Category Archives: Uncategorized

Pie Charts and Leaven Mark 8:14-26 A pie chart is a circle divided into slices to show numerical proportions. Talk about a pie chart and my eyes will glaze over and my mouth will water at the thought of pie. … Continue reading →

Again Mark 8:1-13 The plot sounds familiar: a hungry crowd, a compassionate Jesus, and a perplexed set of disciples. And given the disciples participation with feeding 5000 in Mark 6, their question in Mark 8 sounds strange. “How can one … Continue reading →

Up Close and Personal Mark 7:24-37 As a little kid, I avoided the cooties like the plague. I didn’t know what cooties were any more than I knew what a plague was. But girls had the cooties and I was … Continue reading →

Wash Up! Mark 7:1-23 “The heart of man’s problem is the problem with man’s heart.” “Wash up! Dinner’s ready!” Mom didn’t want dirty hands at the table. Whether or not cleanliness was next to godliness, it was required at the … Continue reading →

No Time to Eat Mark 6:30-56 Looking at me, you’ll find this hard to believe, but I don’t miss many meals. (Insert laughter here.) Still, like you I have those days when I get busy and can’t stop to grab … Continue reading →

Samaria Acts 1:1-11 Samaria. It wasn’t really the place, it was the people. Orthodox Jews viewed them as an impure mix of Jewish and pagan blood. They were religious mongrels and ethnic half-breeds. The prejudice was real; the hatred palpable. … Continue reading →

Always Matthew 28:16-20 He was leaving, but he wasn’t. He was ascending to the Father, yet he would be present among his disciples. Present not just in their memories, but in person – the person of the Holy Spirit. He … Continue reading →

Beheaded Mark 6:14-29 For Herod Antipas, news of this miracle-working Jewish preacher could mean only one thing: John (the Baptist) was back from the dead. And probably out to get him. Herod Antipas’ personal life was worse than a soap … Continue reading →

He Sent Them Out Mark 6:7-13 Frankly, from a strategic viewpoint the timing of their sending doesn’t seem the best. Recently, following the stormy sea incident, Jesus bluntly asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” … Continue reading →

Hometown Mark 6:1-6 Nazareth wasn’t much. J.R. Edwards tells us that “archaeological excavations beneath the imposing Churches of the Annunciation and St. Joseph in Nazareth have uncovered a series of grottoes that date to the time of Jesus. The resultant … Continue reading →