My Name Is Forrest, Forrest Gump

Mark 10:13-16

Happy. Direct. Playful. Uninhibited. Open. Eager. Forgetful. Unselfconscious. Guileless. Noisy. Energetic. Active. Forgiving. Trusting. Loyal.

That describes a kid.

Does it describe you with God?

What God Has Joined

Mark 10:1-12

I've been divoced.

Let's just put that right on the table. I think that's important when talking about subjects like this, about which we have very strong convictions and experience very powerful emotions.

And I think, divorced or not, we can all agree on this: divorce is hell. Nobody likes it. Nobody wants it. Nobody defends it. Like Jesus said, referring to Moses' day, it simply is what it is--a painful result of the fact that we're broken people.

So then, what do you want to say about Jesus' teaching?

What did he say?
Why did he say it?
To whom did he say it?
What result did he hope to achieve in the lives of people?

Since this is my blog, I'll go ahead and tell you what I think:

Faced with a politically loaded question on the legality of divorce, Jesus went straight to the spiritual issue. He said that marriage is a heaven-blessed bond between two people, one of the most sacred things God created. And once you start looking for a way out of it, you're sure to find it. So don't.

It's On the Tip of My Tongue

Mark 9:33-50

The desire to advance oneself over other is one of the most basic urges we have.

"Me first," we say.

It's not even good grammar.

What will it take to kill this tendency in you? A cross? A millstone?

I've always heard that the hardest words in the world to say are "I'm sorry," but it isn't so. The most difficult of all words are these:

"After you."

I Think I Can, I Think I Can

Mark 9:14-32

I actually feel sorry for the disciples at this point. It's not like they weren't trying. And they'd had some recent success in the demon department (6:13). Now? Nothing. And besides feeling helpless and stupid, they're into a hassle with the lawyers.

I'm talking about a bad day.

My theory? They had stopped relying on God's power and had begun to think they could handle this all by themselves.

Faith + ego = zero

Food for thought.

I'm Ready for My Close Up, Mr. DeMille

Mark 9:2-13

Just when you thought it couldn't get weirder.

Who knows what Peter, James, and John must have been thinking at this point. Jesus heals people.

Okay.

Next he casts out some shrieking demons.

Umm ...

Then he's walking on water.

Whoa.

Now he's re-enacting a scene from Close Enounters of the Third Kind.

We can't be too hard on Peter for babbling like an idiot. For in the immortal words of Cpt. John Miller, "Things have taken a turn for the surreal."

Because the three mousketeers were specifically chosen to witness this event, we must conclude that Jesus intended them to witness, learn, or experience something from it.

You tell me . . . What were the disciples supposed to take away from this experience?

Caveat Emptor

Mark 8:31-9:2

Don't trade your life away for nothing. Trade it for something of value. That's good advice.

We're all trading away our days, one minute at a time.

What are you getting in return for yours?

I'd Like Religious Leaders for $400, Alex

Mark 8:27-30

I give up. Why did Jesus ask this question? Was he—

(a) Honestly unsure what people were saying about him? C'mon, this is the guy who reads people's minds from across the room.

(b) Eager to find out how much the Twelve understood about his mission? Umm ... please look back about 6 verses and read the words "Do you still not understand?"

(c) Challenging them to think a little harder about the question everybody has been asking—"Who is Jesus?" Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

The beauty of this little exercise is that it works on any audience. So ...

What do people say about Jesus these days? What answer to that question would you likely get from the people you know?

And what about you? Who do you think Jesus is?

Spit Again, Harder

Mark 8:22-26

When I was a bit younger, I prayed nearly every day for God to heal my legs. I recall one occasion in particular on which I went forward for prayer during a healing service. I begged God to perform a miracle and cure my arthritic joints. He did nothing.

Today, I walk perfectly well, experience little pain, and most people who meet me never suspect that I have suffered from arthritis for over 30 years. I have also had four joint replacement surgeries.

So here's my question: Did God heal me, or did my doctor?

Miracles don't always happen all at once, and not always by Jesus speaking a single word. Occasionally it takes a bit of time, and there is some instrument involved besides faith. Like spit. Or medicine. Personally, I see little difference between the two.

There is no healing—of body, mind, or spirit—that is not brought by God.

Sweet Cake

Mark 8:14-21

I'm actually tired of talking about how dense the disciples are. If anything, Mark overemphasizes this point. At least we know his mentor, Peter, was straightforward about how slow they all were to perceive the truth. That makes me feel less alone.

Let's talk about the yeast thing. A little bit of it works through the whole batch of bread, shaping it.

A little bit of hypocrisy works thorugh your whole life, shaping it.
A little bit of legalism ...
A little bit of self-motivation ...
A few mistaken ideas ...
A couple of selfish choices ...

What is the "little bit of something" that has the potential to reshape your life, for better or worse?

Lord, Show Me a Sign

Mark 8:1-13

Now this is getting monotonous. Didn't we just do this miracle-gro for dead fish?

Some people wonder if this is really the same incident, just re-told. I think Mark's too smart for that. Feeding people miraculously was something Jesus did at least three times, if you count turning water to wine. He had compassion on people in need, which ought to be a clue to what we should be doing in the world.

I think it's odd that the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign about eight hours after he performed a spectacular miracle. Here's the point of that little exchange:

Some people just don't get it, and no amount of proof will change their minds.

Lord, help me not to be like that.

Question du jour: How many times are you going to ask Jesus "for a sign" as to what you should do with your life, when he's already set you a pretty clear example?

A Boring Story?

Mark 7:31-38

So Jesus heals another guy. Ho hum. This is getting boring.

Yet this story is included in the Bible for a reason. Thousands of things Jesus said and did are not recorded here. What's the point of telling this story right here, if at all.

IMHO, here's what you've got:

1. Jesus continues his ministry in Gentile country, moving back into what is now Jordan. Most of us don't think about the fact that Jesus did much of his work outside of Israel, ancient or modern.

2. Jesus healed, in this instance, by word and action rather than word alone. Do our actions, postures, gestures, ever make a difference in our spiritual lives? We are physical creatures.

3. Jesus' fame continues to spread despite his effort to control the buzz about him. When will he finally be ready to embrace his popularity. Or won't he?

4. The reaction of people echoes Jesus' own response to a question by John, which was itself an allusion to a prophecy by Isaiah. In other words, everybody can see that Jesus is the Messiah. Well, everybody who doesn't have some other agenda.

Anyway, that's what I think. Why do you think this story is in the Bible?