Have you ever gone back to your hometown after being away for a few years?  Sometimes those visits are wonderful, but often they can be disappointing or even painful.  Perhaps you expect people to be very glad to see you, but then your interactions don't quite live up to that.  Maybe you're just reminded of how glad you are that you left and have made a new life somewhere else.  This Sunday's passage sees Jesus going to His hometown where He has a bad experience trying to bring His ministry and teaching back to the people He grew up with.  They're offended and they act offensively, and they prove the old saying that familiarity breeds contempt.  But then Mark moves right into an account of Jesus sending the disciples out on their own, and so we have a story of wild success coming right after a story of failure.  It will be an interesting contrast, but a great passage to explore together.  Enjoy the snow and the days off of school while it lasts!

-Dave