Rejected! (based on Mark 6)

In the world of sports, just like in life, there is very little that feels as bad as being REJECTED. In life, you know what it means. We all do … ’cause we’ve all been rejected. It hurts!

Similarly, in the world of sports, the term, “REJECTED,” is used to describe a specific defensive play that leaves the offensive player feeling frustrated and usually, embarrassed. If you happen to be a basketball fan, you know the term, “REJECTED!” It describes what happens when a player attempts to take a shot at the basketball goal and soundly and completely blocked … often even before it leaves the shooter’s hands. It is a VERY descriptive word and usually is said with emphasis and emotion by the fans of the defensive team … “REEEE – JECT –EEEDDD!!!”

In the picture, you see an example of a player being “REJECTED” by Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. He is good at it and does it often to opposing players who take for granted his height and athleticism.

In sports … in life … being ” REJECTED!” feels BAD.

At least in basketball, you can “pick yourself up” and get back into the game. You can go on to score many other baskets and many other games … you don’t have to stay “stuck” in that moment. If you do, your play will suffer and so will your team.

In Mark 6, Jesus suffers “REJECTION.” Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. Mark 6:1, 2a

What would you and I give to have Jesus teach, in person, at our church … but not the people of his hometown!

“‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,​ Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’” Mark 6:2b, 3a

Essentially they are saying, “We know this guy and he’s nothing! Don’t listen to his rubbish.”

” … And they took offense at him.” Mark 6:3b

They were scandalized …
The word for “they too offense” is from the greek word, “skandalizomai,” meaning “to be caused to stumble, to be repelled”
They REJECTED Jesus!

“Jesus said to them, ‘Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” Mark 6:4-6

Can you imagine what they missed! “He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” the text says. You and I would be thrilled with a few people healed! What do you think Jesus had in mind for these people … the people of his hometown?

By the way, the issue with the miracles was not that Jesus’ power was limited by their lack of faith, HE is God in human flesh. He can do anything! But the miracles Jesus did throughout HIS ministry served a purpose. Jesus did miracles to encourage faith. God bound himself to faith, so when there was no faith …

Anyway, I have two questions for you today.

1. How do you respond when you are REJECTED? Do you give up? Do you throw a temper tantrum? Or do you take your cue from Jesus. When HE was REJECTED, HE didn’t quit or fuss or whine … He went on because HIS mission was clear. HE was here to serve the FATHER and do HIS will. Nothing could distract HIM!

“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16

You and I are here to serve the FATHER and do HIS will. More than that, our Heavenly FATHER will never reject us. In fact, when you realize that you are CHOSEN by our Heavenly FATHER, it make any and all other REJECTIONS seem a bit less painful. Paul writes: “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

2. Are you trusting Jesus? Do you have faith? Because I know that you need a miracle or two (maybe more)! Trust HIM and turn to HIM and build your life on HIM! Jesus has a solution for every problem and hope enough to lift even the most discouraged soul.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:18, 19

4000! (based on Mark 5)

Mark 5 begins with a striking story … Jesus travels across Sea of Galilee (and after calming a fierce storm) He and the disciples arrive at a place called the “region of the Gerasenes.” This area, we find out later, is part of the area call the Decapolis (or 10 Cities).

What is so striking about the story is that when Jesus arrives, HE encounters a terrifying man who is demon-possessed. And while this man has super-human strength and is absolutely indomitable, when he sees Jesus he runs from a long distance and falls on his knees in front of HIM.

“He (the demon-possesed man) shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit!’” Mark 5:8, 8

You probably know the rest of the story … Jesus drives out the evil spirits (they were many) and sends them into a herd of pigs. The pigs (about 2,000) proceed to rush over the edge of a steep bank and are drown. An amazing story and there is lots of stuff here to write about. However, it is what happens next that really grabbed my attention.

“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis​ how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” Mark 5:18-20

So when this man, this terrifying man, is healed and wants to go with Jesus, Jesus says, “No.” He tells him to go back to his family and community and tell them “how much the Lord has done” for him. In other words, Jesus sends him back to his family as a missionary … to spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus.

So don’t you wonder … what happened? You would expect that a dramatic change like this man experienced might have a dramatic impact on the people who know him. Did it? After all, the text says (Mark 5:20) that the people were “amazed!”

So here is the really cool part. Because Jesus goes back to the region of the Decapolis a chapter later in Mark 7 …Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.​ Mark 7:31

And in Mark 8 … shortly after Jesus returns to the area where he dramatically changed a man’s life and sent him back to tell what God had done for him …

(drum roll, please)

4000 people show up!

Wow! 4000 people is a big crowd. And while some of them perhaps had come because of other miracles Jesus performed, a bunch had to be there because they saw, in the life of someone they knew, the power of GOD to change a life …

… and they wanted that same power!

Look around, Jesus is STILL in the business of changing lives … maybe HE has changed yours!

And Jesus is STILL in the business of sending we “changed” people back to our homes and families and communities to tell what the Lord has done for us!

And the impact of a life “CHANGED” by God … It is still JESUS’ greatest witness in the world!

Won’t you tell what Jesus has done for you?

Storm Chaser! (Based on Mark 4:35-41)

Have you ever seen the movie, “Twister”? If not, believe me, it is a wild ride! The movie is about “storm chasers.” Storm chasers are people who follow and record images, video, and scientific data about storms. Just like in real life, the storm chasers in the movie, “Twister” were trying to understand tornados and the storms that spawn them. The goal is to better predict when and where they will strike in an attempt to exert some form of control over storm related disasters and deaths.

The special effects in this movie are amazing!

don’t know if you realize it or not, but Jesus was a “storm chaser.” HE doesn’t go looking for the storm, but the storm finds HIM. He is just riding along in a boat across the Sea of Galilee, minding his own business … in fact, HE is sleeping. Nonetheless, Jesus takes “storm chasing” to a whole new level!

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41

Jesus doesn’t just …
find storms,
analyze storms,
and hope to predict storms.

Jesus really does CONTROL storms … HE chases them … away!

You and I spend an awful lot of time in storms … life storms. Some storms are of our own making … others are completely NOT our fault, but we get caught in them anyway. More often than not, it is a little of both. That’s why this is one of my favorite Bible stories.

I NEED a “storm chaser” who can calm the winds and quiet the waves and bring peace to my soul.
You need one too!

Whatever storm you face today, Jesus is there with you. Don’t panic. Don’t let fear overwhelm you.
In fact, take just a minute to smile and think about the tremendous surprise your life-storm is about to face.
Your life-storm is about to run headlong into the teeth of the ultimate STORM CHASER … JESUS!
Look out, Storm! Here we come.

Mission Trip Photos

All of the photos that I have for the Mission Trip (so far) are available at ConcordiaPhotos.

These are the full resolution shots.

Enjoy!

Lightening!

This shot came on the day that we were supposed to have a New Orleans style parade through the streets of the neighborhood … jazz band included!

Needless to say, that didn’t work out.

on the road again..

After two “potty breaks” and brunch at Wendy’s, we are somewhere between Beaumont and Houston. Estimated times of arrival, competitively predicted by our leaders, range from 6 p.m. to 7:01 p.m. Last night’s worship was amazing and many groups gathered after for bible study. See y’all in SA!

More from Thursday…

Thursday Photos … another great day!

We had two different teams serving in food pantries today.

Our kids worked hard and shared their faith with passion.

… another GREAT day!

Men with Tools!

No construction project is too tough!
No demolition project is too difficult!

Meet Concordia’s “Men with Tools!”

Wednesday Pictures

I had some trouble with my card reader, so the pictures from Wednesday were limited. However, today, those problems are ancient history. Here are a few pictures from yesterday.

These are the greatest young people in the world!