Downward Mobility
This is the message I preached on Mark 10:35-45 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Portville, NY, where I have the prprivilege of being the pastor. A few years ago, Monster.com had an advertising campaign featuring children saying: When I grow up, I want to file all day. I want to claw my way up to middle management…be replaced on a whim. I wanna be a yes man…yes woman…anything for a raise sir. When I grow up I want to be underappreciated…paid less for doing the same job. (Monster.com, You Tube, 1999) From the world’s perspective, who would want to strive to be or do any of these things? It is not the American dream. How often do we hear people tell children, “You can be anything you want to be! You may even be President one day!” Our human nature causes us to want to get ahead, be successful, and have the biggest, the brightest and the best. We desire upward mobility and we want recognition! -- So did Jesus’ disciples—at least the two of them that...