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The Lord's Prediction

“When you hear of wars and rumored wars, 
keep your head and don’t panic. 
This is routine history, and no sign of the end.”

For five years I worked at a boy’s summer camp as an assistant riding instructor.

I had a great deal of respect for him because he not only taught me about riding and teaching but also drew me into a greater maturity.

I loved him for his teaching and mentoring at a significant time in my life.

In the Spring I learned he would not be returning to camp and there would be a new instructor.

That was a Summer of adjustment and grief.

Two summers later I was asked to be the camp riding instructor.

I knew that would be a great responsibility and wanted to do my best as his protégé.

Without him there, it wasn't easy to recall and practice his teaching.

I would imagine the disciples experienced similar feelings and questions.

Without Jesus there physically with them, what did it mean to follow him?

What, if anything, changed in being a disciple? 

Mark, the Gospel writer, uses the example of the Temple destroyed in the future and doomsday deceivers claiming to be the Messiah.

These doomsday deceivers will spread wild conspiracy theories and try to find the exact time of the destruction.

In this confusion, Mark reminds the disciples to keep their heads and not panic, it’s routine history.

What the disciples are to do is continue Jesus’ teachings stay awake and pray.

It seems to me that the challenge of our chaotic times calls us to keep our heads, not panic, and stay awake and pray.


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