Tuesday’s Passion: Following a Reformer with a Simple Creed (Mk. 12:28-34) March 15, 2009 A couple of years ago, researcher David Kinnaman asked 16-to-29-year-olds… Read More »Tuesday’s Passion: Following a Reformer with a Simple Creed (Mk. 12:28-34)
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ” (Mk. 11:11-17 TNIV).Read More »Monday’s Passion: Following an Anti-Religion Activist (Mk. 11:12-19)
For Sunday, March 1, 2009
Last Sunday’s paper carried the story of Leonard Abess, Jr.[i] You may have also seen Abess during last week’s Presidential speech. Abess is CEO of City National Bank. He recently sold a majority stake in the bank. The sale netted millions of dollars. Then, Abess did something unheard of—he took $60 million of the proceeds and gave it to his employees. Tellers, bookkeepers, clerks—all 399 workers on staff plus the 72 former employees received the $60 million. Abess didn’t publicize what he had done. He didn’t even show up at the office on the day the bonus envelopes were distributed. Asked what motivated him, he said he simply had long-dreamed of a way to reward his employees.
There is a man with passion. There is a boss passionate about his employees. What about you? What are you passionate about? Who or what would you do something crazy for?
Read More »Palm Sunday’s Passion: Following a Politician for the People (Lk. 19:28-44)
Steve Prothero is a Boston University professor and author of the book Religious Literacy.[i] When Prothero began teaching twenty years ago he found that few students could name the authors of the Christian Gospels. Fewer could name a single Hindu Scripture. Almost none could name the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. This concerned Prothero. He believes that many political conflicts in world history have had religious roots. Thus he feels it imperative for students to know something about the religions of the world. Most of his Boston University students, however, knew nothing. Thus, this non-Christian professor proposes in his book that students should be required take a course in Bible and World Religions before graduating from high school.
Read More »The Offering: What Happened When God Offered All (Rom. 12:1-2)