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Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus (Mark 10: 50). Work is important to me. It helps me provide for my family by putting food on our table and a roof over our heads. And luckily for me I genuinely enjoy what I do! Having something in this world that's important to you, that provides security, and helps you survive is generally thought of as ...
Keep Reading"Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means 'son of Timaeus'), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the mor...
Keep ReadingBartimaeus is considered a "minor" Bible character. His brief encounter with Jesus takes place along the road that leads from Jericho to Jerusalem. It is the start of a week that will culminate in Jesus' death on the cross. Clearly, Jesus has a lot on his mind. Bartimaeus, for his part, would probably agree that prior to meeting Jesus, "minor," "obscure," "ignored,""overl...
Keep Reading"What do you want Me to do for you?" (Mark 10:51) My small group leader, Brian Emmet, routinely asks us to put the week's scripture passage in context. What's happening now? What's been happening? What's about to happen? Let's apply these to the incident where blind Bartimaeus, begging near Jericho, hears Jesus approaching, implores Him for mercy, and receives his sight (...
Keep ReadingAs Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus , was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and sa...
Keep ReadingHe looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored (Mark 3:5). Okay everyone, quick physics lesson! Who remembers Newton's Laws? Today, we'll talk about the First Law of Motion, commonly stated as "An object at rest stays at rest, and an obje...
Keep ReadingHe said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand here where we can see you."(Mark 3:3 MSG) There's a difference between a deep tissue sports massage and a Swedish full body massage, and I learned it the hard way. One of my cousins is a massage therapist, and when she was newly licensed and looking for more practice she offered free treatment to family and friends. I had...
Keep Reading"Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, 'Stand up in front of everyone.' Then Jesus asked them, 'Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evi...
Keep ReadingAnother time Jesus went into the synagogue,and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Somewere looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched closelyto see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. (Mark 3:1, 2) When I was young, Shabbat (the Sabbath) was a mixed bag of beautiful and annoying. On the one hand, I loved the peaceful serenity of my mother as she lit the ca...
Keep ReadingJesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone" (Mark 3:5). Welcome, Monday, and hope you are enjoying good memories from yesterday's Chatham Serves (even as you may be rehabbing some sore muscles!). This week we begin a new series, Forever Changed, which will run throughout the summer. This week's passage, Mark 6:1-3, is set on a Sabbath d...
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