Mark 5:1-20 What scared you as a child? Was it the boogey man hiding under the bed or in the closet? Or going up into the dusty, creaky old attic? Or maybe it was the dimly lit, dank-smelling basement? At the age of 8, my family and I lived in a 100 year old houseContinue reading “Sometimes the Answer is “Other””
Author Archives: Rev. Nathan S. Busker, D.Min.
Dark and Deserted
Early in Jesus’ ministry we find him at Simon’s house healing the sick. Mark states that “the whole city was gathered around the door” (1:33). It appears Jesus was a hit. Regardless of the mission people can be exhausting. Even extroverts need a break every now and then. What does Jesus do? He doesn’t sleepContinue reading “Dark and Deserted”
Made Well to Serve
In the first chapter of Mark, Jesus called his disciples, taught and cast out an unclean spirit. I’ve been arguing that the events Mark recounts in his gospel are compiled to form us as disciples of Christ. They are not a written version of a video of how events transpired. The gospel writer includes theseContinue reading “Made Well to Serve”
Follow
“Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.” – Mark 1:20 (CEB) Before Jesus can teach us what it means to “fish for people” we have to be willing to follow. That requires us to leave behind those things we may hold dear.Continue reading “Follow”
Fishing
When I was twelve years old and living in rural Iowa I got into fishing. I had a fishing pole and some basic tackle. I would ride my bike to a local farmer’s pond and fish for large mouth bass. While I was not reeling in one fish after another, I did catch enough toContinue reading “Fishing”
Seeds of Risk
In late July, Kara and I drove to Jersey City to meet Stephany and Freydell for the first time. Our minds filled with questions as we drove down 208. What are we doing? Who are these girls that left their homes and risked their own lives to seek asylum in the United States? For usContinue reading “Seeds of Risk”
