Consider this

 The resurrection is not just a nice ending to Jesus' life story, it changes our life story in two areas (if we let it).  

 If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, then these two pictures from the night before Jesus' crucifixion say a lot. In fact, together they tell the good news in miniature form.  

                   “Is that a Sun Ice?”                “Excuse me,” I said.                My friend pointed to my new ski jacket and asked again, “Is that a Sun Ice?”                It was 1991 and Sun Ice was the big name in ski wear at the time.   “No” I replied, “I can’t afford one of those”.                “Oh” he said as he lost interest and then just walked away.                I had not seen this friend in more than a year and, sadly, his first question was not, “How are you doing?” or “How is your first year in Estevan going?” but rather, “Is that an expensive coat or just a cheap knock-off?”   It was an odd and disturbing interaction. One that I still remember 33 years later. It is easy to believe that our worth is determined by how much money we make, where we have been or what we own, but that is not an accur

 Everyone struggles. That is just a fact. Some struggle with huge life issues. Others struggle with issues that are huge to them. No one has it all together. Jesus wants to help us heal and grow, but that happens best when certain conditions are in place. How do we put ourselves in the best position to be blessed by God? Mark 8 gives us some good reminders.  

 It is easy to evaluate our life the way everyone else does. It is easy to define success in only one way. But what if that way is wrong? What if the story we are telling ourselves isn't the right one? What if something important is still missing? We need a better story to tell.  

 Jesus spent three years trying to teach his followers some basic life lessons. They did not understand! Interestingly, we struggle with the same lessons. However, life would go better if we could learn and live the things that Jesus taught. Here are three life lessons worth knowing.  

                 The disciples saw the problem and then Jesus made it worse.   A huge crowd has spent the entire day in a remote area listening to Jesus preach.   As nightfall came, the disciples urged Jesus to let the people go so that they could find something to eat.   “You give them something to eat” Jesus replied.   That seemed ridiculous!   More than five thousand people had gathered to hear Jesus.   The disciples replied that giving each person even a little bread would take more than eight months' wages.   You likely know the rest of the story.   Jesus took what they had, five loaves of bread and two fish, multiplied it and fed all the people with lots left over (Mark 6:30-44). The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).   It has been used to remin