Mark 13:3-13- The need for us to keep focused
   Randi and others of us were a little overwhelmed by the thought of having to preach on this passage, but James actually find that this is not a passage about the end times, but about evil times and he finds a message of hope in the midst.
There are bad things. But they are going to happen and we must proclaim the good news in the midst.
The clip for this message was from Million Dollar Baby. It is about a woman who could have given up but didn’t despite others who tried to cut her down. She knew what she was made for and what her reasoning for continuing with her dream.
James reminds us not to short change ourselves, others, and God even when things are difficult. Jesus warned the disciples that it would be difficult and yet challenges them to live what they are passionate about and that ought to be the good news. We can appreciate that honesty even though it makes us gulp.
He, like many of us, has never found his faith to be a crutch. It is difficult and challenges us to think about what we are doing. We may not face the kind of challenges warned about and maybe you have not found your faith to be a challenge in your life or your life to be a challenge to your faith.
The whole point of this passage is to keep our focus no matter what. It is about proclaiming our love for Jesus in our everyday life, all the time. James hopes that we can grab hold of this hope and be passionate about the good news that Jesus came to Earth and stays with us each day to walk with us out of love. This is a religion about dos- love one another, we are free to do and the don’t that do exist are all about not hurting ourselves and others.
God loves us. Let that shape you. Proclaim the good news. That is the message this week and always.
