Mark's Views, Perhaps — from behind my eyeballs
We can flavor another’s day
By how we act and what we say.
So skip the sour and add some honey;
Embrace the Spirit of Christ to make the day Sonshiny.
Accept no substitutes!
Why leave others with a bad taste? It will go with you as well. Read it all
This evening I feel twinges of nostalgia and sadness. And perhaps a twitch of a whiff of bitterness? No, I overcame that a long time ago.
Twenty-five years ago this evening, at the Mennonite church in Santa María (Sonora, Mexico), the first national minister of that congregation was ordained.
As I recall, my Dad (James Roth) gave the charge. And as I recall, the church’s “founding father” (Joe Mast) as well as two members of BMF Missions (Merle Kropf and Wilton Smucker) were there from Oregon as well. I was the congregation’s pastor.
I continued in that role til I resigned in March or April (as I fuzzily recall) so Manuel Torres could take over. My family and I had to leave the field (in May, I think). Read it all
I thought of this again several times this month already:
That piece of 1 Samuel 15:23 just ain’t complicated at all: God won’t fit in a rebel heart.
Doing church things, saying church words, dressing church clothes, thinking church thoughts — none of them make room for God in a rebel heart.
But broken repentance does. Read it all
I started this blog as “Mark’s Views, Perhaps” and eventually retitled it “Ain’t Complicated.” Read it all
“I’ve been there and done that,” I think to myself. “I’ve done what he’s doing and been what he is.”
But times change and needs change. As does standing. As do positions, assignments, and responsibilities. And when the time comes for me to give up long-held things like that, I want to remember again what John the Baptist said: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
I remembered it when I resigned as principal of “my” school.
I remembered it when I encouraged another friend to assume a calling that would diminish “my” role.
I hope I remember it when I’m replaced as chairman of the board I’ve “headed” for over 19 years. Read it all
In all my decades at Hopewell Mennonite Church, I have never seen two member wedding announcements up together.
Until recently.
Vince and Holly are Mr. & Mrs. Nisly now. Read it all
A few nights ago I read a series of Scripture selections that really blessed me.
I was going to post them at Panting Hart, hoping to bless and encourage others. (Like you, for instance!) But I discovered last night that I’ve already posted them twice there (in 2011 and 2013).
So, I decided to write this short little post here and link to Not Afraid of Evil Tidings and After You Have Suffered Awhile at Panting Hart.
Oh, and here are three pieces to whet your appetite. Read it all