The Following Christ
Mark Schloneger
It has been almost twenty years since I’ve seen a little girl named Dianora. I think about her, though. In my mind, Dianora will always be a baby. Her grandmother, Alicia, cradled her in her arms when she knocked on the door of our house when we lived in Mozambique. She was looking for my […]
The Power of One
Mark Schloneger
Only a boy named David, only a little sling, only a boy named David, but he could pray and sing. Only a boy named David, only a rippling brook, only a boy named David, but five little stones he took. And one little stone went in the sling, and the sling went round and round. […]
Freely Bound
Mark Schloneger
March 8, 2020. That was the last Sunday that we had an in-person worship service. Of course, that was the only option that we had way back then. It seems so long ago, doesn’t it? My pre-pandemic memories are all in black and white. March 8, 2020 was the second Sunday of Lent. Like today, […]
Life-Laying Love
Mark Schloneger
The third drawer in my dresser is full of tee-shirts. Top drawer underwear, second drawer socks, third drawer, tee-shirts, with a couple other drawers beneath those. I implemented this organizational system many years ago, and I think that’s why I’m so efficient. Anyway, my tee-shirts advertise to the world things about me: where I’ve been, […]
Hearts, minds, and possession
Mark Schloneger
This dirt is mine. Well, it’s my wife Sarah’s too, and yes, it’s mostly the bank’s. But let’s not get distracted by the details. Under the law, this dirt is mine because I paid for the exclusive right to call it mine, and what that means is that no one else can call it theirs. […]
Chosen
Mark Schloneger
When it comes to our pets, let’s be honest: we chose them — they didn’t choose us. No, we chose them, and when we did so, we didn’t know whether they’d be affectionate or hostile, loyal or rebellious, intelligent or . . . thick-headed. We didn’t know whether they’d respect our property or be a […]
Nourishing Witness
Mark Schloneger
Around the world, every day, women are walking for water. They go to the well, to the river, to the lake, with one hand by their side, with one hand holding the pot above. they walk, slowly, carefully, gracefully, swans stepping through tall green grass. Around the world, every day, women are walking for water. […]
Do you hear what I hear?
Mark Schloneger
You know, stopping here, stopping at verses 10, we’re pretty sure that we know the three golden nuggets of truth to take away from it. This is a story about how God speaks to us and how we often fail to recognize it.
Inauguration Day
Mark Schloneger
Many times, before I read the scripture that provides the focus for my sermon, I try to provide its context — what has happened or what is being addressed just before the verses that I’m about to read. Today, though, I’m going to do the opposite. I’m going to work backwards. I will still read […]
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