Over the seven weeks of Lent our church is commited to organizing worship around Mark's account of Jesus' path to the cross. As pastor, I can help by posting a daily reflection on our facebook page, hoping it can serve as a point of entry into our coming weekend's sermon. At 70 words (max) a day, I am inviting you to react to these posts. You click our facebook link (below) and dive right in. Or if you prefer, link here for a repository of all the posts to date. Pastor Rick.

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Week 1: "Led," Mark 8.31-37, The Message

* Feb 17 (Ash Wednesday)
"He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things ..." (Mark 8.31) It's Ash Wed. and it occurs to me that I am soft. Take my grandparents. Both in faith and in life they gave more than I have. What is it they received that I am missing? What would I "suffer" if suffering made such blessing possible? Name a blessing you are missing. Share with us what you would "suffer" for it.

* Feb 18
"... be tried and found guilty by the elders, be killed, and after three days rise up" (Mark 8.31, MSG). Moving between the NIV and the Peterson's The Message, I try to understand. Who are our current day 'elders' (or are we them?) and what do they condemn? If Jesus could come under attack, can't you and I? How then can we rise up, and what does that mean? Please share with me how you have found past forgiveness.

*Feb 19
"You're not in the driver's seat; I am." (Mark 8.34, MSG) Suddenly I realize I can't stand dispassionately off to the side. What Jesus requires is not the nod of my head, but the movement of my feet. If Jesus suffers, so must I. If I say I don't know how or why, Jesus says he'll show me how and why. Think back: What have you done that was hard for you, yet you did it simply because you were following Jesus? Name it.

*Feb 20
"Self-sacrifice is the way, my way." (Mark 8.36, MSG) But is it our way? If the Bible is right, we are born in sin, and here is Jesus telling us that the way out of sin isn't luxury, but sacrifice. It seems counter-intuitive, but isn't Jesus' call to sacrifice just the 'flip side' of his call to salvation? What have you sacrificed lately that brought you closer to Jesus?

Week 2: "Blocked," Mark 10.13-16, The Message
*Feb 22
"They brought children to Jesus ..." (Mark 10.13, MSG) My first thought was that this is a lesson about children, but, really, isn't it a lesson about adults? Thinking back to Sunday's sermon, we spoke about Jesus' desire to reconstruct us---you might say, to grow us through a second "childhood." Are you God's child (I believe so)? What's your spiritual age?

*Feb 23
"... but the disciples shooed them off." (Mark 10.13) If my idea yesterday was that this passage is about 'children' of all ages, then adults can be 'children' in faith. How patient are we with 'adult' children? Think of your early experiences in the church. Did others "shoo" you away on account of your spiritual immaturity? How did that get in the way with your relationship with Christ?

*Feb 24
"Don't ever get between them and me." (Mark 10.14, MSG) With the exception of new church starts, congregations fall into a trap of becoming preoccupied with self. They  push away from outsiders ('children'), prefering to look inward. How does this verify Jesus' point ("getting between them and me")? In your experience where does one most often find Jesus?

*Feb 25
"Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child..." (Mark 10.15, MSG). Yet it's never simple for us. Spouses pressure mates; parents pressure their kids; kids pressure their friends. Yesterday I asked who had pressured you. Today I'm asking: Have you pressured others to abandon the simplicity of Christ?

Week 3: "Put to Work," Mark 10.35-44, The Message

*March 2
Ready to accept "No" as an answer? James and John wanted Jesus to treat them better than the others. "Arrange it so we will be awarded high places in your glory," they said (Mark 10.37, MSG). Sometimes I think I am a step ahead of Jesus--yet my plans fall apart. If I'm going to work for him, Jesus has to be both boss and creative director. How do you see it?

*March 3
"Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us." (Mark 10.35, MSG) Yet he turns and pointedly inquires if we are capable of "being baptized in the baptism" he is about to be plunged into. Jesus is so different--so demanding--yet so greatly to be desired. Like a magnet, he attracts his opposite. How are we attracted to him?

*March 6
Sorry about some missed posts--too much busy-ness. Consider that "they lost their tempers" (Mark 10.41, MSG). Suppressed within us is a sin nature Christ is gradually destroying. Yet it is capable of emerging when we let our guard down. I snap and bite at people, not because I want to, but because I defer to my sin nature. If it can happen to James and John (or Paul), why not us?

Week 4: "Tempted," Mark 14.32-40, The Message

*March 8
Jesus told his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." (Mark 14.32, MSG) I think we have something to learn from this. We, who have such need, rarely take time to pray. Jesus, who has such capability, found time to pray. How about it? Are we praying often enough?

*March 9
Jesus "fell to the ground and prayed for a way out." (Mark 14.35, MSG) I see now what the creeds all say--that Jesus is both man and God. Jesus experienced our fears and overcame. We can overcome, too, if we believe in him. But if we go on without him, I see no way out. What's been your experience?

*March 11
It's said we'll overcome once we believe that Jesus is Lord, yet when he comes will "he (find us) sound asleep"? (Mark 14.37) Isn't that what we're often like? All talk and no show? What would it take to awaken us? What can he do to hold our attention? Rise from the dead?


Week 5: "Esteem," Mark 11.1-11, The Message

*March 15
How do we assign value to a person? "Hosanna!" the crowd cried as Jesus entered Jerusalem (Mark 11), yet days later they did nothing to stop his crucifixion. It's time to ask ourselves what really matters in a person. Name the top 3 things you are looking for.

*March 17
Jesus flusters his followers by asking them to do things that seem ridiculous. His reassurance is, "If anyone asks, say ..." (Mark 11.3), yet for me this is the most difficult task of ministry. Whether to the phone or the front door, I am constantly being sent. How do I overcome the fear? How do you?

*March 19
And suppose we overcame our fears? "They brought the colt to Jesus." (Mark 11.7, MSG) Jesus could have brought that colt back himself. But his job for us is to bring "colts". Who might these "colts" be? Our neighbors, work mates, extended family. Will we get going in time for this Sunday?


Week 6: "Turned on," Mark 14.43-50, The Message

*March 22
Why do bad things happen to good people? That's the question this week. Jesus' disciples presumably loved him, yet "the betrayer had worked out a signal." (Mark 14.44, MSG) It' been just 24 hours since we rose to worship him, but haven't we already denied him? How does it happen?

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