Department: Author: Shiao ChongWe are proud to highlight and congratulate the winners of our Young Adults Writing Contest in this issue (pp. 32-34). Unfortunately, due to space, we can only publish the top two winners, but all three winning entries are published online. We received 25 entries from
Department: Author: Walking with LGBTQ+ PeopleAs I began reading Laurie Krieg’s reflection in the June Banner (“How to Walk Well Among LGBTQ+ People”), I hoped that it would contribute to healing in the church. Many CRCNA members are taking steps to seek forgiveness for past exclusion, to understan
Department: Author: Laura Keeley, Robert J. KeeleyLent and Advent celebrations were totally absent in the first 30 years of my 75-year Christian Reformed experience. Now they abound. Why now and not then?Your experience matches ours. Growing up, we never heard of church seasons like Lent and Advent
Department: Author: Jenna C. HoffOne evening late last year, I found myself at an airport on the outskirts of the city. The night air was cold and dark and the airport as a whole was fairly quiet—except for the bustling commotion of an excited group gathered at the arrival gate waving a brightly co
Department: Author: Will BerkovitzAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect th
Department: Author: Dr. Richard MouwHow do we engage people with whom we have deep disagreements about important matters of religious convictions, political commitments, or moral lifestyles? One approach is the angry confrontation that we see so much of these days in the viral videos—angry public e
Department: Author: Brandon HaanAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the
Department: Author: Kayla Groen, Jacob LyonAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily r
Department: Author: Ben LepperAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the vi
Department: Author: Maia VanderMeerSometimes the chaos in our world seems relentless. In this moment of history, teetering as we are on the edge of a possible economic recession, watching systemic racism reveal itself again in America, and worrying about the lives COVID-19 continues to claim, we as
Department: Author: Thomas BeckLuke 10:29-38This year, I taught in a sixth-grade classroom that started the beginning of the year divided. Some of my students had spent the past few years in the same classrooms and the same schools, and some were new to the school or even the district. Immediately
Department: Author: Rod HugenShe held the phone in front of her face and yelled into it, “The windshield wiper motor is done gone bad and they want $300 to replace it and to fix up some other stuff. I ain’t got no $300 to spend on my car. I guess I’ll just hafta stop drivin’ in the rain.”The phone
Department: Author: Vincent BacoteThe world today feels as divisive as ever. Abortion, refugee resettlement, immigration, gun control, and freedom of religion are just a few topics that have pitted neighbor against neighbor and even Christian against Christian as many cling to their tribes no matte
Department: Author: Shiao ChongAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the v
Department: Author: Shiao ChongCuando aún éramos recién casados mi esposa y yo estuvimos en el centro de Hamilton, Ontario. Mientras entrábamos en un ascensor lleno de gente, un hombre blanco me empujó y dijo: "¡Fuera de mi camino, chino amarillo!" Más tarde, cuando extendí mi mano para apretar el
Department: Author: Melissa KuipersAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect t
Department: Author: Shiao Chong저와 제 아내가 신혼시절에 온타리오 주 해밀턴 중심가에 살던 때 있었던 일입니다. 어느 날, 우리가 붐비는 엘리베이터에 타려고 하자 한 백인남성이 저를 밀면서 “비켜, 이 중국놈아!” 라고 했습니다. 조금 지나서 제가 내리는 층의 버튼을 누르려고 앞으로 나아가며 제가 “실례합니다.” 라고 하자, 그 사람은 “여기에 너가 구할 양해는 없어, 중국놈아.” 라고 했습니다. 백인인 제 와이프는 그 말을 듣고 충격을 받았습니다. 저는 어떻게 해야할지 몰랐습니다. 그 전까지 그렇게 노골
Department: Author: Rachel LancashireAlthough you are probably not thinking about it, you are breathing right now. We can control our breathing, but we don’t need to worry about making ourselves do it. Even if we forget, our brain will keep it going—which is good, because we need to breathe to live
Department: Author: Chris SchoonAs I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the
Department: Author: Shiao ChongMy wife and I were still newlyweds when we were in downtown Hamilton, Ont. As we were filing into a crowded elevator, a white man pushed me and said, “Out of my way, Chink!” Later, as I reached forward to press the button for my floor, saying, “Excuse me,” he said: “T