Most Recent Archive
Courageous Peacemaker
Several years ago Paulus Hartono, a Mennonite pastor in Surakarta, Indonesia heard rumors that a radical wing of Muslim activists had announced their intention to blow up a local radio station. It was operated by a moderate Islamic group. The one who bore the news urged him to do something to prevent such violence. After seeking God’s direction and protection, Pastor Paulus took the courageous step of going to visit the head of the radical group, a telecommunications specialist. By God’s grace, he was able to persuade the leader to forsake his violent plans, thus earning him the reputation of […]
A Call for Justice in Haiti
Haiti faces a deeply rooted problem, which pre-dates the 2010 earthquake, of systemic economic injustice and inequality.
Families and Faith
One concern many families of faith share is how to pass on their faith to their children. At least one sociologist has made this a major project in his scholarly career. It turns out that one of the most important factors in children adopting religion is the warmth of the father—or if not the father, then the grandfather.The highest generational transmission of religion from generation to generation occurs in families with a high degree of warmth—particularly if the father is perceived as warm and close.”
Hope in a weary world
Hope begins with recognizing that the way things are is not how they should be.
Nebraska
Director Alexander Payne’s movies haven’t always resonated with me. Though Payne has a penchant for finding the humor in selfish and complex characters, he doesn’t usually elevate them into sympathetic ones.Witty dialogue, a melancholy ambience, and eccentric people that struggle to communicate effectively—the characters in Nebraska are more emotionally realized than in director Alexander Payne’s previous films.
Longing to be Home
Families should be able to spend the holidays, and all days, together and whole.
Her
Spike Jones’ sci-fi-romantic-comedy-drama (there’s a mouthful) Her is a captivating film set in Los Angeles in the near future. Despite, or maybe because of, its quirky premise of a man falling in love with his operating system, it raises profound philosophical questions about relationships and technology, about reality, love and death.All the philosophical discussion in the film can make it sound cerebral, and it’s certainly intelligent, but this is a very emotional film.
Top 10 films of 2013
You’ve heard/seen the Oscar nominees announced today. Now it is time for Third Way Café’s almost-as-famous round up of favorites—paying little heed to what “the academy” will vote on.These reviewers pay heed to viewing films through an “Anabaptist values” lens. Favorite this and share on Facebook and Twitter or wherever you hang out.Here, each in their inimitable style, not standardized in format, in the order our reviewers submitted them, are the Third Way Café Top 10 for 2013.Vic Thiessen’s Top Ten Films of 2013Counting down from 1010. The East – This quirky suspense drama from Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling […]
