March 3, 2010

3-3-10 Wednesday, 7:29 am Pastor’s Office

It was a crisp, clear morning as I defrosted the car on the way to an early morning hospital visit, praying for a member who will have surgery today. I picked up a couple of dozen donuts for the office, and am looking forward to the Word and prayer in these quiet moments.

Mark 11:1-26
Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We are just 3 ½ weeks away from Palm Sunday and holy week. The days pass rapidly by. Jesus instructs the disciples to go to the village and untie the colt that has never been ridden. The scenes from Honduras come flooding back to me as we saw so many horses, oxen, burros used on a daily basis. I can picture Jesus’ village better because I have been in Honduran villages.

Jesus overturns the tables of the moneychangers, and quotes Isaiah 56:7 “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples”. This reminds me of Bill Gothard, and his theory that every church should be called “House of Prayer”. I wonder how his life and ministry are developing. In the 1970’s I attended his “Institute for Basic Youth Conflicts”, and still have the notebook. A quick search of the web just gave me a Wikipedia article, and Gothard’s own web page. He is 75 now and seems to be still going strong. In 2004 he earned a Ph. D. in Biblical studies.

Continuing in Mark 11, Jesus is confronted by the high priests and religion scholars who demanded to see his credentials. He asked them a question about the authority of John the Baptist, and when they waffled, he refused to answer about his credentials. Jesus’ ministry was filled with wisdom, conflict, challenging the established religion, and compassion. I desire for my ministry today and each day to immulate His, as it is Christ in me which is the hope of glory. Guide me holy Lord today as I seek to serve you and walk in the way that leads to life eternal.