I regret that the face of Christianity especially to observers like Mark appears as he has described it.  Jesus was an amazing Teacher as Mark observed, and His teachings convict me daily.  Sadly, the public face of the faith today is more seen on T.V. than in the quiet ways of service that many of us know of in inner cities of this country and the ministry to the "least of these" in desperate conditions around the world.  Would Mark consider a trip with World Vision I wonder? or the ministry of Living Water that builds water wells in communities in Africa that have no clean water? Perhaps there he would be encouraged to see the sacrificial lives of folks committed to the teaching of Jesus.