Author: Norm

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 8:11-13 “He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?” (Mark 8:12) Jesus is not offended by wounded, weary, needy people who struggle with doubt. He knows some people struggle with faith, and may test Him to make sure. But He sighs deeply and will not accommodate those…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 8:1-10 Is this just another version of a single feeding miracle that Mark repeats? Or did Jesus feed large groups on several occasions. If it was more than once, why didn’t the disciples get it the second time? If they saw Him do it once, why would they be surprised the…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 51 “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (Psalm 51:3) In 2 Samuel 11 we read about David’s sin with Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 12 we read how God uses the prophet Nathan to rebuke him. Psalm 51 is the result of David’s exposure and humbling; he comes clean to God. God…

THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Kings 18-20 “You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.” (2 Kings 19:15) Sometimes I get tired of watching or reading the news. Everyday there seems to be another crisis, disaster, scandal or tragedy. Like Hezekiah, Jesus followers seem to be fighting an uphill battle. The odds are stacked against us,…

THE STORY OF JESUS: 2 Kings 15-17 “This took place because the Israelites sinned against the Lord.” (2 Kings 17:7) From this writing, we see how the Israelites saw God’s hands behind everything. God sends leprosy, enemies, lions, exile (2 Kings 15:5,12,37; 17:20,26). But notice though that it is not always the Lord punishing them. Azariah and Jotham – who do…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 7:31-37 “Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears, spit and touched the man’s tongue.” (Mark 7:33) I don’t know: this what I say when asked, ‘why finger in ear and spit in mouth?’ Aside from being weird and gross, it was also effective, it worked. Maybe Jesus had a reason for…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 7:24-30 “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” (Mark 7:27) This hardly seems a Jesus-like thing – or a God-like – thing to say. To call someone a dog a common way of insulting someone. So why does Jesus speak so sharply, why does…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 7:14-23 “It is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come.” (Mark 7:21) According to Jesus, it is not ritual purity that concerns God, but heart purity. Avoiding pork, or symbolic hand-washing – this doesn’t make you holy or unholy. The OT Laws were symbolic reminders that not everything…