Mark 10:1 Part of what makes a culture a culture is the courtesies that surround the human interactions within that culture. Without those interactions are certain implied gestures of respect. The gestures help everyone know where they stand with each other, that they are accepted or rejected, that they can be safe. InContinue reading “Customs & Courtesies”
Tag Archives: Mark
Edge Walker
Mark 10:1-12 Lawful – Unlawful. Permitted – Prohibited. These words have haunted people for centuries. We are always trying to find the line between these pairs of words. We want to stay as close to unlawful on the lawful side of the line. Our nature is to try to push the boundaries. Most ofContinue reading “Edge Walker”
BBQ
Mark 9:49-50 I really enjoy a good BBQ. I love a rack of ribs, done to perfection, meat almost falling off the bones, not too spicy. Forget the side dishes, I could just eat the ribs until I was almost sick. Luckily, I don’t. My heart would be fully clogged and my belly modeledContinue reading “BBQ”
Drastic Measures
Mark 9:43-48 Some people will use drastic measures to achieve their goals. Weight loss comes to mind. If you think about all the diet fads that have run their course over the last 50 years you would get dizzy thinking about it. You can pick just about any random combination of foods and thereContinue reading “Drastic Measures”
Drowning Death
Mark 9:42 I think one of the worst ways to die would be drowning. The more you struggle the more you realize you can’t hold your breath forever. And then comes the first lung full of water. We are not fish, so that water is violently rejected, and then another lung full comes. AndContinue reading “Drowning Death”
Opposition
Mark 9:39-41 Sometimes we think that people have to show up at our rally in order to support us. They have to either be behind us 100% or they are against us. But there is a middle ground, in fact, lots of middle ground. Sometimes people have competing drives and obligations that prevent themContinue reading “Opposition”
Not One of Us
Mark 9:38 One of the tendencies of humans is to create groups. Groups can be good for survival. Groups can be bad for cooperation. Groups create ‘us’ and ‘them,’ Democrat and Republican, 99% and 1%, union and open shop, public sector and private sector, veteran and civilian, pro-life and pro-abortion, inside the beltway andContinue reading “Not One of Us”
Entrance Exam
Mark 9:38-50 Many professions require an entrance exam to be passed before studies can begin in earnest. Perhaps the most famous is the Medical College Admission Test or MCAT. It is supposed to be one of the hardest tests, and I would hope so. I don’t want some dummy opening up my brain! IContinue reading “Entrance Exam”
Ribbon Cutting
Mark 9:35-37 Don’t you just love politicians who fly in for the photo op, make a speech, cut the ribbon, and then go on their merry way. It is especially true when they are talking about the needs of the poor and forgotten, and their personal giving shows that their money doesn’t go whereContinue reading “Ribbon Cutting”
Keeping Secrets
Mark 9:33-34 Secrets can be hard to keep. Some would say that you can’t hide a secret, that you will tell other people through very subtle gestures, primarily facial expressions. The TV show Lie to Me gives some insight into this science. The face telegraphs the deceptions that the heart is committing. And peopleContinue reading “Keeping Secrets”
The Arnold Journey 