Grand openings are always big events – fireworks, balloons, bouncy houses – all ways to grab attention. Come, look here! Something new is happening!

While Paul was on his third missionary tour through Greece and Asia Minor, he was preaching salvation through Jesus Christ in the city of Ephesus. This was cutting into the profits of Demetrius and other Ephesian craftsmen whose business was making silver statues of the goddess Artemis to visitors to the temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

Paul has finished his third missionary tour – a four-year trip into Asia Minor and Greece – and ended his journey in Jerusalem. Some Jewish religious leaders who vehemently opposed his message about Jesus Christ stirred up a mob that almost tore Paul to pieces. Roman soldiers had to intervene

Early in March, a Russian “transhumanist and life extensionist” named Alex Turchin published his plan for brining people back to life. He calls it a “technological resurrection.” We only need to build a Dyson sphere to make it happen. Then we can upload people’s memories onto computers for later “resurrection.”

Imagine you are on a first date. It is a blind date because you swiped right on Tinder. You’ve never met this person before so dinner is a little awkward. You ask question and you tell stories as you get to know each other better.

The opposition against Jesus is mounting. The devil has sent his demonic horde to torture poor souls in Galilee and Judea. The money changers in Jerusalem hope to never see Jesus again. Mark tells us that two new enemies join the conflict.