These are posts about the Gospel of Mark.
Mark
A significant portion of our culture is based on following. One person does something interesting and suddenly everyone is trying to copy them, outdo them, or somehow connect themselves to it. Youtube videos borrow formats and content from other creators. Someone invents an interesting product and suddenly dozens if not
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Ministry utilizes a cyclical nature. A great analogy Jesus frequently uses for the work of the kingdom of God is agriculture. We begin when a seed of truth is planted within us. The first thing to happen to the seed is nurture and growth. Once the seed matures into a
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Good ethics and good character take work. There is a reason people know that only those who get the little things right consistently also get the big things right consistently. Making hard decisions takes practice. Reaching into your person and finding the strength to tap the ethics required takes practice
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Family dynamics can be rough. One of the things that I love about the Bible is that it doesn’t shy away from portraying the gamut of how families function. Mary and Joseph seem to care intensely for Jesus at His birth. Yet when Jesus is transitioning to ministry, Jesus’
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Sometimes we set ourselves up for failure. As a young kid, I would get cranky in the middle of Christmas Day after all the presents were unwrapped and we’d had Christmas Dinner. I was cranky because in my excitement for Christmas I got very little sleep the night before.
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Making a good decision can be one of the hardest parts of life. Often what is good is not easy. Often what is good is not popular. Often what is good requires sacrifice. Often what is good requires personal effort to stand apart from the world. Making a good decision
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We often see what we want. That’s the whole point behind the Rorschach Test. It is also the phenomenon behind seeing images in clouds while laying in the grass looking up at the sky. Ever see the face on Mars? That one is amazing because most of what we
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Paying attention to the world around you is vital to obedience to God. As a deep introvert, I love nothing more than to get by myself, spend some time with God over a beautiful piece of walnut, and listen to what He desires to tell me about my life. However,
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You’ll be okay. These words are easy to speak without meaning. They frequently come off as a platitude even if genuinely spoken! Yet, these words can be some of the most difficult words to believe. In the moment of trial, it can be hard to focus on the light
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Authority means having the power to influence others. When it comes to human culture, I think authority may be one of my favorite dynamics. This is why so much of my life is oriented towards mentoring and discipling. As a teacher, I’m given authority over my students by the
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Sometimes, you can only do so much for people. If someone won’t take their medicine, then it can be hard to heal them. If someone is unwilling to bury the hatchet, then it can be hard for them to forgive. You can lead a horse to water, but you
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Our perspective frequently affects our perception. Walking through Walmart is a great proof case for this statement. All kinds of people go to Walmart; it is pretty easy to make snap decisions about who they are based on how they look, how they talk, how much they notice – or don’