Mark's Views, Perhaps — from behind my eyeballs
At the vibrating buzz, I flipped open my cellphone…
I stared. Icy fingers squeezed my heart, bent my mind, twisted my emotions. How do you process a message like that? Rereading it carefully changed nothing.
My spirit reached out to the unerring Father, petitioning for His best for Orpha. He answered with exactly that. Read it all
Flowers in memory of these friends:
Flowers for their children and grandchildren who mourn James’ abrupt departure for the Land where Joan dwells.
Flowers for Orpha too. Perhaps some day you also will see this picture. Your Creator alone knows. We trust Him to do what is best for you at this time. Read it all
-Mark Roth, circa Spring 1993
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’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