Sermon Video: Jesus heals publicly, and prays privately - Mark 1:29-39

 The healing of one man on the Sabbath brings a vast crowd to see Jesus that evening when the Sabbath ended.  Having spent the evening healing many, Jesus gets up early the next morning to go out to a solitary place to pray.  Why?  For the same reasons we need to imitate him: (1) the physical/emotional need of every human being for rest and recuperation, (2) our need for ongoing perspective and balance, and (3) our need for communion with our Heavenly Father.  We, as Christians, need to regularly employ private prayer, hopefully with the bonus of solitude.  While public corporate prayer is a huge part of our worship and the life of the Church, that does not end our obligation.  Each Christian should approach the Father in prayer, unburdening our hearts and minds, seeking guidance and wisdom, and maintaining our sense of a family connection to God.  With the way that 2020 has gone thus far, don't you need some time for solitary prayer?

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When it rains on your parade

Nicole and I just returned from a much needed vacation. We were supposed to camp in the U.P. (Van Ryper State Park; Moose country, hiking, etc.), but only had one day of sun before the week-long forcast of rain, rain, and more rain came in. We struck camp and loaded everything up about 10 mins. before the first of the rain started to fall. Rather than sulk and head home having vasted the 400 mile drive to get there, we decided to drive down through Wisconsin to Chicago and see the museums (indoor, no rain worries). It costs us a little more than camping, but we rolled w/ the punches so-to-speak. In the end, we had a great trip, saw cool stuff, and spent the time together that will continue to strengthen our marriage and rejuvinate both of us in our personal and work lives. Getting rained out was in no way a tragedy, but it could have easily led to resentments or hard feelings if we didn't work together to come up w/ and alternative plan that worked for both of us. As always, in our marriage, compromise and teamwork outweigh the preferences we each have. Vacations have a way of proving things to you about your family relationships. The expecations can be really high (unrealisticly many times) and things are boudn to go wrong on the way. Take a breath, remember why you're on the trip in the first place, and enjoy God's marvelous creation (including your spouse/kids/mother-in-law, etc.).