Author Archives: abfifer

Mediation Fees are Taxable Cost

January 31, 2019 – 4:54 pm

The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that mediation fees may be a taxable cost of a lawsuit. In a published decision (meaning the case sets precedent state-wide), the Court determined in Patel v Patel, 324 Mich App 631 (2018) that MCR 2.411(D)(4) permits a court to order a party to pay the mediator’s fee. […]

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Ministry Apologizes

January 30, 2019 – 3:35 pm

The Christian Community Development Association has a “vision for restored communities” and now it has an opportunity to restore its own community. Its leader of ten years stepped down this past November, amid allegations of mismanagement by several former employees. The board commissioned a “Reconciliation Task Force” to help them assess their past, including “instances where we […]

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Kill Them With Kindness

January 29, 2019 – 5:37 pm

Here’s a sweet peacemaking story: A Republican sent a nasty tweet to an actor-comedian who had posted comments critical of President Trump. You’d expect the comedian to retort in kind, and for the downward spiral to continue, right? Especially because these men don’t know one another. But the comedian, Patton Oswalt, did the unexpected. Apparently he decided […]

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Peacemaking at Harvest Bible Chapel

January 23, 2019 – 3:16 pm

Prayers going out to my Peacemaker colleagues who are helping heal wounds within the congregation and leadership at Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. May the God of peace be with you!

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On Justice and Forgiveness

January 23, 2019 – 2:48 pm

I had the privilege of hearing Rachel Den Hollander speak yesterday as part of Calvin College’s January Series. Her talk, “A Time to Speak: Addressing Justice and Forgiveness,” reminded us that Justice and Forgiveness are aspects of God’s character, so misrepresenting them or misapplying them misrepresents God. Den Hollander is uniquely qualified to address this […]

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