One image that has been present in my quiet times for a while now is the image of life as a flowing river and how we live within that river. We either allow the river to carry us in its current or we try and fight against the current. Either way, we are carried downstream. The difference is that in one way we exert no energy and in the other, we use a ton of energy fighting against the current.
AUGUST Is the collection outreach month for Ethelbert child and Youth care centre
Matthew's Gospel includes two near-duplicate stories (14:13-21 and 15:32-39) which are close parallels of two in Mark (6:32-44 and 8:1-10). Luke (9:10-17) and John (6:1-13) also include the "feeding of the five thousand" or a parallel.
Mark 6:30-34 describes the return of the disciples from their first ministry tour. Exhilarated and exhausted, they have stories to tell Jesus — thrilling stories of healing, exorcisms, and conversions.
One of the challenges I face during school holidays as a teacher is doing prep work for the upcoming term while at home. Do you experience this too? Getting work done at home can be difficult because home is where we unwind and relax after a long day
Mark 6:3 “Isn't he the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James...” “Who does this guy think he is?” People in Nazareth take offence at Jesus, because they stumble over the fact that they are familiar with him.
“But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before Jesus, and told him the whole truth.”(Mark 5:33)
This week's Old Testament reading brings us the famous story of David and Goliath, a story that's traditionally viewed as the classic tale where the little guy conquers the mighty giant against all odds. But Malcolm Gladwell, in his book 'David and Goliath', challenges this conventional interpretation, offering a fresh perspective on this ancient story.
Mark 4:26-28a “God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help…”
I just finished reading 'A Nearly Infallible History of Christianity' by Nick Page. What strikes me about the history of our faith is that it started like any other movement, in stark contrast to the status quo, and as it became popular, urgency left and humanity crept in. Jesus teaches a few what real life is like; care more about love, peace, and the welfare of your neighbours; care less about material possessions, status, and power. The world was hungry for this. The early apostles, who experienced Jesus, created a massive movement.