Do you ever feel like sometimes you are (to borrow a great line from a Paul Simon song) slip slidin’ away? The media bombards us with the latest screaming headlines regarding the latest horrific news… You find yourself in deep into the “same old argument” with your boss, your spouse, your child, the neighbor next… Continue reading Strengthening Our Grip
Category: Church
A Simple Meal
Jesus, gathered with his closest friends, for an intimate meal. Sounds simple enough but it was anything but simple. It was more than just the celebration of Passover – though that is significant enough. It was more than just one more way for Jesus to model the love he had for them, and that he… Continue reading A Simple Meal
Jesus, We Have a Small Request
Mark 10:35-45 New International Version (NIV) The Request of James and John 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right… Continue reading Jesus, We Have a Small Request
Betrayed – Mark 14:53-65
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin 53 They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. 54 Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 55 The chief priests and the… Continue reading Betrayed – Mark 14:53-65
“The Difficult Journey” – Mark 14:-26-30
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’[a] 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away,… Continue reading “The Difficult Journey” – Mark 14:-26-30
All to the glory of God – Mark 9:30-37
30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”32 But they did not understand what he meant and… Continue reading All to the glory of God – Mark 9:30-37
Not a Ghost – Mark 6:33-56
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” It is one of the strangest stories in the New Testament. Jesus, shrouded in darkness, comes to his disciples – walking on the water, no less. Not surprisingly, it terrified them. I am sure I would have had a similar… Continue reading Not a Ghost – Mark 6:33-56
No Such Power Mark 4:21-41
They knew his teaching was profound and had a certain authority about it that none of the other teachers had. They knew, or at least heard, that he was able to perform miracles – even raise the dead. Now, they were astonished to witness that even the wind and the waves obeyed Jesus’ command. Thousands… Continue reading No Such Power Mark 4:21-41
The Word Along the Way Mark 4:1-20
There were so many that he had to sit in a boat offshore while the crowds gathered at the shore. Clearly, they were hungry for the word he had to offer. Telling them stories, touching on the things – the images with which they could best identify – he taught them about life. So it… Continue reading The Word Along the Way Mark 4:1-20
Family Ties – Mark 3:22 –35
They were at it again. Claiming he was possessed. Insisting the miracles he performed were just cheap sleight of hand. Pulling them apart any way they could. Of course they did – he threatened them – this itinerant rabbi who seemed to have the whole world following him. Now, he had pulled together a select… Continue reading Family Ties – Mark 3:22 –35
IGW3 - In God's Word, In God's Will, In God's Work 