2011-04-07T18:01:13-04:00

Sometimes life overwhelms us. Our inner life and external circumstances appear battered by storms about which we seem to have little control. Our boat – our self, our sense of direction and purpose – may seem to be sinking. But, we are never alone. Christ is with us in the storms of life. As I read the story of the storm at sea (Mark 4:35-41), I see the boat as a symbol of our “self” or “ego.” But, notice that... Read more

2011-04-06T11:38:28-04:00

Mark 3: 7-12 speaks of unclean spirits shouting to Jesus, “You are the Son of God.” Now, I am not sure what I think of unclean spirits. In the first century, illness was attributed to a number of causes: punishment, God’s activity, and the action of evil spirits. Whether or not you are a fan of “The Exorcist” or believe in the reality of evil spirits, we know that there are spiritual factors at work in health and illness. Unconscious... Read more

2011-04-05T10:47:08-04:00

Today, I’m taking a brief break from Mark to explore a theme raised by one of my readers, based on the question, “what does it mean to bless?” While there is no one meaning of “blessing,” I will share a twenty-first century vision, embracing both pluralism and post-modernism, welcoming to Christians, persons from other faiths, and seekers. I believe that to bless is to seek wholeness for another. It is to internally and implicitly as well as, at times, externally... Read more

2011-04-04T10:33:06-04:00

A man with a ‘withered” hand comes to Jesus, seeking healing and wholeness (Mark 3:1-6). We don’t know what his ailment really was (could it have been arthritis or some form of paralysis or nerve damage), but it had changed his life for the worse and limited his opportunities. His ailment was not life-threatening, but it was life-diminishing. Jesus’ counsel is simple, “Come forward…stretch out your hand.” And, this man is cured, not just physically but spiritually. He is restored... Read more

2011-03-30T12:03:21-04:00

Mark 2:13-17 speaks of the healing of purpose. Jesus invites Levi, a tax collector working for the Roman oppressors, to follow him. Levi was challenged to look at his personal and professional life from a new perspective. It has been said that a person’s calling or vocation is the intersection of her or his gifts and passions and the world’s needs and hungers. I believe that each of us has many callings – personal, professional, relational, political – and that... Read more

2011-03-29T12:35:53-04:00

Mark 2:1-12 describes four men who carry their paralyzed friend up a flight of stairs, make a hole in the roof, and lower him down to see Jesus. Obstacles were in their way, but their love and faith inspired them to color outside the lines and even destroy property to help their friend. The scripture says: “When Jesus saw their faith,” he healed their friend. You can have faith on behalf of someone else. You can believe in them, pray... Read more

2011-03-25T12:12:31-04:00

One of the key theological questions is: “Is God on Our Side?” Many people see God as an enemy, out to get us, punishing us with illness or using illness as a way to teach us a lesson. Others see God as the arbitrary source of health and illness. Whatever happens is God’s will – whether it is cancer or good health, heart disease or AIDS. We just have to accept whatever comes, knowing that God has a plan behind... Read more

2011-03-23T09:50:01-04:00

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus went to a deserted place to pray.” No one can call Jesus a slacker. Mark describes Jesus’ day (Mark 1:21-34) as involving teaching, healing, and spending time with friends. But, in the early hours of the morning, he slips away for prayer and meditation, perhaps, pondering the immensity of universe along with his vocation as healer and teacher. Solitude can be healing. In stillness, we are renewed and refreshed. We... Read more

2011-03-21T11:07:41-04:00

For the next few weeks, I will be reflecting with you on the healing stories from the Gospel of Mark. It will be an ongoing adventure, inviting you to explore your own healing journey, in light of holistic and complementary medicine, postmodern philosophy and theology, process theology, and global spirituality. I begin with the thesis that “wherever truth and healing occur, God is its source,” and that healing emerges from many factors in the divine-human call and response. We begin... Read more

2011-03-15T10:34:12-04:00

I chose 41 Days initially to differentiate my view from Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. For Warren, all the important things in our life have been chosen by God in advance. Discipleship is coloring inside the lines, and following explicitly directions. I see life as a holy adventure in which God promotes freedom and creativity. God says to us “surprise me, do something I hadn’t fully imagined, bring something new into the world.” The adventure continues. What new thing will... Read more



TAKE THE
Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does the Bible say about rest?

Select your answer to see how you score.


Browse Our Archives