The Hard Truth about the Gospel of Mark
One theme I’ve noticed as I’ve been reading Mark’s Gospel for Lent is the shroud of mystery. Mark, who was a disciple of Peter, uses the language of disclosure and hiddenness and secrets when describing Jesus’ life and death. Have you noticed it? Bonus challenge: as...
Tax Advice from Jesus
To bait-and-trap Christ, the Pharisees, Herodians, Sadducees, and teachers of the law pepper him with questions. Can you pay taxes to the rulers of the world while still honoring the God of Israel? This week in Remarkable during the Lent Challenge, we’re reading Mark...
Why You Must Bake Matza in Under 18 Minutes
From the time the water hits the flour to pulling the hot bread from the oven, only 18 minutes are allowed to pass to be considered unleaven. Where does the 18 minutes come from? Last week I went on a gastro-adventure while researching for Taste and See: An Aspiring...
When You Pray for a Miracle and Receive It—Don’t Forget This!
What constitutes a miracle? Provision. Sustenance. Inclusion. Healing. Freedom. Power. Resurrection. You’ve seen all these unfold in the Gospel of Mark during the #LentChallenge so far. But everything is about to change. This week in the #LentChallenge of reading the...
Why do life struggles always come in pairs?
Social problems layer atop spiritual struggles that layer on practical issues. These happen to us today, just as they happened in the time of Christ. Today, we start Day #11 of the #LentChallenge in Mark 5:21-43, which wraps two stories into one. We read of… A woman...
Why Did the Bible Have to Say THAT?
I recognized something both in the text and in me while reading through Remarkable: 40 Days in the Gospel of Mark for the #LentChallenge this first week: Mark’s Gospel is hard to read. During Lent, you’re invited to join thousands around the world as we dive into...
What If Jesus Is Calling You into the Wild?
Mark, also called John Mark, is a fairly young man when he authored this Gospel. Later, he becomes a close companion of the apostle Peter and a recurring character in the Book of Acts. If Matthew was written mostly for a Jewish audience, then Mark targets the Gentile...
When God Lets It Rip (Just Might Surprise You)
It’s here! It’s here! I feel like a child on Christmas morning…though it’s Lent morning. Perhaps I should take a more somber tone. But for me, one of the most transformative seasons of the year is here. Today is Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of...
The Loudest Part of Your Life Will Surprise You
An old aphorism states that “actions speak louder than words.” But what’s the loudest part of your life? Like me, you’d like to see others live what they believe not just talk about what they believe. Maybe like me, you’d like to see that in yourself. That’s why I’m...
3 Things to Never Say to Someone Facing a Terminal Diagnosis
There comes a certain point in our journeys when we encounter loss, pain, and suffering in a way that transforms us forever. Suddenly suffering isn’t an abstract idea but heart wrenching reality that’s painfully drilled deep wells of compassion for others inside you....
