We don't know much about the farmer from the parable of the sower and the seed. But, it sure seems that a lot of seed is wasted. Did you ever want to ask the sower “You been farming long?” It seems like 75% of the seed is eaten, choked out or fried in the sun. What an awful farmer.
My wife has developed a bit of a reputation among family and close friends. Whenever someone, for example, loses keys, is feeling overwhelmed, or is struggling with challenges, she is known to say, "Did you pray about that?"
In today's Scripture Reading from Luke 4-5 we see an excellent example of what it means to be an "Incarnational Christian" in the account of Jesus calling Levi the tax collector to be His disciple.
But what does it mean to be an "Incarnational Christian"? Hmm... Maybe we should start by breaking the word "incarnational" into parts.
When I was a first time dad, I remember watching all the changes that were happening in my wife’s body. It was amazing to watch (I am also glad it wasn’t my body--whew!!!) I think about the nine months of preparation and see how perfect that time was in getting me prepared to be the dad and prime me to be a better husband.
As we are listening/reading through the Gospels during this Lenten season, it as first seemed odd to me to revisit the birth narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. But as I reflect on how Jesus would have me grow closer to Him through this, it strikes me how this Scripture Reading: Luke 1 (ESV) portrays the Jesus who grows up to go to a cross: This is God in human flesh.
If you're someone who's reading along with today's Scripture reading from Mark 15-16 (ESV), you may find yourself puzzling a bit over the brief annotation that's printed in most Bibles right before Mark 16:9-20 which states:
[SOME OF THE EARLIEST MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT INCLUDE 16:9-20]
In the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus prays, “Take this cup (of suffering) from me.” I have often wondered if Jesus is showing apprehension about going to the cross. Is this fear? Is it weakness? Mark 14:32-42
Transference is the psychological term for the phenomenon in which someone unconsciously redirects feelings from one person to another. For example, when you have a morning argument with a family member about access to the bathroom, you may unconsciously redirect your anger to someone at school or work when you arrive there. We're in a bad mood; and other get the brunt of it. This is because it is difficult for us to simply shut-off our emotions and feelings when going from one situation to the next.
Have you ever seen one of those "Visa: Priceless" commercials on TV? I'm not sure how you couldn't have seen one by now! They usually have a script that goes something like this: "Ballpark hot dog - $2.50... Baseball cap for your favorite team - $10.00... Price of admission - $20.00...
In Charles Dickens’ classic “Oliver Twist” a group a boys are starving after slaving in the workhouse. The daily reward for their labor is a bowl of gruel. Oliver is chosen by the boys and makes his famous request, “Please, sir, I want some more.”
Mark 8:1-13 tells how people were following Jesus for 3 days without food to eat. They were so hungry for Jesus’ message they would not leave. Nowhere in the text does it say they were begging for food. But Jesus knew their physical condition an
