Mark 3:7-11
Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him; hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him; for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, “You are the Son of God! But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.
How did Jesus draw such a big crowd?
He had no PA to help him speak loud
or Facebook or Twitter or mass mailing
and no techniques of good retailing.
A person was healed and told another
and that person went and told his brother.
The message was spread from one to one
and folks from all over came on the run.
With all the available tools today
For us to use God’s love to convey
the best is still words shared face to face
allowing God to move with great grace.
When we find something good we must tell
other people and sometimes we yell
because our excitement is contagious
and we invite because we’re courageous.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
second sunday in Lent
As I said when I began,
I don't post a poem on Sundays during lent
because Sunday is always a celebration of the resurrection.
I'm primarily doing this project
as a discipline for my Lenten experience.
I am glad you read it
because that means
you are holding me accountable for it.
If I said I was going to give up
Peanut Buster Parfaits for Lent,
I could go out and get one
and I might be able to do it without anybody "catching" me.
I hope some of these poems speak to you
-- I'm sure they are not all THAT GOOD.
We have had almost 250 "hits"
since I first announced it.
That keeps me going.
I pray that you have also found
a "meaningful" discipline
during this season of Lent
and that it is blessing you
and helping you to be ready for Easter.
I don't post a poem on Sundays during lent
because Sunday is always a celebration of the resurrection.
I'm primarily doing this project
as a discipline for my Lenten experience.
I am glad you read it
because that means
you are holding me accountable for it.
If I said I was going to give up
Peanut Buster Parfaits for Lent,
I could go out and get one
and I might be able to do it without anybody "catching" me.
I hope some of these poems speak to you
-- I'm sure they are not all THAT GOOD.
We have had almost 250 "hits"
since I first announced it.
That keeps me going.
I pray that you have also found
a "meaningful" discipline
during this season of Lent
and that it is blessing you
and helping you to be ready for Easter.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
a non-lenten poem
The “Keep Out” Sign
By Larry R. Linville
“Keep out,” the sign shouted
in letters red as blood.
It’s not just a drizzle
but more like a big flood.
What is it protecting
property or person?
Did something bad happen
continue to worsen?
Is this guy a loner
or is he very scared?
When he put up the sign
were his emotions bared?
Many folks have “keep out”
all over their face
and separate themselves
from the whole human race.
Pray to God for a way
we can help them find ease
and open up their hearts
to get out of their freeze.
By Larry R. Linville
“Keep out,” the sign shouted
in letters red as blood.
It’s not just a drizzle
but more like a big flood.
What is it protecting
property or person?
Did something bad happen
continue to worsen?
Is this guy a loner
or is he very scared?
When he put up the sign
were his emotions bared?
Many folks have “keep out”
all over their face
and separate themselves
from the whole human race.
Pray to God for a way
we can help them find ease
and open up their hearts
to get out of their freeze.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Lenten Devotions for Feb. 27 -- Pharisees
February 27, 2010
Mark 3:1-6
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Poor Pharisees,
caught up in their legalism
preferring to see people suffer
rather than seeing the scriptures
in a different light.
“Don’t heal him today, Jesus!
the law is more important than a handicap
who is probably sick
because he broke the law.”
Christians can get so dogmatic
with their tunnel vision eyes
believing they have the complete truth
and they are defending God.
If we disagree
does one of us have to be wrong?
For the Pharisees to be right
they believed Jesus was wrong.
Jesus reacted with anger
and was grieved at their heartlessness
as he asked if it’s wrong to do what is right.
“Ignore them and stretch out your hand”
he said to the suffering man
“don’t let other’s biases keep you from God.”
As he stretched his hand he was healed
just as we are healed by stretching our faith.
Mark 3:1-6
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Poor Pharisees,
caught up in their legalism
preferring to see people suffer
rather than seeing the scriptures
in a different light.
“Don’t heal him today, Jesus!
the law is more important than a handicap
who is probably sick
because he broke the law.”
Christians can get so dogmatic
with their tunnel vision eyes
believing they have the complete truth
and they are defending God.
If we disagree
does one of us have to be wrong?
For the Pharisees to be right
they believed Jesus was wrong.
Jesus reacted with anger
and was grieved at their heartlessness
as he asked if it’s wrong to do what is right.
“Ignore them and stretch out your hand”
he said to the suffering man
“don’t let other’s biases keep you from God.”
As he stretched his hand he was healed
just as we are healed by stretching our faith.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Lenten Devotion for Feb. 26 - The Scribes
February 26, 2010
Mark 2:13-22
13Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. 14As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 15And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. 16When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
The scribes sat in comfortable pews
condemning those on the outside.
Jesus went out to knock down the walls
to be with those the scribes wished to hide.
The scribes among us haven’t changed
our judging of those whom we don’t approve
while Jesus points out our shortcoming
by helping those outside to improve.
The sick aren’t healed while doctors help the well
rather than reach out to those who are ill.
We are called to go into the streets
helping them find things that fulfill.
It’s easy to be a scribe today
by turning judgment from self to others
and in closing our doors to those outside
we avoid our sisters and brother.
Mark 2:13-22
13Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. 14As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. 15And as he sat at dinner in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples—for there were many who followed him. 16When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17When Jesus heard this, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
The scribes sat in comfortable pews
condemning those on the outside.
Jesus went out to knock down the walls
to be with those the scribes wished to hide.
The scribes among us haven’t changed
our judging of those whom we don’t approve
while Jesus points out our shortcoming
by helping those outside to improve.
The sick aren’t healed while doctors help the well
rather than reach out to those who are ill.
We are called to go into the streets
helping them find things that fulfill.
It’s easy to be a scribe today
by turning judgment from self to others
and in closing our doors to those outside
we avoid our sisters and brother.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Lenten Devotion for Feb. 25 - Healing the Paralytic
Mark 2: 1-12
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7“Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— 11“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” 12And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Are we like that paralyzed man
unable to reach out for healing?
It is good to have friends to help
by lowering us through the ceiling.
It’s good when friends go out of their way
even when inconvenient
to help, undeserving as we are,
because their judging is lenient.
Do you suppose that man arose
and ran with his mat neath his arm
to help another person
whose life was beset with much harm?
You didn’t come to Jesus alone
others have helped you along.
It’s good to take your once weak faith
and help others become strong.
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7“Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’?10But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— 11“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” 12And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Are we like that paralyzed man
unable to reach out for healing?
It is good to have friends to help
by lowering us through the ceiling.
It’s good when friends go out of their way
even when inconvenient
to help, undeserving as we are,
because their judging is lenient.
Do you suppose that man arose
and ran with his mat neath his arm
to help another person
whose life was beset with much harm?
You didn’t come to Jesus alone
others have helped you along.
It’s good to take your once weak faith
and help others become strong.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Devotion for Feb. 24, 2010
February 24, 2010
Mark 1:29-31
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Peter’s mother-in-law was sick
and was suffering in her bed.
Her family helplessly gathered
fearfully thinking she’d soon be dead.
They took their concerns to Jesus
in what today we would call prayer.
He took her hand and lifted her
and in awe they just stood to stare.
After this lady was healed
which she knew she didn’t deserve
she got up and went back to work
doing what she could do to serve.
Jesus heals us from so many things
that put our lives on a shelf
and we can show thankfulness
by serving others instead of self.
Mark 1:29-31
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Peter’s mother-in-law was sick
and was suffering in her bed.
Her family helplessly gathered
fearfully thinking she’d soon be dead.
They took their concerns to Jesus
in what today we would call prayer.
He took her hand and lifted her
and in awe they just stood to stare.
After this lady was healed
which she knew she didn’t deserve
she got up and went back to work
doing what she could do to serve.
Jesus heals us from so many things
that put our lives on a shelf
and we can show thankfulness
by serving others instead of self.
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