Glad to be with you. We had some technical difficulties last week, but I am ready to work today. The sermon text is familiar for Sunday AM (The healing story of Blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52). This is the very last healing story in the book of Mark before Jesus would enter the Passion Week.
What is remarkable about this story is that we remember Bartimaeus' name. Think about how many healing stories in the Bible. Think about how many people are healed by Jesus, but yet they are mentioned no further (woman bleeding, man with dropsy, the paralyzed man whose friend let him down through the roof, the 10 lepers, etc.) All are great stories, but yet none contain names.
Why do we know Bartimaeus' name? The answer is in the last sentence of the text, "And immediately, he [Bartimaeus] followed him [Jesus] along the way." Do you know what that means? It means that Bartimaeus followed Jesus to Jerusalem and beyond. He became a disciple of Christ. The rest of the healing narratives end with people walking away and living their own lives. Bartimaeus began to live a life of gratitude to Christ for what He had done for him.
With that said, how do you live your life? Did you get your "fire insurance salvation" only to walk away from Jesus and wait to see Him again in the sweet by and bay? Or did your whole life change when you met Jesus, and as a result, you live a different life now that is marked with following Him daily? Think on these things as you prepare your hearts for worship Sunday.
Don't forget, we have Sunday night service this week. The message there is "The gift of failure" Luke 22:31-34; 54-60. We also have Trunk or Treat on Halloween Night beginning at 5:30. I hope you'll be there.
Thanks for reading my musings,
Josh
Sports Corner
Great games on the schedule this week:
Georgia Southern, Tech, and Falcons all win. Now to the world's largest outdoor cocktail party...UGA is going to get all it wants when they face UF. Florida is not the same passing team that we remember in the years gone by...they have become a power running team under Will Muschamp. Honestly, this game could go either way. UGA got massacred by USC (East), and then played poorly at UK. There are very little expectations for a win. UF is #2 in the BCS and seem to be clicking on all cylinders. UF is simply hot.
Even though my heart is breaking, I have to think that UF will win this week. Let's just hope I am wrong. (34-20).