Mark 10:35-45 Dear Partner in Preaching, I don’t know about you, but I find the irony of this story as painful as it is abundant. Actually, make that plural: ironies. First, and lest we forget the verses just before these, James and John make their secret request to Jesus for greatness just after his third – and most graphic – declaration that he will go to Jerusalem where, among other things, the religious authorities will “mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him.” Just what kind of glory are you thinking he’ll be giving you, James and John? Second, two will indeed be seated at Jesus’ right and left in just...

A quick note, Dear Partner, that it’s not too late to register for this year’s Preaching Days with five fabulous presenters and lots of great workshops. It’s going to be great. I hope you can join us!   Dear Partner in Preaching, Who will you serve? I don’t know if you got a prickly feeling when reading that question or whether you read over it quickly enough not to notice how much it runs against our grain. Either way, I’ll ask it again: who will you serve? As a culture and species, we tend to prize freedom…and accomplishment…and autonomy…and self-determination…and… And the list could go on. Which is...