Dreamseeker Magazine Is Although I Wasn’T Thinking of the Love
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reamSeekreamSeekerer MagazineMagazine DD Voices from the Soul Lot’s Wife Suzanne Ehst Finding Hope Even in the Real World Jody Fernando In Those Days at Camp Tel Hai Mel Leaman Beneath the Skyline Mattresses and Gardens Deborah Good Kingsview Seeing the Entire Trip Michael A. King The Task for Third Agers: Jubilee/Shalom Milo D. Stahl Hanging Out Wash as Spiritual Experience Linda Martin and much more Summer 2006 Volume 6, Number 3; ISSN 1546-4172 Editorial: Exploring the Tent Pitched Among Us Editor N THIS ISSUE Michael A. King I Summer 2006, Volume 6, Number 3 When John 1:14 says that “the Word the tent is to be found. And it was a Assistant Editor Renee Gehman became flesh and dwelt among us, full pleasure to have in hand at precisely Editorial: Exploring the Tent Pitched Among Us of grace and truth,” the verb trans- the right time to illustrate this an arti- Editorial Council Interchange: Forrest Moyer and David Greiser 2 lated “dwelt” could also be rendered, I cle from older author Milo D. Stahl David Graybill, Daniel Rebecca Rossiter, To Be Swiss Mennonite Is was inspired to learn, along the lines (my boss in the 1970s when I was a Hertzler, Kristina M. King, to Be Quiet • 9; Can You Remember the Smell of “pitched his tent.” God through Je- college work-study student). Stahl in- Richard A. Kauffman, of Alfalfa on Your Hands? • 14; Psalm to a Paul M. Schrock sus pitched and pitches his tent vites us to dream not of a comfortable Simple Supper • back cover among us, dwelling right retirement but rather to Columnists or Lot’s Wife 5 God through Regular Contributors here with us in the enfleshed plan for an active old age Suzanne Ehst nitty-gritties of our real lives. Jesus pitched of tent-living with Christ Renee Gehman, Deborah Exploring aspects of and pitches his in which we embody and Good, David B. Greiser, Finding Hope Even in the Real World 11 what that looks like is one Daniel Hertzler, Michael A. Jody Fernando tent among us, work for shalom and Ju- King, Nöel R. King, Mark R. thing the authors of this is- dwelling right bilee. Wenger In Those Days at Camp Tel Hai 15 sue of DreamSeeker Maga- here with us in Linda Martin shows Mel Leaman zine might be viewed as how that down-to-earth Publication, the enfleshed doing. Suzanne Ehst strikes activity, hanging wash, Printing, and Design Beneath the Skyline 18 Cascadia Publishing House me as doing this when she nitty-gritties of can draw us toward the Mattresses and Gardens turns becoming a pillar of our real lives. tent. Noël King doesn’t Advertising Deborah Good Michael A. King salt into evidence of a com- exactly coax us near the Kingsview 22 passion not so different from what we tent, but maybe we still learn some- Contact Seeing the Entire Trip believe that tent-dweller in the end thing about it through entering her 126 Klingerman Road Michael A. King expressed on his cross. parable, which smashes our spiritual- Telford, PA 18969 Jody Fernando explores the tent ity head-on into solid boulders. 1-215-723-9125 The Task for Third Agers: Jubilee/Shalom 24 pitched among us when she seeks to David Greiser’s film review might be [email protected] Milo D. Stahl experience God’s presence not simply viewed as looking at life outside the Submissions Hanging Out Wash as Spiritual Experience 28 in disembodied faith but amid the tent. Occasional unsolicited sub- Linda Martin struggles and pains of real life, includ- In book reviews on such topics as missions accepted, 750-1500 ing marriage when it turns out to in- Fanny Crosby as well as how Chris- words, returned only with The Turqouise Pen 31 volve more than easy romance. Mel tians and others have handled and SASE. Letters invited Brimming Over Leaman looks for the larger meanings mishandled land, Marlin Jeschke and Subscriptions Noël R. King in his flesh-and-blood relationship, Daniel Hertzler show us realities both Standard rates in U.S. Reel Reflections 33 hurts and joys included, with his earth-bound and also hinting at the $14.95/yr. in US, automatic A Review of “Thank You for Smoking” brother. Deborah Good is leading us tent. In their exchange of views re- Jan. renewals, cancel any time. Dave Greiser near the tent when she asks how bro- garding “Brokeback Mountain,” Single copy: $3.75 ken neighborhoods might be trans- David Greiser and Forrest Moyer Free online: The Blind Songwriter: A Review of Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby 36 formed into art and an old mattress wrestle with how you both live in the www.CascadiaPublishingHouse.com/dsm Marlin Jeschke into a large and comforting hand. tent and redemptively engage gay DreamSeeker Magazine is Although I wasn’t thinking of the love. And poet Rebecca Rossiter spies published quarterly in spring, Books, Faith, World & More 40 tent when I wrote it, my own column the tent in simple suppers, alfalfa, and summer, fall, winter. If Land is a Gift: Reviews ofThe Storm Gathering, Copyright © 2006 can be understood to suggest that of- quiet Mennonites wanting to let the Friends and Enemies in Penn’s Woods, and ten older people are particularly able ISSN: 1546-4172 (paper) music out. ISSN: 1548-1719 (online) Rethinking Holy Land to discern where in life’s rough terrain —Michael A. King Daniel Hertzler 2 / SUMMER 2006 DREAMSEEKER MAGAZINE / 3 As reported in DSM Spring 2006, re- don’t understand that they can and seems to be a level of sensitivity and a ear Forrest: sponses to the DSMWinter 2006 spe- should be together. D strength of feeling around this topic Thanks for your careful and cial issue on homosexuality will largely If this is indeed Greiser’s meaning, that goes beyond the bounds of ratio- thoughtful response to my review. It’s be incorporated into an expanded book- I question it strongly. Using this story nality—much deeper than earlier good to know somebody reads them! length version of that Winter 2006 con- to make such an analogy distracts conflicts over women in ministry, for You’ve made some good points versation. And Forrest Moyer’s from the more important issue of the example. The Winter 2006 issue of and probably pointed out several ar- interactions with Winter 2006 will ap- godlessness of Jack and Ennis’s experi- DreamSeeker was all about the intel- eas where my intentions could have pear in that book. But Moyer’s inter- ence. Earlier in his review, Greiser de- lectual stalemate; I was wanting com- been clearer. change with Dave Greiser, above, which scribes the severe immorality and ment on the emotional stalemate, As an overall response, let me state began with a letter to the editors, brokenness of Jack and En- using the movie as metaphor. that I was not attempting to say that if appears here because it engages a What would nis’s personal and family I don’t know if this makes it clearer Mennonites could just forget their regular column by Greiser rather repentance lives, but he says nothing or not. I appreciate your response, differences over this issue and love than one of the articles in the spe- and redemp- about the absence of God’s and want to be pastorally as well as each other, all would be well. What cial issue. tion have love and redemption. Of journalistically sensitive in my deal- struck me in the film, even more than course, God is absent from ing with both the subject, and with looked like the themes of homosexuality, forbid- ear Editors: most Hollywood films, but those like you who are personally af- D in the story den love, and prejudice, was the This is a response to David we as Christians must carry fected. I hope I have been so. of “Broke- theme of failed communication. Greiser’s review of “Brokeback the reality of God into —David Greiser, In the film, one character is stoic, Mountain” (DreamSeeker back Moun- every experience and con- Souderton, Pennsylvania emotionally clamped down and inar- Magazine, Spring 2006). I tain”? versation we have. ticulate. The other yearns for his have not seen the film, as I am What would repen- ear Dave: friend’s love but is not able to commu- D in recovery from homosexual orienta- tance and redemption have looked I appreciate your thoughtful con- nicate that feeling successfully. Both tion, and I could tell when the film like in the story of “Brokeback Moun- sideration of my response to your re- men fail to communicate with their first came out that it would be a nega- tain”? Could the men not have experi- view of “Brokeback Mountain.” wives and families, to the point that tive influence on my recovery. The enced forgiveness and healing and Thanks for clarifying your inten- their marriages die. message from the world—that gay learned to love their wives in healthy tions in using the relationships in In the context of the prior Dream- love is normal and healthy—is some- ways and to love other men as broth- “Brokeback” as a metaphor for failed Seeker Magazine issue on homosexu- thing that I always need to protect my ers? Could they not have come to the communication in the church. It was ality and conversation in the church mind and heart from. end of their lives thanking God for helpful to understand that you were (Winter 2006), my point was that, in However, I have been concerned bringing them through the fire of responding primarily to the issue of a way similar to the muted conversa- about “Brokeback’s” content and in- temptation and giving them strength conversation.