Our small town of about 5,000 will regularly meet on Good Friday for "The walk of the cross". During this event we have various churches come together as a united group of believers to carry a large cross through town to remind others about the point behind Good Friday and the true meaning of Resurrection Sunday.
This year we started at our Salvation Army Corps in Homer, stopped half-way through town at the 7th Day Adventist church and then ended at the Homer Assembly of God. At each location we had just a couple scriptures, prayer, and a couple songs.
It was a good time of fellowship and walking with about 60 others who claim Jesus as their Savior. Just press the "play arrow" to listen to a portion of the meeting (songs were edited out). Lord Jesus may we never forget what you did for us on the cross.
Pictures will be posted below
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Captain's Good Friday Meditations
1st read these powerful words of reflection on the cross of Christ and the proper response of love for a Savior who would sacrificially face the cross for us...
I walked one day along a country road (Song Book #357 Alfred Ackley)
1. I walked one day along a country road, and there a stranger journeyed too; bent low beneath the burden of his load; It was a cross, a cross I knew.
Chorus: Take up thy cross and follow me, I hear the blessed Savior call; How can I make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave his all?
2. I cried: Lord Jesus! and he spoke my name; I saw his hands all bruised and torn; I stooped to kiss away the marks of shame, The shame for me that he had borne.
3. O let me bear thy cross dear Lord, I cried, and lo, a cross for me appeared; the one, forgotten, I had cast aside, The one so long that I had feared.
-------------------
2nd take time to read this...
A medical doctor provides a physical description of "and they crucified Him":
The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed.
The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet. As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep relentless, throbbing pain.
With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint wrenching cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber.
Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest asthepericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level-the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues and the tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in Small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues...Finally, he can allow his body to die...
All of this the Bible records with the simple words, "and they crucified Him," (Mark 15:24).
What wondrous love is this? Many people don't know that pain and suffering our Lord, Jesus Christ went through for us...because of the brutality; crucifixion was given as sentence to only its worst offenders of the law.
Thieves, murderers, and rapists would be the types of creeps who got crucified. Yet, here Jesus is being crucified between two hardened criminals...What did Jesus do? Did he murder anyone? Did he steal anything? The answer as we all know is NO!! Jesus did nothing to deserve this type of death, yet he went willing to die, in between 2 thieves, so that we might be saved. And there, in between the sinners, was our slain savior for our sins.
----------------------
Today you can find a relationship with God the Father by accepting by faith (trust in Jesus alone) what Jesus did on the cross for you. Jesus paid the fine and penalty for your sins, so that God's justice could be served, yet you could be set free.
If you repent of your sins (feel remorse for what they cost Jesus, confess them, and turn away from them to now live for God) you can claim a new relationship as a child of God.
If you ever want more information on what it is to have a relationship with God through Jesus, don't hesitate to contact me at The Salvation Army in Homer Alaska, or your local Salvation Army.
My email is Mark.Thielenhaus@usw.salvationarmy.org
Live holy, preach Jesus!
I walked one day along a country road (Song Book #357 Alfred Ackley)
1. I walked one day along a country road, and there a stranger journeyed too; bent low beneath the burden of his load; It was a cross, a cross I knew.
Chorus: Take up thy cross and follow me, I hear the blessed Savior call; How can I make a lesser sacrifice when Jesus gave his all?
2. I cried: Lord Jesus! and he spoke my name; I saw his hands all bruised and torn; I stooped to kiss away the marks of shame, The shame for me that he had borne.
3. O let me bear thy cross dear Lord, I cried, and lo, a cross for me appeared; the one, forgotten, I had cast aside, The one so long that I had feared.
-------------------
2nd take time to read this...
A medical doctor provides a physical description of "and they crucified Him":
The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly, he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed.
The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain - the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet. As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them deep relentless, throbbing pain.
With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subsided. Spasmodically, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint wrenching cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber.
Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest asthepericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compress the heart. It is now almost over. The loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level-the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues and the tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in Small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues...Finally, he can allow his body to die...
All of this the Bible records with the simple words, "and they crucified Him," (Mark 15:24).
What wondrous love is this? Many people don't know that pain and suffering our Lord, Jesus Christ went through for us...because of the brutality; crucifixion was given as sentence to only its worst offenders of the law.
Thieves, murderers, and rapists would be the types of creeps who got crucified. Yet, here Jesus is being crucified between two hardened criminals...What did Jesus do? Did he murder anyone? Did he steal anything? The answer as we all know is NO!! Jesus did nothing to deserve this type of death, yet he went willing to die, in between 2 thieves, so that we might be saved. And there, in between the sinners, was our slain savior for our sins.
----------------------
Today you can find a relationship with God the Father by accepting by faith (trust in Jesus alone) what Jesus did on the cross for you. Jesus paid the fine and penalty for your sins, so that God's justice could be served, yet you could be set free.
If you repent of your sins (feel remorse for what they cost Jesus, confess them, and turn away from them to now live for God) you can claim a new relationship as a child of God.
If you ever want more information on what it is to have a relationship with God through Jesus, don't hesitate to contact me at The Salvation Army in Homer Alaska, or your local Salvation Army.
My email is Mark.Thielenhaus@usw.salvationarmy.org
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A blessed Holy Thursday to you (Maundy Thursday).
Hello Soldiers, Friends, and Family,
Today we remember Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday). We recall Jesus last supper with His disciples, His amazing example of love and servanthood as He Himself washed the disciple's feet (and yes even Judas). We then recall His prayer in the garden as He prayed "not my will by Thine be done", while those closest too Him couldn't stay awake an hour to support Him in prayer.
Luke 6:40 Jesus says... A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Let's follow Jesus' example today as we reflect on His example.
He spent time with those closest to Him telling them to remember His supreme sacrifice (that we know is in the cross and His resurrection) every time they broke bread together.
He modeled true servanthood and commanded us to do the same while washing the feet of His disciples.
He prayed for each of us, and chose to do His Father's will over His human desire to avoid the hardship that was ahead.
Salvationists, soldiers, and followers of Jesus, reflect on this Holy Thursday and recommit yourself to selfless service, prayer, whole-hearted obedience, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Today we remember Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday). We recall Jesus last supper with His disciples, His amazing example of love and servanthood as He Himself washed the disciple's feet (and yes even Judas). We then recall His prayer in the garden as He prayed "not my will by Thine be done", while those closest too Him couldn't stay awake an hour to support Him in prayer.
Luke 6:40 Jesus says... A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Let's follow Jesus' example today as we reflect on His example.
He spent time with those closest to Him telling them to remember His supreme sacrifice (that we know is in the cross and His resurrection) every time they broke bread together.
He modeled true servanthood and commanded us to do the same while washing the feet of His disciples.
He prayed for each of us, and chose to do His Father's will over His human desire to avoid the hardship that was ahead.
Salvationists, soldiers, and followers of Jesus, reflect on this Holy Thursday and recommit yourself to selfless service, prayer, whole-hearted obedience, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Can you become holy?
Over the past few weeks it has become obvious that some in my corps don't view holiness the same way I (or the Salvation Army) understand it so I thought I'd use this article to stir up some discussion.
This article was written by Chris Bounds and Keith Drury in a blog from September 2003, both professors at Indiana Wesleyan University. Please feel free to comment - I'd love your thoughts.
Can You Become a “Fully Devoted Follower of Christ?
John Wesley, like many of the early church fathers before him, preached that it is possible in this life to experience God’s power in such a way that we are actually able to live a love-filled obedient life. He taught that through God’s power we could be enabled to actually obey the two greatest commandments—loving God completely and loving neighbor as ourselves. The term for this experience has shifted through the years and has included Perfect love, the Upper Room Experience, being filled with the Spirit, baptism with the Holy Ghost, the deeper life, the higher way, Entire Sanctification, and Holiness. The current edition of this ageless notion is probably best represented in the term, “Fully devoted follower of Christ.” So what do you think? Can a person become a fully devoted follower of Christ? In this life? Is it possible? If so, how? The following are the seven answers most common in today’s church.
1. Seek now and receive by faith. Becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ is possible right now for you and you are urged to seek this life now by consecrating your all to God and receiving this second work of grace now by faith. (Historically, this has been the view of the Holiness Movement as associated with Pheobe Palmer and The Wesleyan Church.)
2. Keep seeking until you receive. a fully devoted follower of Christ is possible before death or old age, but you cannot experience it just by asking and believing—God can cleanse and fill you in His own good timing and thus you should keep on seeking until God responds with a second work of grace enabling this life of power and purity. (Although John Wesley’s teaching here is greatly debated, many scholars would contend this was Wesley’s view.)
3. Gradual growth process. While it is possible to become a fully devoted follower of Christ in this life, it can be achieved only after many years of a gradual process of spiritual growth—putting off sin and putting on deeds of righteousness through Christ’s power. By putting sins to death and moving gradually closer to Christ you can eventually—usually after many years—become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Your job now is to follow the Spirit’s leading in one area at a time. (This is the generally held position of The United Methodist Church, at least those who take seriously their Methodism, such as Thomas C. Oden.)
4. A sustainable experience with momentary lapses. Becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ can be the normative experience in a believer’s life. The Holy Spirit enables a believer to suppress the sin nature and live in sustained victory over it. However, because the root of sin remains until death, there will be moments in which sin will cloud or diminish victory. Sin or disobedience is seen as an exception, rather than the rule of Christian living. (This is the classic understanding of holiness in Keswick theology.)
5. A momentary but unsustainable experience. Becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ can be experienced in moments or short periods of life, but can’t be sustained for the long haul. There are times when a believer can truly act out of the complete love of God and the love of neighbor, untainted by selfishness and pride, but the “old man” is too strong to be completely vanquished in life. (This would represent a modern evangelical Lutheran perspective, as seen in the work of Gerhard Forde. Some scholars would argue this was Martin Luther’s position.)
6. Worthy goal but impossible dream. While it is clearly impossible in this life to ever actually become a fully devoted follower of Christ you should head that direction anyway, trusting God to deliver you increasingly from sinful thoughts, words and deeds, and gradually to empower you in love—but you will never get there: you will never become fully devoted. Holiness is a journey of devotion—not a destination you ever actually achieve. (This view represents well the position of Reformed theology and can be seen in the work of John Calvin, Reinhold Niebuhr, J. I. Packer, and Sinclair Ferguson.)
7. Holiness of Christ. All humans—including Christians—are so sinful at the core that even becoming a partially devoted follower to Christ can’t even be achieved in this life—rather true Christians should confess our sinfulness and realize that God has imputed Christ’s righteousness to us—God can’t see my sinfulness, but sees only the holiness of Christ; holiness is about Christ, not me. (While this view enjoys some degree of popularity in contemporary evangelicalism, it has not been held historically by credible and respected orthodox theologians. Some have placed Martin Luther and/or John Calvin in this camp by focusing on their understanding of imputed righteousness. It may be that because Luther, and to a much lesser degree Calvin, focused so much attention on our objective standing before God, and he was preoccupied with it, his understanding of imparted righteousness has been missed or inadvertently dismissed by his theological heirs, leading to this perspective today. Luther’s primary focus was on justification, but he does address sanctification.)
-----------------------------
Which do you believe? What you believe will affect how you live so think about.
I look forward to your comments.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
This article was written by Chris Bounds and Keith Drury in a blog from September 2003, both professors at Indiana Wesleyan University. Please feel free to comment - I'd love your thoughts.
Can You Become a “Fully Devoted Follower of Christ?
John Wesley, like many of the early church fathers before him, preached that it is possible in this life to experience God’s power in such a way that we are actually able to live a love-filled obedient life. He taught that through God’s power we could be enabled to actually obey the two greatest commandments—loving God completely and loving neighbor as ourselves. The term for this experience has shifted through the years and has included Perfect love, the Upper Room Experience, being filled with the Spirit, baptism with the Holy Ghost, the deeper life, the higher way, Entire Sanctification, and Holiness. The current edition of this ageless notion is probably best represented in the term, “Fully devoted follower of Christ.” So what do you think? Can a person become a fully devoted follower of Christ? In this life? Is it possible? If so, how? The following are the seven answers most common in today’s church.
1. Seek now and receive by faith. Becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ is possible right now for you and you are urged to seek this life now by consecrating your all to God and receiving this second work of grace now by faith. (Historically, this has been the view of the Holiness Movement as associated with Pheobe Palmer and The Wesleyan Church.)
2. Keep seeking until you receive. a fully devoted follower of Christ is possible before death or old age, but you cannot experience it just by asking and believing—God can cleanse and fill you in His own good timing and thus you should keep on seeking until God responds with a second work of grace enabling this life of power and purity. (Although John Wesley’s teaching here is greatly debated, many scholars would contend this was Wesley’s view.)
3. Gradual growth process. While it is possible to become a fully devoted follower of Christ in this life, it can be achieved only after many years of a gradual process of spiritual growth—putting off sin and putting on deeds of righteousness through Christ’s power. By putting sins to death and moving gradually closer to Christ you can eventually—usually after many years—become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Your job now is to follow the Spirit’s leading in one area at a time. (This is the generally held position of The United Methodist Church, at least those who take seriously their Methodism, such as Thomas C. Oden.)
4. A sustainable experience with momentary lapses. Becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ can be the normative experience in a believer’s life. The Holy Spirit enables a believer to suppress the sin nature and live in sustained victory over it. However, because the root of sin remains until death, there will be moments in which sin will cloud or diminish victory. Sin or disobedience is seen as an exception, rather than the rule of Christian living. (This is the classic understanding of holiness in Keswick theology.)
5. A momentary but unsustainable experience. Becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ can be experienced in moments or short periods of life, but can’t be sustained for the long haul. There are times when a believer can truly act out of the complete love of God and the love of neighbor, untainted by selfishness and pride, but the “old man” is too strong to be completely vanquished in life. (This would represent a modern evangelical Lutheran perspective, as seen in the work of Gerhard Forde. Some scholars would argue this was Martin Luther’s position.)
6. Worthy goal but impossible dream. While it is clearly impossible in this life to ever actually become a fully devoted follower of Christ you should head that direction anyway, trusting God to deliver you increasingly from sinful thoughts, words and deeds, and gradually to empower you in love—but you will never get there: you will never become fully devoted. Holiness is a journey of devotion—not a destination you ever actually achieve. (This view represents well the position of Reformed theology and can be seen in the work of John Calvin, Reinhold Niebuhr, J. I. Packer, and Sinclair Ferguson.)
7. Holiness of Christ. All humans—including Christians—are so sinful at the core that even becoming a partially devoted follower to Christ can’t even be achieved in this life—rather true Christians should confess our sinfulness and realize that God has imputed Christ’s righteousness to us—God can’t see my sinfulness, but sees only the holiness of Christ; holiness is about Christ, not me. (While this view enjoys some degree of popularity in contemporary evangelicalism, it has not been held historically by credible and respected orthodox theologians. Some have placed Martin Luther and/or John Calvin in this camp by focusing on their understanding of imputed righteousness. It may be that because Luther, and to a much lesser degree Calvin, focused so much attention on our objective standing before God, and he was preoccupied with it, his understanding of imparted righteousness has been missed or inadvertently dismissed by his theological heirs, leading to this perspective today. Luther’s primary focus was on justification, but he does address sanctification.)
-----------------------------
Which do you believe? What you believe will affect how you live so think about.
I look forward to your comments.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Straight talk from Proverbs 21:3
Hello soldiers & friends,
Mark Twain said something like, "it's not the parts of the bible I don't understand that I have a problem with... it's the parts I do"
So here is just a quick word from Proverbs 21:3 which reads, "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
More than all the "stuff" you could give God (like He needs our stuff?), God would most appreciate you simply doing what is right, just, and obedient to His Word.
Have you done everything you know God has asked you to? If not, give God the gift of your obedience today.
Live holy, Preach Jesus!
Mark Twain said something like, "it's not the parts of the bible I don't understand that I have a problem with... it's the parts I do"
So here is just a quick word from Proverbs 21:3 which reads, "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
More than all the "stuff" you could give God (like He needs our stuff?), God would most appreciate you simply doing what is right, just, and obedient to His Word.
Have you done everything you know God has asked you to? If not, give God the gift of your obedience today.
Live holy, Preach Jesus!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday's Sermon - Preparing for Resurrection Sunday
Hello all & and blessed Palm Sunday to all of you in the "salvosphere",
Due to a recording error my sermon wasn't recorded. For a manuscript of the teaching and a notes page simply go to the sermonplayer at the far bottom of this blog site. Next to the sermon title you will find a button for a downloadable pdf.
I ought to have an audio of my sermon working again next week.
----
Here are just some thoughts on my heart today...
Make sure you prepare your hearts and minds for this Holy week as we remember all that Christ did on our behalf so that we might have abundant life.
One praise from the church today was a young person testifying, "I praise God I am extremely saved!" - May we who have been touched by the Holy Spirit not only testify to our salvation, but to our sanctification. We serve a God who died and rose again to save us to the uttermost.
As Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, some "religious leaders" told Jesus to have His disciples be quiet. Jesus' response was that if they were quiet, the rocks would cry out. God has designed us as the vessels by which the good news of Jesus is proclaimed, so be about your duty this week... tell someone that Jesus lived, died, and rose again as to make a way for us to be forgiven, only by faith (trusting in Jesus alone) can we know God, be acceptable for heaven, and be equipped to live Holy NOW.
Make sure you don't prepare to just see an "easter bunny bringing colored eggs and chocolate". Instead let's prepare to meet our Lord and Savior. If you really expected God Himself to show up at your Corps (or church) this next Sunday morning would it effect how you went to church? Here is the truth, God Himself does plan to meet you at church next Sunday, He is Risen, until we see Him physically we have His Holy Spirit to meet with us in a real and personal way. Prepare to meet with Jesus every day this week.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Due to a recording error my sermon wasn't recorded. For a manuscript of the teaching and a notes page simply go to the sermonplayer at the far bottom of this blog site. Next to the sermon title you will find a button for a downloadable pdf.
I ought to have an audio of my sermon working again next week.
----
Here are just some thoughts on my heart today...
Make sure you prepare your hearts and minds for this Holy week as we remember all that Christ did on our behalf so that we might have abundant life.
One praise from the church today was a young person testifying, "I praise God I am extremely saved!" - May we who have been touched by the Holy Spirit not only testify to our salvation, but to our sanctification. We serve a God who died and rose again to save us to the uttermost.
As Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, some "religious leaders" told Jesus to have His disciples be quiet. Jesus' response was that if they were quiet, the rocks would cry out. God has designed us as the vessels by which the good news of Jesus is proclaimed, so be about your duty this week... tell someone that Jesus lived, died, and rose again as to make a way for us to be forgiven, only by faith (trusting in Jesus alone) can we know God, be acceptable for heaven, and be equipped to live Holy NOW.
Make sure you don't prepare to just see an "easter bunny bringing colored eggs and chocolate". Instead let's prepare to meet our Lord and Savior. If you really expected God Himself to show up at your Corps (or church) this next Sunday morning would it effect how you went to church? Here is the truth, God Himself does plan to meet you at church next Sunday, He is Risen, until we see Him physically we have His Holy Spirit to meet with us in a real and personal way. Prepare to meet with Jesus every day this week.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Palm Sunday - If you're a donkey, Jesus makes all the difference.
Hello sodiers and friends,
Just in case you missed church today "Palm Sunday", for whatever reason from your health to the volcanic ash, here is a Palm Sunday thought from a few years back. (don't forget to check out today's sermon posted tomorrow)
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is such an important event in the life of Jesus, and for us as believers, that it is recorded in all 4 of the Gospels, but today to look at Luke 19:28-40 (take time to read it).
Let's think about the donkey a minute.
Donkeys play an important part in Scripture. A donkey that taught Balaam a valuable lesson. A donkey carried Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. A donkey that carried the baby Jesus into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. Now in the last part of Jesus life we see a donkey carrying Him in His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Horses are beautiful animals with coats that shine in the sun. They have flowing manes that ripple in the breeze, and long graceful legs that eat up the miles. They have soft eyes, and even their breath make a sound that radiates power & strength. They walk with a dignity and are a picture of power, but not a donkey…
A donkey’s hair looks like ours does when we get up in the morning, their tail is unkempt and the mane is nothing beautiful to behold. Donkey ears are big and floppy and his braying sound is more like laughing than a huff of power, yet on the road to Jerusalem this little donkey hears the people shouting, "Hosanna!" and sees the crowds of people spreading their cloaks on the road before him.
I read someone’s writing that said, “I wonder if the donkey thought the parade was for him.”
Donkey’s aren’t supposed to be in parades…, even today in parades we see people on horseback, not donkeys. Here though this donkey appears to be the focal point of attention. Why? Because he is carrying the King of Kings, & the Lord of Lords.
Tomorrow the donkey will be in the corral again. But today he is the head of a parade of vicotory, because of Jesus. Today he is where the horse would usually be. Today he is the prancing stallion carrying the victor to his throne. Jesus made all the difference!
Jesus does make all the difference.
Do you ever have any donkey like attributes? (yes you do) Most of us aren’t the most amazing looking symbols of power and dignity. More often than not I feel smaller, less significant, and sometimes even more stubborn than others around me. If you feel like me then you should get this point.... Jesus makes all the difference.
Just like the donkey, we don’t deserve a parade for how great we are, when you let Jesus come into your life and rule the throne of your heart, He makes all the difference.
Today as you spend some time in worship of Jesus, and as you reflect on the upcoming rememberance of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, remember that we don't live our lives to have crowds cheer for us, we must live to walk with Jesus, ever pointing others to the fact that He is our Lord and Savior.
Don't just be a donkey today, use every opportunity to show Jesus to the world.
Only Jesus saves from sin, sinning, and hell TO holiness, abundant life, and heaven. Don't be a donkey, give your life to Jesus and live every moment for His glory. Jesus makes all the difference.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Just in case you missed church today "Palm Sunday", for whatever reason from your health to the volcanic ash, here is a Palm Sunday thought from a few years back. (don't forget to check out today's sermon posted tomorrow)
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is such an important event in the life of Jesus, and for us as believers, that it is recorded in all 4 of the Gospels, but today to look at Luke 19:28-40 (take time to read it).
Let's think about the donkey a minute.
Donkeys play an important part in Scripture. A donkey that taught Balaam a valuable lesson. A donkey carried Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem. A donkey that carried the baby Jesus into Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. Now in the last part of Jesus life we see a donkey carrying Him in His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Horses are beautiful animals with coats that shine in the sun. They have flowing manes that ripple in the breeze, and long graceful legs that eat up the miles. They have soft eyes, and even their breath make a sound that radiates power & strength. They walk with a dignity and are a picture of power, but not a donkey…
A donkey’s hair looks like ours does when we get up in the morning, their tail is unkempt and the mane is nothing beautiful to behold. Donkey ears are big and floppy and his braying sound is more like laughing than a huff of power, yet on the road to Jerusalem this little donkey hears the people shouting, "Hosanna!" and sees the crowds of people spreading their cloaks on the road before him.
I read someone’s writing that said, “I wonder if the donkey thought the parade was for him.”
Donkey’s aren’t supposed to be in parades…, even today in parades we see people on horseback, not donkeys. Here though this donkey appears to be the focal point of attention. Why? Because he is carrying the King of Kings, & the Lord of Lords.
Tomorrow the donkey will be in the corral again. But today he is the head of a parade of vicotory, because of Jesus. Today he is where the horse would usually be. Today he is the prancing stallion carrying the victor to his throne. Jesus made all the difference!
Jesus does make all the difference.
Do you ever have any donkey like attributes? (yes you do) Most of us aren’t the most amazing looking symbols of power and dignity. More often than not I feel smaller, less significant, and sometimes even more stubborn than others around me. If you feel like me then you should get this point.... Jesus makes all the difference.
Just like the donkey, we don’t deserve a parade for how great we are, when you let Jesus come into your life and rule the throne of your heart, He makes all the difference.
Today as you spend some time in worship of Jesus, and as you reflect on the upcoming rememberance of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, remember that we don't live our lives to have crowds cheer for us, we must live to walk with Jesus, ever pointing others to the fact that He is our Lord and Savior.
Don't just be a donkey today, use every opportunity to show Jesus to the world.
Only Jesus saves from sin, sinning, and hell TO holiness, abundant life, and heaven. Don't be a donkey, give your life to Jesus and live every moment for His glory. Jesus makes all the difference.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
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