 Welcome to Mark's Margin!
I've called my column by this name because that is for whom and from which I write—the margin. It is for whom I write because as I see it society, culture, and sadly even the church, at times, marginalize people. Jesus lived and died and is alive today to speak his life-giving grace and truth to those in the margin. Thus, as a follower of Jesus, I am called to do likewise. It is also from which I write because to many Jesus seems irrelevant to life today. Thus, he himself is marginalized. But I believe that Jesus has much to say to us from the margin that can relevantly give direction, purpose, and meaning to our daily lives.
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What does it mean to make Jesus' disciples? |
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Monday, 02 October 2006 |
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Our congregational mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ who love God, love each other, and serve in the world. How are we doing? Are we on target? Are we making disciples?
What does it mean to make Jesus’ disciples?
Need loving God, others, and serving the world all be in place?
Is making disciples a competitive race?
Are we making disciples if there are some we offend?
Must the disciple learn to do endless backbends?
Are there step-by-step instructions that could fit on a cereal box?
Is there a shot we can take, like for chicken pox?
Does a disciple need the church for advice?
Won’t coffee at St. Arbucks actually suffice?
What about the golf course, or soccer game, or shopping mall?
Is there really any need for the church at all? |
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Grateful Hands |
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Tuesday, 22 August 2006 |
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Which do you like better sour or sweet? I much prefer sweet, especially when it comes to people. Have you ever noticed how the older people get the more they become one or the other, sour or sweet, grumpy or grateful? You know what I mean. I'm talking about the grumpy people in your family who harp with increasing frequency and disgust on the same issue year after year. And then tragically, in the ripeness of old age, the sour toxins of their grumpiness have their poisoning and hardening effects. The pretense and posturing of younger faces fully fall away. Everything becomes sour for them. |
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Purposeful Hands |
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Wednesday, 19 July 2006 |
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It happened again. Another ‘interruption’. With the deadline pressing to finish the task of this column, I’ve met repeated ‘interruptions’ from people with needs. Don’t get me wrong. I love people. But isn’t that how it goes? Like the Blues Brothers, you’re on a mission from God. You have places to go and things to do and then, ‘interruptions’, people with needs, seem to show up and slow you down.
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Mark's Margin 
