Authors /

Michael A. King

Michael A. King is dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary and publisher of Cascadia Publishing House.

Feature

Naming the shadows: Truth-telling at funerals

The eulogies go on and on, the bereaved helping to anoint the saint. But then the eulogizers go home, leaving the bereaved to mourn someone whose life contained shadows as well as sunshine.
Sunday’s Coming

Suffering and beyond

In my Living By the Word column on this week’s readings, I comment on Paul’s readiness to boast of suffering, because it “...
In the Lectionary

Suffering and incarnation: Psalm 8; Romans 5:1–5; John 16:12–15

Not surprisingly, given that they are selected for Trinity Sunday, today’s texts point to God-in-three....
In the Lectionary

Many languages, one God: Genesis 11:1–9; Acts 2:1–21

It’s an ever new story—the building of a great tower, quickly followed by a descent into babble. We citizens of the 21st millennium seem to be standing amid the bricks from our own Babel towers....
Sunday’s Coming

Other people's languages

Acts 2 tells of those who, while seemingly drunk with the new wine of the spirit, actually understand one another’s native languages....
In the Lectionary

Holy hate: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Luke 23:33-43

They were no angels. Whatever else they did or didn’t do, or hoped to do, they hired strippers....
In the Lectionary

Now and then: Isaiah 65:17-25; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19

In the beyond, in the dream, on the mountaintop, in the joy made flesh—not in the flesh still longing—is where I want to dwell....
In the Lectionary

After the storm: Job 19:23; Luke 20:27-38

When I’m listening to Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter sing “Storms Never Last,” I wonder if I’m also hearing what Job, and even Jesus in Luke 20, would want to sing....
In the Lectionary

Storm system: Mark 4:35-41; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

I struggle to make peace with Jesus ordering the sea into peace. If we were to stumble across a time traveler’s videotape and find that it all happened just as Mark reports, I’d still be troubled. Because this isn’t the way the world works. People don’t go around saying, “Peace! Be still!” to the wind and the waves, and find that the wind and the waves obey. And I don’t like the “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” business. Of course Jesus’ disciples are afraid!
In the Lectionary

Arguing with Paul: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

I don’t want to leave my body or its loves. I wouldn’t rather be at home with the Lord; I want to be right here.

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