/01/daunting-challeng.html It's been a little over a year since I set that challenge before myself. Well,
- [Disillusioned conservative evangelicals in Texas drawn to Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/04/10/disillusioned-conservative-evangelicals-in-texas-drawn-to-anabaptism/) - In my role as administrator for the Young Anabaptist Radicals, I sometimes get emails from people with general questions about Anabaptism. Two weeks ago, I got an email from a professor at a college in Texas who shared the following thoughts with me. The questions I asked the professor are in bold. For more background
- [Embracing the Foolish](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/12/06/embracing-the-foolish/) - When I look at my life so far, I realize that I really shouldn’t be a Christian. I grew up in a culturally Christian environment, where neither of my parents really cared about religion, and the few experiences I did have with the church growing up were not good ones. Add to that the fact
- [bear with me here](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/29/bear-with-me-here/) - Hey folksies. My names Charles. I've been lurking on and off here for quite awhile and finally got around to joining this excellent community of quality folk. And thus I have to introduce myself. But let's preface some of the particulars of where I come from and where I'm going with a much more fun
- [Confessions of a white anti-racist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/07/12/confessions-of-a-white-anti-racist/) - I arrived in Pittsburgh at the beginning of the week of convention, eager to take it all in. Â I couldn’t wait to run into old friends in the hallway, participate in thought-provoking seminars, and, close to the top of the list, add my voice to the community of voices as we sang familiar hymns. Â I
- [Young Anabaptist Radicals now on Facebook](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/01/24/young-anabaptist-radicals-now-on-facebook/) - Well, the poll results are in and a majority of you wanted a YAR presence on Facebook. Here it is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-Anabaptist-Radicals/131225733607986 Like away. If Facebook import doohickey works like it should*, YAR posts should show up on your news feed whenever they post here. Also, suggest a new poll int the comments. My imagination is
- [Thunderbirds and Airshow Evangelism for Empire](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/09/19/thunderbirds-and-airshow-evangelism-for-empire/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled This weekend has seen the death of 10 people in two different crashes at air shows. My own experience at the Chicago Air and Water show this summer has had me reflecting on this cultural phenomenon and its importance to U.S. patriots. If you want to skip the philosophical
- [Wikileaks' Cablegate as a threat to empire: Cyber Command scrambles](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/11/29/wikileaks-cablegate-as-a-threat-to-empire-cyber-command-scrambles/) - Today Wikileaks began its release of over 250,000 diplomatic cables in conjunction with media outlets around the world. I believe the work they are doing is on the emerging edge of resistance to US imperialism. The releases not only unmasks the powers in meticulous detail, but threaten the very mechanisms through which empire seek to
- [I Have Power](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/31/i-have-power/) - Yesterday, on my way to take my ten year old son to camp, I was telling him my plans for the day.I was driving to Harrisburg from Philadelphia with a van full of Mennonites (white and non-white, citizens and undocumented) to oppose the attempts of some State Representatives to make it a crime to be
- [Letter from Jeju Island](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/25/letter-from-jeju-island/) - Caption: Villagers and Protestors chant for the release of village leader Kang on Jeju island during the events described below This letter was sent out by Paco this morning in an email to supporters of the campaign to Save Jeju Island in South Korea. I'm posting it under Paco's author account here on YAR -
- [Early Anabaptism as social movement, part 1: Movement of the Word, 1525-1535](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/15/early-anabaptism-as-social-movement-part-1-movement-of-the-word-1525-1535/) - This is the first in a four part series from my essay entitled, “The Early Anabaptist Movement through the Lens of Social Movement Theory.” By way of introduction to my piece, I wrote the following poem. I invite you to read it as an exercise of imagining what the emerging Anabaptist movement must have
- [Early Anabaptism as social movement, part 2: Understanding the Lens](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/16/early-anabaptism-as-social-movement-part-2-understanding-the-lens/) - See part 1 in the series here. Was the 16th century Anabaptist movement a social movement? There are many parallels between modern social movements and the Anabaptist movement; some writers actually use the term “social movement” to describe early Anabaptism. However, I argue that the Anabaptist movement was not a social movement by definition, though
- [They Obtained Much Following](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2015/10/19/they-obtained-much-following/) - 16th century German historiographer and reporter Sebastian Franck (1499-1543) wrote concerning the Anabaptists in his work Chronik (III, fol. 188): The course of the Anabaptist was so swift, that their doctrines soon overspread the whole land and they obtained much following, baptized thousands and drew many good hearts to them; for they taught, as it
- [Remembering Our Identity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/08/20/remembering-our-identity/) - We are Anabaptists. We are Mennonites. We are distinct from other Protestants and denominations. We care about peace, justice, community. We are a unique and special people. Many of us feel this way or at least I know, at times, I do. There is a special quality of Christianity that is evidenced in Anabaptism. Yes, we
- [First Anabaptist conference on Occupy movement plus American Spring](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/26/first-anabaptist-conference-on-occupy-movement-plus-american-spring/) - This spring will see the first Mennonite conference on the Occupy movement (at least that I'm aware of). The Anabaptist Missional Project will be hosting #Occupy Empire: Anabaptism in God's Mission at Eastern Mennonite Unversity on April 13-14,. They have an impressive line-up of Anabaptist-minded peace and justice activists and thinkers: Nekeisha Alexis-Baker, Janna Hunter-Bowman,
- [YAR Tag line contest for 5th anniversary](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/23/yar-tag-line-contest-for-5th-anniversary/) - As we approach our 5th anniversary (August 31st), I'm please to announce a tag-line contest. For the last 5 years, our inconspicuous tag-line has been "A Metaphorical Molotov." I've decided its time for something new and I'd like your help coming up with something suitably funny and incisive. So between now and August 26th, post
- [What I learned at the Open Door](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/12/02/what-i-learned-at-the-open-door/) - This article was originally published in the October 2011 issue of Hospitality, the newspaper of the Open Door Community in Atlanta, Georgia Last year was not my best year. Looking back I understand much of my dissatisfaction, but I would be lying if I said I have it all figured out, and I never expect
- [Privilege, Appropriation and Leadership among the neo-Anabaptists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/26/privilege-appropriation-and-leadership-among-the-neo-anabaptists/) - Earlier this month, Charity Erickson wrote an article, "Peace Reformation = Humble Leaders" that offered some questions and challenges for neo-Anabaptists around leadership and the roots of this growing movement. The response, in the comments on her post and on social media, was cantankerous. I followed up with her to do an interview, the fifth
- [Lifelines and the Happy Gospel](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/01/03/lifelines-and-the-happy-gospel/) - Before I begin, let me offer full disclosure: I have suffered from depression and anxiety on and off for more than five years. Granted, my illness falls fairly low on the spectrum, but the fact that I’ve left a couple jobs because of the overwhelming experiences of anxiety shows you that this has caused a
- [Race, Mutuality and Anabaptist Community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/06/11/race-mutuality-and-anabaptist-community/) - Today a friend shared his experience when he was a young white teenager hanging out with young Latino men. When there was a possibility of encountering the police, they would say, "act white" and my friend would be asked to do the talking. What does "acting white" look like? If you're asking that question, you're
- [Young Adults & Church: BikeMovement 5 years later](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/15/young-adults-church-bikemovement/) - Five years ago I joined a group of young adults called BikeMovement that biked from the Pacific Coast in Oregon to the Atlantic Shore in New Jersey. We stopped at churches along the way holding conversation about what it meant to be a young adult in the church. The journey started July 10, 2006 and
- [Immigration and the Church in Phoenix](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/07/28/immigration-and-the-church-in-phoenix/) - I live in Phoenix, the front line in the war against the tired, poor, and huddled masses yearning to be free. I would imagine everything here looks pretty awful from the outside, seemingly without a silver lining, but I’ve been seeing something different, something beautiful happening here. In the midst of our police raids, our
- [Sparking Renewal and Becoming Undone: What I've been up to recently](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/06/07/sparking-renewal-and-becoming-undone-what-ive-been-up-to-recently/) - For the last few months I haven't been as active on Young Anabaptist Radicals as usual. Aside from my normal work doing web design and work for Christian Peacemaker Teams, I took a class on Anabaptist History and Theology. I've also been part of organizing a gathering in conjunction with the US Social Forum in
- [The Swiss Brethren, Part 2: Theological Distinctions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/05/the-swiss-brethren-part-2-theological-distinctions/) - From its establishment, the Swiss Brethren separated themselves from Roman Catholics and Protestants. Their existential form of Christianity was something that the religious community as well as the general public could not fathom. While some aspects paralleled that of the Reformers concerning belief in other areas it was quite disturbing because of their otherness to
- [Bureaucracy and Buildings in the Mennonite Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/04/19/bureaucracy-and-buildings-in-the-mennonite-hurch/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untittled A few weeks ago I sat down with a group of Mennonite Mission Network staff who have been managing the $10 million capital campaign for the new Mennonite Church USA building on the campus of Associated Mennonite Biblical seminaries in Elkhart, Ind. The staff members were meeting with a
- [Mennonite Takeover?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/11/14/mennonite-takeover/) - Just read this article. I feel misunderstood; but in a way they do call us out on some stuff. It's called "Mennonite Takeover?." What do you think? An excerpt: All these neo-Anabaptists denounce traditional American Christianity for its supposed seduction by American civil religion and ostensible support for the "empire." They reject and identify America
- [pink Menno campaign](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/04/pink-menno-campaign/) - NOTE: Read first before commenting: This is a very very simple little post put up way back when only a couple dozen people have heard about Pink Menno (my, times have changed!) meant simply to announce its presence for YARers who might be interested. If you want to actually find out about Pink Menno, go
- [Minarets, church towers and Babel](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/12/06/minarets-church-towers-and-babel/) - I don't know whether in the States you have noticed the debate about the Swiss people's decision last Sunday (29th of November) to amend their constitution to forbid minarets. Here in Germany and the rest of Europe fascists and right-leaners are celebrating and want plebiscites on these issues as well(check out their posters!). Swiss politicians
- [The evil, rotten core of US war and empire and why it should make us all angry as hell](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/07/the-evil-rotten-core-of-us-war-and-empire-and-why-it-should-make-us-all-angry-as-hell/) - A page from the Martyr's mirror depicting Geleyn Corneliss, who was hung by his thumb while his torturers played cards. Modified illustration from Third Way Cafe Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled Yesterday, March 6, 2013, we in the US learned in The Guardian that our government put torture and death at the center of
- [Shifting definition of "Ethnic"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/07/17/shifting-definition-of-ethnic/) - First things first. Being Mennonite has nothing, repeat NOTHING, to do with ethnicity. Being Mennonite, or any other version of Anabaptism, has to do with a particular understanding of faith, religion and God. That being said, I offer the following observation on the use of the term "ethnic" within the Mennonite Church. One one hand:
- [Family](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/01/27/family/) - You may have seen news lately about different countries considering new harsher penalties for sodomy or whatever language they might choose. It's happening in Russia, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya and I'm sure many other places. These days in the US many queer folk are tracking the lawsuits in each state that are striking down the
- [Dutch Blitz and Haystacks: An Adventist Finds His Roots in the Radical Reformation (Part 1)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/12/12/dutch-blitz-and-haystacks-an-adventist-finds-his-roots-in-the-radical-reformation-part-1/) - On Sunday, December 14, CBS will air the television program “World Religions: Sikhs, Seventh-day Adventists, and Mennonites” (link).[1] I don't know why CBS selected these three particular faith traditions, and I don't know if this is an on-going series on world religions, but as a Seventh-day Adventist who attended a Mennonite seminary, I find the
- [Now I Understand](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/17/now-i-understand/) - This last year our church determined that we would open to shelter the local homeless each time the weather went below freezing, but the city wouldn't permit other churches to open up. We live in a fairly temperate climate, but the winter was cold, and most homeless weren't prepared for it. After opening more than
- [Re: Elephants, A Call to Allies and Humans in the Mennonite Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/10/re-elephants-a-call-to-allies-and-humans-in-the-mennonite-church/) - Good afternoon, allies and humans of the Mennonite Church. I (a human who is queer) have a quick note, a “call to action,” if you will. First, some facts: I am a human with a human life partner and a human (step/bonus/partner’s) son. In addition, members of my family such as my mother, brother, sisters,
- [Of Playgrounds, Chicago Housing and Ning](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/27/of-playgrounds-chicago-housing-and-ning/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled Last Saturday I rode my bicycle out to First Church of the Brethren for meetings. along Van Buren Street. As I biked away from the loop, west along Van Buren St., commercial properties gave way to the brand new condos where young urban professionals have recently arrived from the
- [Why does Sojourners magazine have more advertising then content?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/14/why-does-sojourners-magazine-have-more-advertising-then-content/) - The other day I picked up the November issue of Sojourners, a magazine and an organization that I feel a lot of shared values with. I flipped to the cover story, "The Meaning of Life". I started to read the article, but quickly became distracted by the advertising that took up the majority of every
- [Kairos and Lent in the "Holy Land"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/03/08/kairos-and-lent-in-the-holy-land/) - Crossposted from Ekklesia, UK by ST with permission of Tim Siedel Experiencing the Lenten season in Palestine is unique. It carries with it incredible feelings of closeness and concreteness as one visits sites such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem – the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ
- [Stories from National Anthem Conscientious Objectors](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/02/stories-from-national-anthem-conscientious-objectors/) - Last year many of you were saddened to learn that the administration at Goshen College decided to begin playing the national anthem before sporting events. A group of faculty, staff and students at the college is hosting a new website for those opposed to the decision to share life experiences that have shaped their convictions.Â
- [Facebook as a tool against repression](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/02/15/facebook-as-a-tool-against-repression/) - cross posted from As of Yet Untitled Last Sunday, a friend of mine got up and shared about the detention of Philip Rizk, a German-Egyptian activist and journalist. Phil had roomed with my friend at Wheaton College and was a best man at his wedding. And now he was in secret detention in Egypt. Two
- [School of the Americas Protest Coverage](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/11/21/school-of-the-americas-protest-coverage/) - I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed right now, on the personal level. Yet I have this perpetual desire to never let the personal woes and difficulties overwhelm the big picture. So, in an effort to keep things in perspective, I wanted to at least highlight = lift up for prayer everything that is going on down in
- [Our most bitter opponents: the Christians who fought against Dr. King ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/01/15/our-most-bitter-opponents-the-christians-who-fought-against-dr-king/) - Warning: This blog post contains some graphic images. MLK day is day when we appropiately focus a lot on the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Christianity and the prophetic witness of the movement he led against racism and white supremacy. We sometimes forget that most of the white people who Dr. King challenged were
- [Grafting streams: from Church of Christ to Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/25/grafting-streams-from-church-of-christ-to-anabaptist/) - I grew up in Church of Christ, a branch of the Stone/Campbell movement (along with the Christian Church and Disciples of Christ with the Church of Christ being the most conservative). If you think of them as Southern Baptists without a formal denomination structure or musical instruments in worship, you would have a fair approximation.
- [Christians: the vanguard of American anti-capitalist sentiment?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/25/christians-the-vanguard-of-american-anti-capitalist-sentiment/) - I've been wanting to write up a longer introduction to this link for two weeks, but I haven't gotten around to it. Zach over at Revolution in Jesusland was visiting European lefties and told them that Christians are on the vanguard of American anti-capitalist sentiment: So when I bring up the “Revolutionaries” of the American
- [Did He Mean It?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/12/16/did-he-mean-it/) - As I am sure we all know, there was a tragic shooting in an elementary school up in Connecticut. This is not the first shooting in this country either -- not at all. It seems like every week or so that there is a major shooting in the United States. Not all of them make
- [Introducing Hilary](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/21/introducing-hilary/) - Dearest all, my name is Hilary. Perhaps, this will allow you to get to know me a little bit: I love cutting vegetables and baking bread. There is something about getting my hands entangled in earth-turned-food that reminds me of what is important in life. One of my favorite things to do is to come
- [Patterns of this world, part 2: Breakfast with Burkholder](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/07/patterns-of-this-world-part-2-breakfast-with-burkholder/) - When we left the first part in this series, I promised that the second part would look specifically at Mennonite educational organizations and the case of James Brenneman and J. Lawrence Burkholder. However, I'd like to start by giving some background on J. Lawrence Burkholder and his influence with another Mennonite institution: the institution formerly
- [Legacy Mennonites and Anabaptist Camp Followers: a conversation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/02/25/legacy-mennonites-and-anabaptist-camp-followers-a-conversation/) - cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled The other day I had a good conversation with Mark Van Steenwyk, a writer and activist who lives in the Mennonite Worker community in Minneapolis, Minn. The conversation brought me back to concept of Anabaptist camp followers (ACF's) that I first dealt with in December 2009, in Levi Miller,
- [Looking for an organic church/fellowship near Olympia, Washington](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/18/looking-for-an-organic-churchfellowship-near-olympia-washington/) - Here's a letter from a reader: I just found your blog and a lot of what is there really resonates with me. I really relate to a lot of Anabaptist concepts such as putting faith into action, actively promoting peace, creation care, and anti nationalism. I'm currently looking for an organic church/fellowship in my area
- [Christmas Day in Palestine](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/29/christmas-day-in-palestine/) - Crossposted from SammerTime 12.25.2008 I awoke to the sound of light rain on the tin roof. Quite pleased after checking my watch and realizing I slept in much longer than usual, I stepped outside to find an unusual morning. Light rain was falling and fog had enveloped the valley in which At-Tuwani lies. The Palestinian
- [Three Cups of Tea](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/12/13/three-cups-of-tea/) - OK, I'm not a real book reviewer, but this one might interest you in case you haven't already read it. "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Relin. It's about an American mountain climber who doesn't quite make it to the summit of K2 and wanders off and almost dies trying to find
- [David Joris, Part 2: Early Mennonites through an Anabaptist rival](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/09/26/david-joris-part-2-early-mennonites-through-an-anabaptist-rival/) - This is the second in a two part series on David Joris and establishment Anabaptists here is the first: Establishment Anabaptists, part 1: David Joris’ authority and Menno Simons. This is also part of a broader series on the Four Streams of Anabaptism. Today, we tend to think of Mennonites as descended from all early
- [The Swiss Brethren, Part 1: Laying the Foundation for Distinction](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/09/28/the-swiss-brethren-part-1-laying-the-foundation-for-distinction/) - This multi-part post is the second in the Anabaptist Streams series here on Young Anabaptist Radicals, in which we’ll be looking at different streams of early Anabaptism and making connections with our own context. The series will feature different authors over the coming months and is loosely based on Rodney Sawatsky’s model of four streams
- [The Swiss Brethren, Part 3: Contemporary Separatism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/12/the-swiss-brethren-part-3-contemporary-separatism/) - It is my desire in the closing segments of my contribution to this series to address an issue that is controversial in nature. That subject being Christian separatism. When the average person that shows interests in Anabaptistica surveys the writings and beliefs of the Swiss Brethren they will pause at article IV of the Schleitheim
- [Pilgram Marpeck: Living Christ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/19/pilgram-marpeck-living-christ/) - This multi-part post is the third in the Anabaptist Streams series here on Young Anabaptist Radicals, in which we’ll be looking at different streams of early Anabaptism and making connections with our own context. The series will feature different authors over the coming months and is loosely based on Rodney Sawatsky’s model of four streams
- ["Unity is the Highest Adornment in Love"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/11/03/unity-is-the-highest-adornment-in-love/) - This is the final installment of a three-part overview of the life of Pilgram Marpeck, Anabaptist radical and lover of Christ. From 1532 to 1542 , Pilgram and Anna Marpeck wandered from German city to city, Pilgram getting an engineering job here and there, and trying to encourage local Anabaptists wherever he went. He wrote
- [Pilgram Marpeck: Bridging Two Kingdoms](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/27/pilgram-marpeck-bridging-two-kingdoms/) - 1528 was a busy year for Pilgram Marpeck. He was married to Anna, he was baptized as an adult and accepted into the leadership of Anabaptist circles. His former liege, Archduke Ferdinand, heard about his full conversion to Anabaptism, and sought to arrest him. Pilgram and Anna decided to leave the area under Ferdinand, and
- [Transformationist Anabaptist?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/10/transformationist-anabaptist/) - In a number of posts in the last few months it has been quite clear that some of us have very different visions of what Anabaptism is than others. I wrote about this phenomenom two months ago on my blog on the Mennonite in a post on the four streams of Anabaptism. I thought that
- [MCUSA, what keeps us together?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/13/mcusa-what-keeps-us-together/) - After spending some time visiting some member congregations of Mennonite Church USA (see Life of the Body), I'm trying to think through what unifies the denomination. How do we describe our belonging to the same body of faith, the same Christian tradition? One way that's quite popular these days is the essentialist approach. Stuart Murray
- [C. Henry Smith on Mennonite church splits and schisms](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2015/03/19/c-henry-smith-on-mennonite-church-splits-and-schisms/) - In his 1941 book, The Story of the Mennonites, historian C. Henry Smith describes the 1847 church conflict that led to a group of Mennonites leaving Franconia Conference to create Eastern Pennsylvania District of Mennonites. This new group eventually launched the General Conference Mennonite Church. In describing this schism among Mennonites, Smith observed a broader
- [7 Radical Discipleship communities that have shaped my journey as an Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2015/03/14/7-radical-discipleship-communities-that-have-shaped-my-journey-as-an-anabaptist/) - This was first posted on Geez Magazine. From February 16-20, 2015, I was immersed in the Between Seminary, Sanctuary, Streets and Soil: A Festival of Radical Discipleship. The gathering featured over 80 presenters from communities around the U.S. Their stories of radical discipleship inspired me to put together this primer of seven communities that I
- [Can we envision and create access?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/12/05/can-we-envision-create-access/) - A plea for the inclusion and welcome of people with disabilities into worship and the life of both church and community.
- [Oppression analysis on its own isn't enough: Becoming an Ally](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/09/27/oppression-analysis-on-its-own-isnt-enough-becoming-an-ally/) - by Tim Nafziger and Mark Van Steenwyk In July, Mennonite Church USA executive director Ervin Stutzman blogged some reflections on his visit with Mennonites from various Native groups in Ashland, Montana. He clearly describes the way white settlers' sense of manifest destiny led to the clearing of the Cheyenne and other groups from their land.
- [Why Gus got arrested last weekend](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/25/why-gus-got-arrested-last-weekend/) - This past weekend, my friend Gus was arrested in Georgia. Now before you worry too much, let me further explain that he was arrested after an act of civil disobedience as part of the annual protest against the School of the Americas (a.k.a. Western Hemiphere Institute for Security Cooperation), a notorious training school for some
- ["Mennonite Women's Posse": How feminists organized for accountability for John Howard Yoder](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2015/01/05/mennonite-womens-posse-how-feminists-organized-for-accountability-for-john-howard-yoder/) - In the new issue of Mennonite Quarterly Review, five essays look at John Howard Yoder’s systematic project of sexual harassment and abuse of women. Unless otherwise noted, the articles named below are part of the issue. Rachel Waltner Goossen’s essay “‘Defanging the Beast': Mennonite Responses to John Howard Yoder’s Sexual Abuse” is the most extensive
- [Fire and the Sword: An Adventist Finds His Roots in the Radical Reformation (Part 3)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/12/17/fire-and-the-sword-an-adventist-finds-his-roots-in-the-radical-reformation-part-3/) - This is the final post in my three-part series comparing Seventh-day Adventists and Anabaptists. Please see the introduction to Part 1 if you have not yet read it. Part 1 looked at expectations about God. Part 2 considered expectations of Christians and the Church. Part 3 will look at our common expectations for the world.
- [Wasting Votes](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/04/wasting-votes/) - *A bit of tounge-in-cheek election fun* I walked up to the polls today to cast my vote. I was surrounded by a group people marketing for their respective politicians. An old man wearing a McCain hat, a heavy-set black woman enthusiastically waving an Obama sign. Another half dozen or so had signs with "Say yes
- [Protest, performance and pottery: Interview with a Mennonite ceramics artist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/16/protest-performance-and-pottery-interview-with-a-mennonite-ceramics-artist/) - On March 10, I visited my uncle Dennis Maust in his studio in northern Lancaster, Pa. It was a beautiful sunny day and the windows of his studio look out across rolling farmland to the hills of the northern border of the county. While he worked on his latest pieces, I asked him some questions
- [The Christian's Constitution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/11/13/the-christians-constitution/) - There was one text in the Bible that has been the most influential on my life. It was this text that really helped convince me to become a Christian, and it was this text that brought me into radical politics. The passage I am referring to is the Sermon on the Mount. It was when
- [Community and Tradition](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/03/community-and-tradition/) - I was not raised in the Christian religion. Like many from the First World, I was raised in a Christian culture, but I was not raised in the church or with a knowledge of the Christian religion. I spent most of my childhood as an agnostic with some Buddhist flavor, and when I was exposed
- [Presence: New book by Isaac Villegas](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/07/21/presence-new-book-by-isaac-villegas/) - Isaac Villegas, a regular contributor to Young Anabaptist Radicals, has a new book out from Cascade Books called Presence: Giving and Receiving God. Here's an excerpt from the book blurb: Through a variety of sermons and meditations, Sider and Villegas bear witness to a grace that disarms our guardedness and makes room for us to
- [Remembering the Diggers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/02/14/remembering-the-diggers/) - There is a group from England that many people do not know of, but more people should -- the True Levellers or Diggers. As Anabaptists or other radical Christians, I think that this short-lived group of English radicals has a lot to offer us, and it is a shame that they have been largely forgotten.
- [Jesus sayings from the Sermon on the Mount (the Marginal Mennonite version)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/11/13/jesus-sayings-from-the-sermon-on-the-mount-the-marginal-mennonite-version/) - (Revised November 2011) The Sermon on the Mount is defined as the 40+ sayings of Jesus found in Matthew 5, 6 and 7. About half of those sayings are considered by scholars to be non-authentic (meaning they were likely created by the early church rather than originating with Jesus). Non-authentic sayings are not included here.
- ["I AM" - An examination of the Mennonite COF, Part 1](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/05/04/i-am-an-examination-of-the-mennonite-cof-part-1/) - Note: This is a repost from http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/ One of the ideas behind confessions of faith and creeds and the like is to attempt to answer questions being asked by people of the current culture and society as relates to matters of faith and the practice thereof. So, in these posts I make about the articles
- [Somewhat YOUNG, (Neo) ANABAPTIST and Definitely RADICAL  ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/12/14/somewhat-young-neo-anabaptist-and-definitely-radical/) - Greetings I am a new contributor here and I thought I would take this time to introduce myself and provide a little background information regarding myself and my journey towards Anabaptism. I have questioned things all of my life, because of my inquisitive nature especially in the area of Christianity and religion I became an
- [Why I am going to "Fabulous, Fierce & Sacred" and why you should too](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/11/05/why-i-am-going-to-fabulous-fierce-sacred-and-why-you-should-too/) - In 2 weeks, I'll be attending "Fabulous, Fierce & Sacred: A gathering of Anabaptist lgbtqa* community" and I think you should too. We'll be gathering in Chicago at the Cenacle Retreat & Conference Center from the afternoon of Friday, November 21 through noon on Sunday, November 23. It's sponsored by Pink Menno, Inclusive Pastors and
- [Made for such a moment as this?: From Fundamentalist to Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/02/made-for-such-a-moment-as-this-from-fundamentalist-to-anabaptist/) - This week in my seventh post in my ongoing Anabaptist Camp Followers series, I interview Benjamin Corey. He is a retired US Air Force instructor turned Anabaptist speaker and writer. He blogs at Formely Fundie and is author of the upcoming book, Undiluted: Rediscovering the Radical Message of Jesus. Can you share about your first
- [Levi Miller, peace and justice and the Mennonite chattering class](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/12/14/levi-miller-peace-and-justice-and-the-mennonite-chattering-class/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled For the last few weeks, I've been wrestling with how to respond to Levi Miller's column on "peacenjustice". My first reaction was one of anger and frustration. No wonder the Mennonite church has had such a hard time integrating peace and justice into our whole denomination! The director of our
- [Economics According to the New Testament](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/10/24/economics-according-to-the-new-testament/) - Growing up, I was often exposed to the idea that capitalism and Christianity go together. Profit and wealth were not simply compatible with Christianity, but were a sign of God's blessing or your personal piety. I remember going to the Christian bookstore once or twice and seeing large piles of books with that topic specifically
- [Wealth: A Mennonite's experience in London](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/05/wealth-a-mennonites-experience-in-london/) - I’ve always known I’ve had a problem with The Rich. I had a bias against The Rich for a long time. It also took me a while to notice I was one of them. I had expected to have inner conflicts by traveling to “third-world” countries (low life expectancy, low standard of living, low literacy
- [What Does It Mean To Be Anabaptist?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/27/what-does-it-mean-to-be-anabaptist/) - I've got some new friends who had never heard of anabaptism. So I wrote a summary of what I understand Anabaptism to be. Look it over. What would you add or subtract? What would you nuance differently? And if you aren't anabaptist, what questions would you have? The Anabaptist tradition In 1525 the reformation of
- ["New Monkery"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/12/06/new-monkery/) - My father is doing research on the history of Anabaptist in Augsburg, Germany, the town the Confessio Augustana was proclaimed in 1530, in which the new Lutheran church proclaimed its faith and also some condemning of Anabaptists. The dialogue between Lutherans and Mennonites is still suffering from this. During World Conference Assembly in Asunción this
- [Love and Smoke](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/05/15/love-and-smoke/) - So I am really in love for the first time in a while. He's a radical activist. He's Mennonite. He's brilliant. He would probably read and write on this blog if he was from the USA. But there is a big problem, he smokes tobacco (a lot). Or is that not a problem? I need
- [Local Justice](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/07/24/local-justice/) - “What I want to know is, “ Mark asked pleadingly, “why has God forsaken us?” Mark and his wife Diane, a homeless couple, has just been forced to move from the camp that they had peacefully dwelt in for years. They have nowhere to go. A summer storm blew through Portland the last couple days
- ["Sex" - More on bigoted language](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/03/sex-more-on-bigoted-language/) - Why is there so much talk about "sex" around here? What is this "sex" thing that we are saving for marriage? And what is this marriage thing? The whole conversation is based in hetero norms and assumptions. Dictionary.com mainly defines "sex" the way we talk about "gender." It also links to Coitus, which it defines
- [Anti-Homosexuality destroying perceptions of the Church among young people](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/12/anti-homosexuality-destroying-perceptions-of-the-church-among-young-people/) - For many years now, high profile Christian leaders have been saying that homosexuality is destroying the church. It turns out that it may be their homophobia that is isolating the church and undermining opportunities for connecting with a new generation of non-Christians. According to a new study by the Barna Group (an evangelical market research
- [When There is No Peace: Where are the Saints?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/08/30/when-there-is-no-peace-where-are-the-saints/) - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” Luke 4:18-19 "...the hands
- [Introducing RadicalDiscipleship.net](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/09/08/introducing-radicaldiscipleshipnet/) - On September 3rd, the anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ escape to freedom, Bartimaeus Cooperative Ministries and Word & World launched a daily-updated blog to highlight the unique strand of North American “movement” Christianity. We are committed to being collective (welcoming a multiplicity & diversity of voices), convictional (unapologetically theological), constructive (creating a new world out of
- [Gay Marriage Is Not Against Biblical Authority](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/06/20/gay-marriage-is-not-against-biblical-authority/) - I am uncompromisingly pro-gay marriage and I am unapologetic in my affirmation of LGBT equality. This is one issue that I refuse to compromise on, and because of this, it has gotten me in trouble in the past. One church that it did get me in trouble with was my local Presbyterian Church USA congregation.
- [Membership is Not Cheap](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/05/27/membership-is-not-cheap/) - The Third World is alive and well within North America. The poor are in the apartments with black mold; they are in the food stamp offices and being run out from under bridges. Difficulty and disease and shame mark their lives; they’re stigmatized like lepers. Jesus is among these people; living with them, encouraging them
- [Early Anabaptism as Social Movement, Part 4: Conclusion](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/29/early-anabaptism-as-social-movement-part-4-conclusion/) - This post is the final part of an essay looking at the Anabaptist movement through the lens of social movement theory. See Part III in the series here, which compares the early Anabaptist movement with four stages of social movements. Photo by Rachel Friesen Gaps, Tensions and Overlaps Though there are apparent overlaps, it is
- [Early Anabaptism as Social Movement, part 3: The Four Stages of Social Movements](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/27/early-anabaptism-as-social-movement-part-3-the-four-stages-of-social-movements/) - This post is the third part of an essay looking at the early Anabaptist movement through the lens of social movement theory. See Part II in the series here, which looks at definitions of social movements. Photo by Katerina Friesen, Sainte-Chapelle The four generally recognized stages of a social movement are emergence, coalescence, bureaucratization, and
- [The Shenandoah Confession: A Call To Silence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/28/the-shenandoah-confession-a-call-to-silence/) - by Jerrett Lyday Is it not so, that from its conception, Christianity has always, to some degree, been wrapped up and consumed by Empire? There is a dark and ominous foreshadowing in the temptation of Christ, where Satan offers up the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory. We realize, of course, that we
- [The Social Upheaval of the Kingdom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/03/14/the-social-upheaval-of-the-kingdom/) - Recently, I started rereading Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians. It’s been a long time since I have read Paul, and the last time I really read him, IÂ spiritualized him. By that, I mean that I made Paul’s words the words of an Anglo-Saxon Puritan. Coming from a Protestant (Reformed) background, it is really easy
- [MC USA Statement on LGBTQ Communities](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/02/17/mc-usa-statement-on-lgbtq-communities/) - MENNONITE CHURCH USA CHURCHWIDE STATEMENT ON LGBTQ COMMUNITIES, DIVERSITY, POWER, OPPRESSION &Â PRIVILEGE* Introduction Mennonite Church USA has roots in seventeenth-century churches planted by what today we might call “radicals” and “social justice activists” from Europe. Our church continues to grow and be enlivened by people who join us from many countries, backgrounds, races, genders, sexual
- [Rethinking Peter and the State](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/02/12/rethinking-peter-and-the-state/) - I recently wrote about Romans 13 and the state. I mentioned that I did not believe that text was even about the Roman government. I believe, based upon the evidence I have seen, that Romans 13 talks about reconciling Jewish and Gentile Christians in relation to the religious, community authorities. Tyler Tully picked up on this
- [Romans 13 and the State](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/01/24/romans-13-and-the-state/) - N.T. Wright recently had a Q and A session on his Facebook page, and he responded to this question: What would Paul say to a Christian serving in the military? Wright's response can best be summarized by these two statements: This is again straight Romans 13: God wants there to be human authorities, but they are answerable
- [An Open Letter to the MCUSA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2014/01/03/an-open-letter-to-the-mcusa/) - When I began looking for an Anabaptist congregation, I was immediately drawn to the San Antonio Mennonite Church here in the Alamo City. Truth be told, I probably would have stayed within our house-church if it weren’t for the fact that many of our families were moving. But as necessity compelled me to search for
- [Anabaptists on Economics](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/12/20/anabaptists-on-economics/) - Originally posted at Koinonia Revolution. Schleitheim Congregational Order: “Of all the brothers and sisters of this congregation, none shall have anything of his own, but rather, as the Christians in the time of the apostles held all in common, and especially stored up a common fund, from which aid can be given to the poor,
- [Engaging on the topic of homosexuality](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/20/engaging-on-the-topic-of-homosexuality/) - This is reprinted from http://www.themennonite.org/issues/16-10/articles/Follow_Jesus_example_and_spirit_not_rules.  This is my first post on the YAR site and I look forward to more, as well as getting to know some of you over the web and hopefully someday in person.  I'm involved in a young adult network with Religions for Peace and hope to post on that soon and
- [A Letter From the Exiles](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/17/a-letter-from-the-exiles/) - Douglas Jacobsen in his essay “Anabaptist Autonomy, Evangelical Engulfment” describes a Mennonite ‘diaspora’ in two senses. First is the sense that ideas and movements from other denominations and traditions have gone out from their homes and have settled among the Mennonites. Mennonite churches can feel very different, with charismatic, evangelical and even liturgical influences making
- [Pitfalls and Proposals for the Post Christendom Reformation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/10/09/pitfalls-and-proposals-for-the-post-christendom-reformation/) - There is a growing movement of pastors, church planters, and churches around the globe who have become convinced that the center of the Gospel is a Jesus-looking God who calls his people to partner with him to advance a Jesus-looking kingdom. Â They sense that God is pouring out “new kingdom wine” that is bursting apart
- [The Community of Goods](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/09/26/the-community-of-goods/) - From a television personality saying that the poor are lazy to a megachurch pastor teaching that wealth is a blessing from God, in the West today–especially in the United States–Christianity is often associated with individualism, capitalism, and personal profit. I personally believe that Christians are called to a different standard. Being Christian should mean following
- [From poet Jeff Gundy: "When Madonna Met Menno"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/09/20/from-poet-jeff-gundy-when-madonna-met-menno/) - We do have a poetry category and I thought I'd invite it out of the dusty corner to join us for a little conversation today with Mennonite poet, Jeff Gundy. I'll open the space by sharing a poem of his, a bit of a story from him to go with it and then a chance
- [ The Politics of John Howard Yoder: 41 years of tiptoeing around power ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/09/10/the-politics-of-john-howard-yoder-41-years-of-tiptoeing-around-power/) - This is cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled The last two months have seen a growing number of articles on John Howard Yoder's sexual harassment and abuse of women (for a list of articles, see the Women in Learship Project's timeline and annotated bibliography) led by Barbra Graber's July 17 article on Our Stories Untold.
- [How Should a Christian Respond to Syria?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/09/01/how-should-a-christian-respond-to-syria/) - This post originally appeared here. These last few days have been exciting, but not necessarily in a good way. On the one hand, we have had a celebration of Martin Luther King's legacy, but on the other hand, the dogs of war are snarling again, this time for Syria. Our politicians are simultaneously celebrating one of
- [From Mennonite to Anabaptist: A Lover's Quarrel With the MCUSA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/08/30/from-mennonite-to-anabaptist/) - This story was originally published over at The Jesus Event. You can click HERE to be a part of the conversation there, or you can post your own thoughts and opinions here at YAR. Greg Boyd recently spoke about his journey from Oneness towards something else--a story which he highlights in this video entitled "From
- [the UNkingdom of GOD: Embracing The Subversive Power of Repentance by Mark Van Steenwyk — Book Review](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/08/28/the-unkingdom-of-god-embracing-the-subversive-power-of-repentance-by-mark-van-steenwyk-–-book-review/) - (This post was originally posted at http://drewgihart.com/2013/08/28/unkingdombookreview/) Mark Van Steenwyk has written a thoughtful reflection on the significance of Jesus and his in-breaking Kingdom as an alternative way of being in our society that is marred by evil forces, social structures, death-dealing oppression, and coercive violence. the UNkingdom of God is a subversive and anti-imperial
- ["I once was raised, but now I've found" featuring Drew GI Hart](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/08/24/i-once-was-raised-but-now-ive-found-featuring-drew-gi-hart/) - Today continues with the series, “I once was raised… but now I’ve found…” where some of my favorite authors, bloggers, scholars, and theologians explain the transitions they have encountered along their own faith journey. As the series continues, you’ll find me interviewing the guest bloggers below, as they answer questions I’ve posed about their experiences.
- [I once was raised a Feminist, but now I've found Feminism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/08/10/916/) - It’s not that I didn’t believe in women’s equality, but I think that I thought that, for my generation, feminism was going to be irrelevant, because we were past things like racism and sexism. And I think I really carried these thoughts with me through most of college. It wasn’t until I began work for a churchwide agency that the need for feminism began to become real to me.
- [Groanings Too Deep for Words: The Zimmerman Verdict and the Dividing Wall Between Us](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/07/21/groanings-too-deep-for-words-the-zimmerman-verdict-and-the-dividing-wall-between-us/) - By Pam Nath. Cross-posted from The Mennonite Image by Ricardo Levins Morales If "your" elected officials are middle-aged, white people who smile at you a lot, it may be time to relocate. Being a "minority" - even a sizable minority - in a city with white officials has become more of a hazard than at
- [Babel No More](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/07/15/babel-no-more/) - Crossposted from A Bible and a Bat'leth Sermon preached on May 5, 2013 at Mississauga Mennonite Fellowship. In my introduction, I acknowledge the land and the many nations who have used, shared and lived on it since time immemorial, especially the Mississauga people. I introduce Christian Peacemaker Teams Aboriginal Justice Team and thank the congregation
- [Wanted: Stories of Women & Leadership in Mennonite Church USA (which I always think sounds like a sports team)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/07/09/wanted-stories-of-women-leadership-in-mennonite-church-usa-which-i-always-think-sounds-like-a-sports-team/) - "I will tell you something about stories . . . They aren't just entertainment. Don't be fooled. They are all we have, you see, all we have to fight off illness and death." ~Leslie Marmon Silko I truly believe that sharing our stories--including the actual process of writing them out--is one of our most powerful
- [Jesus’ bad example: Overturning tables in Phoenix](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/07/01/jesus’-bad-example-overturning-tables-in-phoenix/) - Oh how I wish Jesus had set a better example! Let’s be reasonable here. He should have proposed his prophetic action in consultation with the religious leadership far in advance of the Passover feasts. This would have reduced so much stress for the Pharisees and scribes. He shouldn’t have made his case using sacred scriptures. Too risky, too radical, too much playing his religion card like he knew it all. Why did he have to bring Isaiah or Jeremiah into this, crazy activists claiming God’s house for foreigners, eunuchs and the like! One issue at a time now! How dare he come to the temple with an agenda!
- [My Day With the Mennonites](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/06/30/my-day-with-the-mennonites/) - I have been identifying with Anabaptist Christianity since some point last year. There was so much I loved about that particular approach to Christianity, and that is still the case. When I first found out what Anabaptism was, and I seriously wanted to identify with it, I quickly realized that I was in a black
- [YAR 1st Anniversary Week: What has YAR meant to you?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/27/yar-1st-anniversary-week-what-has-yar-meant-to-you/) - A year ago this week, Eric wrote the first post on this blog. In honor of our first anniversary, I'd like to invite you all to share a post reflecting on the last year in any way you see fit. Feel free to focus on a theme that we've talked about on the blog (i.e.
- [Grieving and Honoring 5 years of Young Anabaptist Radicals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/09/07/grieving-and-honoring-5-years-of-young-anabaptist-radicals/) - Yesterday was 5 years to the day since my first post here on YAR, a week after Eric opened things up. I was writing a little over a month after I returned to the United States from two and a half years in the United Kingdom, where Anabaptism was a set of values and relationships
- [The Kingdom of God and America (Crosspost)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/06/17/the-kingdom-of-god-and-america-crosspost/) - Yesterday being Father’s Day, I naturally got to thinking about my father. I love him dearly, but he is literally the exact opposite of almost everything I stand for. To give you a rough picture of who he is, he listens to Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck on his radio daily;
- [Hardly Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/04/08/hardly-anabaptist/) - As mentioned I did some research on the issue of whether the SBC or Baptists in general were Anabaptists or had any historical connection with them. The following is what I uncovered on the matter. Years ago, when I started investigating Anabaptistica the Anabaptists were still the pariahs of the Reformation. Church History texts relegated
- [Beware of the Ministry-Industrial Complex](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/29/beware-of-the-ministry-industrial-complex/) - Occasionally, I end up going to one of those “Christian” stores, or I get some sort of advertisement from them. Where I live, they are called “Family Christian Stores” with an emphasis on the family part. In other parts of the country, such stores also exist, but with different names. We have all been to
- [Remembering Thomas Müntzer](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/27/remembering-thomasmuntzer/) - I was reminded that today, this Memorial Day, marks the anniversary of Thomas Müntzer's death. He was executed by beheading on this day in 1525. Whatever your thoughts on Müntzer are, he is still part of the Anabaptist tradition, and I will probably be mentioning him in a couple weeks with a post on transformationist
- [Becoming Franciscan](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/20/becoming-franciscan/) - When my Christian faith first began to radicalize, I became very interested in the Franciscan tradition. The advocacy for radical discipleship, peace, and social and environmental justice that is associated with the ministry of Francis of Assisi naturally appealed to me. At first, I did as many do, and associated the Franciscan tradition with Roman
- [Gelassenheit: Radical Self-surrender](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/07/gelassenheit-radical-self-surrender/) - As Anabaptism emerged in 1525, opponents of this new movement described those who became a part of this movement as “radicals.” They even described it as “the Radical Reformation.” Why did they describe this movement as “radical”? In one way it seems fitting. The early Anabaptists did not seek to reform the church but to
- [Changing the World Inside of Us: Undoing Sexism among the Mennonites](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/05/01/changing-the-world-inside-of-us-undoing-sexism-among-the-mennonites/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled It was five years ago in May 2008 when the Mennonite bishops of Lancaster (Pa.) Mennonite Conference finally allowed minsterial credentialing of women in their churches. Notably, they stipulated that women were still not allowed to become bishops. I followed this story closely because I grew up in the Lancaster Conference
- [Since When Did Southern Baptists Become Anabaptists?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/04/04/since-when-did-southern-baptists-become-anabaptists/) - I am sure that many here and elsewhere are overjoyed with the popularity surge that Anabaptism is receiving of late, especially those that stem from Mennonite origins, since it has given them a means to experience more of the glare of publicity. Some most likely think that this is a good thing, after all others
- [Stories Long Untold: The Yuckiness of the Cross and Sexualized Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/30/stories-long-untold-the-yuckiness-of-the-cross-and-sexualized-violence/) - As I attempt to focus on the death of Jesus today, on Good Friday, I find it difficult. I'd rather check Facebook, read a magazine or stare out the window. Tonight there's a church service that I'll go to, but for now the ugly reality of death and violence feels far away. What happens if
- [Reconstitution Not Reform](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/24/reconstitution-not-reform/) - The original Anabaptists' intention was to attend to their Lord and their God’s will in a manner that was satisfying. However, there was an accompanying goal that is seamlessly interconnected with the initial one. This objective was to reconstitute the ekklesia in the pattern of the archetypical first century apostolic assembly. To reconstitute something is
- [The Appeal of Anabaptism Today](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/20/the-appeal-of-anabaptism-today/) - When I was a small child, I had my exposures to Christianity. At the time, my family forced me to attend a Presbyterian church, and I was even forced to be baptized in that church. Eventually, my family stopped attending church altogether, and I was left with a perception of Christianity that was seriously flawed,
- [Everything Else Is Rubbish](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/19/everything-else-is-rubbish/) - A sermon on Isaiah 43:16-21; John 12:1-12; Philippians 3:4-14 at Bally Mennonite Church on March 17th, 2013. The audio version can be downloaded by clicking here. A question for you: Â What are some of the things we do that we consider righteous things to do? Â Can you list them? There are certainly things in this
- [All Or Nothing!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/03/11/all-or-nothing/) - I am a fan of Greg Boyd’s books and sermons; I really appreciate his stand against Christendom or Constantinianism. Moreover, I value how he is one of the godfathers of contemporary Open Theism since I am an Open Theist as well. However, I recently heard a sermon entitled “We The Church” where his reasoning falls noticeably
- [The Pros and Cons of Ethnic Mennonites](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/02/28/the-pros-and-cons-of-ethnic-mennonites/) - This originally appeared on my own blog Abnormal Anabaptist. Tim has posted his article here so I thought it would be a good idea to put like with like. Fellow MennoNerd Chris Lenshyn posted this morning an article presenting the tension that exists between those of us who are ethnic Mennonites (like me) and those
- [The Emerging Church and Anabaptists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/29/the-emerging-church-and-anabaptists/) - A few weeks ago, Dave over at the Mindful Mission posted out a number of blog posts by members of the Emerging movement looking at the similarities between the Emerging church and Anabaptists. Dave attends Living Water Community Church, an energetic urban Mennonite congregation that Charletta and I have been attending since January. Since reading
- [How men are necessary in the movement to end sexualized violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/02/12/how-men-are-necessary-in-the-movement-to-end-sexualized-violence/) - This piece by Rachel Halder is cross-posted from Our Stories Untold, a blog provoking conversation and allowing women and men to tell their stories about sexualized violence within religion, specifically the Mennonite Church. “Most men in their lives will not commit sexual violence, but most acts of sexual violence are committed by men.” Joe Campbell
- [What We Give to the World: Insuring Our Better Selves](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/01/30/what-we-give-to-the-world-insuring-our-better-selves/) - Hi, YAR family! It's literally been years (years!) since I've written to fellow YAR readers here in our online sanctuary. Though I've been silent here, know that your existence has buoyed me and challenged me in my Anabaptist seeking. Why do we write, anyway? To an audience of one, to loved ones and complete strangers?
- [Adventures in Anabaptist Comedy Improv Auctioneering](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/01/28/adventures-in-anabaptist-comedy-improv-auctioneering/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled. This past month has been a busy one for me, starting with two and a half weeks in Chicago to help lead training for new trainees joining Christian Peacemaker Teams. One of the highlights was this video of the public witness to close Guantanamo and end torture in which
- [Nonviolence for White People](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/01/10/nonviolence-for-white-people/) - Hey y'all, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove just wrote an article today, called "Nonviolence for White People" and invites your feedback: http://www.mennoworld.org/blog/2013/1/10/nonviolence-white-people/ This is a great discussion for young Anabaptist radicals, particularly white folks.
- [Beyond the Geese: Six Peacemaker Portraits for the days of Christmas](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2013/01/01/peacemaker-for-each-of-the-12-days-of-christmas/) - Crossposted for As of Yet Untitled For each of the 12 days of Christmas, Christian Peacemaker Teams is honoring a specific CPTer for their peacemaking work. Here are the first six honorees. I wrote the first three and the last three were written by Sarah Thompson, CPT's outreach coordinator: Pierre Shantz For the first day
- [So I Finally Read The Naked Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/12/31/so-i-finally-read-the-naked-anabaptist/) - I have been identifying with the Anabaptist tradition of Christianity for a few months now, though I have been interested in it for much longer. When I first began to associate with Anabaptism, it was largely superficial, so I have been hesitant to identify with Anabaptism. Recently, however, I have been actually going in-depth into Anabaptist
- [Prayer Requests at a Mennonite Church ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/08/prayer-requests-at-a-mennonite-church/) - This is the poem from today's Writer's Almanac. I don't know if [I'm] allowed to post this poem, but Garrison Keillor apparently got permission to post it on the Writer's Almanac Archive. Listen (RealAudio) | How to listen Poem: "Prayer Requests at a Mennonite Church" by Todd Davis from Some Heaven (buy it here). ©
- [Anabaptism and Liberation Theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/12/08/anabaptism-and-liberation-theology/) - I am currently doing a final research paper for my English course, and I decided to write about Liberation Theology. In my paper, I am covering the main liberation theologies -- Latin American and African American -- and I am writing about some of the more contemporary developments of it. While doing my research on
- [Principles of Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/11/23/principles-of-anabaptism/) - As you all know from an earlier post that I made, I am a recently converted Anabaptist. I still do not have a church yet, but I am searching. For now, I see myself as an Anabaptist seeker or an "Anarcho-Anabaptist". Despite my lack of a specific Anabaptist tradition, there is still the larger tradition
- [Young Anabaptist Radical tweets from Goma while M23 rebels take city](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/11/24/young-anabaptist-radical-tweets-from-goma-while-m23-rebels-take-city/) - Michael J (MJ) Sharp, was an occasional contributor here in the early days and the founder of a precursor to YAR, the Mennonite Progressives list. This week he was tweeting from Goma in the far east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as M23 rebels closed in on the city. It's a great example of
- [Time Traveling Amish Avoid Future; Take Over the World](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/11/19/time-traveling-amish-avoid-future-take-over-the-world/) - Zack Exley, formerly of Revolution in Jesusland, shared this story on Facebook. Its a delightful slice of the Anabaptist apocalyptic imagination: I had a dream last night that kept repeating all night. Time travel was invented. A conservative Amish-ish sect used it to swap the past for the future with everyone else. They kept going
- [The messy meaning of Easter](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/04/12/the-messy-meaning-of-easter/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled Over the years, I've been a semi-regular reader of Revolution in Jesusland (now archived at http://zackexley.com/), a blog by Zack Exley. Zack was a secular progressive activist who discovered the church a few years ago and was blown away by what he describes as "the fourth great awakening", that
- [A review of Jesus for President: the revival](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/14/a-review-of-jesus-for-president-the-revival/) - Last month IsaacV posted a preview of the Jesus for President tour stop in Raleigh. Here's my review of one stop on the tour, cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled. Last week Charletta and I spent 5 days at the Cornerstone Music Festival promoting Christian Peacemaker Teams. For me, it was an inspiring awakening to
- [Greetings From a New Anabaptist	 ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/11/02/greetings-from-a-new-anabaptist/) - It was only recently that I have come to identify with Anabaptist Christianity, and it has only been within the last few days that I have come in contact with Young Anabaptist Radicals. Nevertheless, I have been graciously invited to share my story with you, and introduce myself. My religious journey really started out like
- [The Femonite: A new gathering space for Anabaptist Feminists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/10/30/the-femonite-a-new-gathering-space-for-anabaptist-feminists/) - Over a year ago, I wrote about grieving the loss of women's voices here on Young Anabaptist Radicals, a problem that has plagued this space since almost the beginning. In the last 7 months, I've been delighted to watch Anabaptist women (including a few former YAR contributers) coming together over at The Femonite, a blog
- [The plank of the Forgotten War and the splinter of Muslim rage](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/10/01/the-plank-of-the-forgotten-war-and-the-splinter-of-muslim-rage/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled.Two weeks ago, Newsweek published a calculatedly inflammatory cover story in response to the "Innocence of the Muslim" protests in the Middle East. The cover featured a photo of protesters faces contorted in anger with the caption "Muslim Rage". Newsweek also started an accompanying Twitter hashtag: #Muslimrage. Newsweek was fueling
- [The Sikh temple massacre, Islamophobia and Samaritans](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/08/06/the-sikh-temple-massacre-islamophobia-and-samaritans/) - Cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled It's been less than 24 hours sine the tragic shooting this Sunday in Wisconsin. We grieve for all the victims, their family and their communities. The LA Times is reporting that the gunman had tattoos and biographical details which lead officials to conclude he had a "political agenda". While
- [Plantain massacre for a corporate land grab](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/06/25/plantain-massacre-in-service-of-a-corporate-land-grab/) - As the sun hovered at the horizon, I got into the big canoe with 20 people from Las Pavas. We were mostly men with a few woman and one young boy. We pulled away from the bank of the river and began motoring towards the sunset, racing against the light. It was June 22, and
- [The Spirit’s Work in Mission: Prophesying about many peoples](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/06/23/the-spirit’s-work-in-mission-prophesying-about-many-peoples/) - Since we've been covering Anabaptist Mission Project events here on YAR, here is info about upcoming event: The Spirit’s Work in Mission: Prophesying about many peoples, July 30-July 1 Anabaptist Missional Project, a group of young leaders in the Mennonite Church, hosts its second annual gathering June 30-July 1, at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church, Philadelphia,
- [Save Buddhism from Christian Missionaries: A Manifesto](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/06/18/save-buddhism-from-christian-missionaries-a-manifesto/) - Love, compassion, joy, and equanimity are some of the hallmarks of the teachings of Jesus. But those concepts didn't originate with Jesus. He found them tucked away in the nooks and crannies of the Torah. Almost every saying in the Sermon on the Mount is a commentary on passages from the Hebrew Scriptures. The genius
- [Peacemaking and Land in Colombia](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/06/17/peacemaking-and-land-in-colombia/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled I’ve been here in Colombia with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) for a week and a half. This week I’ll be visiting Las Pavas, where CPT has been working with 123 families since 2009. They have been struggling to get title to the land where they have lived for decades
- [Final Judgment: A Parable](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/05/20/final-judgment-a-parable/) - On the great day of judgment, all of humanity was gathered in a celestial banquet hall. It was a huge space, with a massive round table in the middle. The table was so big that it accommodated what seemed to be hundreds of thousands of people, probably more. As one looked to the left or
- [The Rick Warren Incident](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/05/04/the-rick-warren-incident/) - During this particular moment of time, as large numbers of younger Evangelicals are leaving the church for nominalism or into the camp of the 16% of the US which make up the spiritually "unaffliated", I believe that the Anabaptist Tradition has massive resources to offer the North American Body of Christ at large, especially the
- [Moving to California](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/04/23/moving-to-california/) - On May 23, Charletta and I will be leaving Chicago for a year's sojourn in California. As I sit down to share this with you, I realize that most of my writing on this blog is opinion or analytical. And I usually only post photos on my blog for The Mennonite. It's rare that I
- [Adrienne Rich: Visionary (1929-2012)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/30/adrienne-rich-visionary-1929-2012/) - Several months ago I drafted a post on Occupy Wall Street suggesting that people interested in thinking through issues of race and gender (re)turn to Adrienne Rich as a wise source. We so often forget those who have gone before us, outside a fairly limited range, and I thought posting a few quotations from one
- [Intentional Community: A Reflection, My Journey, and Shalom House](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/19/intentional-community-a-reflection-my-journey-and-shalom-house/) - PART 1. INVITATION AND REFLECTION So, you have read about intentional community in Shane Claiborne’s The Irresistible Revolution years ago and new monasticism has now become a part of your everyday vocabulary. Maybe you are nearing the end of your college career, or maybe you are facing another life transition and wondering how to integrate
- [The Beatitudes - You are more than blessed](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/03/05/the-beatitudes-you-are-more-than-blessed/) - One of the most attractive features of our Anabaptist tradition is that it doesn't take tradition too seriously. Of course, Anabaptists have their own traditions, but they can - and have been - shrugged off when necessary. That's one of its hallmarks, saying: "Okay, this or that praxis may have been useful and good way
- [Pass the Toothpicks: Becoming an Ally with the Beatitudes](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2012/01/31/pass-the-toothpicks-becoming-an-ally-with-the-beatitudes/) - This is the sequel to Our most bitter opponents: the Christians who fought against Dr. King and also to Oppression is Bad, Now What?. Thanks to Sharon William's comment on The Mennonite for my title. As we think about what it means to be an ally and look at the continuing legacy of white supremacist
- [Peacemaking informed by 500 years in prison](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/12/20/peacemaking-backed-by-500-years-of-prison-time/) - On Dec. 16, I went to see The Interrupters. It follows three violence interrupters who work on the south and west sides of Chicago with Ceasefire—an organization with a proven record of reducing shootings in neighborhoods around Chicago. The Englewood neighborhood saw a 34% reduction in shootings through Ceasefire's work. The movie is a slice
- [Global LGBT Sex Cop: US Christian leaders on new US foreign aid policy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/12/09/global-lgbt-sex-cop-us-christian-leaders-on-new-us-foreign-aid-policy/) - In light of the recent spate of articles quoting outraged clergy in Kenya and other African countries, Lin Garber collected these quote from US Christian leaders. We're sharing them here as a guest post by Lin. Just wanted to remind everyone that bigotry is not confined to the continent of Africa. I didn't include URLs
- [Talking with Granny about the London Riots](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/12/06/talking-with-granny-about-the-london-riots/) - This article was originally published in the Autumn newsletter of the London Catholic Worker After having the inevitable and frustrating conversation with my Granny about the riots - the one where she says,“it wasn't like this in the 1930s, children did what their parents said”, “why do you want to live in Hackney?” etc, and
- [Manifesto of the Marginal Mennonite Society](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/11/07/manifesto-of-the-marginal-mennonite-society/) - We are Marginal Mennonites, and we are not ashamed. We are marginal because no self-respecting Mennonite organization would have us. (Not that we care about no stinkin’ respect anyway.) We reject all creeds, doctrines, dogmas and rituals, because they’re man-made and were created for the purpose of excluding people. Their primary function is to determine
- [Beyond Obamaism: Occupy Wall Street and the Capacity to Hope](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/31/beyond-obamaism-occupy-wall-street-and-the-capacity-to-hope/) - Crossposted from As of Yet UntitledIt's been a month since I wrote a piece on Young Anabaptist Radicals about my experience of visiting Occupy Chicago. It was three days after they had started camping in front of the Federal Reserve of Chicago and 10 days after Occupy Wall Street (OWS) kicked off in New York.
- [Occupy Wall Street: Interview with Eli Robert and Riley](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/24/occupy-wall-street-interview-with-eli-robert-and-riley/) - Amtrak passengers provided a window into the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement from its source in New York City.
- [Canine disobedience](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/23/canine-disobedience/) - Since almost two months now I am working on a Palestinian farm surrounded by settlements - more on the project maybe in another article. Today I want to share with you an observation I have made about my relationship with the animals I am taking care of. All our animals have a very strong will
- [Fierce and Fabulous](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/17/fierce-and-fabulous/) - Who knew queer anabaptists had such great stories. When I was sitting on the South Shore Line on my way to the BMC retreat I had no idea what to expect from the weekend. “The BMC”, as it is commonly called, is short for The Brethren Council on Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Interests. I
- [Blessed are the poor in spirit; Blessed is the spirit that the poor possess](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/15/blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit-blessed-is-the-spirit-that-the-poor-possess/) - Living 10 years in Latin America, where one inevitably encounters poverty and is therefore affected by it, has shaped my life, my priorities, and my thinking. What’s more, I was lucky enough not to live at arms length from those who were poor. Our family and the work of my parents had us building relationships
- [Women, War, and Peace: In Palestine, Afghanistan, and Liberia](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/14/women-war-and-peace-in-palestine-afghanistan-and-liberia/) - October 6 marks the 10-year anniversary of the United States’ war in Afghanistan. In response to this event and the stories of woman in war zones around the world, Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) in the United States plans to rally “women and thoughtful men” around the U.S. to proclaim that this war has
- [becoming Mennonite](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/10/11/becoming-mennonite/) - Last year I had an opportunity to visit eight Mennonite communities in the United States. I talk about it as my get-to-know-the-family tour (I haven't been a Mennonite for very long). I am discovering that we are quite a diverse denomination. I ended up writing a series of reflections for The Mennonite Weekly Review about
- [A visit to Occupy Chicago](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/09/27/a-visit-to-occupy-chicago/) - Yesterday I went downtown to visit the new Occupy Chicago encampment in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The loose gathering of activist began their occupation on Friday and continued through a raining weekend. They were inspired by the Occupy Together movement which started at Wall Street in New York two weeks ago.
- [1st Year Reflections from a 1st Year Mennonite - Gonna be a long one folks](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/30/1st-year-reflections-from-a-1st-year-mennonite-gonna-be-a-long-one-folks/) - A friend of mine invited me to a Mennonite church with her to experience their message this past November of 2006. I looked into the history; I examined the theology. And it made sense to me. As a result, I had a Christian conversion. And then I spent some time in the church, and found
- [Poll update - sorry guys](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/13/poll-update-sorry-guys/) - Our poll on white, non-gay men in ministry is now closed. In the month it was up, we received 30 votes of which 5 were abstentions. So of 25 votes, there were 15 yes votes. That is a encouraging 60%. Unfortunately, it is also two votes short of the 2/3 super-majority needed so I guess
- [Poll for new YAR tag line is up](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/27/poll-for-new-yar-tag-line-is-up/) - Vote for your favorite new tag line for Young Anabaptist Radicals in the right hand sidebar. Options are: Not necessarily naked Waving at the past, laughing at the present, dancing to the future Quilting outside the lines Because some quilts are crazier than others Forget the Alamo. Remember Münster Resurrecting Reformation Beware the Amish Pirates
- [Mennonites on the Bowery](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/22/mennonites-on-the-bowery/) - There’s a building boom on the Bowery these days. It’s been happening for a while, but the last couple years have witnessed an escalation in development, turning the neighborhood into a hip destination point. Fifty years ago the Bowery was the largest skid row in the world. There were gin joints and flophouses on every
- [Grace for donations](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/22/grace-for-donations/) - Three weeks ago I was at Freakstock, the annual Festival of Jesus Freaks, a German protestant church made up primarily by punks, hippies and other subcultural types. It was a great experience and I’m a bit sad I didn’t go there before. It is exactly this community of alternative and happy Christians my age I’ve been looking for. All the other people I could relate to were either my parents’ generation, non-Christian, or people who lived elsewhere - like the readers of YAR. There were many beautiful and inspiring things happening, but what was most exciting to me were the Psalters and the Volksküche (people’s kitchen). During the day people were cooking in giant pots in the Volksküche so that in the evening people could have supper together. Everyone was invited to eat, but also to cook, cut, salt and wash the dishes. The Volksküche’s tent was also a great place to meet people, and I ended up spending most of my time there.
- [Saving a denomination](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/18/saving-a-denomination/) - This is a reflection about the MCUSA national convention in Pittsburgh shortly after I returned home. On the urging of a fellow YARer, I offer this reflection here and would ask for your perspective. Originally posted here on July 12, 2011 I have a variety of reflections from the Mennonite Church USA national convention that
- [Christian Peacemaker Teams 25th anniversary celebration](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/08/10/christian-peacemaker-teams-25th-anniversary-celebration/) - I haven't posted anything in the last month, partly because I've been doing planning and prep work for our upcoming Peacemaker Congress this fall (October 13-16). The theme is Re-imagining Partnerships for Peace: A 25th anniversary celebration. It's going to be a wonderful opportunities to connect with others who care about peacemaking on the margins
- [A report on the Anabaptist Missional project gathering at Laurelville](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/07/05/a-report-on-the-anabaptist-missional-project-gathering-at-laurelville/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled This weekend I was at Laurelville Retreat Center in Mt. Pleasant, Pa., participating in "Renewing the Story: Anabaptism and Mission for Today," a gathering organized by the Anabaptist Missional Project. The Mennonite had an article about this group of young adults a few months ago. On the first evening
- [YAR meet up at Convention?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/06/13/yar-meet-up-at-convention/) - If you can't watch the video above, the main question is this: Is anyone from YAR going to the MCUSA convention in Pittsburgh, Pa. And if so, are you interested in meeting up face to face? Maybe 9pm-ish on either Tuesday or Wednesday of that week?
- [Wild Goose plug from an UMAAR](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/05/25/wild-goose-plug-from-an-umaar/) - Greetings from a not so young Anabaptist radical. Warning: lots of name-dropping ahead! I have spent 20 years on the road in various denominational conferences, congregations, and colleges. I met a lot of wonderful people, some of whom I’ve disagreed with theologically, and perhaps politically. But the saying, “traveling artists leave their theology and politics
- [The end of the world](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/05/18/the-end-of-the-world-2/) - In January I saw an article in the Wichita Eagle about a woman who was thoroughly convinced that the rapture and the end of the world would be on May 21, 2011. Â At 6pm to be exact. Â Well, this Saturday is the fateful day and, as one would expect, the story has been picked up
- [Active, Effective Theology: A Response to J. Denny Weaver](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/04/27/active-effective-theology-a-response-to-j-denny-weaver/) - Recently, J. Denny Weaver spoke of his conversion from “passive” non-resistance and two-kingdom theology to an active stance against evil (reflection: can Mennonites use the term “evil”?) in Wisconsin. http://www.themennonite.org/issues/14-4/articles/Protesting_and_the_reign_of_God While I approve of his stand, I must disagree with the theological conclusions of his article. In speaking of two kingdom theology, Professor Weaver emphasizes
- [Peace Chaplain, Part 1](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/04/20/peace-chaplain-part-1/) - A seminarian contributed this chapter about learning to love her enemies after a direct action at a military base to Radical Peace: People Refusing Waredited by William T. Hathaway. Because of her activism, this piece is posted anonymously to Young Anabaptist Radicals. To celebrate Armed Forces Day the military base near my seminary held an
- [Young women's bible study looking for non-traditional resources](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/28/young-womens-bible-study-looking-for-non-traditional-resources/) - This request arrived in the YAR inbox last week. I hope YAR readers can help. I'm a member of a young women's (mid to late 20s) bible study group. We are sick of the "regular" bible studies and I'm writing to see if you can recommend anything a little more non-traditional, thought provoking and discussion
- [What do we accept as real?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/22/what-do-we-accept-as-real/) - The other day we held one of our regular Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA) discussion groups. We began to tackle the book entitled Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing written by the co-directors of the Center for Reconciliation at Duke University, Chris Rice and Emmanuel Katongole. We began to
- [I refuse to give thanks](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/13/i-refuse-to-give-thanks/) - This Sunday, I just couldn't bear church service any longer. These last days, I followed the horrible news from Japan closely: First, the strongest earth quake, in recorded history causing a tsunami that swept away half a city. Together these two disasters already took at least ten thousand lives. Then comes the nuclear melt down,
- [Love Wins](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/03/08/love-wins/) - Is Gandhi in hell?  What’s more, what is hell?  Or heaven, for that matter? These are some of the questions that have sparked a bit of a firestorm around Rob Bell’s new book Love Wins: a book about heaven hell and the fate of everyone who ever lived.  This first came across my radar screen when I
- [Refuse to Be Tempted to Have a Despairing Heart; Refuse to be Alienated!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/19/refuse-to-be-tempted-to-have-a-despairing-heart-refuse-to-be-alienated/) - I have finally discovered how to beat spiritual oppression. I realize that in this day and age of the trillion self-proclaimed "self-help gurus" that this blog may just fall by the wayside. But my spirit must confess what I have learned on this journey, commonly referred to as life. This is a practice and it
- [Ask: Why is Your House Empty?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/28/ask-why-is-your-house-empty/) - ....Dedicated to this dying Child. A child dying in the streets of the crowded Warsaw Ghetto, where hunger and disease killed 43,000 in 1941 alone.[92] You told me that: "This is your house and you can say whatever you want in it." Indeed it is your house & You can say whatever you want in
- [Why I agree with Brian McLaren's answer (and why it matters that more of us do the same)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/21/why-i-agree-with-brian-mclarens-answer-and-why-it-matters-that-more-of-us-do-the-same/) - Brian Paff's reflection on Brian McLaren's essay entitled, "Is God Violent? What does the violence in the Bible tell us about the nature of God?" which was printed in the January 2011 issue of Sojourners.
- [Will we standby while Mubarak's thugs massacre protesters in Egypt?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/02/02/will-we-standby-while-mubaraks-thugs-massacre-protesters-in-egypt/) - Like many of you, I've been watching closely as the events in Egypt unfolded this week. When the protests first began on Tuesday of last week it seemed like it might be a brief flare up, quickly repressed like so many others. But momentum grew through the week and the brutality of the police proved
- [Prayer versus Water Cannon in Egypt today](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/01/28/prayer-versus-water-cannon-in-egypt-today/) - An iconic image of prayerful resistance in the face of riot police from the protests in Egypt today. The photographer is anonymous. Original posted by ollywainwright here: http://twitpic.com/3u6gvc/full Here's video footage of the same incident: (via BoingBoing) Update: Here's an in-depth story of the long struggle of Egyptian protestors to cross the bridge in the
- [A New-Old Call to Radical Christian Community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/01/27/a-new-old-call-to-radical-christian-community/) - “Community”, “Radical Discipleship”, “Prophetic Witness”: An urgent and self-giving Christianity has taken hold of the imaginations of a new generation of the faithful. Group houses of sincere young folks earnestly desiring to live for Christ and serve the poor are springing up like daisies after a summer rain. It is humbling to witness the movement
- [Mennonite Church USA, Phoenix 2013 convention and Anabaptist networks and alliances](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2011/01/10/mennonite-church-usa-phoenix-2013-convention-and-anabaptist-networks-and-alliances/) - On Saturday, the Mennonite Church USA executive board decided to hold the MC-USA 2013 convention in Phoenix, thus saving the $300,000 deposit $460,994 (source: MCUSA staff) that otherwise would have been lost. Any delegates who feel unsafe (or uncomfortable) meeting in Phoenix due to Arizona's targeting of the Latino community will be shepherded to a
- [Operation Payback, Anonymous and Wikileaks: A look at tactics, morality and innovation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/12/11/operation-payback-anonymous-and-wikileaks-a-look-at-tactics-morality-and-innovation/) - Nearly two weeks after my first post on Wikileaks, their diplomatic cables and the resulting fall out continue to make the front page news. The arrest of Assange and attacks on Mastercard, Visa and Paypal by "Operation Payback" have garnered far more attention then the cables themselves. The New York Times quoted one Internet guru
- [This is not a riot: an effective, nonviolent response to attacks by riot police](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/03/this-is-not-a-riot-an-effective-nonviolent-response-to-attacks-by-riot-police/) - In my experience, there are few things more intimidating then an advancing line of fully suited, helmeted, baton wielding riot police. They move forward with the full weight of the state behind them (if not the law) and stomp or beat everything in their path with a chilling methodical certainty. Charging riot police are meant
- [When we first visited Young Anabaptist Radicals PLUS first new poll in over a year!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/11/23/when-we-first-visited-young-anabaptist-radicals-plus-first-new-poll-in-over-a-year/) - Our poll "When did you first visit Young Anabaptist Radicals?" which ended today holds the record for longest running one in YAR history, clocking in at over a year and two months (It went up on September 24, 2009). Not surprisingly, it also holds the record for most responses at 183. Because it's been running
- [An idea for creative resistance](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/11/19/an-idea-for-creative-resistance/) - As I was standing in the shower this morning, pondering the latest news story about the new Travel Safety Administration (TSA) search procedures, I came up with an interesting, Biblically based, idea about how one might go about resisting these new invasive search procedures. Strip for the TSA Follow me for a second and I’ll
- [preaching on the suffering of war](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/11/05/preaching-on-the-suffering-of-war/) - “The Iraq War will surely go down in history as an embarrassment to the Christian church. Zealous Christian preachers promoted the cause from their pulpits, urging the nation to engage in a preemptive strike against a country presumed to have the capacity to eventually wage nuclear war. What troubles me most is that many of
- [The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, Chicago Style: More then Funny Signs?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/10/30/my-review-of-the-rally-to-restore-sanity-andor-keep-fear-alive-chicago-style/) - I just got back from the satellite Rally to Restory Sanity and/or Fear here in Chicago. I've been reading the confused articles leading up to the rally. Is it all about irony? Is it about moderation? Is it about progressive politics? Is this the millennial generation's Woodstock? After spending half an hour wondering around the
- [Revelations from WikiLeaks](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/10/28/revelations-from-wikileaks/) - The recent revelations about U.S. and British forces in Iraq uncover a stunning darkness. According to The Guardian, the 400,000 documents made available last week through WikiLeaks reveal “15,000 previously unreported civilian deaths.” The number of deaths kept secret by the leaders of our government exposes the sickening violence of war. While I would rather
- [Goldman Sachs, the global food crisis and faith in corporations](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/07/19/goldman-sachs-the-global-food-crisis-and-faith-in-corporations/) - Last week, Harper's magazine published an article by
- [CPT video of Israeli destruction of Palestinian tomatos going viral](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/07/12/cpt-video-of-israeli-destruction-of-palestinian-tomatos-going-viral/) - With over 5,000 views and counting it looks like this video from the CPT Palestine team may be going viral. It seems like the absurdity of Israeli destruction of tomato plants is really connecting with people: I've never really been connected with a video that has got this much attention before. In my capacity as
- [Reduce, Re-use, Recycle...unless you live in la ceiba](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/06/18/reduce-re-use-recycleunless-you-live-in-la-ceiba/) - Author's Note: Just to give some context; I'm a mission worker with Eastern Mennonite Missions in La Ceiba, Honduras. I in conjunction with the local Mennonite congregation, work in Los Laureles, a community built in and around the municipal garbage dump. If you'd like to read or see more about our work there you can
- [Reflections from Bolivia](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/06/14/reflections-from-bolivia/) - I just got back from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Â Our church took a group of 10 high schoolers on a week and a half long service trip. Â Our primary work was on the Samuelito Daycare building, a project of the Mennonite Churches in Bolivia. Â Our church here in Harper, Ks has had a relationship with the
- [The Word made Flesh -  An examiination of the Mennonite COF, Part 2](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/06/01/the-word-made-flesh-an-examiination-of-the-mennonite-cof-part-2/) - To be honest, in reading this article, there's not a whole lot that needs to be added. I think the framers of the confession did a remarkable job of wrapping up a lot in a very short piece. However, what I would like to comment on is something that seems to have received lesser emphasis
- [Some ponderings](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/05/19/some-ponderings/) - Okay... I know I owe a post on Article 2 of the Confession of Faith... life has been strange lately.In any case, something my wife mentioned today made me wonder some stuff. Here are some questions that I think the Christian church in the USA needs to seriously ask themselves. Likewise, these are fair questions
- [Mennonite denominationalism and the Concern pamphlets](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/05/17/mennonite-denominationalism-and-the-concern-pamphlets/) - I've been a Mennonite for nearly 8 years. I've felt welcomed in local congregations and regional assemblies and national conventions. I have enjoyed everything about our denomination--even the quirkiness. But I also can't help but notice that there are lots of faithful people who have been Mennonite for a lot longer than I have been
- [Young Church of the Brethren Radicals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/04/23/young-church-of-the-brethren-radicals/) - Things are picking up over at Feetwashing and Four Square, our sister blog started by Nick Miller Kauffman (nicolas here on YAR). I'd particularly commend to you the recent post Anabaptist Fierce by Katie Shaw Thompson. Here's an excerpt on the relationship between some theories of nonviolence and white privilege: Bob cited a weak (or
- [Bodies Matter: a footwashing protest](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/04/02/bodies-matter-a-footwashing-protest/) - For Holy Thursday a bunch of gathered at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Cary, North Carolina, and held a footwashing worship service–we told them we wanted to wash the feet of the people detained inside. If you haven’t heard about these ICE detention centers, that means the federal government is good
- [Never doubt that a small group of marginal wierdos chan change the world.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/04/01/never-doubt-that-a-small-group-of-marginal-wierdos-chan-change-the-world/) - In fact, according to Clive Thompson, marginal weirdos brought us computer, democracy and the novel. Basically, Thompson argues that when the audience gets too big for a conversation, it stops taking risks. Which is why I've come to see these long posting breaks on YAR as pruning moments. A 10% drop in visits to YAR
- [Reflections on the 4th anniversary of Tom Fox's death](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/03/09/reflections-on-the-4th-anniversary-of-tom-foxs-death/) - Today is the fourth anniversary of Tom Fox's death. Tom was killed by his kidnappers in Iraq on March 9, 2006, 104 days after Harmeet, Norman, Jim and Tom were driving back from a Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) delegation visit when their car was pulled over by armed men and they were kidnapped. Since I didn't know
- [It's Not You, It's Me: Why I'm Leaving YAR ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/02/17/its-not-you-its-me-why-im-leaving-yar/) - So I've been a contributor to YAR since early 2007 and have engaged in some interesting discussions with some of the collaborators and even met, discussed, and dined with some of the administrators here. Yet, for the past...oh, year and a half I suppose, I've pretty much only contributed book reviews. And in the last
- [Why I left YAR, and why I'm not likely to come back regularly](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/02/26/why-i-left-yar-and-why-im-not-likely-to-come-back-regularly/) - Looks like Folknotions paved the way for me on this one. I'd pretty much forgotten about YAR until yesterday TimN sent me a new incoming comment on a post I'd put up well over two years ago. Like Folknotions, I didn't leave YAR because I thought YAR was a bad place or because anyone had
- [James Brenneman, J. Lawrence Burkholder and a new Mennonite theology of "loyal opposition" for Goshen College](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/25/james-brenneman-j-lawrence-burkholder-and-a-new-mennonite-theology-of-loyal-opposition-for-goshen-colleg/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust" - Francis Scott Key, Start Spangled Banner, 1814 Last week
- [Invitation from Mennonite Publishing Network to help revision resources for 20 and 30-somethings](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/11/invitation-from-mennonite-publishing-network-to-hep-revision-resources-for-20-and-30-somethings/) - This is a invitation to the YAR community from Byron Rempel-Burkholder, and editor at Faith and Life Resources/Mennonite Publishing Network. Feel free to contact Byron directly or leave your response in a comment. We at Mennonite Publishing Network need your help in creating resources that nurture spirituality among 20- and 30-somethings. Our traditional existing medium
- [Anabaptist Rosary](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/21/anabaptist-rosary/) - As a note: This is also posted at The Wandering Road So I've recently run across the Catholic Rosary. While I'm drawn to it's structure and it's ability to help people pray, as a good Anabaptist, I take issue with some of it's theology. So here is my initial thoughts and proposal for an Anabaptist
- [Blessing of the Animals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/17/blessing-of-the-animals/) - Your justice is like the unending mountains, your judgments like the great deep; human and beast the Lord preserves! Psalm 36:5-6 Today is the annual Blessing of the Animals. This holiday has taken on many forms and is incorporated throughout many traditions, but it was started by St. Francis of Assisi, who had a deep
- [Can you help out a YAR community member in need?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/04/can-you-help-out-a-yar-community-member-in-need/) - I returned to work to work today to find an email about the complete destruction of my friend Jason Barr's home over the holidays. Jason and his wife Gretchen didn't have insurance, so their depending on good old Anabaptist mutual aid to recover from a loss of just about everything they owned in the fire
- [Spiritual Practices for the New Decade](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2010/01/02/spiritual-practices-for-the-new-decade/) - There is a fair amount of change on the horizon for me as a YAR. I seek to face the changes with a soundness in mind, body, and soul. When I look back at the times when I was the healthiest and times I was the unhealthiest.........I see that one factor is whether or not
- [Book Review: The Holy Spirit by Ivan Satyarata](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/12/12/book-review-the-holy-spirit-by-ivan-satyarata/) - The Holy Spirit: Lord and Life-Giver Ivan Satyavrata InterVaristy Press April 2009 ISBN: 978-0-8308-3307-8 IVP Amazon It's a bit of a low blow to poorly review a literary/artistic work when you are charging it with not being what you expected it to be. For example, when I was 8, my art teacher asked us to
- [Introducing Ben_jammin](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/12/06/introducing-ben_jammin/) - Greetings, my fellow YARs! As I am the newest and probably youngest contributor to this community blog, I thought before posting stuff here I should introduce myself. I am seventeen (thus I think I have proven to be young) and I am a Kraut, as American G.I.s came to call Germans, when they occupied Germany
- [Anabaptist Geek Comic strip of the Year: Parade of ever fancier toys](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/11/13/anabaptist-geek-comic-strip-of-the-year-parade-of-ever-fancier-toys/) - I'm not sure if I've ever posted a cartoon on YAR before, but today's xkcd 3 panel brought together a rare combination of critique in the spirit of Anabaptism and geek cynicism (not to be confused with Diogenes). Translation For those non-geeks among you, the Droid is Motorola's latest cell phone response to Apple's I-phone.
- [Can radical book tours change the world?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/11/25/can-radical-book-tours-change-the-world/) - Over at Jesus Manifesto, Mark Van Steenwyck offers a challenge to the social-change-through-book-tour model: It seems to be assumed that the way we can build a movement in our society is by wring books, building platforms, and then touring around using our amassed social capital to woo large numbers of people to being a part
- [BUY NOTHING CHRISTMAS](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/11/23/buy-nothing-christmas/) - The day is soon approaching when people all over America will be rushing to the malls and shopping centers to get the best deals of the year. Black Friday- the day stores move from red to black in their sales margin, fueled by a culture of over-consumption (and perhaps also the left over energy from
- [Colombian Paramilitaries defend Multinational Corporations from "bureaucrats"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/26/colombian-paramilitaries-defend-multinational-corporations-from-bureaucrats/) - An urgent action from the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin American just arrived in my inbox. It included this quote from a new death threat from the Colombian paramilitary group Black Eagles, who are also active in Barrancabermeja, where I've worked with Christian Peacemaker Teams: With the help of "Familias en Accion" "Guardabosques" and
- [Ancient Paths: The Way Forward](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/24/ancient-paths-the-way-forward/) - This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16 I just returned from the Gathering Around the Unhewn Stone, an event that took place this last weekend
- [The things that make for peace](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/18/the-things-that-make-for-peace/) - This piece is cross-posted from Electronic Intifada As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:41-42 Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives in East
- [Justice & Unity: Reflections on Mennonite World Conference](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/10/justice-unity-reflections-on-mennonite-world-conference/) - “Will you forgive us?” they said from the platform at Global Youth Summit. “As North Americans, if, through pride or selfish independence, we have said, 'I am not part of the body...' Will you forgive us? If we have known that other parts of Christ's body suffer, and have refused to share their pain... Will
- ["In the world..."](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/05/in-the-world/) - I'm embarking on an interesting adventure this fall, one of my choosing (to borrow some terms and phrases from Wayne Speigle's sermon this past week). See, I love movies. I like to watch the characters unfold, the plot thicken, and all those little surprises and such that come up. But I've also recently learned to
- [Introducing Rusty...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/01/introducing-rusty/) - Greetings everyone, I am the newest contributor to the YAR blog, and as is the custom here, I was asked to introduced myself. I won't bore you with my life story. I'll keep it short and relevant. My life is a complex journey, as all of ours tend to be in this day and age.
- [Confronting Racism in Mennonite Central Committee](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/10/01/confronting-racism-in-mennonite-central-committee/) - Friends, At the urging of others, I am making my first YAR appearance. I am part of a group of constituents pushing MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) to address patterns of institutional racism. Members of the group include Tim Barr, Calenthia Dowdy, Brenda Zook Friesen, Karissa Ortman Loewen, Conrad Moore, Yvonne Platts, Tobin Miller Shearer, Regina
- [A window into the reality of a 36 hour curfew in Honduras](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/09/23/a-window-into-the-reality-of-a-36-hour-curfew-in-honduras/) - As you may have heard, Manuel Zelaya has returned to Honduras and is in the Brazilian embassy. The government has responded to wide spread protests by imposing a curfew that has been extended repeatedly. Andrew Clouse, a friend of mine serving with MCC in Honduras, has a eye opening reminder of how devastating a curfew
- [A novel about anime, peacemaking and kidnapping](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/09/22/a-novel-about-anime-peacemaking-and-kidnapping/) - This is a letter to YAR readers from Kathleen Kern, a colleague of mine at Christian Peacemaker Teams as well as a novelist. I was a fan of her first novel, Where Such Unmaking Reigns and I've also read the manuscript she describes below. Hi, Last year, I completed a second novel featuring the work
- [New Wine New Wineskins](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/09/17/new-wine-new-wineskins/) - The “final” meetings of the New Wine/New Wineskins Inquiry Task Force (ITF) committee were last weekend in Winnipeg. I thought some of you may want to know about it. MCC is trying to deepen existing bonds of connection and respond to world in a new way through modification of its vision, mission, priorities, values, and
- [Introductions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/09/04/introductions/) - Hello. My name is Josh. And I am an Anabaptist. Well, pretty sure anyway. Theres only a small number of people using the label of Anabaptism is Australia, tho many more exploring the traditions and those related to it. I came to anarchism and anabaptism through a marrying of my activism and earlier evangelicalism. My wife
- [3 Years of YAR: Curate your own top 6 list](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/31/3-years-of-yar-curate-your-own-top-6-list/) - Three years ago today, Eric wrote the first post here on YAR. We've been through all sorts of interesting things in the past 3 years. I think we're old enough now that we can start doing some looking back. In celebration of those 3 years, I'd like to invite YAR authors to curate their own
- [Have We Lost Our Way?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/26/have-we-lost-our-way/) - (This is a repost from my home blog at http://ballymennoniteblogger.blogspot.com/) A new issue of the online version of "The Mennonite" church publication has been released. I just got my e-mail today. I enjoy getting this weekly dose of information from the primary publication of my denomination. It keeps me informed as to what's going on
- [What do you know about Ervin Stutzman?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/26/what-do-you-know-about-ervin-stutzman/) - Yesterday, the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board named Ervin R. Stutzman the next executive director of Mennonite Church USA. Given that we've had three posts (by ST, by me and by Steve K) and 15 comments here on YAR about the search process for this position, I thought it would be worth talking about whether
- [Rich Mennonites in an age of hunger](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/05/rich-mennonites-in-an-age-of-hunger/) - This past week, the executive board of Mennonite Church USA gave its approval for a $9.8 million building campaign. The new building, which will be built on the grounds of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, will house both the offices of MCUSA and Mennonite Mission Network. MMN had approved the proposal back in July, but the
- [Young Adults Present Statement of Visions at San Jose](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/09/young-adults-present-statement-of-visions-at-san-jose/) - The following statement was drafted and presented at the San Jose 2007 Convention in response to an invitation from MC USA Executive Leadership for feedback from BikeMovement and associated conversations regarding young adult visions for the Mennonite church: Young adults have been called the future of the church. We come before you today to say
- [Our hopes and dreams for church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/23/our-hopes-and-dreams-for-church/) - Hello YAR internet community, A quick plug for “BikeMovement the Documentary — A young adult perspective on church” that will premiere at San Jose 2007 Mennonite convention and be available for sale on-line in about a week. For those of you who don’t know, BikeMovement was a group of young adults who biked across the
- [Highlights from San Jose 2007](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/04/highlights-from-san-jose-2007/) - Today marks the midpoint of my time at the Mennonite convention here in San Jose, so I thought I'd make an attempt to share some highlights from my time here thus far. From Sunday afternoon through noon on Monday, I attended Live the Call: Conversations about New Models for Church, a meeting of the Urban
- [Caution: Mennonite Church USA Institutional Politics Ahead](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/18/caution-mennonite-church-usa-institutional-politics-ahead/) - One of the items discussed by delegates at the Mennonite Church USA churchwide assembly this month in San Jose was an resolution proposed by a group called Menno Neighbors. It is an informal group that meets once a year and they have a pretty active listserve. The resolution was changed to a statement for discussion
- [A Platform for MCUSA ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/09/a-platform-for-mcusa/) - I have been involved in some pretty strange things–a church planter of an all-homeless/mentally ill congregation; encouraging leaders of a mosque in Bangladesh to re-think Jesus; dumpster diving for Jesus, and so recently becoming the poster child for dumpster diving in Portland (Check out http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/issues/archives/articles/0409-holy-diver/ and read a recent article about me–heck, just look at
- [Some Thoughts About Reforming the Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/23/some-thoughts-about-reforming-the-church/) - This is in response to a discussion on "A Platform for MCUSA". https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/09/a-platform-for-mcusa/ I got to thinking about something there and it got so long, I decided to post it seperately. I suppose pretty much everyone on this forum is interested in reforming the church. Perhaps we don’t all agree at exactly what this reform
- [Resurrection hope for new Mennonite Church USA executive director](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/12/resurrection-hope-for-new-mennonite-church-usa-executive-director/) - I was originally writing this as a comment responding to the Search for next Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA post by ST, but it got quite long and so I posted it on As of Yet Untitled too. Over on Young Anabaptist Radicals, we recently had a post asking for opinions and thoughts regarding
- [Search for next Executive Director of Mennonite Church USA ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/23/executive-director-search/) - Given all that we've talked about here, maybe there are some opinions on what the next Executive Director should do? Who it should be? How they should act? What salary (if any) they should be paid? This is a chance to weigh in to the process. The search committee is consulting far and wide across
- [Bullet holes and Resurrection Ivy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/24/bullet-holes-and-resurrection-ivy/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled On Wednesday morning at 3:33 am, Charletta woke up and said that she had heard a noise. I blearily nodded. She was gone for a minute or two and I tried to go back to sleep. Then she came back and said, "I think there's a bullet hole in
- [The Evangelical Anabaptist Revolution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/21/the-evangelical-anabaptist-revolution/) - Many Young Anabaptist Radicals might have a difficult time accepting evangelicals among our ranks. And for good reason. As a whole, evangelicalism and Anabaptism have some major differences. However, I submit that the boundaries of each group are porous enough to allow for some constructive dialogue and even overlap. (Think, for example, of Ron Sider.)
- [Global Anabaptist Wiki](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/08/09/global-anabaptist-wiki/) - The Global Anabaptist Wiki is an interactive community of Anabaptist-Mennonite groups from around the world. Initiated by the Mennonite Historical Library at Goshen College, the site is committed to helping individual groups: 1) tell their own story; 2) post and preserve electronic archives; and 3) become better informed about other groups in the global Anabaptist
- [Jarrod McKenna hiding in training area to halt US and Australian military training exercises](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/07/13/jarrod-mckenna-hiding-in-training-area-to-halt-us-and-australian-training-exercises/) - A few years ago I published an interview on YAR with Jarrod McKenna, an Australian Christian and activist. Since then, Jarrod has occasionally participated in discussions on YAR and I've had a number of phone conversations with him as part of building a Christian Peacemaker Teams presence in Australia. He's a committed and passionate advocate
- [Does size really matter?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/07/10/does-size-really-matter/) - People have asked me if I grew up in the country or in town. Well, kinda. I technically lived within the city limits of Goessel but I could see a wheat field from my back yard. In addition, while Goessel was an official town (signified by it's own telephone prefix and a post office) the
- [Would you like to train with Christian Peacemaker Teams in London?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/07/09/would-you-like-to-train-with-christian-peacemaker-teams-in-the-uk/) - For the last couple years, I and others been working to organize a training for new CPTers in Europe. Earlier this year we announced that we had enough applicants to move ahead with a CPT training for new corps members in London in October. This week, we are on the brink of having to cancel
- [A definition of 'radical'](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/07/03/a-definition-of-radical/) - From his by now rather famous Terry Lectures, given at Yale in April 2008, now published as Faith, Reason, and Revollution, Terry Eagleton offers a succinct definition of 'radical': "Radicals are those who believe that things are extremely bad with us, but they could feasibly be much improved. Conservatives believe that things are pretty bad,
- [NT Wright and Mennonite Theologizing](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/06/24/nt-wright-and-mennonite-theologizing/) - InterVarsity Press WTSbooks Amazon A high church Reformed Anglican bishop, NT Wright, has just written a book called Justification, which (as you can guess) is a summary of his thought on this much-debated issue within the Western Christian world. His impetus for the book is a book published in 2007 by Dr. John Piper called
- [What an Anabaptist aproach to the Bible means for me](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/06/18/what-an-anabaptist-aproach-to-the-bible-means-for-me/) - A few weeks ago, in a discussion thread over here, folknotions asked the question (seconded by Tim Baer): "What do radical anabaptists believe about the Bible?". I've been pondering this question for a few weeks and I haven't come up with anything definitive, but I do have a few thoughts to share. It just so
- [Rain City Hymnal: Available for Free on Noise Trade](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/06/11/rain-city-hymnal-available-for-free-on-noise-trade/) - For those familiar with Mark Driscoll's Mars Hill Church (different from Rob Bell's Mars Hill Church... though it is darn confusing...), they recently launched a website called Re:Sound. Their first project is a sort of indie-rock version of a lot of classic hymns such as "Softly and Tenderly", "What Wonderous Love Is This", "Doxology", "Amazing
- [Top Ten Acts of Oppression](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/06/02/top-ten-acts-of-oppression/) - Just a brief Bible study to cleanse my mind of the combination of verses and images from Rumsfield that TimN posted: All references are from the ancient Hebrew prophets: 1. Refusing to defend the needy- Isaiah 1:17, 23; Jeremiah 5:28 2. Stealing from the poor- Isaiah 3:14-15 3. Unjust judgments against the poor- Isaiah 10:1-2
- [The earth is still flat.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/06/04/the-earth-is-still-flat/) - Let me preface this post by saying I am not a historian, a scientist, or theologian. I have only my own experience to lean on. My prayer is that I can speak from a place of humility on a sensitive subject; a divisive subject that I nearly lost my faith over.        Most of you are
- [A Review of After the Mayflower, We Shall Remain](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/05/20/a-review-of-after-the-mayflower-we-shall-remain/) - adapted from As of Yet Untitled Sunday evening I watched the first episode of We Shall Remain, a five part PBS series you can watch for free on their website. If you have 75 minutes to spare, don't bother reading this review, just go watch After the Mayflower, the first episode, for yourself. Contrary to
- [gay/evangelical love](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/05/17/gayevangelical-love/) - Love is an Orientation: Elevating the Conversation with the Gay Community Andrew Marin InterVarsity Press Published: March 2009 ISBN: 978-0-8308-3626-0 If you were to meet Andrew Marin (and providing you have some experience with Evangelical culture), it might strike you that he looks, acts, and talks like the epitome of a twenty-something Evangelical guy. His
- [Book Review: <em>Simple Spirituality</em> by Christopher Heuertz](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/08/book-review-simple-spirituality-by-christopher-heuertz/) - Christopher L. Heuertz, Simple Spirituality: Learning to See God in a Broken World. InterVarsity Press, 2008. Pp. 159. $15.00, US. I wish I read this book more slowly. It's a very accessible read, but that doesn't mean it should be read quickly. Heuertz wrote a vulnerable book, one that puts his heart on display, and
- [Invitation to sign open letter to Mennonite Church USA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/10/invitation-to-sign-open-letter-to-mennonite-church-usa/) - The Open letter movement is now inviting non-pastors to sign on to their letter as well. Here's their invitation for all of you from one of the organizers: I thought some of YAR's readers might be interested in this: More than 100 Mennonite pastors and people in ministry have signed a letter calling for Mennonite
- [Military Counseling Network seeks Young Anabaptist Radical ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/04/06/military-counseling-network-seeks-young-anabaptist-radical/) - In a time when peace churches are having a hard time finding ways to be proactive in response to our country’s wars, this work gives us just that opportunity. More than protest, more than letter-writing, more than being “against stuff.” We can do better by providing alternatives. In the same way that the Pentagon technically
- [Proving God](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/29/proving-god/) - Some of you may be familiar with philosophers' attempts to prove God's existence. The simplest is put forth by Descartes, who in doubting reality, realized the only thing he could be sure of was that he doubted. Here's my paraphrase: I doubt, therefore I think. I think, therefore I exist. I doubt, therefore I am
- [Haud Metus. Haud Fastosus.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/22/haud-metus-haud-fastosus/) - “Haud Metus. Haud Fastosus.” That's my personal motto. It means “No Fear. No Pride.”...I think. Maybe it means “No Pride. No Fear.” I can't really remember. It's been a while since I looked it up on an online Latin/English translator. Those things are unreliable anyway. But I believe that's what it means, I guess that's
- [Anabaptist Humor: FAIL](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/03/anabaptist-humor-fail/) - This evening I decided to lazy-research (aka googling) Anabaptist humor. It turn's out we don't have any. According to the first result for Anabaptist humor on Google: [Anabaptist] interpretation of the New Testament, especially Ephesians 5:4, did not allow for jesting or joking. The Christian was expected to prune the heart and mouth of all
- [The Capricious hand of ICE and Lenten fasting](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/03/01/the-capricious-hand-of-ice-and-lenten-fasting/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled On Thursday evening Charletta and I watched The Visitor. Charletta and I watched the The Visitor last night. Friends had recommended it and I expected a quirky, lovable independent film. It's this, but it is also a devastating portrait of ICE detention centers from the inside and draws us
- [In with the New; out with the Old](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/23/in-with-the-new-out-with-the-old/) - I'm not even 30 and I feel like a curmudgeon. I'm not interested in books and movements that herald the promises of our changing world. We are interested in the emergent, the yet to come; we want to be the New Christians occupying the frontiers of change. When I hear this way of talking about
- [Destruction of the World Corporate Structure](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/02/17/destruction-of-the-world-corporate-structure/) - I wrote this for a group of hard core youth who were into anarchy: Injustice reigns in the earth. Capitalism is corrupt, only granting freedom to the wealthy, while the poor get ground in the dust. The 200 wealthiest people in the world, all heads of corporations, control 40% of the world’s wealth, while the
- [technology and worship: part 3](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/02/02/technology-and-worship-part-3/) - (I'm still thinking about our use of technology in worship. This post continues my earlier thoughts: Part 1 and Part 2) The best books on technology and worship offer methods for carefully appropriating devices that contribute to the unique form of a congregation's worship. Technologies should not be imposed from above, but should arise from
- [What Men Want: a Valentine's Day Primer and Quiz Show](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/02/14/what-men-want-a-valentines-day-primer-and-quiz-show/) - The following is both an advice guide and pop-culture quiz. On the one hand, young ladies will learn what men are really thinking (it's not that hard...) and on the other hand it's a game that you can earn points with. I don't have a degree or anything so I'm using all my relationship examples
- [YAR's word cloud as interpreted by Wordle](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/02/09/yars-word-cloud-as-interpreted-by-wordle/) - This evening while browsing the 5 Best Data Visualization Projects of the Year I came across Wordle, a wonderful tool for building word clouds. What are word clouds? We've actually already got our own rather dull cloud of post tags tag cloud way down there on the right hand column. In this case the categories
- [A bicycle pilgrimage](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/29/a-bicycle-pilgrimage/) - Hey! These folks are riding from Harrisonburg, VA to the Asuncion, Paraguay for the Global Youth Summit of Mennonite World Conference. Check them out! http://americas.bikemovement.org/ As anyone who has been on a bike for an extended amount of time for their primary form of transportation knows, it is a life-altering experience. Godspeed to Lars and
- [It's someone else's problem...or it's not.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/26/its-someone-elses-problemor-its-not/) - (A Debbie Downer post. Sorry about your luck.) For several months I've been making posts that suggest (though I don't think I've said it), that the idea that people are somehow different than they were before is probably a little idealist. I don't think people are progressive (as in, moving forward or evolving either physically
- [Inauguration Thoughts: The State is Still the State](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/21/inauguration-thoughts-the-state-is-still-the-state/) - Yesterday was truly a big day in U.S. history. The inauguration of the first African-American President is truly a turning point for our nation, especially given our abysmal history on race. Moreover, it was encouraging to hear Senator Dianne Feinstein's reflections on the nonviolence of Martin Luther King, President Obama's message that we need not
- [GAH! *@&#, it's cold!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/19/gah-its-cold/) - It is absolutly freezing. Saturday morning brought frost on the car windows and I'm chucking trash into bag at 8 am because I got to cart 3 adults to Philly from Baltimore (The Element is trashed. I blame the kids.). Actually, these "adults" might as well be 13, their behavior will be subpar all day
- [somasoul's Blueprint for Change. ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/07/somasouls-blueprint-for-change/) - I saw Barack Obama's blueprint for change and I thought since I'm smarter than him I should have one too. You never know when you might become the next leader of the free world, I gotta be prepared. With that said, it's a bit of tongue-in-cheek fun since everything has been so grim around here
- [Martyrdom Through Hollywood: Book Review of The Purple Crown](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/06/martyrdom-through-hollywood-book-review-of-the-purple-crown/) - Tripp York. The Purple Crown: The Politics of Martyrdom. Waterloo, Ontario: Herald Press, 2007. Pp. 198. $19.99, US. The Purple Crown is the first book written by Tripp York (Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies at Elon University) and the second in Herald’s new series, Polyglossia: Radical Reformation Theologies, edited by Peter Dula (Assistant Professor of
- [Amish for Homeland Security](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2009/01/03/amish-for-homeland-security/) - I haven't read Shane Claiborne's book Jesus for President yet, but I borrowed the title of this post from one of the chapters. This post actually has little to do with the Amish or homeland security, but I wanted to point out two interesting items shared with me by a friend from church. The first
- [Shock for an eye, awe for a tooth: so much for lex talionis in Gaza](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/29/shock-for-an-eye-awe-for-a-tooth-so-much-for-lex-talionis-in-gaza/) - After spending an hour reading the news about Gaza, there's a lot of different blog posts I could write. I could write about the numbness and despair I feel as I watch the video camera meandering through the corpses of Palestinians. I could tell the stories I heard from Israelis and Palestinians when I went with
- [Book Review: We Become What We Worship ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/22/book-review-we-become-what-we-worship/) - We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry G.K Beale IVP Academic Nov. 2008 341pp ISBN: 083082877X I get frustrated by books that - either intentionally or unintentionally - do the following: 1) Treat me like an idiot and suppose I will take its arguments at face value. The author barely attempts to
- [The Secret Millionaire](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/12/the-secret-millionaire/) - "I haven't been entirely truthful with you..." says the young, well-dressed, middle-eastern man. The camera focuses in on the pained expressions on those he is speaking to in that shaky, fast cutaway style of those Jason Bourne flicks. Intense, dramatic music plays in the background. The editors let this cliff-hanger like suspense build for, well,
- [My governor: the WWF wrestler](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/09/my-governor-the-wwf-wrestler/) - Adapted from As of Yet Untitled. This morning I turned on NPR during breakfast and heard the news that the governor of Illinois was arrested at his house this morning in his blue and black jogging suit. Throughout the day today, in the car, on the train platform and over lunch I've had conversation with
- ["We are the agents of our own change" - Arthur Mutambara](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/12/08/we-are-the-agents-of-our-own-change-arthur-mutambara/) - Cross-posted from As of Yet UntitledThis week Zimbabwe has wrestled its way back into the news with reports of over 600 dead of Cholera and as many as 60,000 cases feared in coming weeks. Inflation is so high that at restaurants you pay before the meal because the food will cost more when you finish.
- [We Shopped till he Dropped](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/29/we-shopped-till-he-dropped/) - (x-posted at IndieFaith) Did we know it would only be a matter of time? Were we aware that possible escalation had no real check? Did the legion of reality TV shows, sporting events, and corporate ladders instill in us an instinct for conquering? There can be only one! This weekend CNN announced the 'hero of
- [Baltimore's Progressive Catholic Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/30/baltimores-progressive-catholic-church/) - It would be unfair to label Saint Sebastian's Independant Catholic Church a "gay church". But it'd be unfair not to mention that, perhaps, they are very into the gay happenings in Baltimore and minister to the gay community. While I am sure that Pastor Flaherty would be disheartened to think that Saint Sebastians is only
- [Call for Brainstormers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/20/call-for-brainstormers/) - Tim Nafziger and Roxy Allen are looking for 4-6 brainstormers (aka community organizers) for a young adult pre or post-Mennonite USA Convention 2009 in Columbus, Ohio gathering. The brainstormers will help us develop a theme and relevant programming topics and activities for this gathering to 1) facilitate networking among young (ages 18-30ish) progressive Anabaptists and
- [Bible Verses of the Day: The Seduction of Civilization](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/16/bible-verses-of-the-day-the-seduction-of-civilization/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled This week I had the opportunity to be part of a conversation looking at the bible through the lens of civilization skepticism. Theologian Ched Myers took us through the first 11 books of Genesis looking at the way that much of the sinfulness in this story is caught up
- [Proposition Hate](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/11/proposition-hate/) - Tuesday was quite the night. Like Celeste, I found my way to Grant Park (coveted tickets for the official campaign event in hand) and joined the crowd of a hundred thousand gathered to scream, cry, hug, and jump our way into a new spirit of hopefulness that is solidifying around us. Besides Obama’s victory, there
- [Biking part of Chicago on election night 2008](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/08/biking-part-of-chicago-on-election-night-2008/) - TimN encouraged me to post this reflection from Tuesday, when we met up in Grant Park with CharlettaE and others; sorry for the delay in getting it up here. Rather than join the rally crowds you saw on TV on Tuesday – I didn't try to get tickets; they were limited and I felt others
- [Election Day!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/04/election-day/) - It's Election Day! Say hello to a new President and goodbye to Joe the Plummer. Regardless whether one votes or not, please pray today.
- [What happens in church on a Thursday night when you are not looking. ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/11/01/what-happens-in-church-on-a-thursday-night-when-you-are-not-looking/) - The church basement's cinder block walls radiate the cold. Coffee permeates the air. Two dozen people or so sit at 8' X 3' wooden folding tables, set up in a circle, eating cake and drinking the aforementioned coffee. Another dozen or more sit at chairs placed around the room. My friend, we'll call him Brian,
- [Leviticus 3:16b "All fat is the Lord's."](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/17/leviticus-316b-all-fat-is-the-lords/) - Hi Friends! It is time for the 2nd preach-off between Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Goshen College. The first one was in 2006 (organized by some YARs) and it was very successful. For the preach-off, folks will give three-minute sermons on scriptures they've received 24 hours prior. People can vote with their donations, and a
- [Official: 3,000 Christians flee Iraq's Mosul](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/11/official-3000-christians-flee-iraqs-mosul/) - By BRADLEY S. KLAPPER — 1 hour ago BAGHDAD (AP) – Hundreds of terrified Christian families have fled Mosul to escape extremist attacks that have increased despite months of U.S. and Iraqi military operations to secure the northern Iraqi city, political and religious officials said Saturday. Some 3,000 Christians have fled the city over the
- [Bible Verses of the Day: Acts 19:23-29](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/09/bible-verses-of-the-day-acts-1923-29/) - 23 About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way. 24A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans. 25These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, "Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business. 26You also see
- [Voices in the Night: What keeps *you* awake?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/09/voices-in-the-night-what-keeps-you-awake/) - (Hi friends. Tis been awhile.) Lately, I have been thinking about the Biblical stories that star God's voice. (You know, humans actually hearing God in the middle of the night and assuming it's someone else.) I wish I could say God's voice is what's waking me up at 4 in the morning. Mostly, I fear
- [Three Interesting Articles on the Subject of Whiteness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/03/three-interesting-articles-on-the-subject-of-whiteness/) - I have found a few interesting articles that have come out from person of color perspectives on aspects of Christian "progressivism" or "monasticism". Here's one by Chanequa Walker-Barnes on New Monasticism and White Privelege Here's one by Anthony Smith at Emergent Village on the tendency for "not voting" in progressive circles Here are responses by
- [An Anabaptist response to repression of immigrants](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/06/an-anabaptist-response-to-repression-of-immigrants/) - Crossposted from As of Yet Untitled I'm in the midst of a 5 day stay in LaGrange, Georgia hosted by the Alterna community as part of the Christian Peacemaker Teams steering committee meetings. Today I had the opportunity to interview Anton Flores, one of the founders of the community. Anton has lived in LaGrange for
- ["If you need help, DON'T go to a Mennonite"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/01/if-you-need-help-dont-go-to-a-mennonite/) - I just received a post from a man in Pennsylvania who is responding to an essay on "Dehumanization of the Homeless" on the Mennonite Poverty Forum. (This post is edited some, so if you want to read the full post in its context, please go to: http://groups.google.com/group/mennonite-poverty-forum/browse_thread/thread/b4a61d17a32cbe4a) How would you respond to this? What does
- [living & dying well](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/10/02/living-dying-well/) - I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear. --Dawna Markova Over the summer, I was asked if I would be willing to teach a Sunday School class at my church on grief and loss. I agreed without any hesitation. When I recently sat down with the pastor, I realized that
- [Newark, DE & Elkton, MD](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/28/newark-de-elkton-md/) - For the past 4 weeks I was rotating at Christiana Care Hospital in Newark, DE. During that time I was able to reconnect with a high school friend of mine who lives in the area. He & his wife introduced me to a group of people with Anabaptist roots/connections/interests who have been meeting together informally
- [MCC Restructure:  When does the hard part begin?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/28/mcc-restructure-when-does-the-hard-part-begin/) - Hello. I attended the MCC New Wineskins Summit in Winnipeg, Ca last week. Read more about me below if you want to know why I attended. Read on for my brief opinions and McCain maverick-like move at the end. I am not an alarmist and believe in moderation but I am afraid of the future
- [Can anyone <i>not</i> do better then Palin on the bailout?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/26/can-anyone-not-do-better-then-palin-on-the-bailout/) - So no one's written anything here yet about the proposed $700 billion bailout of the US economy. I don't think I have anything profound to say, but I suspect there might be some YAR readers out there with some opinions. I bet you can do better then Governor Palin did with Katie Couric yesterday when
- [Canadian Mennonite's Blog](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/26/canadian-mennonites-blog/) - If you are Canadian and Mennonite (or interested in either) you may want to check out Canadian Mennonite's new blog.
- [Endtroducing](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/17/endtroducing/) - Tim asked me to introduce myself before contributing to this blog. So here goes... I guess I'm young--although my wife has discovered a recent influx of white hairs on my head. And I guess I'm Anabaptist--although my parents had me baptized as an infant. But I don't think anyone wants to include me among the
- [Chicago police, racism and the powerlessness of the gun in Rogers Park](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/19/chicago-police-racism-and-the-powerlessness-of-the-gun-in-rogers-park/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled This afternoon I was sitting in my office downstairs from our apartment when I noticed the yelling volume outside had gone up significantly to a low roar. I looked out the window and saw that the number of kids walking home from nearby Sullivan high school had grown to
- [Ministry to the Outcast](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/19/ministry-to-the-outcast/) - In every society there are the rejected that Jesus is intensely interested in assisting. But the church often is in the place of judging the outcast at the side of the rest of society. Below is my vision, based on Jesus' ministry, of how the church should look when they are responding to the outcast
- [Jesus for President: An Ecumenical Campaign](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/18/jesus-for-president-an-ecumenical-campaign/) - I wrote a report for the office of Interchurch Relations (MCUSA) on our district's sponsorship of the Jesus for President campaign stop in North Carolina. You can read part of it below. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Jesus for President campaign came to Raleigh, N.C. on July 22nd. Chris Haw, Shane Claiborne, and their crew took the stage
- [Technology, violence and the myth of progress](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/08/technology-violence-and-the-myth-of-progress/) - Part 2 of Isaac's post on worship and technology and the resulting discussion inspired me to crosspost of my review review of What a way to Go: Life at the End of Empire. Recently I watched the DVD What a Way to Go: Life at the End of Empire which simply and succinctly points out
- [just starting...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/05/just-starting/) - well, i've never been a part of a blog before - not for travelling, for politics, or for random thoughts - but this one was too tempting to pass up... i am a canadian mennonite living in ontario. i grew up in winnipeg manitoba - probably the closest one could get to a mennonite geneva.
- [2nd Anniversary Post: Remembering the Power of Prayer](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/05/2nd-anniversary-post-remembering-the-power-of-prayer/) - Written by Elina (from Indonesia, in Singapore). ST got me into your website and I read many articles with great interest. I wish there was this much dialog about “things that matter” in my Asian constituency. Many young people in Asia are busy building their careers, doing well at school, putting up an image and
- [Sexual harassment as disease and political tool in Egypt](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/04/sexual-harassment-as-disease-and-political-tool-in-egypt/) - crossposted from As of Yet Untitled. Yesterday in my daily BBC feed I came across six horrifying stories from Egyptian women who experience regular sexual harassment. The psychic effect on women comes through in heart breaking clarity: I get harassed 100 times a day. I tried everything to stop it but it doesn't stop. I
- [technology and worship: part 2](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/02/technology-and-worship-part-2/) - Part 2 (look here for part 1) If Marshall McLuhan's dictum, "the medium is the message," is helpful (as Shane Hipps argues), then we must go all the way down; we must dig into the materiality of the medium. We must investigate the conditions that make possible the process of production. Hidden powers are physically
- [Body Image and Second-Hand Pants for Big Men](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/01/body-image-and-second-hand-pants-for-big-men/) - I'm going to start by saying that everything that follows is totally disputable, as in the words of Paul: "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters." - Romans 14:1 Mark Van Steenwyk has written a series on "hipster" culture and what he calls the "style of subversion", over at Jesus
- [Conspiracy to commit civil disorder and "Old tires (for burning)"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/09/01/conspiracy-to-commit-civil-disorder-and-old-tires-for-burning/) - cross posted at As of Yet Untitled I came back today from a weekend away to headlines reporting on multiple raids throughout the weekend of activist convergence spaces at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul/Minneapolis. Here are a few excerpts from reports on the raid: The police presented no warrant at the time of
- [Love your enemies: An activist's stance](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/27/love-your-enemies-an-activists-stance/) - "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the
- [technology and worship: initial reflections](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/26/technology-and-worship-initial-reflections/) - I'm participating in AMBS's conversation on technology and worship. I have to put together a paper. Below are my initial reflections as I work towards something of substance. I would appreciate any critical engagement. Am I going in a helpful direction? Should I turn around while I still can? Thanks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Why not start with
- [Review of The Dictionary of Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry & Writings](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/15/review-of-the-dictionary-of-old-testament-wisdom-poetry-writings/) - Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns, eds. Dictionary of Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry & Writings. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2008. Pp. 967. $35.00, US. The Dictionary of Old Testament Wisdom, Poetry & Writings is the seventh offering in the IVP Academic Dictionaries series. Edited by Tremper Longman III (Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont
- [Jesus for President Report](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/20/jesus-for-president-report/) - As I reported to ya'll a while back, our Eastern Carolina District of MCUSA brought Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw to town in July for a Jesus for President campaign stop. Laura Graber Nickel from our church in Chapel Hill, N.C., wrote a news piece on the event that ran in The Mennonite this past
- [The Prophetic Discourse: What We Can Learn From It ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/24/the-prophetic-discourse-what-we-can-learn-from-it/) - Exploring the Old Testament J. Gordon McConville vol. 4 - A Guide to the Prophets Intervarsity Press, 2002 I am new to the Church, as many of you know if you have read any of my previous posts. Therefore, I am constantly grappling with the Church, in ways that I think are different from those
- [Subways and Totalitarianism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/22/subways-and-totalitarianism/) - I used to work at the mall. A lot of my employees took the Baltimore City Subway out to the county to work there. Now, this Subway didn't stop at the mall, it stopped about a half mile away. Those who took the subway waited for a bus to pick them up and transport them
- [DNC Artistic Political Convergence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/12/dnc-artistic-political-convergence/) - Hey all, long time no... something. Thought I'd let you know about this in case any of you were coming to Denver for the DNC. Cheers. The LIDA Project, artistic curators of BINDERY | space in downtown Denver, will be opening it's doors to artists and activists for an artistic political convergence during the week
- [A Confession; Or Mixed Martial Artists and Hebrew Scholars](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/11/a-confession-or-mixed-martial-artists-and-hebrew-scholars/) - (x-posted at IndieFaith) On occasion we run across blog entries that give us a glimpse of the all-too ordinary lives of the bloggers. The bloggers begin with some shame in their confession wondering if the few readers they have could possibly respect them after such a confession. Perhaps it is professor of sociology admitting they
- [Why aren't more women commenting?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/04/why-arent-more-women-commenting/) - Urbanmenno and Lora have posted comments that address an issue I've been meaning to raise for months. We finished up a poll last month that made it clear that the site as a whole has a larger male readership then female (64% male and 36% female). But the ratio of women to men in comments
- [Being Consumed - A Review](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/08/01/being-consumed-a-review/) - (x-posted at IndieFaith) Here is a review I wrote of what I think is a very significant book for the church. If you decide to read the whole thing keep in mind your own theology and practice of communion. William T. Cavanaugh’s Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire is an excellent example of why the
- [I'm interested in your thoughts on these videos](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/29/im-interested-in-your-thoughts-on-these-videos/) - If anyone has a chance to watch some or all of these videos, I'd much be interested in your thoughts.
- [Settler attacks, domestic violence and tears](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/29/settler-attacks-domestic-violence-and-tears/) - Cross-posted from As of Yet Untitled Sunday afternoon when I got word that my friend Joel Gulledge had been attacked by Israeli settlers in At-Tuwani. Joel was escorting some Palestinian children home from summer day camp when they were threatened by a masked settler with a slingshot. Jan Benvie, a friend and CPTer from Scotland,
- [Welcome to Grand Central Station](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/27/welcome-to-grand-central-station/) - Like an episode of C.O.P.S. the names here have been changed to protect the innocent. Hamilton is in N.E. Baltimore, which is in Maryland, which is in the Eastern United States located in North America. I've lived here for two years. I never thought I'd be an urbanite but it's come to suit me just
- [People’s Summit in Winnipeg — Why is it we gather?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/23/people’s-summit-in-winnipeg-–-why-is-it-we-gather/) - After attending the “People’s Summit for Faithful Living,” in Winnipeg a few weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about the reasons we gather. ~ ~ ~ Some fine reports were written on the summit, here and here. The only things I would add or highlight would be… In addition to Canadians, white people were also over-represented.
- [2000](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/23/2000/) - In the Wilamette Valley, which includes both Portland and Salem, there are approximately 2000 churches. Some have only twenty members, some have thousands. Given the reputation of Oregon to be an "unchurched" area, there are a huge number of self-sustaining churches. In the Wilamette Valley, according to the best estimates, there are 2000 homeless people
- [Spirituality from Prison: a sermon on Anabaptist/Mennonite spirituality](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/21/spirituality-from-prison-a-sermon-on-anabaptistmennonite-spirituality/) - Don't worry. I won't bombard ya'll with every sermon I preach. But I thought I'd share this one from this past Sunday since it's specifically about young anabaptist radicals from a long time ago. --------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Spirituality from Prison Date: July 20, 2008 Texts: Gen 32:22-32; Matt 11:25-30 Alone. It was night, and Jacob was
- [Entering the YAR community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/10/entering-the-yar-community/) - Hey y’all, My name is Matt and I have been checking out your blog for a while now and decided that I wanted in on the action. I am a Mennonite born and bred — in fact a Canadian Mennonite (so the y’all that I used above is put on). You can’t get much more
- ["We Must Look at the Context"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/10/we-must-look-at-the-context/) - I want to start by saying that I understand that a number of you have an extensive Christian education. By this I mean you have some background in Christian philosophy and theology. I, however, do not. I am mostly self-educated on these matters, bringing my experience and my studies to bear on the issues I'm
- [Owning women you've never met.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/07/05/owning-women-youve-never-met/) - I have a confession to make: I've never looked at porn. Okay, that's a lie. But here's the truth.......I've never sought out porn. Ever. Sure, there have been times in High School when a guy flipped me a rag, or in college when I went to a party and some guys were watching porn. And,
- [Everything Must Change Conference](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/30/everything-must-change-conference/) - In May, I attended Brian McLaren’s conference for his new book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope. I was hungry for the ways he articulated the dangers and opportunities we face in this century. Attending Brian’s conference was so refreshing, just to see people talking about these issues.
- [Jesus for President: Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/27/513/) - I know it's old hat for many of you radical anabaptists to talk about how Jesus is political. But, none the less, I thought I'd invite ya'll to an event we're having down here in North Carolina. A couple of my friends will be making a stop in Raleigh for an event. Shane Claiborne and
- [McCain's Sacred Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/26/mccains-sacred-violence/) - As many of you may have read, the Supreme Court today made the tragic decision to overturn the hand gun ban in Washington D.C. I've written here before about America's view of the gun as holy. So I shouldn't have been surprised by Senator McCain's response: "Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to
- [PAPA Fest 2008: A Gramatically Radical Report](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/25/papa-fest-2008-a-gramatically-radical-report/) - Cross posted from As of Yet Untitled. From Thursday through Saturday of last week, Charletta and I attended PAPA festival. This is the People Against Poverty and Apathy festival that is a "convergence of communities and movements coming together to share, dream, and create." The gathering has happened twice before, first in 1997 and then
- [Envision 08: Toward Christian Unity in the Public Square](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/24/envision-08-toward-christian-unity-in-the-public-square/) - Is Christian unity in the public square an important goal to work toward? Here at seminary there are many people thinking about denominationalism as a theological issue/concern. I went to a conference to think about some of these issues. It was called Envision 08 (www.ev08.org) I helped out with a workshop on Sexuality and Faith.
- [Two hopeful stories in the news](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/24/two-hopeful-stories-in-the-news/) - I recently finished reading Rebecca Solinit's Hope in the dark: untold histories, wild possibilities (find it at a library near you). It's a small, wonderful window into hope, written in the midst of the apparent failure of the anti-war movement. It inspired me to watch a little more closely in the news for hopeful stories
- [Idol?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/20/idol/) - I bet that got your attention. Back when we had eight candidates tripping over themselves for the Democratic nomination, I was a John Edwards supporter (Kucinich wasn't viable). I felt that of the major candidates, Edwards' views and plans most reflected what I wanted to see in a president - and besides, who can resist
- [Teach A Man To Fish?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/19/teach-a-man-to-fish/) - Pam Wilson of Operation Mercy wrote an insightful article about the proverb, "Catch a man a fish you feed him a meal, Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." http://pastoralblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/teach-man-to-fish.html Besides the fact that the proverb is sexist, it holds many false assumptions of how the poor should be helped.
- [Maybe you're asking the wrong question](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/15/maybe-youre-asking-the-wrong-question/) - In follow up to my earlier post, the following is what I presented this past weekend at the Believers Church Conference (Believers Church includes Baptists, Penticostals, Mennonites, Brethren, etc...adult baptizers). I was the the young adult representative on a panel discussing mission and evangelism in light of denominationalism and congregationalism in the Believers church in
- [Review of the New Conspirators](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/13/review-of-the-new-conspirators/) - This is an expanded version of my review that first appeared on As of Yet Untitled. Available here with exclusive additional quotes from the book! To put it simply, Tom Sine's The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Timeis an encyclopedia of the new movement in the Evangelical church in Australia,
- [The Body of Christ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/08/the-body-of-christ/) - I also plan to attend the Believers' Church Conference that Hinke mentioned a few days ago, at Canadian Mennonite University. (Hopefully, Hinke, we can meet up at some point!) I'm presenting a paper on Michael Sattler—everybody's favorite Anabaptist, right?—and I plan to write up a little blurb on his understanding of the church for discussion
- [Immigration Through the Lens of Anabaptist History](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/10/immigration-through-the-lens-of-anabaptist-history/) - In 1882 the Atchison Champion of Kansas noted of Mennonites that “the people were like their houses, useful but ugly.” Two decades later Atchison published another article, concluding that, “They must learn the lesson of citizenship in a free country, which will not tolerate the bartering of their choice at the ballot box, or abject obedience to petty local magnates; their religion must be softened; in a word they must learn to be Americans.”
- [In need of other young adult opinions on "Assesing Believers Churches' approaches to evangelism and mission in our time"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/06/i-need-other-young-adult-opinions-on-assesing-believers-churches-approaches-to-evangelism-and-mission-in-our-time/) - Hi All, I need your help. I will be presenting at a North American Believer's Church Conference in about a week and will be representing young adults....ha! This is an impossible task and an enormous responsibility. The context of the overall conference is, I believe, the "tension" between the individual congregation and the denomination. The
- [New buttons to make commenting easier](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/06/new-buttons-to-make-commenting-easier/) - I'm pleased to announce a new feature on YAR. When adding a comment you can click the ">>" button above the text field and you will see a whole row of useful buttons pop out. These buttons will allow you to do all sorts of nice things, like easily add links ("link" button) or put
- [Conference Review](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/06/02/conference-review/) - Not everyone can or wants to go to every conference. This is a summary of a recent conference. I think sharing the info that we learn at conferences is important. The “Everything Must Change” tour came to Goshen College on May 9-10. This seminar was lead by renowned evangelical leader in the emerging Christian church
- [Should We Cancel Worship?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/22/should-we-cancel-worship/) - Ekklesia reports that the campaign "Faith in Action" begun by World Vision is recommending that churches cancel some worship services for the purpose of serving the poor. http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/7026 Is this really the best response? Should we cancel church services in order to serve the poor? If we do this, in my opinion, then we are
- [It's all meaningless.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/28/its-all-meaningless/) - It's been a month since my father died. It doesn't seem long. When I was told the news by a police officer at my door I thought I'd take this sort of thing in some dramatic way. I'd drop to my knees, arms outstretched to the sky, it would be cloudy, birds would fly overhead.
- [Wisdom from Those Gone Before](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/17/wisdom-from-those-gone-before/) - ST's post reminded me of a conversation I had last September with someone I've admired for his consistent commitment to justice-making over decades (peace and development work in Vietnam during the American War in that country, international and community interfaith work with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, etc). Knowing that it can be easy to burn
- [What's wrong with us?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/21/whats-wrong-with-us/) - Why is it that we're happy to furiously engage in a 70+ comment discussion on what's wrong with the blog, but when folks write thoughtful posts with probing, relevant questions for our generation, there's barely any response?
- [Intergenerational Activist Conversation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/12/intergenerational-activist-conversation/) - An older woman activist that I admire came up to me. She was obviously weary, and looked a bit as if she had just been crying. I had just received an email from her earlier, calling all the activists, who stand and witness for peace on Wednesdays at the Civic Plaza, to an emergency meeting.
- [It's the economy, stupid.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/13/its-the-economy-stupid/) - I don't really like calling people names like "stupid" but the title was too much too resist. My apologies. I was discussing the gentrification of Baltimore recently online. I understand concerns about urban gentrification and I partly agree with them. I can certainly understand wanting to keep neighborhoods in the hands of neighbors, not gianormous
- [Guatemala to require DNA tests prior to adoption](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/05/guatemala-to-require-dna-tests-prior-to-adoption/) - Since I first heard about the Guatemalan infant market here on YAR (thank you Tom Dunn), it only makes sense to post a link to this news story. It looks like the Guatemalan government is trying to crack down on the human rights abuses. New York Times article This one is a straightforward hard news
- [So about this rich guy I know](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/04/so-about-this-rich-guy-i-know/) - I'll be the first to admit it's a strange feeling to log onto www.time.com and read a story involving someone I know. Time story It's even stranger to get to the end, do a little more searching for what is being said about this person elsewhere online, and come out feeling quite conflicted about the
- [Neighborhood v. Conference?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/29/neighborhood-v-conference/) - A friend and I were invited to be respondants at the upcoming conference -- “At the Crossroads: Promise and Peril 2008″ in Winnipeg. I feel like our household is involved in kingdom work and has plenty of connections/theological grounding for the work. And it sounds like some solid folks are already going to be there,
- [How Would You Spend 3 Trillion Dollars?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/05/02/how-would-you-spend-3-trillion-dollars/) - According to some estimates, the War in Iraq will cost $3 Trillion -- money that could be spent better elsewhere. Here's your chance -- the $3 Trillion Shopping Spree gives people the chance to try to blow through $3 Trillion. Some of the alternatives to Iraq are though provoking -- I was able to cure
- [Jeremiah Wright and Black Liberation Theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/24/jeremiah-wright-and-black-liberation-theology/) - I was surprised to see that there was little discussion about the Jeremiah Wright controversy on this blog; perhaps because it is being discussed in every other forum available. At any rate, if nothing else, the whole charade has produced a number of interesting responses; I was particularly struck by the series that NPR did
- [How a guy like me ended up at a Mennonite Convention](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/24/how-a-guy-like-me-ended-up-at-a-mennonite-convention/) - by Jason Evans Last year, I was asked to speak at the national convention for the Mennonite Church USA. I had the opportunity to listen to the opinions and concerns of many young adult Anabaptists. I was eager to hear what my fellow Christians—with a heritage of nonviolent theology—had to say. I was anxious to
- [Information Sharing for Us Radicals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/23/information-sharing-for-us-radicals/) - So, from time to time, a YAR will name drop or link to a blog that she reads. I would like to propose that, for the mutual edification of everyone on the blog, and for my own curiousity, that we share - via comments on this post - some of the blogs we frequent. If
- [Earth Day Reflection: You will be exterminated one by one…](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/22/earth-day-reflection-you-will-be-exterminated-one-by-one/) - Last week I shared the following reflection at an earth day service at Westminster College in Missouri. It's an attempt to bring together the themes of creation care and peacemaking. The last 3 paragraph are a postscript. The community I’m going to share about today is located in the San Lucas mountains in north central
- [“It could be that civilians were nearby... it would not be the first time,”](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/22/“it-could-be-that-civilians-were-nearby-it-would-not-be-the-first-time”/) - Many of you remember my post from a few months ago on what is currently happening in the Gaza strip in the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The above image comes from last Thursday, when Israeli military killed over 20 people in one day during fighting in the Gaza strip. 14 of those deaths happened
- [Theology and Gendered Ministry](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/22/theology-and-gendered-ministry/) - For any of you who may be interested I posted a recent series dealing with theology, gender differences and ministry. My intention was to explore what it could mean to talk meaningfully about ministry to men in particular but the posts deal more broadly with the issues of gender and theology. Here are the links.
- [I'm not a radical.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/23/im-not-a-radical/) - I'm not a radical. Not in the sense that some people might see it anyway. The term might be associated with those who espouse a more liberal socio-political worldview. It's been used that way. And by that definition I am not a radical. Nor am I a "Young Anabaptist Radical". If young means "under 25
- [Connecting at Connecting Families Weekend](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/15/connecting-at-connecting-families-weekend/) - Any YAR folks going to be at Connecting Families Retreat this weekend? I'd love to do a little meet up.Â
- [Forgiveness time](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/14/forgiveness-time/) - Sigh. I'm exhausted from preparing for a mediation session tomorrow. A white highly educated straight man new to the church community has remained apparently oblivious to racist and unkind remarks, gestures and communications that he has done in the last number of years. I spoke up about them after I'd been profoundly hurt. Now we
- [Biblical Commands For the Privileged](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/11/biblical-commands-for-the-privileged/) - Who are the privileged? Those who have greater resources than anyone around them, whether through birth or fate or labor. Resources could include opportunities in wealth, education, prestige, relationship, and esteem through race, sex, social class, or any other level of status as determined by society. We should remember that we are all privileged in
- [Moving from Tired to Rewired?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/10/moving-from-tired-to-rewired/) - Okay, it's a corny rhyme, but given the wildly active response to Katie's post, I'd like to propose a simple, concrete step to try to address the concerns Katie and many others of your raised. Way down the comment thread at slot #59 I mentioned a system that would allow users to rate posts and
- [YAR 2.5](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/04/yar-25/) - We did a bit of updating on the back end of this here radical blog. You'll notice it if you log in. We've gone all 2.5, but it took a bit to work out the kinks. Sorry if we had you worried. Wouldn't want you to miss out on the latest. If you notice anything
- [MLK and the Mountaintop](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/05/mlk-and-the-mountaintop/) - Yesterday was the 40th Anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King and I spent a good part of the afternoon listening to the media coverage. To commemorate the event, I read his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech delivered April 3, 1968 at the Mason Temple in Memphis, the night before his assassination. It's
- [An Invitation To Express Yourself](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/02/an-invitation-to-express-yourself/) - Okay so we are Young Anabaptist Radicals–but that doesn’t mean that we are in agreement on the basics. I’m not talking about the basics of what is “young” “Anabaptist” or “radical”. These terms have been discussed. I mean the basics of what is significant–what is the good, what is truth, what is moral, what is
- [Will Biofuel Save Us?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/04/05/will-biofuel-save-us/) - Its been a while since I have written on here, and want to get back into the habit! The a recent TIME Magazine issue really got me thinking. Titled "The Clean Energy Myth", the main article talks about how biofuels have their own set of moral and environmental issues to deal with. I think it
- [Mennonite Narratives on Heterosexual Privilege](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/31/mennonite-narratives-on-heterosexual-privilege/) - Last Thursday, I had a conversation with a professor and a fellow student that gave me a window on the Mennonite narratives on heterosexual privilege. We had discussed Obama's speech and white privilege in class. After class, I asked about heterosexual privilege. My prof and classmate both responded that a concept of heterosexual privilege "trivialized
- [Unnatural Causes](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/27/unnatural-causes/) - Tonight, as I was half-heartedly trying to do some reading for school and half-heartedly flipping through channels, I came across the first episode in a PBS series called Unnatural Causes...Is Inequality Making Us Sick? I didn't catch the entire hour but there are three more episodes in the series and what I caught of the
- [Global Discussion on Shaping our Spiritual Life - Una Discusión Global sobre la Formación de una Vida Espiritual](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/24/global-discussion-on-shaping-our-spiritual-life-una-discusion-global-sobre-la-formacion-de-una-vida-espiritual-2/) - In order to learn from one another's experiences, AMIGOS periodically sends out discussion questions to be shared among young people connected with Mennonite World Conference. The current questions are: - What do you do to shape up your spiritual life? - How do you pray? (for example: times in silence, etc.) Para aprender de las
- [Tired](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/24/tired/) - A little while ago, I got an email from Tim relating to the latest poll. He wanted to know if I had any thoughts to share on the issue of gender balance and women's participation in particular on YAR. This has been discussed some before on YAR but it continues to be an issue. This
- [The war needs to stop](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/20/the-war-needs-to-stop/) - I can't even bear to write a post about the war. This is just to send a word of encouragement to all working to stop the war and build societies of peace and justice. I hope you have found sustainable, life giving ways to resist and create. We must keep speaking up, because as Rev.
- [Mark Gornik and the Fourth Period of Inner City Development?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/15/mark-gornik-and-the-fourth-period-of-inner-city-development/) - This semester we read To Live in Peace: Biblical Faith and the Changing Inner City by Mark Gornik in my missions class. Gornik was one of the founding members of New Song Community Church in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood on Baltimore's West Side. Over the past two decades or so, New Song has been heavily involved
- [Advocacy Groups are Dumb.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/13/advocacy-groups-are-dumb-2/) - *This article was originally posted on Christarchy.com. The "Ostrich-thing" makes more sense if you visit me there.* Advocacy groups are dumb. There. I said it. You don't have to agree with me, especially if you are part of an advocacy group. But someone had to say it and seeing as I'm the only one around
- [Tom Sine wants to know what you're doing](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/12/tom-sine-wants-to-know-what-youre-doing/) - Back in September, Tom Sine emailed me asking if members of YAR could read over the manuscript for The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time. I emailed it out to regular contributors and invited feedback. The book looks at four streams of new Christian Expression - emerging, missional, mosaic and
- [Colombia, Ecuador and Chavez](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/06/colombia-ecuador-and-chavez/) - For the last few days, I've been wanting to write something about the news from the region Charletta and I recently left. Today my teammates in Colombia released Border Tensions: A Prayer Request. This statement puts things a lot better then I could have. It also notes some details that I hadn't heard, such as
- ["Wait for the Exodus": Today in Gaza](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/03/01/wait-for-the-exodus-today-in-gaza/) - Maybe we've stopped praying for Palestine. Maybe we never cared to start. Maybe it was too hard to ask God for a fix to this complex situation; and, hey, we don't know the history well enough. I hear lots of Christians decrying violence in Kenya - cuz, ya know, there are missionaries there. It's a
- [Re-humanization](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/27/re-humanization/) - Among the homeless in Gresham, there is fear. The official statement in Gresham is that homelessness does not exist in their town. This is the statement of the mayor and the police. However, there is at least a hundred chronically homeless folks in the city of Gresham, a suburb of Portland, OR. Yet the homeless
- [The Unexpected Pastor (To Be)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/22/the-unexpected-pastor-to-be/) - Greetings, So recently YAR has had introductions from the The Reluctant Christian and The Impossible Anabaptist. So in the spirit of things, allow me to introduce myself as The Unexpected Pastor (To Be). I say "unexpected" because I never expected that I eventually would work on my MDiv at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. I never expected
- [Bush appointees plan Nuremburg of our time (but rigged)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/20/bush-appointees-plan-nuremburg-of-our-time-but-rigged/) - So you may have read in the news a few weeks ago that US seeks the death penalty as six detained in Guantánamo are charged over 9/11. Though the process has been abominable, at least the decision to hold a trial (as opposed to indefinite detention) seems like a step in the right direction: away
- [An Anarchist and Healthcare](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/19/an-anarchist-and-healthcare/) - I'm an anarchist. I'm a Christian. I'm a lot of things. I don't find the need to have an opinion about everything as lots of Americans do. On some issues I'm opinion-less. But some things strike me as odd. This up-coming election has brought up, once again, universal healthcare. I'm a capitalist and opposed to
- [Top Ten Heresies of the American Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/19/top-ten-heresies-of-the-american-church/) - I wasn't going to post this here, but after reading Conrad Kanagy's insightful book, "Road Signs for the Journey", it seems that us Mennonites need a few reminders of who we really are. You see, a "heresy" is, according to I Timothy 6, a teaching that is in opposition to the teaching which Jesus gave.
- [The Reluctant Christian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/13/the-reluctant-christian/) - I live in Baltimore City. One of the most dangerous cities in North America. My wife joined me here as well as our four children. We don't live in a bad part of the city, in fact, not far from the county line, sometimes I wish we had moved to a worse neighborhood. My Christian
- [United States: the last best hope of earth](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/13/united-states-the-last-best-hope-of-earth/) - I just read John McCain's victory speech after today's primaries. This passage caught my eye: They will paint a picture of the world in which America's mistakes are a greater threat to our security than the malevolent intentions of an enemy that despises us and our ideals; a world that can be made safer and
- [A "submergent" introduction](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/11/a-submergent-introduction/) - Admin's note: This is the introductory post for our new submergent category. Posts in this category also automatically appear on submergent.org under "Submergent Friends" as part of the wider submergent conversation. About a year ago, as a known fan of emergent style communities and a young staff member of Franconia Mennonite Conference, I was asked
- [Peacemaking, Solidarity and Mining Corporations](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/09/peacemaking-solidarity-and-mining-corporations/) - As some of you may know, I've been working in Barrancabermeja, Colombia with Christian Peacemaker Teams since January 5. I've been writing regularly about my work here on my blog for the Mennonite, but I thought it was about time I wrote something here on YAR. CPT's work here in the Magdalena Medio has changed
- [Can I borrow your book?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/07/can-i-borrow-your-book/) - I am in seminary and everyone is buying books. I am on a mission to buy as few books as possible. I am borrowing from everyone who I think has the textbooks I need for the semester, and then I'll give it back to them after the semester. Most people are really nice about it
- [The Impossible Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/02/01/the-impossible-anabaptist/) - (x-posted at IndieFaith) Greetings, It is a blustery snow day out here in Waterloo County. I, however, snook into the church office before it got too bad . . . we'll see if I get home. This is my first post here at YAR. And as I understand the tradition I should give a little
- [Zeitgeitsts](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/30/zeitgeitsts/) - Future generations always demonize the ethical blinds of the past. It is easy for us to demonize the choices of Columbus or Andrew Jackson, because their culture treated other races as less than human. I am not excusing them, for there were others of their culture who did not accept those cultural blinds, but were
- [What if 'going home' was our calling?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/25/what-if-going-home-was-our-calling/) - In the past few months I've been noticing a startling trend. Some of the most passionate people of my generation are returning to their home communities. After college, after working overseas, a surprising number of my peers are deciding — when they could go almost anywhere — to move back to the places they grew
- [Nonconformity to the Powers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/19/nonconformity-to-the-powers/) - Therefore subversion and challenge to the powers of domination is central to the call of discipleship.
- [Sexuality and the young Christian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/17/sexuality-and-the-young-christian/) - I'm lifting a sub-thread from ST's post inspirational lunch which has the potential for an interesting discussion of its own - we've certainly talked about sex before on YAR (check out sex outside of marriage, or is it really a sin? for all the talk about gayness you could care for.) Clearly sexuality is a
- [Inspirational Lunch](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/14/inspirational-lunch/) - I had a great lunch conversation with two young white men today who are feeling the pressure to "produce and provide" and are looking for alternatives to succumbing to this stereotype and just joining the corporate project. After lunch, I wrote this: As I think about our conversation more in the understanding of my daily
- [In the Shadow of Classist Ethnocentrism: Prophetic Voices Against "The Status Quo"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/08/in-the-shadow-of-classist-ethnocentrism-prophetic-voices-against-the-status-quo/) - This is taking a new thread of thought from somasoul's comments in the "Christarchy!" post Lora wrote (thanks Lora) I find often on this blog a tendency to attack what is seen as the "Christian" status quo, readily identified as the following: 1) Rich 2) Sheltered 3) Spiteful of "sinners" I will, of course, say
- [Confessions of a half-hearted Christmas radical](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/19/confessions-of-a-half-hearted-christmas-radical/) - As a Mennonite, and an activist, I've always been aware of the huge gaping problems with Christmas as practiced in America. I know all about the Christmas industrial complex and the way it has stolen the true spirit of Christmas. I've read many an article about simplifying Christmas and getting back to it's true spirit.
- [Introduction... a great place to start! ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/06/introduction-a-great-place-to-start-2/) - Well, to start off I actually only found this sight a couple days ago. My father said someone recommended it to him, and being the online blog/facebook person I am, he told me about it. So here I am. Currently I am 17 (birthday was yesterday actually!), and am an MK (missionary kid) which I
- [Missional and Incarnational](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/03/missional-and-incarnational/) - All of our work for Christ should be both missional-- declaring the gospel-- and incarnational-- living and working among the lowest. We do this as people who are of the ministry OF Jesus, as well as working FOR Jesus. Are we really following Jesus if we do not proclaim His kingdom, as he commanded us?
- [Christarchy: Support groups for the Jesus revolution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2008/01/03/christarchy-support-groups-for-the-jesus-revolution/) - A friend who is a Mennonite pastor in Minneapolis sent me a link to Christarchy!, and I thought some of you might be interested. From the web site: Christarchy! is a growing network of people who want to put the teachings of Jesus into practice (living simply, caring for the poor, practicing hospitality, making peace,
- [Britain stops fighting "War on Terror"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/31/britain-stops-fighting-war-on-terror/) - Though I haven't seen this story widely reported, I think it's very significant: Britain Drops 'War on Terror' Label "The people who were murdered on July 7 were not the victims of war. The men who killed them were not soldiers," Macdonald said. "They were fantasists, narcissists, murderers and criminals and need to be responded
- [Compassion and distress](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/24/compassion-and-distress/) - Admin's note: I received this post today from a YAR member. Though it is not normal practice to post unsigned articles here, I made an exception in this case due to safety concerns. Every time my brother sabotages family plans or punches another hole through the wall, I just think that maybe all this is
- [a paradigm parable](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/19/a-paradigm-parable/) - This isn't the "Part II" I intended to post, but perhaps I'll save that for a rainy day. I found this post this morning and thought I'd repost it here. Via The Parish. 1 And it came to pass that Jesus came to America, not in the way of Joseph Smith's story; rather, he showed
- [Beggars](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/18/beggars/) - This was posted by me on the Mennonite Poverty Forum, to which you are all invited as well: http://groups.google.com/group/mennonite-poverty-forum It can be a struggle to know what to do for folks who approach us for money, or who are holding a sign asking for support. We want to help, but we often don't know how.
- [Something to Remember this Advent](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/16/something-to-remember-this-advent-2/) - A young man called out to Jesus from the crowd and said, “Teacher, command the trustee of my father’s will to give me my share of the inheritance!” Jesus replied, “I am not a lawyer or a judge–why should I get involved?” Then Jesus told everyone, “Guard yourself from every form of trying to get
- [A never moving frame grounded in tradition and held up by suspenders](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/12/a-never-moving-frame-grounded-in-tradition-and-held-up-by-suspenders/) - This morning Jonathan posted this comment over on the Young (White) Anabaptists Radicals post: If you have any concern for new believers please read this… http://www.mennodiscuss.com/viewtopic.php?t=5151&start=0 It didn't quite fit with the existing discussion there, so I thought I'd move it to a new post for further comments. If you click on the link, you'll
- [Paradigms & Christianity, Part I](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/12/07/paradigms-christianity-part-i/) - An acquaintance of mine, who is in college hundreds of miles away from where he grew up, once suggested that perhaps one of the most radical things he could would be go home after he graduated--commit himself to the land and the people and his church and stay there, for better or for worse. I've
- [Midwest going through hard times](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/29/midwest-going-through-hard-times/) - The housing bubble has way-popped over here in Elkhart. There are a ton of houses around here for sale and no one with enough money (even with subsidies) to buy them. And last week an organization that supports housing for low-income folks had to close its doors as the result of circumstances, no operating costs
- [“Covenantal Christians": Beyond Evangelical and Liberal](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/20/“covenantal-christians-beyond-evangelical-and-liberal/) - For years, I've had discussions about the term "Evangelical" with other Christians who see peace and justice as a core part of the gospel. I always argue that the term is too far gone and they argue that we should reclaim it. That it is theologically accurate and the best word to describe who we
- [Young Adult Ecumenical Project](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/13/yaecumenical/) - I wanted to share this project that we started as a Sunday school class as a way to get to know other young adults in the area across denominations. Out of this project we hope to develop a website in our area for local young adults to list events and network better. I'd challenge other
- [No Country for Old Men and the Depravity of Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/09/no-country-for-old-men-and-the-depravity-of-violence/) - No Country for Old Men is released today in select theaters, which leaves me wanting to live in a more important city.Nonetheless, I have only to wait two more weeks before the nationwide release. Reviews are already rolling out and I highly suggest to all of you that you see the film if you are
- [Advice time! What should I know or do before going to Bolivia?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/07/advice-time-what-should-i-know-or-do-before-going-to-bolivia/) - It looks like I'll be spending some time in a different hemisphere before too long. Details aren't finalized, but I think it's safe to say I'll be going to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, for about four months starting in January. My church has been supporting an orphanage there for longer than I can remember. I've been
- [Biblical Message for the Day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/08/biblical-message-for-the-day/) - I serve as a full-time volunteer with an agency that coordinates homeless services. I thought a reflection on poverty would be apt, particularly given that we don't have a "poverty" category yet on this blog. Nehemiah 5 (NIrV) 1 Some men and their wives cried out against their Jewish brothers and sisters. 2 Some of
- [We Were Here First! Right?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/27/we-were-here-first-right/) - Illegal immigration. That raises feelings in the hearts of alot of us. There are strong feelings on both sides of the debate. If you do your homework, it makes this debate a whole lot less easy. There has been a few things nagging at me and I just can't shake it. Would you like to
- [Anti-Materialism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/03/anti-materialism/) - The struggle against materialism is one many of us (but for the weakness of our flesh) are happy to join. Consumption has become something of a cultural obsession, a sick habit that eats away even at those of us who admit its depravity. More deeply, ours is a culture that measures value according to consumption,
- [Political Assimilation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/11/01/political-assimilation/) - We've had quite a few flabbergasted mentions over the months of the shocking recognition that so many Mennonites vote Republican, wondering helplessly what to do about their ignorant collusion with oppression, and Tim mentioned in his post on Gregory Boyd the converse fear that the new generation of Mennonites and their teachers (at least) have
- [Laugh with me on LarkNews.com](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/19/laugh-with-me-on-larknewscom/) - I discovered LarkNews.com about a week ago. Thank you, Utne Web Watch e-mail. I have been laughing my butt off since then. LarkNews.com is a parody site much like The Onion, but it focuses on Christian subculture. It uses Christianese to the point of hilarity. Some of my favorite stories have been "Church tries, fails
- [Mystics](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/21/mystics/) - “Ironic, but one of the most intimate acts of our body is death. So beautiful appeared my death–knowing who then I would kiss, I died a thousand times before I died. ‘Die before you die,’ said the Prophet Muhammad. Have wings that feared ever touched the Sun? I was born when all I once feared–I
- [Bible Verse of the Day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/17/bible-verse-of-the-day-4/) - I find it sort of interesting how the ten commandments have been so fully absorbed by Christianity, and yet we pay so little attention--for better or for worse--to other Old Testament writings. From Exodus 23, verses 2-9 (NRSV) "You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall
- [Situation in Burma at Critical point](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/27/situation-in-burma-at-critical-point/) - All day today I've been meaning to sit down and right something meaningful about the escalating situation in Burma which seems ripe for change or extensive repression. Turns out someone with far more experience has done a great job of laying out the history of the situation there and a useful perspective on what's happening:
- [Violent Video Game as Church Recruiting Tool](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/08/violent-video-game-as-church-recruiting-tool/) - I'm really sad today. I often become sad when I read the NY Times. I wasn't sure which article I should write an urgent post about, there were so many. Women are being destroyed in Congo as rape has become the most common tool of war and the crisis has reached unprecedented proportions. I was
- [Christian Peacemaker Teams: Necrophiliacs or Prophets of Imagination?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/20/christian-peacemaker-teams-necrophiliacs-or-prophets-of-imagination/) - This week I got an email from Cliff Kindy saying that he's returning to Iraq for four months as part of a CPT Team. Cliff's work as a Christian Peacemaker has been mentioned a few times before on YAR. In his letter announcing his return to Iraq he said: A friend asked why I go
- [International Bloggers' Day for Burma](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/04/international-bloggers-day-for-burma/) - Last week I wrote about the worsening situation in Burma. Today is International Bloggers Day for Burma and the country is in the midst an increasingly repressive crackdown on thousands of monks and ordinary people in the country who were on the streets last week. The BBC reports: Residents of the main city, Rangoon, say
- [When should we insist on peace and nonviolence?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/10/02/when-should-we-insist-on-peace-and-nonviolence/) - In the past few months, we've discussed how to handle churches that stray from their nonviolent roots, why we should refrain from commenting on situations we don't know in-depth, and why those of us in comfortable lives should hold their tongues when people in uncomfortable lives outside of North America use violence. Yes, that's a
- [Update on Cynicism and Hope Conference](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/26/update-on-cynicism-and-hope-conference/) - A few months ago I wrote here about ideas coming together for a conference on the theme of Cynicism and Hope. I'm pleased to announce that we've now got an exciting slate of speakers and workshop leaders put together. If you're interested in coming, we've even got an on-line registration form if you're ready to
- [Consumer Consequences](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/22/consumer-consequences/) - Marketplace has an interactive game called "Consumer Consequences" that is worth checking out. My current lifestyle is estimated to require 2.9 Earths to sustain it. What about yours? Check out the game and some background info by clicking here.
- [Celebrating YAR's 3 Month anniversary](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/02/celebrating-yars-month-anniversary/) - Its been three months since Eric kicked things off here. Since then we've had 64 posts and 126 comments. For those of you who like statistics, that's an average of 1 post every 1.4 days and and 1.4 comments every day. How's that for serendipity? We've had 40 people sign up as users on the
- [Use of Tasers by University Security Guards](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/18/use-of-tasers-by-university-security-guards/) - Last year I posted over on the Shoup blog about an incident in which UCLA security guards tasered a student 5 times in the Library. The accompanying video seems to show a situation in which, in my opinion, security guards indulge themselves in an entirely unnecessary power trip. You can read more of my response
- [Zimbabwe](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/14/zimbabwe/) - Just over 4 years ago the Mennonite World Conference held its World Assembly in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. At the time the country was in the midst of a downward spiral under the direction of president Robert Mugabe. There was concern about holding the assembly in Zimbabwe because of the worsening social/economic/political situation, but the hosts, the
- [Are blogging and cynicism starving the peace movement?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/04/are-blogging-and-cynicism-starving-the-peace-movement/) - Ever since Cindy Sheehan's resignation last week, I've been waiting to find a thoughtful response to this small but potent paragraph in her resignation letter: I have also tried to work within a peace movement that often puts personal egos above peace and human life. This group won’t work with that group; he won’t attend
- [Clothes, Fashion and Practicality: Where do YARs draw their lines?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/12/clothes-fashion-and-practicality-where-do-yars-draw-their-lines/) - Out of all the issues we discuss on YAR, what we wear is probably one of the least important. But we all make choices daily about clothing, so it's not something to just ignore, either. How does what you wear communicate something about you to other people? Do you use your clothing as a medium
- [introduction and confession](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/09/introduction-and-confession/) - I’ve been a member of YAR since its early days (a year ago already!), but have, for various reasons, remained a silent observer until today. I figured it was about time I offered some thoughts, especially as I’ve been so nourished and challenged by so many of your stories, words, thoughts, experiences. This is such
- [Mixed Congregations](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/05/mixed-congregations/) - Do any of you radical anabaptists have non-radicals in your home congregation? I attend a Mennonite Church that has a large number of James Dobson fans in the congregation and another large number of people who do not want to offend any of these folks for fear of conflict and/or losing valuable members of the
- [BikeMovement Documentary Sent to Churches](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/06/bikemovement/) - Hello YAR Community, Many of you have probably heard of BikeMovement. If you haven't, we were a group of young adults that biked across the USA last summer talking about church and several other topics discussed on YAR. Well the documentary following the trip is now complete, and a free copy is being sent to
- [Come be my Light, by Mother Teresa](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/09/05/come-be-my-light-by-mother-teresa/) - The NY Times featured an article about a new book containing revealing letters written by Mother Teresa (title above). The letters detail that one of the impetuses for her to leave the Lorento convent and live among Calcutta's poor was a feeling of spiritual emptiness...a feeling she apparently struggled with for her whole life. The
- [A little help from my YAR friends...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/19/a-little-help-from-my-yar-friends/) - Hey gang, This is of little importance to the larger dialogues we are having, but it is something of importance to me. I am currently investigating schools of theology/semiaries. I currently hold an undergraduate humanities degree and want to explore possibilities for Th.D's or Ph.D's in theological studies (don't know the difference there... different kind
- [Anabaptist and College](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/17/anabaptist-and-college/) - I just finished reading Loren Swatzendruber’s article, “Liberal or Conservative” in the Spring 2007 issue of Our Faith. It was a good article, although his conclusions seem to be very different from what the title would indicate. I found myself enjoying the article, and felt like giving a hearty amen by the end of it,
- [The 'Reign of God' is among you...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/11/the-reign-of-god-is-among-you/) - The Associated Press reported, on October 8, that 75 people attended the funeral of Charles C. Roberts. About half of the “mourners” were Amish. In a world run by retaliatory violence, a community near Lancaster PA took a chance on the Reign of God. That’s history. It’s irrefutable. It’s staggeringly convicting. It’s Anabaptism — lived.
- [NEW Year](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/02/new-year/) - It's January 2, so I'd like to write an entry for the NEW year. Growing up, I learned that "the blood of Jesus washed me white as snow" (It confused me, since I'm bi-racial...but that's another blog entry). Anyhow, there was emphasis put on the fact that an acceptance of Jesus "made you NEW, CLEAN,"
- [Introducing myself: An excuse to navel-gaze.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/03/introducing-myself-an-excuse-to-navel-gaze/) - I'm Skylark, a self-described YAR who found this place totally by accident. I was looking for info on Jerry Jenkins coming to Kidron Mennonite because I'm the newspaper reporter who covers Kidron. This was the first hit in a Google search. Hi Tom. :-) I got sucked into Tom's post about his concerns over Jerry
- [on a lighter note](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/13/on-a-lighter-note/) - We have issues From: Indexed
- [Christian Peace Witness raises more questions than I had before](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/19/christian-peace-witness-raises-more-questions-than-i-had-before-3/) - Yes, I call myself a pacifist. And yes, I went with a group from my area as a reporter on the Christian Peace Witness. If alarm bells are ringing in your head about my capacity to be objective, you're not the only one. Here's why I thought I could do it: While overall I oppose
- [a sign of hope](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/29/a-sign-of-hope/) - As someone who raised a bit of a stink about the whole Lancaster Mennonite Conference-vote-to-not-ordain-women thing, I want to direct your attention to some good news. There was also a letter from the bishops recently to people in the conferece that I would also call hopeful. So, to the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board, I
- [Sin and Oppression (part 2)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/29/sin-and-oppression-part-2-2/) - Does the Jewish tradition include the concept of sin? If they did, wasn't it was relating to following the law (order of the religious establishment) in order to please God? So, Jesus, who in my understanding did a lot of anti-oppression work, was a big sinner, right? Sunday in church, someone mentioned again that Jesus
- [Resurrection Day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/09/resurrection-day/) - O Death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory? Christ is risen, and thou art overthrown! Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen! Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns! Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen
- [EXCERPT from “Chosen: biblical texts, group identity and peacemaking.”](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/08/excerpt-from-“chosen-biblical-texts-group-identity-and-peacemaking”/) - Convo talk for Bethel College (Kansas) November 13, 2006 by Rich Meyer [Rich sent this to me, and not having time to post it himself, I am posting it for him. Here's a few quotes to whet your appetite:]Part of my concern here is with how we process the diversity of voices within the canon
- [ The importance of frustration](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/11/the-importance-of-frustration/) - "Educational theory tells us people really only learn out of frustration- the frustration that they don't know but need to, the frustration that life isn't working but there could be a better way. Frustration is not a bad thing- it's a necessary thing." - Doug Pagitt In case you hadn't grasped the connection yet, the
- [Canadian Thistles and Christians in Empire](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/15/canadian-thistles-and-christians-in-empire/) - I spent the afternoon yesterday afternoon attempting to eradicate Canadian thistles from a section of garden. The area had been thoroughly weeded a week before, but already small green thistle shoots were poking above the ground. But the size of the shoots was deceptive. When I dug beneath the surface, their roots were as thick
- [Bible verse of the day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/16/bible-verse-of-the-day-3/) - The Bible verse of the day has taken a long hiatus, but as I was discussing how power is, or rather, how power isn't passed along in the Mennonite church, someone referenced this verse. I'll be the first to say that there are many mandates in the Hebrew Bible I'd happily pass over, but this
- [Is it really a sin?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/17/is-it-really-a-sin/) - OK. I had originally thought when I came to this blog that there was consensus on the issue of "homosexuality" (a term which I don't like using, as it is often conflated with GLBT when it is a term that doesn't refer to that whole spectrum). I don't entirely like "GLBT" either (is there a
- [Bible Verse of the Day - 5/18](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/18/bible-verse-of-the-day-518/) - Given how often times people tend to became legalistic in our faith, dwindling it down to only ways to act and look, I often find this quote from Micah to be very liberating, especially given how often people condemn and oppress particular groups without much basis. I also think it is at the heart of
- [Bible Reflection - 5/22/07](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/22/bible-reflection-52207/) - I have put together the following reflection and prayer on the beauty of diversity in our world (please don't cringe, I know the term "diversity" gets misused often as "let's point out all the different stereotypes of different ethnic groups!"). The following passage from Mark reminds us that there isn't just one way (one denomination,
- [Bible Reflection - 5/24](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/24/bible-reflection-524/) - Matthew 22:15-22 (NIV) 15Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by
- [Radical Anabaptism and Radical Biblical Exegesis](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/28/radical-anabaptism-and-radical-biblical-exegesis/) - I have much appreciation for the energy, honesty, courage and openess to address anabaptism past, presence and future. A question on "radical" Anabaptism has not been raised though -- or raised sufficiently enough. For this takes much courage and honest. In all actuality, it takes the greatest amount possible -- because it will hurt, and
- [BVOTD 5-28](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/28/bvotd-5-28/) - Proverbs 30:7-9 7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD
- [A Mennonite Theology of Culture](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/29/a-mennonite-theology-of-culture/) - I just returned from a 3-week trip to Europe studying Anabaptist/Mennonite history, led by Goshen College professor John D. Roth. We started in the Alsace region of Eastern France, and traveled through Switzerland, Southern Germany, Northern Germany, Friesland in the Netherlands, and then finished in and near Amsterdam. We visited current Mennonite (or historically Mennonite)
- [The "Evil Pharisees" and Other Stereotypes and Caricatures](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/02/the-evil-pharisees-and-other-stereotypes-and-caricatures/) - brother Volknotions. Those brethren who are from the Dunkard line well know of what you are speaking: the back-hand of fellowship, shunning of venial sins, public confession of sin, all those old standard and standby hymns and everything else done in lower saxon dialect. Well might descriptions such as "hollow-out legalism", "legalism of 'humility'", "oppressive
- [Bible Verse of the Day 6/13/07](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/13/bible-verse-of-the-day-61307/) - James 3:13-18 (NIV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down
- [Sex outside of marriage](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/21/sex-outside-of-marriage/) - With some trepidation, I'm bringing up the topic of having sex with people to whom one is not married. This isn't about lgbtq people's inability to be married in the legal sense in most states in the U.S., and it's not really about affairs either. It's about people who are not married in any sense
- [Bible Verse of the Day 07-02-07](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/02/bible-verse-of-the-day-07-02-07/) - This one's for you, Lora. ;-) Numbers 1:5-16 "These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph:
- [San Jose YAR Meetup](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/07/san-jose-yar-meetup/) - I was really excited to meet some of the YAR authors/lurkers at the San Jose conference this week, to hear of the kind of things you are doing inside and outside the Church, and to hear the insights you had about the future of the church. On Wed, July 4th, several YAR authors and sympathizers
- [The Nature of Truth](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/16/the-nature-of-truth-2/) - In the Church of the Brethren, we have to talk a lot about how to reconcile our beliefs with those of our brothers and sisters who don't feel the same way. Members of our denomination (my understanding is that Mennonites face the same questions) cover the political spectrum end to end, with varying stances on
- [Is Our Wealth Hurting Africa's Feelings?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/31/is-our-wealth-hurting-africas-feelings/) - In The Know: Is Our Wealth Hurting Africa's Feelings? Quotes: "Would it be kinder just not to tell Africa about the global economy?" "The thing is not telling them about the global economy would leave them in charge of their own mining" "I wouldn't have a problem with introducing Fisher Price mining tools to get
- [Paul's Authority?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/03/pauls-authority/) - This is a question I struggle with. Eric was leveled with the charge of iconoclasm for questioning the authority of Paul on the issue of sexuality. So I ask: Where does Paul's authority lie? Does he fill in where Jesus didn't explain things? Does he add to Jesus things that maybe weren't meant to be
- [We pledged allegiance but didn't know better.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/22/we-pledged-allegiance-but-didnt-know-better/) - Twenty of us have voted on the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance poll. The question is, "Did you grow up saying the Pledge of Allegiance in school?" So far, the top response is "Yes, but I didn't know better then." That's gathered seven votes. With five votes each are "No, I didn't go to public school"
- [Biblical Authority in the Global South](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/25/biblical-authority-in-the-global-south/) - I am currently reading The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South by Philip Jenkins. It is a fascinating book and if you have a chance to read it, I would highly encourage it. You can also hear Philip Jenkins give a little bit of an overview of the book from
- [Things we don't talk much about on YAR](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/28/things-we-dont-talk-much-about-on-yar/) - Today while looking at the category list on YAR I noticed several categories with just a handful of posts. It's interesting to see which these are. I should note some of these are topics we do address but for some reason don't categorize our posts as. But for the others, are these topics that don't
- [When in War, Go to Poetry (and then what??)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/05/when-in-war-go-to-poetry-and-then-what-2/) - Hi, folks. If you are a fellow Menno who would love to hear more sermons on how we can show our peace church roots on a local and national level during times of war, read this article. It warmed my ever-reaching heart. It's easy to fall into "Acedia" (being so overwhelmed that we do nothing).
- [What’s happening in Gaza?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/02/what’s-happening-in-gaza/) - This is another proxy-post by Rich, written for CPTnet and copied here with permission: North American media have again found one of their favorite stories in the fighting between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza — Palestinians bent on killing, incapable of arranging their political lives without massacres. Without claiming to have the complete story, I
- [Bad News for Arms Dealers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/31/bad-news-for-arms-dealers/) - Campaigning against the arms trade has always been a David and Goliath battle with a few small underfunded non-profit organizations against a massive, wealthy industry in which multi-billion dollar deals are routine. Good news usually comes after years of quiet, mostly thankless work. All that is to say that I was extremely happy to read
- [YAR Anniversary Poem](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/27/yar-anniversary-poem/) - YAR - [a work in progress] scattered strangers - exiles and in-track anabap.tists glasses half-empty, but mostly half-full fingers fire across keys punching out the truth their truth a truth hoping sharing will ease the loneliness of living as black sheep or the cramp of working out the pearl from the sand - together forming
- [look at the indians](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/09/25/look-at-the-indians/) - that's right. look at them. pat buchanan on the daily show: "look at the indians, john. they had a liberal immigration policy and look where it got them." thank you pat.
- [fallout](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/11/fallout/) - another Eric A Meyer (who happens to be a more prominent web designer than i am (you'll find him, not me, if you google us)) made a google maps air strike simulation called HYDEsim. it shows on a map the basic range of an explosion using variables that you set. he's recieved some flack for
- [My Blood Doesn't End in Me: Learning from West Point](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/20/my-blood-doesnt-end-in-me-learning-from-west-point/) - I live with three wonderful women. All four of us are peace studies majors trying desperately to figure out what that means. Our last party was to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the UN resolution 1325, which highlights women in peacebuilding–a bit pretentious, I know, but I take any opportunity I can to have an
- [some small thoughts](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/28/some-small-thoughts/) - radical self love a roommate once wanted to start a "masturbate for peace" campaign. he was shot down by everyone he talked to. i now wish i had backed him up. but this isn't really a post about that... "love your neighbor as you love yourself." is that a command or a statement of fact?
- [Looking for youth to blog on peace and justice](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/15/looking-for-youth-to-blog-on-peace-and-justice/) - I got this from Susan Mark Landis, Peace Advocate of Mennonite Church USA, today. Thought I would put it out there... Friends, Sometime early next year, my office will be sending postcards to Mennonite youth in high school, encouraging them to Choose life! (If you go to a Mennonite congregation that has given addresses of
- [Surrender](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/18/surrender/) - "We cannot rest content in ourselves. In the elements and experiences of our life, to which we give meaning, we do not find satisfying light and protective security. We only find these things in the intangible mystery that overshadows our heart from the first day of our lives, awakening questions and wonderment and luring us
- [Christmas invitation from Oaxaca, Mexico](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/22/christmas-invitation-from-oaxaca-mexico/) - For the last three weeks I haven't been blogging as much because I've been doing support work for a Christian Peacemaker Teams emergency accompaniment team in Oaxaca, Mexico. The team of two CPT reservists was invited to Oaxaca because of increasing repression by state and federal police of local people who have been protesting to
- [What would you do?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/29/what-would-you-do/) - No, this isn't one those questions intended to corner pacifists. This is a question that I actually have, based on experience I actually experienced, and a question I would actually like to have an answer to, although I understand that a solid answer to what I am pondering is allusive at best. Here is the
- [tribute](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/15/tribute/) - "Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided [people]." - Martin Luther King Jr.
- [What's Next?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/20/whats-next/) - I really enjoy YAR. There are great discussions about great things here, they are intriguing and they make us think. But what's next. Do we just continue to talk about these things and hope that some day our churches and our communities will change? Or do we do something. I would love it if we
- [Introducing the Anabaptist Network](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/22/introducing-the-anabaptist-network/) - In his post on January 20th, Benjamin Anderson asked for ways we could act on the ideas and values discussed on this blog. Here's one suggestion: the Anabaptist Network. In the last few months, I've posted some information about a developing networking project aimed at helping Mennonite young adults (a generally transient group) to better
- [Fluffy, Prophetic Post-Apocalyptic Cartoon](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/24/fluffy-prophetic-post-apocalyptic-cartoon/) - Its exactly a month since Christmas eve, but this startlingly grim holiday cartoon from 1939 is relevant year round: MGM Cartoon 1939 Peace On EarthUploaded by shawshawshaw Thanks to Treehugging Therapist for the link.
- [The Church of Football](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/04/the-church-of-football/) - I'm not much of a football fan--I went to a Mennonite high school, so I never really learned enough to fully appreciate the sport, and my Super Bowl tradition consists of rooting for whoever everyone tells me is the underdog and making sure I'm around when the commercials are on. I am, however, slightly fascinated
- [Ins and Outs](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/21/ins-and-outs/) - It’s a concept I learned in Sociology 101. To have a group, you’ve got to have a boundary. Something that establishes the “in” from the “out.” What is a group without a clear line of demarcation? Our church’s lines of demarcation used to be coverings, plain coats, black cars, no TV, etc., etc. Lots of
- [Unhooked? An unabashed reflection (and rant) on love](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/01/unhooked-an-unabashed-reflection-and-rant-on-love/) - The other morning, driving to teach, I caught myself listening with a longing heart to a laughable story on NPR. Welsh farmers who, because of a shortage of eligible women, were "advertising" themselves as possible husbands in hopes to keep their small community going. Women from all over the world were responding! I found myself
- [spreading democracy and civilization](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/11/spreading-democracy-and-civilization/) - like this. I don't have the heart to comment.
- [Brainwashing and Mennonite Colleges](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/22/brainwashing-and-mennonite-colleges/) - For those of you who have been reading the Jerry Jenkins thread, there's been a separate ongoing discussion that has developed about brainwashing and Mennonite colleges. Skylark asked me to move this discussion to a separate post to make it easier to sort the two conversations out. So this is an attempt to do that.
- [Nature vs. Nurture](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/14/nature-vs-nurture/) - I'm curious about something here, though it may be something for a later poll. I am 23 and only recently "became" Mennonite. I had a spiritual rebirth as a result of my attendance at a Mennoniite church and through reading the Confession of Faith, though I was almost enticed to Catholicism because of my fascination
- [Do We Look Like Jesus?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/15/do-we-look-like-jesus/) - So many times we find a way to take the easy road out. It is easier to fight against something than to love someone. I am just as guilty as the next person. What do I mean? I mean sometimes we it's easier to protest and petition than to take the time to love and
- [What does a president look like?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/15/what-does-a-president-look-like/) - I suppose this begs the question: What do Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton look like?
- [Music](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/28/music/) - If you remember, in my intro post, I mentioned that I am a youth pastor. I am in my 8th month of youth pastoring now, and I would like to discuss with YAR an issue that am dealing with as a pastor: Music. Nine months ago (before I was a YP) music was not an
- [Father's Day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/17/fathers-day/) - It's father's day, and I wanted to post something that was shared at my church service this morning that I found helpful to hear. I recognized it is limited in it's patriarchal view of God, and I recognize that as men we have failed women in seeing them as equals (as well as failed them
- [Meeting the Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/04/meeting-the-church/) - I haven't taken much time on this blog to talk about myself. I should say that I am an outsider in this church - my last name isn't Yoder, Miller, Freisen, or Moshier. I have only been a Christian for 9 months; the Mennonite congregation I attend (a beautiful place that I hope my new-found
- [The Next Global Youth Summit](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/09/the-next-global-youth-summit/) - The AMIGOS met last week in Paraguay to plan the 2nd Global Youth Summit (GYS) of Mennonite World Conference (MWC). The event will happen July 10th-12th, 2009, immediately followed by MWC's 15th World Assembly July 13-19. It will all take place in Asuncion, Paraguay...with independent trips to surrounding countries or regions before or after World
- [Theological Education, Anyone? ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/22/theological-education-anyone/) - Hi, I'm Amy. I'm not new to the blog--I'm a frequent lurker and occasional commenter. As someone who is entering seminary this year, I'm interested to know if any of you are going to seminary, or if you have considered it, or if you even care about theological education. What is the value of that
- [Secondhand Pants](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/26/secondhand-pants/) - Theology in Song and Dance...MCC Thrift Stores. Secondhand Pants
- [On the Separation of Church and State](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/16/on-the-separation-of-church-and-state/) - I wrote this for the Brethren Mennonite Council blog but thought I'd cross-post it since it's been quiet here for the last few days. If you need more context, you might check out the previous post on the BMC blog about the Human Rights Campaign/Logo Presidential Forum that j alan meyer mentioned here a while
- [Cheney's Prophesy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/13/cheneys-prophesy/) - I'm afraid this didn't come as a huge surprise to me but I definitely have a sick feeling in my stomach right now. This is a clip from 1994 of Dick Cheney. He even uses the term quagmire. It's like he was looking into a crystal ball at the future...and then they did it anyway.
- [Welcoming the Poor](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/11/welcoming-the-poor/) - It is almost impossbile for a minority culture group to express their opinion so that it might be heard. As the racially and sexually segregated can attest, it is an uphill battle. Sometimes a minority cultural group has to insist upon expressing themselves, at which point they might be called “uppity” or a witch with
- [Portrait of an Anabaptist Radical  (Young?)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/05/portrait-of-an-anabaptist-radical-young/) - Hello, hello. I am Steve Kimes and I've posted a few comments, but I've just had the opportunity to join this infamous group, so I figured I'd take the time to write a few paragraphs about me, as an introduction. First of all, I wasn't raised Mennonite/Anabaptist. I actually wasn't raised Christian. I came to
- ["Up From the Rubble" ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/08/03/up-from-the-rubble/) - "The epic rescue of thousands of war-ravaged Mennonite refugees" Due to a desire to go back to my spiritual roots, I decided to spend free time this summer reading books about Anabaptists. So far I’ve only read one. I stumbled across it unintentionally and am glad I did because I hadn’t come across it in
- [Kill the Indian, Save the Man](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/27/346/) - As it happens, I didn't manage to keep writing throughout the week at San Jose. For that, I am sorry. I do want to share one little bit I found interesting during one of the presentations at the conference. One of the items that the delegate body voted on was a resolution (pdf) in support
- [Benjamin Barber on Consumer Capitalism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/26/benjamin-barber-on-consumer-capitalism/) - There hasn't been a video posted here in a while, so I thought I'd share this one. I'm not a big fan of the Colbert Report, but in this interview Colbert refrains from interrupting Benjamin Barber enough to allow him to make some very provocative points about consumer capitalism: So far I've gotten through the
- [Science and Religion](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/23/science-and-religion/) - A quick search for keywords such as evolution, creationism, and intelligent design shows that there has not been much discussion (actually, any, as far as I can see) of these subjects on this blog. This does not entirely surprise me, because, in my experience, there is very little discussion amongst the Anabaptist Churches in general on issues having to do with the relationship between science and faith. Conservative Anabaptists (just can’t get away from that term!), for their part, often fall in line with other conservative Christians, in being suspicious of evolution (or “evolutionism”) and embracing a literalistic interpretation of the first few chapters of Genesis. Either that, or they don’t make an issue about it at all, one way or the other, and prefer not to discuss it. Liberal Anabaptists, for their part, tend to accept the truth of evolution because they have a liberal enough interpretation of Scripture that it presents no exegetical problem for them to do so, and because they associate creationism with ignorant warmongering racist homophobic fundamentalists. The fact that Jerry Falwell endorsed creationism is good enough reason for many progressive Christians to automatically reject it. Of course, anti-evolutionism has not always had attached to it the social and economic conservatism we associate with it today. Indeed, in economic terms at least, Darwinism lends itself quite well to a conservative worldview–in fact, it was largely the work of economist Thomas Malthus that first inspired Darwin’s idea of natural selection. And, in fact, it was this association of scientific Darwinism with Social Darwinism that many socially progressive Christians of ages past objected to, and so became anti-evolutionist. William Jennings Bryan, three time Democratic presidential candidate, was a socialist and peace advocate who famously opposed evolution because of what he saw as its social implications. In a stump speech that he gave in revival tents around the country, he referred to Darwinism as propagating a “law of hate” that stood in stark contrast to the “law of love” that Christ taught.
- [Young (White) Anabaptists Radicals?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/12/295/) - Debbie Says: How many young adults of color are authors on this blog??? Think about it. This should be called YWAR - Young White Anabaptists Radicals. There are some, though you might not know it from the pseudonyms, and I'm sure it isn't representative. There's also a good post on a related topic from Skylark
- [Anonymity and Internet communities](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/07/anonymity-and-internet-communities/) - These thoughts are partially inspired by some recent conversations with a few YAR writers, and folknotions' post on the San Jose YAR meetup. I've been thinking recently about the strange aspect of anonymity that makes this and other online communities distinct from print publications, face-to-face discussions, etc. In the past few years I've had on-and-off
- [Papal Excuses: The indigenous were asking for it.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/14/papal-excuses-the-indigenous-were-asking-for-it/) - I don't have the time to comment on this as well as I should. But I think it's worth pointing to: Pope's Opening Address for Latin America and Caribbean 'Aparecida' Conference. It gives me great joy to be here today with you to inaugurate the Fifth General Conference of the Bishops of Latin America and
- [Re-joining the Roman Catholic Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/19/re-joining-the-roman-catholic-church/) - Several times in the past months on YAR, I've noticed people mention in passing we could re-join the Roman Catholic Church* if we don't like the idea of dividing over differences of belief and/or practice. I haven't heard this idea anywhere else, but maybe I'm not listening hard enough. Is this an option many YARs
- [Practical question for a radical: Yea or nay on pentagrams?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/14/practical-question-for-a-radical-yea-or-nay-on-pentagrams/) - I recently received a pentagram necklace as a well-intended gift from someone who thought it was a Star of David. We both had a good laugh when I told her my first association with it was a pagan/Wiccan/Satanist symbol. Now, I'm not one of those reactionist people who gets wild-eyed at the mere mention of
- [a note on dogma](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/11/a-note-on-dogma-2/) - Well a note of introduction first since I'm new to this blog. I work for MCC, grew up in North Philadelphia, and live in Lancaster. I suppose I count as a Mennonite- chose to be one a few years ago, and constantly in a flux of being in love with the church and embarrassed by
- [The Christian Radical Zine call for articles](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/11/the-christian-radical-zine-call-for-articles/) - Since we share an adjective and have a similar noun, I thought I'd post this call for articles Text of flyer follows in case the photo isn't loading: The Christian Radical, the monthly journal of the Vancouver Catholic Worker needs your writing and artwork for our coming August issue. If you have anything to say
- [Creating Room for Imagination to Breathe in the Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/11/creating-room-for-imagination-to-breathe-in-the-church/) - Young adults were given 90 minutes of discernment time with delegates at the Mennonite Church Canada Assembly in Abbotsford this year. As the session flew by, the breadth of our responses quickly narrowed, mostly in response to some very insightful questions from the delegate floor. As one of 5 young adult panelists, the challenge for
- [Democratic candidates will debate lgbtq issues](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/11/democratic-candidates-will-debate-lgbtq-issues/) - I don't know if I should be bringing politics into this already-heated blog that's taking on lgbtq, extra-marital sex, and abortion issues, but hey -- why not? So here it is. According to the New York Times, the Human Rights Campaign -- an lgbtq rights advocacy organization -- and Logo -- a cable tv network
- [Blog from San Jose](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/03/blog-from-san-jose/) - I’m writing from the Mennonite Church USA Churchwide Assembly in San Jose. I’ll try to keep some updates coming as I have time and content. I’m here more as a delegate from my congregation than as BMC staff but of course I still have similar concerns whether I’m wearing a BMC hat or just the
- [Liberal and Conservative Christians](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/10/liberal-and-conservative-christians/) - While at the conference in San Jose, I encountered a great deal of conversation about "liberal" and "conservative" Christians, discussion which treated these as polar opposites and if you fall behind one particular view that is "liberal" than whoops! everything you think is liberal. I went to a workshop entitled "Sticks and Stones: A conversation
- [My Problem with "Opening the Floodgates"](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/07/my-problem-with-floodgate-theory/) - I had a lot of great discussions with Katie (and other YAR's) this week at San Jose. Katie asked that I write a post about how I, as someone who did not grow up in the church, understand what the church teaches about queer sexuality. First of all, I will say that, generally, Christian thought
- [Mennonite Conventions: What Happened to Stewardship?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/06/mennonite-conventions-what-happened-to-stewardship/) - Let me start with a disclaimer, no I'm not in San Jose at the convention, and yes I would love to be there. I was in Charlotte for a couple days a few years ago and I attended the Nashville convention but I'm no expert on the whole convention model. I think that it is
- [Time and Place for YAR gathering in San Jose](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/02/time-and-place-for-yar-gathering-in-san-jose/) - For YAR writers and readers out there who are attending San Jose 2007, we've decided to gather for supper on Wednesday evening at 5:30 pm at the Tandori Restaraunt at 109 S. First Street (link to a map of the location on Google). This will be an opportunity to put some faces with the names
- [CPT Borderland Drive Starts Today](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/07/01/cpt-borderland-drive-starts-today/) - This week my friend Sarah Shirk sent out an email announcing that she'll be participating in a month long Border Witness Drive project organized by Christian Peaceamaker Teams. You can follow along on the trip through their blog: CPT Borderlands Witness Sarah describes the drive thusly: Beginning July 1st, I and a team of three
- [an ordination sermon](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/29/an-ordination-sermon/) - I attended the ordination service this past Sunday at James Street Mennonite Church. I recorded most of the service with a hand held digital recorder and thought some of you might find the sermon interesting. A little background first: Elizabeth Nissley, who has been an associate pastor at James Street since 2002, was ordained; Lancaster
- [Young Anabaptist Radicals in The Mennonite](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/25/young-anabaptist-radicals-in-the-mennonite/) - Since the middle of May, we've been publishing weekly summaries of Young Anabaptist Radicals blog posts in TMail, the new weekly email of The Mennonite. In exchange for a years worth of summaries (written by various YAR authors), next year in May The Mennonite will be making a $1000 donation to the AMIGOS fund to
- [Welcome to the Gaza Zoo](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/23/welcome-to-the-gaza-zoo/) - For all who have been trying to follow recent events in the Gaza Strip--and for those who haven't, for lack of any intelligible point of entry--direct your attention to Tabula Gaza, a blogger living in the area. The blog is full of incisive political commentary, ground-level observations, and stories about local folks. I've found it
- [Fire at the Simple Way](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/21/fire-at-the-simple-way/) - Yesterday morning starting at 3 am, a seven alarm fire swept through the bock in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia where the Simple Way community is based. No one was killed or injured, but eight families are now homeless and the Simple Way Community Center was destroyed. This video was put together by members of
- [Opportunity for real action on behalf of Colombia](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/11/opportunity-for-real-action-on-behalf-of-colombia/) - Tomorrow a bill goes in front of the House Appropriations Committee that would divert U.S. aid from supporting the Colombian military to organizations working for community and social development. For the first time it looks like there's a real opportunity to end the failed policies of the 9 year old Plan Colombia which has underwritten
- [YAR moves to closed author registration](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/13/yar-moves-to-closed-author-registration/) - After over 9 months of an open registration system for authors here on the Young Anabaptist Radicals blog, last week I had the first spammer bots sign up for accounts. The names, qwyghxh and lgbletw are familiar to me from other sites I've run and likely herald the beginning of a long stream of bots
- [Bad God](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/11/bad-god/) - As I read through various YAR posts the other morning, I was struck with a realization about God. More accurately, a realization about my belief in, and loyalty to God. Here it is: If God really is a white male hetero-bigot he can shove it for all I care. That's right. Not my God. I'll
- [My arrest in Fort Wayne](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/07/arrest/) - I suppose the best way to start all this is to explain who I am and what I'm doing. My name is Nick, and I'm a member of the Church of the Brethren and a Peace Studies major at Manchester College. A couple months ago I was arrested at a witness in Fort Wayne, and
- [History as Propaganda](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/06/04/history-as-propaganda/) - I want terribly to engage the history of this place, to relive the ancient history of the Jewish people and fall in love with their customs and culture. The history of the Jews is my history, not just any history but the history of our salvation and the history of God's own work. I want
- [CPT gets some publicity...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/31/cpt-gets-some-publicity/) - Some BBCers followed around a recent CPT delegation, and posted photos with captions. Even some photos and quotes from our very own YAR member Rich. Looking good, Rich. I'd be interested in hearing some thoughts on CPT's work, or ways to work for peace and/or justice. Should the church be actively supporting this sort of
- [new poll - are you entitled to your opinion?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/30/new-poll-are-you-entitled-to-your-opinion/) - I saw this little gem in The Onion and thought it would make a great poll. Study: 38 Percent of People Not Actually Entitled To Their Opinion I've been thinking this for a while but now, thanks to The Onion, I know it is true... Just because you have an opinion doesn't make it valid.
- [results from the age poll](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/30/results-from-the-age-poll/) - Well, this poll has been up long enough. It is time for a change. So, I'm posting the results for posterity and I'll put up a new one when I'm done. The poll was up for about a month and a half and received 86 responses - here they are. YAR or OAR? How old
- [Supreme Court Hates Women](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/30/supreme-court-hates-women/) - From the New York Times: Justices Limit Discrimination Suits Over Pay.From 2001 to 2006, workers brought nearly 40,000 pay discrimination cases. Many such cases are likely to be barred by the court’s interpretation of the requirement in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that employees make their charge within 180 days “after
- [Sexism has never been so much fun.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/30/sexism-has-never-been-so-much-fun/) - Ba-ack step, tri-ple step, tri-ple step, ba-ack step, spi-in left... I had way too much fun swing dancing this weekend. When I sat down to blog about it on my personal blog today, I started realizing just how much gender roles are infused into that seemingly-innocent passtime. I thought back to my comment in response
- [young anabaptist radicals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/25/young-anabaptist-radicals/) - I teach anabaptist theology at columbia bible college in abbotsford, bc. I'm intrigued by the title of the site and find it quite appropriate in that I believe that the nature of the 16 century movement was in many ways a youth movement. Many of the early radicals were dead before they reached the age
- [A Theology of Enough: Speed and the Working Week](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/23/a-theology-of-enough-speed-and-the-working-week/) - I apologise for my long silence. I've recently been thinking a lot about “a theology of enough”, pace of living, and sustainability in all areas of our lives. Instead of crafting a beautiful and articulate essay, I thought I’d offer my ramblings and learn from what responses and questions, if any, fellow YAR readers have
- [YAR meetup in San Jose](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/23/yar-meetup-in-san-jose/) - Eric, Tim, and I just realized that the three of us will be at the Mennonite Church USA Churchwide Convention in San Jose in July. We also figured that a few other contributors and readers might be as well. So, we want to have a little gathering with anyone that wants to show. We are
- [Lancaster Congregation to Ordain a Woman on June 24th](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/23/lancaster-congregation-to-ordain-a-woman-on-june-24th/) - Taken from the online edition of The Mennonite Lancaster Congregation to Ordain a Woman on June 24 LANCASTER, Pa.–More than 60 people from nine congregations gathered at the James Street Mennonite Church on May 16 to discuss how they might respond to a recent decision by Lancaster Mennonite Conference to not allow ordination for women
- [What can a GMB possibly have to do with rage?  (written at 5 a.m.)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/23/what-can-a-gmb-possibly-have-to-do-with-rage-written-at-5-am/) - I woke up way too early this morning from a strange dream, as I knew I would when I went to bed at 1. Whenever I go to bed in a distressed emotional state (thankfully this doesn't happen too often) I sleep my physical tiredness off in a couple hours and then wake up right
- [On the Ascension of our Lord](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/20/ascension-2007/) - Today, the seventh Sunday of the Easter season, we celebrate the ascension of our Lord into heaven. "'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' After he said this, he was
- [Global Anabaptism — present reality, realistic goal or hopeful optimism?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/21/global-anabaptism-–-present-reality-realistic-goal-or-hopeful-optimism/) - I haven’t written into this space for some time now. I apologize for the ways in which that is obvious in what I write below and for the ways it may cheapen my requests from you all. Almost embarrassingly, I’ve been forced to skim over your most recent YAR conversations so that my input doesn’t
- [Days of Prayer & Action for Peace in Colombia](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/20/days-of-prayer-action-for-peace-in-colombia/) - I got a flier in my church mailbox a few months ago from MCC about the Days of Prayer & Action for Peace in Colombia taking place today and tomorrow. Part of my meager response was to give a short presentation and slide show at Wilkens Avenue Mennonite Church this morning to raise awareness about
- [Faith: Nature or Nurture? Is it a choice? Can people change?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/20/faith-nature-or-nurture-is-it-a-choice-can-people-change/) - I was watching CNN today as I was eating my lunch (black beans and saffron rice with piccadillo and spinach salad - awesome) and they were playing a rerun of an Anderson Cooper special on Christianity and faith. One portion of the show touched on recent findings that a person's capacity for faith and spirituality may
- [On BikeMovement -- What spurs our communities to action?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/18/on-bikemovement-what-spurs-our-communities-to-action/) - Some recent discussion here has suggested relating posts to action, which is part of what motivated me to post this note here. Many of you all may have heard about BikeMovement (young Mennos biking across the US and talking about church last summer, biking SE Asia this summer), and there's a documentary on the US
- [An invitation to share from our lives](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/16/an-invitation-to-share-from-our-lives/) - After reading through the 21 comments on Do we look like Jesus? I heard a lot of frustration of people saying that we spend a lot of time analyzing on this blog without much action. When I think back over the posts from the last month or two I notice that we do spend a
- [Anabaptist radicalism and the life of contemplation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/13/anabaptist-radicalism-and-the-life-of-contemplation/) - Hello good people I stumbled upon this site two days ago while doing some thinking about a book chapter I'm writing for an upcoming publication about the conversation about gayness in the Mennonite world. Tim - did you come up with this? It's fantastic! I've read through most of the posts here. I'm also supposed
- [Church mailbox scandal](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/13/church-mailbox-scandal/) - After being a member of my home church, Foothills Mennonite in Calgary, Alberta, for 5 years I'm starting to wonder when I'm going to get my own mailbox. It's not that I have a lot of mail to collect or that I dislike sharing a mailbox with my parents. It's that getting your own church
- [Christian Dating](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/11/christian-dating/) - We'll this is the first time I'm making a post. Over the past couple years I've been writing articles in a monthly church newletter. The articles I like to write discuss Christianity, the bible and how it relates to everyday life. So my style of posting on this website may follow more of an article
- [Vessels of the Holy Spirit or Agents of Entropy?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/11/vessels-of-the-holy-spirit-or-agents-of-entropy/) - He who knew nothing other than creatures would have no need for thinking of sermons, for each creature is full of God and is a book [about God]. -Meister Eckhart High school physics classes generally teach something about the Laws of Thermodynamics, which can be summed up, more or less, as the following: Energy can
- [Vegetarianism: A freak hippie fad or a way to be a radical Christian?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/10/vegetarianism-a-freak-hippie-fad-or-a-way-to-be-a-radical-christian/) - What’s the matter? Now that we know our conversations are to be summarized in another venue, we stop talking? I hope everyone’s just busy being radical in their offline lives. The real reason for my post is to talk about vegetarianism and animal rights/welfare. This is another topic on which many Christians (perhaps especially Mennonites
- [The global symphony of faith](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/07/the-global-symphony-of-faith/) - “Aaaiii, Hinke!” yelled Amina as she bounded out to hug my brother and me, during a recent visit to her home. Then after many greetings she danced off to the family cucumber fields to give the news of our arrival to her mother and sisters. Amina and I had last seen each other 13 years
- [My Life in a Box](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/04/my-life-in-a-box/) - First, I think a short introduction is in order before I begin. I am a university student. I live in a city of about 750,000 people that has a large Mennonite population, but in addition to that, I live in the 'Mennonite suburb' of the city, where Mennonite churches are found every block and everyone
- [On the Choice of Sexual Expression - for clarification](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/03/on-the-choice-of-sexual-expression-for-clarification-2/) - I seem to be having a discussion on the same issue in two different threads and I think some folks might be confused. Therefore, I want to clarify an argument I was making. Here is my argument: sexual expression is a choice. For everyone, regardless of orientation. I don't think I'm making assumptions on particular
- [Who needs hate crimes protections?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/03/who-needs-hate-crimes-protections/) - The US House of Representatives just passed hate crimes legislation that would extend hate crimes protections to be based on sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to current protections for race, religion, color, and national origin. It still has to go through the Senate and then face veto by you know who. The thing
- [Complexity of Divisive Topics in Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/02/complexity/) - Thanks Katie for your post “’the homosexual lifestyle’ — a rhetoric of bigotry”. It is a perspective that needs to be heard and continues to challenge my use of language surrounding the LGBT community. Your article prompted me to think through some of the complexities of this issue and other divisive issues that tend to
- ["the homosexual lifestyle" — a rhetoric of bigotry](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/05/01/the-homosexual-lifestyle-–-a-rhetoric-of-bigotry/) - The term "the homosexual lifestyle" has appeared a number of times on this blog in the last few months. I continue to be perplexed every time I see it and hear it in the church or society. Along with all those other terms that are used against the lgbt community, it is a term that
- [Garrison Keillor Likes Mennonites?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/25/garrison-keillor-likes-mennonites/) - Today the Writer’s Almanac featured another "Mennonite" poem. You can read it online at the Writer’s Almanac Archive. I will also copy it below: "First TV in a Mennonite Family" by Julia Kasdorf, from Sleeping Preacher. © University of Pittsburgh Press. 1968 The lid of the Chevy trunk couldn't close on that wooden console with
- [Responses to nonviolent protest in the West Bank and in Iraq](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/26/responses-to-nonviolent-protest-in-the-west-bank-and-in-iraq/) - Who is Our Enemy? Part 2 Since Ben Anderson asked about the difference between pacifism and nonviolence over on the Practical nonviolence prevents bank robberies post, I thought I'd start a new thread along the same line to see if others wanted to add their thoughts on the topic. It just so happens I came
- [Standards for Guiding YAR Blog Together](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/24/standards-for-guiding-yar-blog-together/) - I have been meaning to work on this for a while and finally got inspired. Some things to think about before you get yer posting and commenting on. This blog is moderated to keep spam out but we're not in the habit of deleting comments or blocking dissent. There are, however, certain behaviors that are
- [How do we get the straight white men to shut up?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/24/how-do-we-get-the-straight-white-men-to-shut-up/) - Before anyone gets offended, that's hyperbole. Bet it got your attention, though. What I'm really asking is how do we achieve diversity on YAR? I have noticed something these past few weeks on YAR. The regulars who tend to dominate the discussions on race, gender and inclusion are... men. (Or I presume so based on
- [R?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/23/r/) - There has been some concern about the Y in our name being exclusive to aging Anabaptist Radicals. Of course, all three of the letters are meant to narrow down the target contributers. Interesting to me is the breakdown of how much we care about each letter. According to an earlier poll, we care most about
- [On Schism and Unity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/22/on-schism-and-unity/) - A point of clarification: at least if we let them tell the story, the early Anabaptists were not schismatics. According to Menno, schismatics and those who refuse Christian admonition are indeed the only ones who merit exclusion--"and that with sorrow and pain," in order to turn them back to the Word of Christ (Complete Works,
- [anti-abortion, pro-abortion?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/22/222/) - I didn't pay much attention to the recent Supreme Court ruling on abortion. I skimmed the headlines, noted that pro-abortion activists were "outraged" while anti-abortion activists were celebrating, and went on to the next page. (In case you're fuzzy on the details, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on partial birth abortions.) But this past
- [get your schism on!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/18/get-your-schism-on/) - There's a lot of talk about wanting to be a church open to people who disagree. On the one hand that sounds like a great idea, on the other hand where does it end? How do we define ourselves as a church? Even assuming a model with more focus on central mission than fringe cases,
- [Are YARs evangelical?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/18/are-yars-evangelical/) - I understand and respect the sentiment expressed by Skylark and Joe, that there is a need for a space where younger voices can be heard. I just entered my own response to the "YAR or OAR" poll in the 46-55 bracket, and I am grateful for the expressions of welcome to participate. I'll be content,
- [Practical nonviolence prevents bank robberies](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/15/practical-nonviolence-prevents-bank-robberies/) - On Friday, soon after reading Nate's post on Questions about Pacifism I heard a story on NPR called Killing Bank Robberies with Kindness. Give the story a listen. Its a very practical application of nonviolent principles in the face of expected violence. For many years bank tellers have been told to do nothing when faced
- [Lancaster Conference Credentialed Leaders Respond to Recommendation Regarding the Ordination of Women](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/12/lancaster-conference-credentialed-leaders-respond-to-recommendation-regarding-the-ordination-of-women/) - Good grief! I need to be studying, but I was sucked in by the latest poll (look to the right)[update 4.15.07 - click here for info about the poll]. Whoever put that up deserves a gold star!! Ever since I read the report about the ordination of women in the Lancaster Conference News last month
- [agism?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/13/agism/) - Hello all, I'm new here but uncertain whether or not I am welcome to participate, since my DoB was in 1954. looking at your blog's title, I see that "anabaptist" and "radical" are things that I might choose to be, but "young" is not, unless it is used in a figurative sense. At what age
- [Five Things Your Pacifist Friends are Tired of Answering](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/12/five-things-your-pacifist-friends-are-tired-of-answering/) - My title is the title of a good article by a fellow named Jonathan Fitzgerald at the Burnside Writer's Collective (BWC). The BWC is a solid site started by Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz) and a few of his friends that deals with social justice, sports, general rants or thoughts, and other things.
- [The End of the World](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/12/the-end-of-the-world/) - This is something I just wrote on my blog. I may be preaching to the choir here, but I am in the learning stages. Cut me some slack. I would like to hear feedback on this, whether it be misguided or right on. This is how I am beginning to understand scripture. I always grew
- [Hey! The church needs your advice . . .](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/11/hey-the-church-needs-your-advice/) - The Central District Conference asked us to post this announcement on the Young Anabaptist Radicals blog. For those of you who are part of the Mennonite church and live in the area it looks like a good opportunity to share your perspective on faith and the church: Central District Conference (CDC) is one of the
- [the problem with feminism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/11/the-problem-with-feminism/) - In the past several months, whenever the issue of gender equality has come up in conversation, I've heard several of my white male twenty-something friends express frustration at the guilt they feel about being white men. A good friend once said to me, "I feel like I have two strikes against me: one for my
- [Responding to Bush's Irresponsibility.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/09/responding-to-bushs-irresponsibility/) - Hi, I'm new. I was going to leave this as a comment to the post left a few days ago, asking the question how we support our troops without supporting their mission. I decided to leave it as a post instead. Here it is. I struggle with this question as well. I think one possible
- [college students (and a few others) on the church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/08/college-students-and-a-few-others-on-the-church/) - Every now and then, I freelance articles. It's a fun gig since it lets me cover some really cool events and pays me (admittedly not much) at the same time. I spent last weekend at a conference on the Ministry Inquiry Program, which was held at Eastern Mennonite University. MIP is jointly run by Mennonite
- [Breaking my writer's block!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/05/breaking-my-writers-block-2/) - Have you ever experienced something so overwhelming that it takes a while to sink into a place where it can be digested? (I'm hoping the American people are going through a "writer's block," so to speak, and will very soon rise up with their voices, pens, and withdrawn tax dollars to stop the worship of
- [a day late](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/05/a-day-late/) - I was just reminded of the significance of the fact that yesterday was April 4. If you go back in history a few decades - you'll remember that April 4, 1968 was the day MLK Jr. was assassinated. But right now, I'm more interested in what happened one year before that on April 4, 1967
- [A Poorly Written, Thinly Veiled Allegorical Short Story](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/05/a-poorly-written-thinly-veiled-alegorical-short-story/) - In the year 2032, China, the new democratic world superpower, invaded America. The United States had been hauled before the U.N. security council because of its proliferation of nuclear and chemical weapons, but, like so many other "rogue states" before it, it remained defiant. The U.N. attempted to send in weapons inspectors to check on
- [Who, when, and where to talk about Race](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/07/157/) - Race is such a sticky thing to talk about. I almost don't want to discus it for fear of looking like "that white woman who likes to hear herself talk." I may put some people on the spot in this post, and if you don't like that, I apologize. The questions: –What's the racial/ethnic composition
- [sermon prep for April 15 on breaking the law](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/03/sermon-prep-for-april-15-on-breaking-the-law/) - (Getting ready to preach April 15 I sent this to the Goshen News, they published it, now I'm waiting for some replies. I like sermon prep:) I'm surprised that in discussions about our broken immigration system some Christians say the law of the land should always be obeyed. If they have Isaiah 10 in their
- [more thoughts on the sins of my ancestors - a response to Skylark](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/02/more-thoughts-on-the-sins-of-my-ancestors-a-response-to-skylark/) - Skylark -- great questions you're asking over on the ancestors' sins thread! Sorry I'm slow to respond. Karissa and I are expecting our first child in the next week or two, and March 31 was the end of MCC's fiscal year, which meant lots of extra bookkeeping work. Life just doesn't seem to let up
- [Supporting the Troops](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/04/02/supporting-the-troops/) - So, should we support the troops? This seems to be an eternal issue, displayed as it is on bumper stickers and on the news. At the outset, I should note that as a Christian pacifist, I believe heeding Christ's call and caring for the world's citizenry should be a higher concern than supporting American troops.
- [sins of our ancestors](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/27/sins-of-our-ancestors/) - Hey all - I figure it's about time for my first post. I was writing a comment over at Hugo Schwyzer's blog, and despite my best efforts it outgrew comment-hood and graduated into post-dom. So I thought I'd just post it over here, for your delectation and discussion. In the discussion thread, Hugo said this
- [Analysis of a President](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/28/analysis-of-a-president/) - What’s going on with George W. Bush? How can he stay so seemingly oblivious to the havoc (and human suffering) his decisions are wreaking–especially in Iraq? In my view, he’s a black-and-white, binary thinker who needs enemies and a cause to give his life order and meaning. The 9/11 attacks were a “godsend” for him,
- [Just an image in my head](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/28/just-an-image-in-my-head/) - I thought I would share this little image that I can't get out of my head. I don't think there's a point here, I just find it frightening. It's my image for how things are going in the current administration. The United States is a big car hurtling down a busy highway at about 150
- [What kind of church do you go to?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/28/what-kind-of-church-do-you-go-to/) - Is this the kind of church we want to be? I wonder how the people in his church responded when he told them that story.
- [Patriotic Correctness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/27/patriotic-correctness/) - We have all heard of political correctness, which requires euphemistic language when talking about women, minorities, or people with disabilities. While I can understand why people believe in political correctness and I believe it is sometimes justified, I tend to have a problem with it. It’s just that, often, I’d rather deal with real issues
- [Pleasure of the President and the Death Penalty](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/27/pleasure-of-the-president-and-the-death-penalty/) - Recently I'd begun to think that there was nothing the Bush administration could get to me. Yet reading Three fired U.S. attorneys balked at seeking death penalty today got through my jaded, cynical shell. Apparently three of the US Attorneys who were fired by the Bush administration were not willing enough to seek the death
- [on history and not repeating it](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/27/on-history-and-not-repeating-it/) - One of the reasons I think it's important that white people / Euro-Americans become more than passing familiar with our ancestors' sins is so we don't repeat them. Which is precisely what we are doing right now in Iraq. And since Sam Hurst has already said this (The New Iraq looks an awful lot like
- [A reflection on the Christian Peace Witness for Iraq](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/25/the-christian-peace-witness-for-iraq/) - For the last week I've been meaning to share my thoughts on the service in the National Cathedral that began last weekend's Christian Peace Witness for Iraq. After some delay, here they are. Personally, I found the service in the National Cathedral much more powerful and moving then I expected. This may have partly been
- [Intolerant Liberals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/25/intolerant-liberals/) - I hear it all the time. But why should I tolerate intolerance? Why should I be open to hearing an argument in favor of sexism or racism or homophobia? Why should I respect hate and violence and oppression as equal ideologies? Discuss.
- [Just who are the ‘Racial/Ethnic’ Mennonites?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/22/just-who-are-the-racialethnic-mennonites/) - Thanks to TimN for cajoling me to write my first post. I've been reading this for about a month, quite interesting stuff inside here, so here goes, my first post. As a multicultural Christian with my foot in a multicultural Mennonite church, I wanted to respond to just who are these ‘Racial/Ethnic’ Mennonites that Conrad
- [Story includes YAR](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/22/story-includes-yar/) - I'll keep this short, since no one commented publicly on my post requesting help for my story about online blogs. Thank you to the YARs who responded to me via personal e-mails. My story is posted on the Urban Connections site. Or jump directly to the story. Again, thanks for the conversations. One person, whom
- [Peace not allowed in St. Patrick Day parade](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/21/peace-not-allowed-in-st-patrick-day-parade/) - This morning I got an email from Frank Cordaro, a friend of mine and member of the Catholic Worker movement. That's him in the green t-shirt in the photo on the right after he attempted to participate in a St. Patrick's day parade in Colorado Springs, Coloardo. Here's an excerpt from his email:We were part
- [Sin and Oppression (part 1)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/20/sin-and-oppression-part-1/) - How do you understand the concept of oppression? How do you understand the concept of sin? Is the word oppression an academic, general way of saying sin? What I am wondering is how compatible/interchangeable these words are. For the definition of oppression, I think about the historic and current patriarchal institutions (military/police, education, religion, economy,
- [Volunteer anyone?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/16/volunteer-anyone/) - I've spent the last year and a half doing voluntary service with Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (BMC). At the end of my term (August), I'm moving on to other things and BMC is looking for another volunteer. If you are a person (or know someone) who is especially concerned with LGBT justice as
- [Keeping the Conversation Going on YAR](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/15/keeping-the-conversation-going-on-yar/) - Today I made a change to the sidebar here at the Young Anabaptist Radicals blog and while it may not seem important, I'll take a minute to explain it. One of the disadvantages of the blog format is that the linear format means that when blog posts move off the front of the page, they
- [Anabaptist Network gathering this weekend](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/14/anabaptist-network-gathering-this-weekend/) - Lora introduced the Anabaptist Network here on YAR in January, but I thought it might be worth updating YAR readers on our sister organization. As of today we have 421 members on our Anabaptist Network Facebook group (link only works if you're logged in to Facebook). This weekend we're meeting in person for the first
- [Ain't I a Woman?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/12/aint-i-a-woman/) - I ain't actually, but Sojourner Truth was. I copied this from the Modern History Sourcebook. Sojourner Truth (1797-1883): Ain't I A Woman? Delivered in 1851 at the Women's Convention, Akron, Ohio Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South
- [What is Patriotism?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/10/what-is-patriotism-2/) - Recently, Glenn Beck said on his radio talk show that the Democrats want America to lose in Iraq. Why? Because they want to prove President Bush wrong, Beck said. He then added that while some question only the judgment of those on the left, he questions their very patriotism. This shouldn’t be surprising to those
- [blog against sexism day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/08/blog-against-sexism-day/) - That's right. Today is not only International Women's Day, but Blog Against Sexism Day - and it's not over yet, so I can still slip in under the wire, because do you know how awful it would be to blog against sexism on the wrong day? That's right, if we went off blogging about sexism
- [Looking for Independent Music](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/07/looking-for-independent-music/) - I have a short "networking" request: A good friend of mine, who recently lived and worked in Jerusalem, is putting together a dvd on Gaza for Catholic Relief Services (crs.org). Unfortunately, copyright laws are creating a few road blocks to the process, so he is looking for independent artists/musicians/music that he could use for the
- [Update on conscientious objector Agustin Aguayo](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/06/update-on-conscientious-objector-agustin-aguayo/) - Back in September, Michael wrote about Agustin Aguayo here on YAR. Today Agustin was found guilty of desertion in a US military court in Würzburg, despite 3 years of attempting to get out of military service as a conscientious objector. According to the Independent, "He faces up to seven years in prison, a dishonourable discharge
- [Tragic Bus Accident](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/03/02/tragic-bus-accident-2/) - The Bluffton College baseball team was in a tragic bus accident in Atlanta. They were traveling to Florida for spring break training. From what we've learned on the news, we know that 6 are confirmed dead and more than a dozen are injured. The bus was traveling on 75 and apparently went over an overpass.
- [Andy Goldsworthy: Rivers and Tides](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/19/andy-goldsworthy/) - This week I watched Hotel Rwanda and The Ground Truth. Both films deeply moved me and I highly recommend them to all of you. But sometimes I get tired of writing about politics and all that's broken in the world. So instead I'm writing about Rivers and Tides, a documentary I just watched about Andy
- [Anabaptist Radical Needed as Military Counselor in Germany](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/19/anabaptist-radical-needed-as-military-counselor-in-germany/) - I've spent the last two years doing a job I love, working with American servicemembers who have been changed by their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the same way that the Pentagon technically has the right to extend a soldier's active-duty service indefinitely during a time of war, so too do these soldiers have
- [Introduction, and an offer (or request)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/13/introduction-and-an-offer-or-request/) - Hi, My name is Will Fitzgerald, and I am not very young (anyone with an AARP card is clearly past prime), so I won't post beyond this one time. But I'm Mennonite enough, and maybe just radical enough, to have enjoyed YAR for a while. Recently, my wife and I, our daughter (14, definitely a
- [Joy that has a Serious History](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/12/joy-that-has-a-serious-history/) - (I originally emailed this in some form to some YARites, and TimN, kind soul that he is, suggested that I post here. So here we are, I apologize for the length.) Part 1: The Introduction Despite being a member of the Original cast, I have remained in the shadows, a lurker, secretly, greedily taking your
- [Introduction, confession and questions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/12/introduction-confession-and-questions/) - Do I qualify as a YAR? I’m not quite sure. I have the A — I feel strongly about the Anabaptist vision and have committed myself to working for three Mennonite institutions during my thus-far career. But young? Who knows, anymore. At the last church-wide convention, where I went as part of my job, I
- [Our Scapegoating Nature](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/09/our-scapegoating-nature/) - Jesus came, in part, to stop scapegoating. He used his harshest words on religious leaders of his day, who used their status to come down on other people. The Parisees, for instance, blamed the poor and the "sinners" (whomever they deemed as such) for the Roman occupation, while they claimed to be pure. Jesus' death,
- [Wisdom from a Catholic Radical](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/31/wisdom-from-a-catholic-radical/) - Dorothy Day started the Catholic Worker Movement, which is most known for the Houses of Hospitality (www.catholicworker.org/) She ran with Eugene Debs, Lucy Parsons, the Haymarket martyrs and other IWW's (Industrial Workers of the World). She witnessed the framing and killing of dear friends during the frenzy of the red scare. As an atheist, she
- [In a different spirit](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/02/in-a-different-spirit/) - I wrote this yesterday before I read Angie's post. Her thoughts on Dorothy Day and the church reflect very well my own thoughts. While Angie's post is thoughtful, mine is angry. Maybe in a few days, I can manage thoughtful but for now, this is what I've got: A Little Stunned A couple days ago,
- [Saint Agatha](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/05/saint-agatha/) - In the middle of the third century, Emperor Decius of Rome announced an edict against the Christians, the most ruthlessly violent yet. Senator Quintianus, seeing an opportunity, offered to drop charges against one particularly beautiful Christian woman, a virgin, in exchange for sexual favors. When she refused, he sold her to a brothel to break
- [Men Challenging Patriarchy in the Church?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/04/men-challenging-patriarchy-in-the-church/) - Maybe I should explain where I’m coming from. For a while now I’ve been struggling personally with how to deal with patriarchy in the church — most specifically male language for God, the male images of God I can’t seem to get rid of, and views about sexuality from the church and the Bible that
- [Split Youth in the Southern Cone](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/02/02/split-youth-in-the-southern-cone/) - Bouncing directly from Angie's latest post... always got to give a shout-out to Dorothy! But Last week the passion for exclusion came not from the institution, but from the people themselves, YOUNG people, and a student in seminary... At the Southern Cone Mennonite Anabaptist meetings in Uruguay last week, there was a large division among
- [Church and Young Adults](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/30/church-and-young-adults/) - Young adults and church: I have had this conversation with way to many people way to many times. Everyone wants to know why the young adult (18-?) population is so small in churches, and everyone seems to have a different opinion about this, especially young adults. As much as I don’t want to start up
- [A Different Approach to Apologetics](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/28/a-different-approach-to-apologetics-2/) - With apologies to popular apologetics today, I have never found them as helpful as they claim to be. From what I have seen, they attempt through proofs and logic to prove that Christianity is the best and most reasonable religion, and that the Bible is the only and most perfect holy book. There is a
- [Who is our enemy?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/24/who-is-our-enemy/) - This morning a friend sent me a link to an insightful article by Glenn Kessler in today's Washington post. Kessler focuses on the underlying doublespeak behind the way Bush uses the terms "free", "moderate" and "terrorist". While we're all used to Bush's buzz words, this article sharply tears away the veil to reveal just how
- [four hundred eighty-two](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/21/four-hundred-eighty-two/) - On this day, four hundred eighty-two years ago, in the Zürich home of Felix Manz (his mom's place), a man named George Blaurock was baptized again for the first time by Conrad Grebel.
- [Hospitality](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/21/hospitality/) - Christian hospitality is not simply good manners, it is an entire way of encountering strangers: receiving them as Christ, as St Benedict says. It takes a peculiar imagination, of course, to hear a knock on the door and know it to be Christ–an imagination rooted in prayer, in a person who knows the hospitality of
- [Mimesis in Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/18/mimesis-in-violence/) - One thing I have been studying recently is the nature of violence to be mimetic, which refers to the human propensity to immitate others, espeically if we're in a society permeated by certain types of actions or beliefs. With regards to violence in our society, mimesis works most commonly by making violence contagious. The belief
- [Jerry Jenkins](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/16/jerry-jenkins/) - My intention in joining YAR was not to use the rest of you members as my moral sounding board for difficult questions that I am dealing with in my life, but this is what two of my three posts have turned out to be. I'll try to make my next post more heady and intellectual,
- [living tribute](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/15/living-tribute/) - I learned of Martin Luther King, the hero of the Civil Rights Movement, in school. I learned of Martin Luther King, the peacemaker, at church. In both cases I learned about King as an icon. He was like an angel-man, superhuman. King became a real person when I moved to Atlanta. It was a fall
- [generic anabaptism and postmodernism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/13/generic-anabaptism-and-post-modern-young-adults/) - I've been reading DreamSeeker Magazine for a few years now, and was struck by two articles in the most recent issue. DreamSeeker is published and edited by Michael A. King, of Telford, Pennsylvania (he's also the pastor of Spring Mount Mennonite Church). The mission statement says DreamSeeker is "dedicated to publishing 'voices from the soul,'
- [Those Apithetic Iragis](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/11/those-apithetic-iragis/) - Iraqis must step up! I've been hearing this all over the place so I looked into it... They're right! Look at this guy: He's just sitting there!
- [Dissent](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/08/dissent/) - For the most part, I think Avery Dulles is right to say that “dissent [in the church] should neither be glorified or vilified.” Dissent in the 21st century is not only permitted, it is often even required as a sign of truthfulness. Of course, that’s not entirely incorrect. To dissent, in part, is to signify
- [Radical like surfers or revolutionaries?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2007/01/06/radical-like-surfers-or-revolutionaries/) - This week I read this post over on Adventure Faith about YAR and was inspired to rewrite the YAR "about us" page. In his post, blogger Mike Barret suggests that radical Anabaptists is about as incongruous as radical librarians. I realized that we're operating with different definitions of what radical means. Mike is about to
- [a year-end blessing](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/24/a-year-end-blessing/) - This year has been a year of transitions for me. I’ve moved twice, changed jobs, started graduate school, left graduate school, and watched the path of my life change in ways I never would’ve imagined when the year began. This is how life goes, I guess: we think we have it figured out and new
- [Progressive Assumptions and Christian History](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/20/progressive-assumptions-and-christian-history/) - The progressive gospel proclaims that even though all history is in shambles, even though all history has been enslaved to enslavement and oppression and violence, we can move beyond. The progressive gospel involves a certain story about history which is a history of violence; we cannot proclaim that history has been really good without also
- [Pax Mennonita via Flexible Pacifism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/19/pax-mennonita-via-flexible-pacifism/) - It was with much excitement that I read the most recent MCC Peace Office Newsletter (Vol. 36, No. 4), entitled "How do we Protect, Responsibly." The World Council of Churches had met and released a statement on the "Responsibility to Protect," hereafter to be referred to by its catch acronym: R2P. Such Mennonite notables as
- [Enculturation?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/10/enculturation/) - In some recent research that I’ve done over the past semester of school, I’ve come across some things that have really interested me regarding the early church versus our political situation today. This all stems out of a paper by Ted Grimsrud entitled “From pacifism to the just war: the development of early Christian thought
- [Join the conversation! how do Conservative and Progressive Mennonites present a compelling vision of Anabaptism together?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/11/join-the-conversation-how-do-conservative-and-progressive-mennonites-present-a-compelling-vision-of-anabaptism-together/) - Anabaptism is cool. There's no denying it. In this ultra-exciting age of the emerging movement, post-modern transition, and a change of scenery in the American church, buzzwords such as “reformation”, “contemporary”, and “social justice” have crept into the church's vocabulary. Is Anabaptism just another one of these words that sounds cool but is hard to
- [Help thou my unbelief](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/13/help-thou-my-unbelief/) - I know a woman who has Stage 4 lung cancer. It spread to her brain and to her liver before it was discovered. She is now in the process of chemo and radiation. She has two young sons and a husband. She’s only 40 years old. This is not fair. Of course it isn’t. And
- [Advent Post (numero uno)](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/04/advent-post-numero-uno/) - Nimblesixpence has a thoughtful Advent post, entitled What if God was one of us?, that I thought was worth sharing. Hopefully she won't mind a few more readers. Below is just an excerpt: Because I don't believe that church is most meaningful when it goes exactly according to plan. I believe that if we wanted
- [The God of Coincidence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/07/the-god-of-coincidence/) - It seems to me that church folk talk a lot about God doing this or that in our lives, and rightly so I guess. "God told me this or has been telling me that", is a common utterance, but I've been avoiding that terminology for some time now. I guess I am uncomfortable with this
- [Inheriting John Howard Yoder](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/21/inheriting-john-howard-yoder/) - Though I might aspire to be - an emerging scholar I am not. For those of you who are, or would like to be, a friend of mine mentioned this upcoming conference: CALL FOR PAPERS "Inheriting John Howard Yoder: A New Generation Examines his Thought." May 25-26, 2007 See also: the John Howard Yoder Project
- [Intro to Tom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/06/intro/) - I have always been wary about getting involved with internet forums, chat rooms, blogs and the like, but here I am. My name is Tom (or Thomas) Dunn, I am a recent graduate of Bluffton University and am currently the youth pastor at Kidron Mennonite in Kidron, Ohio. I have heard about YAR from a
- [Response to MJS on Coverings and Conservative Mennonites](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/11/response-to-mjs-on-coverings-and-conservative-mennonites/) - A few days ago, a woman named MJS replied to a comment by Brian on a post by Laura in which he said, "I’m going to go out on a limb and actually advocate a return of head coverings for women and plain coats for men." Although he went on to suggest he was mostly
- [Things we don't say](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/08/things-we-dont-say/) - I've been thinking about things we think but don't say because we're still afraid to challenge some parts of the status quo publically and out loud. By "we," I mean people in general but especially those of us of a more progressive or even radical persuasion. I feel there is a certain amount of self-censorship
- [The Union Project](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/12/01/the-union-project/) - For a few months, I've heard a smattering of chatter about something in Pittsburgh called The Union Project. It's a neat group of young people, many of them Mennonite (and some are alumni of Goshen College), who have purchased an old church building in a once-great, now-going downhill neighbhorhood. Their work promoting geographical and spiritual
- [Intro to Jason](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/28/intro-to-jason/) - I'm someone who's mostly been away from Mennonites for the past three years, but having the distance has shown me (maybe by omission) the value for me of relationships with young Anabaptist folks -- particularly ones who are passionate about investigating what it looks like to try to form our lives and relationships based on
- [the numbers game: a cranky opinion](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/17/the-numbers-game-a-cranky-opinion/) - I spoke at a small Church of the Brethren congregation in Napannee, Indiana last Sunday. The church seems to be an older congregation, which was interesting mainly because in Sunday School, a somewhat skeptical older gentleman turned to me, and out of the blue, said that while the numbers of non-denominational churches are rising, the
- [Can we find ourselves in Poetry?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/15/can-we-find-ourselves-in-poetry-2/) - Hey, everyone. Tim suggested I post some of what I'm working on, so here goes. This selection was among poetry read at Bluffton's "Beyond Borders..." writing conference last month, and I'm attempting to publish them elsewhere. I'm really interested in why practicing Menno women are still so wary of certain issues in their poetry. Is
- [Polygamous Anabaptists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/16/polygamous-anabaptists/) - The Mennonite Weekly Review reported this week that the world's largest Anabaptist Conference, the Meserete Kristos Church of Ethiopa, recently made two groundbreaking (maybe even radical) decisions. One is that women can now be fully active in leadership in the church. My only comment to that one is: well done, the church will be better
- [New blog features](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/15/new-blog-features/) - Last night I installed some new features for the YAR blog to improve your reading and writing experience. The main new feature is the new "Related YAR posts" section at the bottom of every post, just before comments. It shows three posts that the computer guesses are similar in content to the article you are
- [Revival, anyone?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/13/revival-anyone-5/) - Perhaps I am writing this because where I live, I have to explain at least once a week what a Mennonite is, our core values and goals, and this makes me long to see more of us practicing them. Perhaps I am writing this because I am tired of silences and homogeny of so many
- [Maeyken Wens: One face of Early Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/11/maeyken-wens-one-face-of-early-anabaptism/) - There's been a couple of posts today referencing early Anabaptists and discussing what exactly they stood for. As Jonny pointed out, they are far from homogenous. I always like pointing out the example of the Batenburgers, survivors of the Muensterites who basically turned terrorist. I always like pointing out their infidel-hating, cow-massacring ways to counterbalance
- [Let America Be America Again](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/11/let-america-be-america-again/) - A few years ago, while on a work-related trip in Southeastern Asia, I met with a man who represented the Vietnam-U.S. Friendship Association. We sat and talked for awhile, and he shared with me what was happening in his country. He told me that the Vietnam War (known there as the American War) no longer
- [YAR Madlib - Calling the church to <ins>go pee pee</ins>.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/11/yar-madlib-calling-the-chruch-to-go-pee-pee/) - There isn't actually a YAR Madlib in this post, because I haven't taken the time to write one, but I think it's a fantastic idea and someone should. I would love to see the results of our middle-school selves filling in YAR-post blanks with various middle-school crudities, and giggling our little heads off. Yes, that's
- [How do we live out our peace witness?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/11/how-do-we-live-out-our-peace-witness/) - It seems that a few posts have dealt with our Anabaptist identity, specifically regarding peacemaking. So I want in. I know of a Mennonite church that's had a lot of problems in the past decade. They've split in '99, fired their pastor in '02, and now their next pastor is resigning because he feels he
- [Mennonite Church (global?) identity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/11/mennonite-church-global-identity/) - (This was originally written as a response to Eric's article on "Calling the church to go pee pee," but I decided that I don't really want to be associated with Eric, and my post brings up some new issues. So I deserve my own [first ever] post. And since it's my first post, I apologize
- [Recommendation for free Election Night soundtrack](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/07/recommendation-for-free-election-night-soundtrack/) - A few weeks ago, Nathan suggested that the singer/songwriter Derek Webb was trumpeting Anabaptist values. I haven't checked out a new artist Christian music field for quite sometime now, but upon looking at his website I discovered that he was offering his all of latest album, Mockingbird, free to download. As a properly frugal Mennonite,
- [More Mennonite Notes from a Catholic University...](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/03/more-mennonite-notes-from-a-catholic-university/) - I love mass. I love the reverence, the ritual, the community, the unity, the history and recognition of the “cloud of witnesses” in the celebration of the Saints, the fact that across the entire world people are celebrating in the embodiment of the Divine in our world at the same time…Over the last year and
- [Right Worship](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/11/02/right-worship/) - "One reason why we Christians argue so much about which hymn to sing, which liturgy to follow, which way to worship is that the commandments teach us to believe that bad liturgy eventually leads to bad ethics. You begin by singing some sappy, sentimental hymn, then you pray some pointless prayer, and the next thing
- [Living in a world of Post-s, -ists, and —isms](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/30/living-in-a-world-of-post-s-ists-and-–isms/) - [I have been invited to share this with you all and look forward to joining the conversations. Please note that this is NOT in edited form, that it is merely a spewing of thoughts. I look forward to further feedback and discussions. Please note also that I'm eager to find a different phrase to encapsulate
- [Why is Iraq in Such Trouble?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/26/why-is-iraq-in-such-trouble/) - Hi, I'm a young anabaptist named Nate. Some of you on this site know me. Anyway, I thought I'd post something on an issue I believe is of great importance: What's wrong in Iraq? Conservatives blame liberals for being "soft" on terrorism. Liberals blame the neocons. And everybody in America seems to ultimately blame the
- [Reflections on Mennonite Young Adult Fellowship Retreat](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/24/mennonite-young-adult-fellowship-retreat/) - This past weekend I, along with a couple of other YAR writers, went to a campground outside South Bend, IN for a weekend of conversation, games and networking with about 50 other young ethnic Mennonites in their twenties. I decided to go to the gathering after reading about it in Katie Ho's post a month
- [Bothersome?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/22/bothersome/) - Apparently the U.S. is developing (officially or unofficially) a dress code that proscribes T-shirts with Arabic lettering. I hadn't heard about this story until this morning when a friend sent me the link to a BBC News article. He told me that he heard about it when he saw this video on CNN's website. I
- [Electoral madness '06](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/19/electoral-madness-06/) - I need some help. Elections are about three weeks away, and I haven't decided whether or not I should vote. I just moved to this area a few months ago and I don't know much about local politics, but I am familiar with the U.S. congressman from this area, and I'm not impressed with him.
- [Bearing Gifts](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/11/bearing-gifts/) - Those who attended the Mennonite Youth Convention in Orlando, FL in 1997, you may recall Tony Campolo commenting that ironically, "In the Catholic Church the wine turns into Jesus' blood, but in the Mennonite Church, the wine turns into grape juice."
- [Mennonites Notes from a Catholic University](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/09/26/mennonite-catholic-notes-i/) - There is a more penetrating paradox of joy and sorrow in receiving a eucharistic blessing than I have ever elsewhere felt. The gentle yet commanding touch of the priest, the exaggerated sign of the cross he imprints on my body, the quiet murmur of a trinitarian blessing intended directly for me: this is surely how
- ['A True Global Culture of Peace'](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/13/culture-of-peace/) - If there’s one thing I envy the Catholic hierarchy, it’s their ability to respond quickly and compellingly to particular situations as they arise. On Tuesday, the Vatican published statement addressing the UN committee on disarmament, who is working through its discussion and draft resolutions this week and next. (The UN site keeps a running tab
- [<i>Tempting Faith</i> shows Bush exploitation of Christians](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/13/tempting-faith-shows-bush-exploitation-of-christians/) - I'm not usually one to post videos on blogs, but this two part series on the Keith Olbermann show covers the new book by David Kuo, a longtime conservative Christian political operative and deputy director of White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction appears to be
- [Confidence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/10/confidence/) - "One is hardly tempted to lose confidence in the future after listening to a group of young people discussing the important problems of life. Of course the number who approach the future reflectively and with real appreciation for the issues involved in the readjustment of traditions to new situations is not large. There are not
- [Bible verse of the day](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/10/bible-verse-of-the-day-2/) - From Ezekiel 16:49-50 (NRSV) "This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it" (emphasis added).
- [straight to jesus](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/09/straight-to-jesus/) - npr's Fresh Air did a report today on Exodus and the ex-gay movement. I only heard the first part, but found it fascinating. For those of you who have seen 'but i'm a cheerleader' and thought it was over the top - think again. most interestingly, the men in the 'ministry' aren't allowed to join
- [against tradition: a polemic](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/01/against-tradition-a-polemic/) - (this started as a comment and then grew) personally, i'm rather fond of ignoring the 1200 years of church history between constantine and menno. well, ignore isn't quite the right word, and menno and constantine aren't where i would stop. honestly, constantine was obsessed with making a state church (bad idea) and menno was a
- [feel-good progressive evangelical leader getting old](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/03/feel-good-progressive-evangelical-leader-getting-old/) - I recently went to hear Jim Wallis speak near Minneapolis. I went because I had a question I wanted to ask him and because I wanted to see if my annoyance with him is more than me just being cranky. He was pimping the paperback version of his most recent book so I thought I
- [Conception Conflict](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/05/conception-conflict/) - The perusers of this blog may enjoy this read. Without further comment from me at the moment... This column appeared in the Washington Post on Friday September 29, 2006. "Bush's Conception Conflict" By Michael Kinsley.
- [Dr. Dobson Makes New Hamartiological Breakthrough!](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/05/dr-dobson-makes-new-hamartiological-breakthrough/) - Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family has made a new breakthrough in Hamartiology that I just had to share with you: "Culture bends and sways with the outcome of elections," he said. "If you can find a politician who understands the institution of the family, ... who understands that we are at war with
- [the difference between 'fair' and 'objective'.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/10/02/the-difference-between-fair-and-objective/) - i'm sure others have said this better. feel free to link to them. as i read and watch the news i am continually surprised by the lazy reporting that comes out under the guise of being objective. i'm not concerned about fox news being a GOP lap-dog, or the fact that every news source actually
- [ Rauschenbusch on the church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/09/30/rauschenbusch-on-the-church/) - "The Kingdom of God breeds prophets; the Church breeds priests and theologians. The Church runs to tradition and dogma; the Kingdom of God rejoices in forecasts and boundless horizons. The men who have contributed the most fruitful impulses to Christian thought have been men of prophetic vision, and their theology has proved most effective for
- [YAR Travelogue from Venezuela No 4: A Chávez Supporter](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/2006/09/23/yar-travelogue-from-venezuela-no-4-a-chavez-supporter/) - After 3 blog posts describing conversations with Chávez opponents (or at least skeptics), its about time to offer a different perspective. Fortuantely, yesterday we arrived at the home of Andrés, a long-time friend of Charletta and a devoted Chávez supporter. But before I get into more big picture politics, I'll share my first-hand experience with

## Pages

- [Bibliography for Fight like a Mennonite (Vol 1): Haunting the Church since 1525](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/bibliography-for-fight-like-a-mennonite-vol-1-haunting-the-church-since-1525/) - Pink Menno Dispatches from the fight for LGBTQ inclusion in Mennonite Church USA, 2011-2015 Bibliography A Resolution for Repentance and Transformation.” Mennonite Church USA Delegate Assembly, 29 May 2022, https://www.mennoniteusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/A-Resolution-for-Repentance-and-Transformation-Rev-2.0.pdf. Amy Green. Two Mennonite Groups Approve Merger. 6 Sept. 2001, https://wwrn.org/articles/7293/ Dugan, Máire A. “Peaceful Change Strategies.” Beyond Intractability, July 2003, https://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/Peaceful_Chg_Strats. edgespaceuca. Elaine Enns:
- [About Us](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/about/) - Note: This about page is maintained here for historical purposes. Since July 2017, this blog has served as a personal site for Tim Nafziger, longtime admin of this site. You can read more about the transition here. YAR is a loose affiliation of self-identified young Anabaptist radicals. We'll break down each element of the title
- [validation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/valid/) - Validation is an issue of accessibility for people using screen-readers, as well as a way to keep code simple, clean, easily updated, and built for current, past and future web browsers.
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- [merch](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/merch/) - No merch yet. Come back later when we've sold out or fallen into desperate financial times, whichever comes first.
- [lgbtqfaq - lgbtq? what can I do? and other frequently asked questions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/lgbtqfaq-lgbtq-what-can-i-do-and-other-frequently-asked-questions/) - Hey folks, Katie here. If you've been reading YAR and are having any questions related to lgbtq issues and how we approach them here, you are in the right place. As I am currently working full-time for Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (BMC) - I, on behalf of the founders of YAR, am working

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- [antiracism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/antiracism/)
- [christmas](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/christmas/)
- [patriotism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/patriotism/)
- [extinction](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/extinction/)
- [Goodbye](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/goodbye/)
- [disabilities](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/disabilities/)
- [Tactics](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/nonviolence/tactics/)
- [Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/violence/)
- [Advice](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/advice/)
- [Games and Play](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/games-and-play/)
- [Allyhood](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/allyhood/)
- [Animals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/animals/)
- [Class](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/class/)
- [Social justice](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/social-justice/)
- [bioregionalism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/bioregionalism/)
- [Islam](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/islam/)
- [Democratic Republic of Congo](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/democratic-republic-of-congo/)
- [Torture](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/torture/)
- [Martyrdom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/martyrdom/)
- [Church of Christ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/church/church-of-christ/)
- [neo-Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/anabaptism/neo-anabaptism/)
- [Social movements](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/social-movements/)
- [Anabaptist Camp Followers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/anabaptist-camp-followers/)
- [Seventh-day Adventist Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/church/seventh-day-adventist-church/)
- [Institutions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/institutions/)
- [Radical Discipleship](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/radical-discipleship/)
- [Four Streams of Anabaptism Series](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/anabaptism/four-streams-of-anabaptism/) - This is a series of articles looking at the four streams of Anabaptism as outlined by Rodney Sawatsky in his 1992 essay “The One and the Many: The Recovery of Mennonite Pluralism.” You can see a summary of the four streams here: Four Streams of Anabaptism
- [10 Year Anniversary series](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/10-year-anniversary-series/)
- [Permaculture](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/permaculture/)
- [sexual abuse](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/sexual-abuse/)
- [Social Media](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/social-media/)
- [Administration](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/administration/)
- [Mennonite Action](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/category/mennonite-action/)

## Tags

- [Add new tag](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/add-new-tag/)
- [sexuality](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sexuality/)
- [ministry](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/ministry/)
- [prophets](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/prophets/)
- [book review](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/book-review/)
- [body image](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/body-image/)
- [hipsters](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/hipsters/)
- [radical](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/radical/)
- [identity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/identity/)
- [martyrs](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/martyrs/)
- [Introductions](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/introductions/)
- [TEDS](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/teds/)
- [Bethel College](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bethel-college/)
- [Evangelical Anabaptist Revolution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/evangelical-anabaptist-revolution/)
- [Missionary Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/missionary-church/)
- [Christian Century](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christian-century/)
- [Cramer Comments](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/cramer-comments/)
- [Obama](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/obama/)
- [U.S.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/us/)
- [Jesus](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/jesus/)
- [Reform](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/reform/)
- [oppression](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/oppression/)
- [Creation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/creation/)
- [Evolution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/evolution/)
- [Gensis](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gensis/)
- [Scriptural Interpretation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/scriptural-interpretation/)
- [BikeMovement](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bikemovement/)
- [post-modern](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/post-modern/)
- [confession of faith](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/confession-of-faith/)
- [Missional](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/missional/)
- [ecclesiology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/ecclesiology/)
- [Laurelville](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/laurelville/)
- [Envision Acccess](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/envision-acccess/)
- [Jean Vanier](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/jean-vanier/)
- [Mark Van Steenwyk](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mark-van-steenwyk/)
- [William Gaventa](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/william-gaventa/)
- [Paul Leichty](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/paul-leichty/)
- [Christine Guth](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christine-guth/)
- [ADNet](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/adnet/)
- [Julie Clawson](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/julie-clawson/)
- [The Table Coffee Shop](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/the-table-coffee-shop/)
- [Scottdale Mennonite Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/scottdale-mennonite-church/)
- [Christian Peacemaker Teams](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christian-peacemaker-teams/)
- [CARE International](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/care-international/)
- [It Gets Better](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/it-gets-better/)
- [Bullying](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bullying/)
- [Watoto](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/watoto/)
- [CCIR](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/ccir/)
- [Play4Peace](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/play4peace/)
- [Fear](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/fear/)
- [Depression](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/depression/)
- [Wrestling with Angels](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/wrestling-with-angels/)
- [Emotional Health](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/emotional-health/)
- [Psalms of Lament](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/psalms-of-lament/)
- [Brian McLaren](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/brian-mclaren/)
- [Brian Paff](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/brian-paff/)
- [Is God violent?](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/is-god-violent/)
- [Mennonites](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mennonites/)
- [pacifism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/pacifism/)
- [peace](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/peace/)
- [Sojourners](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sojourners/)
- [creative nonviolence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/creative-nonviolence/)
- [Pittsburgh 2011](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/pittsburgh-2011/)
- [theodizee](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/theodizee/)
- [disaster](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/disaster/)
- [congregation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/congregation/)
- [Andrew Suderman](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/andrew-suderman/)
- [reconciliation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/reconciliation/)
- [realistic](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/realistic/)
- [Anabaptist Network in South Africa](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptist-network-in-south-africa/)
- [ANiSA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anisa/)
- [John Howard Yoder](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/john-howard-yoder/)
- [Good News](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/good-news/)
- [one humanity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/one-humanity/)
- [method](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/method/)
- [anointing](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anointing/)
- [blind man](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/blind-man/)
- [young adults](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/young-adults/)
- [documentary](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/documentary/)
- [BikeMovment](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bikemovment/)
- [donations](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/donations/)
- [grace](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/grace/)
- [works](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/works/)
- [occupy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/occupy/)
- [anabaptists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptists/)
- [mission](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mission/)
- [Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptist/)
- [Christian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christian/)
- [Introduction](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/introduction/)
- [greetings](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/greetings/)
- [Young Anabaptist Radicals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/young-anabaptist-radicals/)
- [anarchism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anarchism/)
- [Christian Anarchism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christian-anarchism/)
- [Conscientious Objector](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/conscientious-objector/)
- [Mennonite](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mennonite/)
- [Brethren](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/brethren/)
- [Christianity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christianity/)
- [pacifist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/pacifist/)
- [shooting](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/shooting/)
- [Stuart Murray](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/stuart-murray/)
- [Emergent Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/emergent-church/)
- [Emerging](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/emerging/)
- [Naked Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/naked-anabaptist/)
- [Anabaptist Network](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptist-network/)
- [Progressive Christianity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/progressive-christianity/)
- [Progressive Christian Alliance](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/progressive-christian-alliance/)
- [child abuse](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/child-abuse/)
- [gendered violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gendered-violence/)
- [good men project](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/good-men-project/)
- [Our Stories Untold](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/our-stories-untold/)
- [religion](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/religion/)
- [Sexual Abuse](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sexual-abuse/)
- [sexual violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sexual-violence/)
- [Steubenville](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/steubenville/)
- [violence against women](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/violence-against-women/)
- [voices of men](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/voices-of-men/)
- [Diggers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/diggers/)
- [True Levellers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/true-levellers/)
- [Quakers](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/quakers/)
- [Communists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/communists/)
- [Christian Communism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christian-communism/)
- [Gerrard Winstanley](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gerrard-winstanley/)
- [Universalism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/universalism/)
- [Unitarianism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/unitarianism/)
- [Hans Denck](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/hans-denck/)
- [Christendom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christendom/)
- [praxis](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/praxis/)
- [Reformation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/reformation/)
- [Post-Christendom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/post-christendom/)
- [Post-Christian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/post-christian/)
- [Baptists](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/baptists/)
- [SBC](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sbc/)
- [Catholic](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/catholic/)
- [Bible](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bible/)
- [gelassenheit](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gelassenheit/)
- [Radical Reformation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/radical-reformation/)
- [self-surrender](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/self-surrender/)
- [shalom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/shalom/)
- [Franciscan](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/franciscan/)
- [Francis of Assisi](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/francis-of-assisi/)
- [Old Catholic](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/old-catholic/)
- [progressive](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/progressive/)
- [Episcopalian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/episcopalian/)
- [Clare of Assisi](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/clare-of-assisi/)
- [Order of Franciscan Servants](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/order-of-franciscan-servants/)
- [Thomas ützer](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/thomas-muntzer/)
- [Radical Christianity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/radical-christianity/)
- [Communism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/communism/)
- [Gospel](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gospel/)
- [Constantinianism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/constantinianism/)
- [Rome](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/rome/)
- [America](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/america/)
- [Kingdom of God](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/kingdom-of-god/)
- [More with Less](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/more-with-less/)
- [anorexia](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anorexia/)
- [Caesar](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/caesar/)
- [Social Gospel](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/social-gospel/)
- [State Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/state-church/)
- [Women in Leadership](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/women-in-leadership/)
- [Feminism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/feminism/)
- [undoing sexism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/undoing-sexism/)
- [peacemaking](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/peacemaking/)
- [Beatitudes](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/beatitudes/)
- [Sermon on the Mount](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sermon-on-the-mount/)
- [Sermon on the Plain](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/sermon-on-the-plain/)
- [rich](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/rich/)
- [Tyler Tully](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/tyler-tully/)
- [The Jesus Event](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/the-jesus-event/)
- [The Femonite](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/the-femonite/)
- [Femonite](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/femonite/)
- [feminist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/feminist/)
- [ordination](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/ordination/)
- [black liberation theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/black-liberation-theology/)
- [black theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/black-theology/)
- [anablacktivist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anablacktivist/)
- [Drew GI Hart](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/drew-gi-hart/)
- [Tyler M. Tully](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/tyler-m-tully/)
- [persecution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/persecution/)
- [Christian society](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christian-society/)
- [black](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/black/)
- [margins](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/margins/)
- [buxy cavey](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/buxy-cavey/)
- [mike krause](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mike-krause/)
- [greg boyd](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/greg-boyd/)
- [david fitch](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/david-fitch/)
- [MCUSA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mcusa/)
- [San Antonio](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/san-antonio/)
- [Brian LePort](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/brian-leport/)
- [Oneness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/oneness/)
- [Radical Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/radical-anabaptist/)
- [Syria](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/syria/)
- [communalism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/communalism/)
- [communitarianism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/communitarianism/)
- [community of goods](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/community-of-goods/)
- [intentional community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/intentional-community/)
- [Neo Anabaptist](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/neo-anabaptist/)
- [Post Christendom America](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/post-christendom-america/)
- [Anabaptist Theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptist-theology/)
- [Mark Moore](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mark-moore/)
- [Woodland Hills Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/woodland-hills-church/)
- [Peace Reformation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/peace-reformation/)
- [Charity Hill Erickson](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/charity-hill-erickson/)
- [Anabaptist Streams](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptist-streams/)
- [Constitution](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/constitution/)
- [Leo Tolstoy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/leo-tolstoy/)
- [politics of Jesus](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/politics-of-jesus/)
- [the Kingdom of God Is Within You](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/the-kingdom-of-god-is-within-you/)
- [Fool for Christ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/fool-for-christ/)
- [Foolishness](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/foolishness/)
- [Holy Fool](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/holy-fool/)
- [church planting](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/church-planting/)
- [revival](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/revival/)
- [mutual aid](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mutual-aid/)
- [d Christian Anarchism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/d-christian-anarchism/)
- [Kurt Willems](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/kurt-willems/)
- [N. T. Wright](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/n-t-wright/)
- [Romans 13](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/romans-13/)
- [the state](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/the-state/)
- [1 Peter](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/1-peter/)
- [kingdom](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/kingdom/)
- [Peter](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/peter/)
- [MC USA](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mc-usa/)
- [MC USA Executive Board](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mc-usa-executive-board/)
- [Statement](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/statement/)
- [Inclusion](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/inclusion/)
- [lesbian](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/lesbian/)
- [gay](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gay/)
- [bisexual](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bisexual/)
- [transgender](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/transgender/)
- [queer](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/queer/)
- [1 Corinthians](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/1-corinthians/)
- [poor](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/poor/)
- [Evangelical Christianity](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/evangelical-christianity/)
- [LGBT](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/lgbt/)
- [Pink Menno](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/pink-menno/)
- [All Things Common](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/all-things-common/)
- [Biographical](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/biographical/)
- [The Bible](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/the-bible/)
- [LGBTQ](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/lgbtq/)
- [Politics](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/politics/)
- [Race](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/race/)
- [Theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/theology/)
- [Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/church/)
- [Nonviolence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/nonviolence/)
- [Tradition](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/tradition/)
- [Bias](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bias/)
- [Current Events](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/current-events/)
- [Young Folks](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/young-folks/)
- [Power](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/power/)
- [Emerging Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/emerging-church/)
- [Community](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/community/)
- [Awesome Stuff](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/awesome-stuff/)
- [Rape](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/rape/)
- [Military](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/military/)
- [End Times](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/end-times/)
- [Guns](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/guns/)
- [Peace & Peacemaking](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/peace-peacemaking/)
- [Discipleship](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/discipleship/)
- [God](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/god/)
- [New Monasticism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/new-monasticism/)
- [Gaza](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/gaza/)
- [Israel](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/israel/)
- [Palestine](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/palestine/)
- [Stewardship](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/stewardship/)
- [Economics](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/economics/)
- [Consumerism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/consumerism/)
- [Global Church](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/global-church/)
- [Police Brutality](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/police-brutality/)
- [poverty](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/poverty/)
- [Mental health](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mental-health/)
- [Family](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/family/)
- [activism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/activism/)
- [Anabaptism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/anabaptism/)
- [culture](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/culture/)
- [war](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/war/)
- [Dumb Stuff.](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/dumb-stuff/)
- [liberation theology](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/liberation-theology/)
- [Death](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/death/)
- [children](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/children/)
- [Civilization](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/civilization/)
- [MCC](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mcc/)
- [empire](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/empire/)
- [humor](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/humor/)
- [antiracism](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/antiracism/)
- [christmas](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/christmas/)
- [disabilities](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/disabilities/)
- [Violence](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/violence/)
- [Animals](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/animals/)
- [Class](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/class/)
- [Social justice](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/social-justice/)
- [Social movements](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/social-movements/)
- [representation](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/representation/)
- [bureaucracy](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/bureaucracy/)
- [kidnapping](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/kidnapping/)
- [MeToo](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/metoo/)
- [Mennonite Literature](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/mennonite-literature/)
- [Progress](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/progress/)
- [Ervin Stutzman](https://young.anabaptistradicals.org/tag/ervin-stutzman/)