Wet Feet First
Mark Schloneger
Many people didn’t know it was possible, but, against all odds, I’ve done it: I have crossed another threshold of pandemic fatigue. And, you know, based on several conversations that I have had, I’d guess the same is true for many of you. Last week felt like a very long month. I’m going to do […]
The God Who Sees
Mark Schloneger
“The man we think of, the man we admire, the man we talk about, the man whose wonderful story we read and re-read, is Christopher Columbus, the greatest human benefactor of the human race.” Those are the words of Rossiter Johnson. He published a book in 1897 about the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. That […]
From Loneliness to Solitude
Dan Schrock
About thirty years ago, I began my first pastoral assignment at Lombard Mennonite Church, in Lombard, Illinois. Back then I was an assistant pastor working under the supervision of the two senior pastors, Joe and Emma Richards. One morning in the church office, Joe announced that after lunch, he and I were going to visit […]
Under the Broom Tree
Mark Schloneger
He was tough. He was fierce. And he didn’t suffer fools. He words were not the flowing, flowers of poetry but sharp, stinging slaps to the face. He was Elijah, the Tishbite, from Gilead. And he had received the word of the Lord. Empowered by that word, this man stood alone before royalty, King Ahab, […]
Becoming Aware and Giving Our Consent
Dan Schrock
On a cold Sunday morning in February 1971, I was baptized at a small mission church. Since our church was so tiny, I was the only one baptized that day. When the time came, I knelt at the front of the sanctuary; the pastor poured water on my head; pronounced the words of baptism; then […]
Theologian of the Possible
Dan Schrock
Mary’s words in this passage of scripture are hard for us to hear. This short passage has been set to music and sung more often than maybe any other passage of scripture in Christian history. If you pick up a book of morning and evening prayers, this passage is often featured prominently in the daily […]
Those Glorious Nights
Dan Schrock
Most Christians whom I know love daylight and fear darkness. Jenny and I had neighbors twelve years ago who were fine Christian people—members of one of the local Missionary churches here in town. One day shortly after they moved in their new home, they decided to install night lights at the front and back corners […]
Joseph’ Sexual Harassment
Dan Schrock
This story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife is a clear-cut case of sexual harassment in the workplace. Sometimes we think the Bible has an ancient feel to it, that its stories come from so far away and so long ago that they don’t have any congruence with our context and our situation. Despite the fact […]
Behind the Scenes
Dan Schrock
A while back I was listening to a man vent his frustrations about God. “I get so frustrated trying to relate to God!” this man exclaimed. “God is much harder to communicate with than anyone else I know. When I want to communicate with people, I go and visit them, phone them, email them, or […]