The Mennobrarian

Cooking and reading and thinking

08:47, Monday, January 7, 2008 .. Posted in Books .. 4 comments .. Link

Well, laundry day came and went, so I reluctantly had to relocate our canned goods elsewhere for now. I ended up stacking them in the "housewares" room along with everything else we own, but at least they're not being kept on the counter anymore. That frees up a lot of space. Another kitchen-related mishap resulting from our cramped cupboards happened Saturday morning while I was preparing to make a batch of muffins. I opened the cabinet and a container of black pepper came flying out, spilling in the flour mixture, making a mess on the floor, and making a dog sneeze. My husband heard my cry of anguish and came to see what was the matter and I explained what happened. At hearing that the flour/sugar mixture was ruined and would have to be thrown, he asked a priceless question:
"Is it enough to affect the taste?"
I would have to say yes! Black pepper in the orange muffin mix would affect the taste!

I have been thinking about a book I just finished reading called "Without the Loss of One" by Don, Mildred, and Titus Bender. The book is about the life of Nevin and Esther Bender. Nevin was a minister and bishop in the Mennonite church up until the 1960's. The book is written by their children, and their parent's story was very encouraging in a number of ways:

First, they befriended and sought friendships with people outside of their denomination, while not losing their own core values and beliefs. Second, they had little time for people whose own belief system justified excluding other people. Finally, their life-long love of learning and openness to new ideas resulted in some wonderful actions that helped bring people to Christ.

For instance, when Nevin was 68 years old and retiring from the ministry, he and his wife moved to Mississippi where some of their children were on mission, ministering to the marginalized Choctaw Indians there. This was in the 1960's during the civil rights struggle. They built a church which was burnt down three times because a few people did not like the results of the Choctaw people who became Christian. Indians who became Christian were changed in ways that didn't benefit those who were exploiting them.

The book made me wonder (not for the first time) how we as Christians can be separate from the world yet find a way to recognize and not reject other people who are authentically seeking God. It seems to me, as Christians, we have all been rejected at one time or another for our beliefs, and too often we play out our own rejection by excluding others who do not have an expression of faith that matches our own. Just so you know, I am not advocating letting someone walk into your church and continue to live a sinful lifestyle because that is "where they are at."

But I do wonder how we can reach out to other people, not in grand going-overseas mission style, but in our every day life. If we don't, will it "affect the taste" of our witness to others?
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Sounds like a great book!

09:08, Monday, January 7, 2008 .. Posted by 3jemsmom
As soon as we get moved (there's currently a moratorium on library books to prevent any losses) I'm going to look for this one! You see, until yesterday, we were Episcopal. However, as a congregation we don't agree with where their doctrine has gone (away from Christ and the Bible) so we left the church to become Anglican. (exciting and sad all at the same time) What you said about being rejected for our beliefs hit home with me this morning. By being "orthodox" we were rejected by others who shared our "same" faith. I only hope now we can keep our focus where it belongs, and remember to welcome and not exclude others, whose beliefs might not be the same. I love your blog, I'm so sorry about your pepper cake (-; and I often repeat, purge, purge, purge while packing thanks to your wonderful advice. I "purged" an entire king sized BR suite a few days ago to a friend, so I am definitely making progress! God Bless! Shari

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11:07, Monday, January 7, 2008 .. Posted by gabbie427
Ahhhh I wondered what you would be doing when laundry day came! So sorry you have to move things around like this. Uncomfortable to say the least. You are giving me insight on what I may be dealing with this spring/summer when we decode to gut the kitchen and start over again though. OLD cabinets and they are about worthless with no counters to speak of here as well.

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Roseleona

03:57, Monday, January 7, 2008 .. Posted by Psalm23
That sounds like a GOOD book! You must have liked it a lot.
Thanks for all the comments you've been leaving me. :-) I LOVE getting comments from you.
It seems men and boys always ask questions like that! :-) Peppery orange muffins...hmmm....? :-) Did you make new ones, then?

~Rose

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02:28, Tuesday, January 8, 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous
The book sounds interesting! I know even with raising my son as an unbeliever I just wanted him to think like me for that is how my parents taught me. I suppose that is a controling thing for me to have done that for I knew no different. With the Holy Spirit reveling to each of us right where we are we can learn so much from one another. I have discovered the Christians I know judge you for what they know. Just speaking from my own experience and life. I know God loves us all the same and it is a God thing to agree to disagree and love any way. Thanks for sharing. *U* Rilda

**Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Rilda.***

Edited by Mennobrarian on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 07:32