Mark's Views, Perhaps — from behind my eyeballs
The current issue of World magazine arrived in our mail today. I looked at the photos on the table of contents page, matching them up to their articles. Then I looked at the two-page spread with photos and quotes and stuff. Then I looked at the two articles in the back.
The last article didn’t interest me enough to read it. (Sorry, Marvin!)
But the next-to-the-last article (yes, I’m a Seu fan, I confess), I read. Until I got to this line: Read it all
We have our own cemetery here at Hopewell Mennonite Church. But we rarely have funerals in our meeting house for capacity reasons. Yesterday afternoon, though, we hosted the Oregon funeral for former member Marion Schrock who died in Indiana. And this afternoon we had the funeral for Roger Jones, one of our newest members.
So we have two new graves in our cemetery. Here they are, still empty… Read it all
“Lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:2-4).
Quiet, peaceable, godly, honest — does that describe the life I’ve chosen for myself?
For what purposes do I want such a life?
Serving the Lord acceptably with prayer and thankfulness.
Gender roles in church. Christian dress and adornment.
How to pray for political leaders.
(PS: Posted via email instead of the Web, so this might not be formatted properly or exquisitely.)
Last month I decided I would try restarting Panting Hart.
Well, not really restarting it, but refreshing it with new content by getting back to my original plan for that devotional blog.
I started this morning. Now I’m not so sure it’s a good idea. It’s all so time consuming! So I don’t know if I’ll do it again tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I invite you over to read what I posted this morning from my reading in 2 Peter 1:1-4 Read it all
To whom it may concern: East of Hubbard, we have high hopes to see the sun.
But maybe we will see the Son instead…
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
(Matthew 16:1-4)
(About the title: Red sky at morning)
“Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them” (Mark 10:42).
That’s what I call Gentile Power.
Gentile Power infects churches, church committees, and church boards. That’s because it infects disciples. Even disciples of Jesus. Read the context and background of the verse above if you doubt me.
Over the weekend I finally posted an article I wrote on this subject. In it I mention five categories of people according to their response to or perception of this evil. I also offer seven options for the consideration of those weighing their response to such use of church authority.
Along the way, I ask:
What are you supposed to do?
I eventually offer the challenge to choose between two other options. Then I advise:
I invite you to read my full article (Gentile Power in the Church) then come back here and extend the discussion below.
Some of my sisters in Christ believe they have a sensual dimension to their relationship with Jesus. They even use sexually suggestive language in speaking of it.
I think the Christian woman with such a perspective gets there by using the Bible like this:
If you are a woman who sees Jesus as your Song of Solomon lover, please answer my simple question: