First Mennonite Church of Morton

A few weeks ago, a friend from my grade school years contacted me out of the blue via Facebook.  We had lost contact with one another during high school.  After he got married, he literally moved to the other side of the world - Australia.  The two hours that I spent with Tyler over coffee flew by as we did our best to recap the...

Shaped By a Story

There was a popular show on TV a couple of years ago.  I completely missed seeing any of the episodes. Today, with the technology of cable companies, it is possible to watch old shows that might have been missed.  It’s been interesting to watch from the beginning this series I had never watched.  Rarely...

A few weeks ago, I met a disciple-making friend for lunch and we imagined what it would have been like for Joseph, son of Jacob, after he had been betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned in Egypt.  If you have been reading along with the FMC Daily Scripture Reading Guide, then you will have just completed the book of...

How do you use the Bible? 

If you confess Jesus as your Savior, you likely approach the Scriptures to further your understanding into the nature of God.  If so, that is excellent!  The Apostle Paul affirmed such growth when he prayed for the Ephesians believers by saying, “ may the Lord give you the Spirit of wisdom and of...

This month, you’ll be hearing about the re-formation of a variety of small groups within the life of First Mennonite Church.  These groups will be a 6-session, short-term study through the Gospel of Mark which will span from July into September.  The material will complement, not replace, what we are studying through on Sunday...

Two weeks ago, Janice and I spent a few days at Deer Ridge Ministries - a spiritual retreat center which accommodates couples who serve in full-time ministry.  This ministry began over a decade ago to facilitate place where pastors can intentionally practice Sabbath without added responsibilities.  But what is Sabbath?  It is an...

This week is one in which prayer will get national attention.  Perhaps you will hear news reports of prayer gatherings among state leaders or community members on May 3 ^rd for the “National Day of Prayer.”  Perhaps you will even join other Christians from Grace Church, New Castle Bible Church, and First Mennonite Church in...

Like most parents, I have a few goals for our children – targeted skills that I’d like for them to master before they live on their own.  These targets include doing their own laundry, balancing a budget, changing a tire, and being able to cook at least three meals.  Although there are still many years before our oldest son...

On March 8 ^th , over twenty licensed or credentialed pastors within Illinois Mennonite Conference gathered at the Mennonite Church of Normal for a required seminar on the fundamentals of healthy boundaries for pastors.  Although it can be easy to feel taken hostage by required meetings, I was thankful for the leadership within IMC to make...