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WHAT WOULD JOHN THE BAPTIST SAY TO YOU by Don Schultz Mark 1:1-8 Sometimes, when you hear the same thing all the time, it starts to become less and less meaningful. For example, right now, at this time in the year, the newspaper, the TV, and the radio are all saying the same thing: “There is MORE... 
Discipleship
101: Preparationby Bob Briggs Mark 1:1-5 "Mamma" said a little child, "my Sunday School teacher tells me that this world is only a place in which God lets us live a while, that we may prepare for a better world. But mother, I do not see anybody preparing. I see you preparing to go to the MORE...
The
Big Boss From Galileeby Phil Rownd Mark 1:14-28 About a year ago I was struggling with one of the boys in Sunday School. I looked him in the eye and asked a question I felt sure would bring him in line: “Brandon, who is in charge here?” That kid wasn't gonna let me get away that easy, so he MORE...
The
Dirty Side of Ministryby Antonio Torrence Mark 1:21-29 In his words concerning the tragedy of the “Columbia” explosion, President Bush said of the seven astronauts, “These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life.” When MORE...
 Why
the Devil Goes to Churchby Brian Atwood Mark 1:21-28 Every time Jesus met someone demon-possessed He kicked the demons out! This case is unusual because of where it took place - in the very house of God! Why in the world would a man possessed by demons MORE...
CHANGING
YOUR WAYS?Several years ago the Peanuts comic strip had Lucy and Charlie Brown practicing football. Lucy would hold the ball for Charlie's placekicking and then Charlie would kick the ball. But every time Lucy had ever held the ball for Charlie, he would approach the ball and kick with all his might. At the precise moment of the point of no return, Lucy would pick up the ball and Charlie would kick and his momentum unchecked by the ball, which was not there to kick, would cause him to fall flat on his back. This strip opened with Lucy holding the ball, but Charlie Brown would not kick the ball. Lucy begged him to kick the ball. But Charlie Brown said, "Every time I try to kick the ball you remove it and I fall on my back." They went back and forth for the longest time and finally Lucy broke down in tears and admitted, "Charlie Brown I have been so terrible to you over the years, picking up the football like I have. I have played so many cruel tricks on you, but I've seen the error of my ways! I've seen the hurt look in your eyes when I've deceived you. I've been wrong, so wrong. Won't you give a poor penitent girl another chance?" Charlie Brown was moved by her display of grief and responded to her, "Of course, I'll give you another chance." He stepped back as she held the ball, and he ran. At the last moment, Lucy picked up the ball and Charlie Brown fell flat on his back. Lucy's last words were, "Recognizing your faults and actually changing your ways are two different things, Charlie Brown! Contributed by: Jeeva Sam
HOW
TO START?Authors will tell us that the hardest part about telling a story is getting the beginning just right. Some authors will struggle with the first sentence as much as they will the entire first chapter. The story has to start somewhere and it has to start somehow. When the right words are chose, it is like a good first impression: it sticks with us. (Do you recognize which novels these famous first lines come from?) One famous novel begins like this, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Another begins like this, “Call me Ishmael.” – Hermann Melville, Moby Dick Gary Larson used to produce a comic series called The Far Side. These one-frame depictions had an uncanny way of capturing the quirkiness of life. In one Far Side we see Hermann Melville sitting at his desk, hunched over in frustration. He is trying to begin his novel. One the paper before him is a list of sentences all crossed out in exasperation: call me Sam, call me Bill, call me Harry, call me George… This morning we are reading Mark's gospel. Like every author, he has his own way of telling a story. Mark begins his story like this: “Make ready the way of the LORD, make his paths straight!” It is a call to preparation, a summons to readiness. SOURCE: Jason Hefner in “ Baptism of the Lord Year B 2003” on www.sermoncentral.com .
MEMORANDUM
To: Jesus, Son of Joseph, Woodcrafter Carpenter Shop, Nazareth; From: Jordan Management Consultants, Jerusalem.... Dear Sir: Thank you for submitting the resumes of the twelve men you have picked for management positions in your new organization. All of them have now taken our battery of tests; we have not only run the results through our computer, but also arranged personal interviews for each of them with our psychologist and vocational-aptitude consultant. It is the staff opinion that most of your nominees are lacking in background, education, and vocational aptitude for the type of enterprise you are undertaking. They do not have the team concept. We would recommend that you continue searching for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper. Andrew has absolutely no leadership qualities. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale. We feel it is our duty to tell you that Matthew has been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau. James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus definitely have radical leanings, and both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale. One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. We wish you every success in your new venture. Sincerely Yours, Jordan Management Consultants SOURCE: The Anglican Digest, April 2001. Contributed by: Matthew Rogers
CALLED- TO DIFFERENT JOBSJesus issues the same call to all, but to different tasks. Someone put it rather quaintly: "to some, Christ calls 'leave boat and bay, and white-haired Zebedee.'" To some, the call is harder - "stay and mend the nets for me." Contributed by: Owen Bourgaize
ON THE STEPS OF THE ALTARC S Lewis in his "Screwtape Letters", the imaginary account of a senior devil giving the benefit of his experience to fellow tempters, has Screwtape saying, "Religion can still send us the truly delicious sins. The fine flower of unholiness can grow only in the close neighbourhood of the Holy. Nowhere do we tempt more successfully as on the very steps of the altar." Contributed by: Owen Bourgaize
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