Holy Week...Friday

Today is Friday...
Jesus has endured several trials during the night and morning, all of which were illegal and unfair.
He has been mercilessly treated by arrogant handlers throughout the ordial.
His power was demonstrated once again in the garden when all the soldiers fell to the ground, yet He submitted to the plan.
Beatings...spitting...and that horrible picture that we have all been reminded of by "The Passion of Christ" The sad truth is Jesus was likely unrecognizable by the time the beatings were over.
The long painful walk down the Via Dolorosa (Way of suffering) carrying that cross.
As if all that's not enough...the nails in the hands and feet...the thorns on His head and the spear in His side...
It's a dark moment... in fact it was dark for several hours as the Father was forced to turn His face from the Son. Wow! What sacrifice.

It's Friday......... But listen carefully.... SUNDAY IS COMING!!!

Holy Week...Thursday

I have stood in a room that some believe is the upper room where Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples that Thursday night.
I have knelt in the garden of Gethsemene near a tree that very likely was there that night that Jesus prayed there. From that garden I could see the Eastern gate to the old city.
I slipped off my shoes and socks and walked bare foot up the stone stairs to Caiaphas' porch where Jesus walked that night.
I have stared at the stone floor of the place where some believe Jesus was condemned to death.

I closed my eyes at each place and tried desperately to imagine what it was like that night. Jesus had so very much to say on that last day with His disciples. The promise of the Holy Spirit...the Vine and the branches... that His joy may remain in us and that our joy might be made complete.

Maunday Thursday, as we call it, oh what a day... my life is enhanced because I have been in those places where Jesus was, but my life is enriched because the Jesus of those places is in me.

Holy Week...Wednesday

Wednesday was the day before celebrating Passover. If you study the week that Jesus was crucified you will find something recorded each day from Palm Sunday to Friday except for Wednesday. Nothing is shared with us about Jesus' activity on that day. I have always wondered about His activity on Wednesday.

I truly believe that most, if not all, of that day was spent in prayer. I believe Jesus was spending the day with His Father. Maybe He spent a little of personal time with each disciple. Maybe He spent some time with some children. Maybe He spent some of that time making arrangements for the passover supper on Thursday.

Well, I don't know but I feel pretty comfortable with the idea that much of the day was spent in prayer.

I spent some time in prayer this morning for a dentist... exactly at the time he was wrestling with the root system of one of my teeth.

The pain has been pretty intense today but once again nothing like what Jesus would experience in just a few hours.

My Jesus spent lots of time in prayer ... leaving us an example of how to face our every day.

Holy Week...Tuesday

Tomorrow morning I am having a tooth pulled. I hope pulled and not cut, yanked and jerked out of there. I have a feeling the roots will fight to stay put. But I genrally do not do well with teeth extractions and such. So, I have battled to not stress out, reminding myself of the scripture that says "Be anxious for nothing..." but I think my translation says "...except for tooth extractions"

Just a moment ago when I was silently whining to myself and then telling my oldest daughter Toni (I know that's gonna mess with some of you) about my appointment, something pretty heavy occurred to me.

It is Tuesday of Holy week and in a few hours I am having a tooth pulled which may produce some pain and discomfort. I cannot imagine how Jesus was feeling on Tuesday. Just a couple more days to really reach out to the world around Him.... then pain and suffering that has no measure... and why... for me! and for you!

The Bible says in the night he went into the Mount of Olives to pray.

It's Tuesday and the time is indeed short.

Holy week...Monday

The Monday after the Sunday of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What must Jesus be thinking today. Yesterday he declared the stones were capable of crying out praises to Him if men did not. Some times, I'm afraid I can almost hear stones clearing their throats.
The Lord inhabits the praise of His people. Oh, how we should praise Him!

Yesterday the temple was cleansed as Jesus turned over the money tables. Is there something in my heart ...in your heart... that Jesus needs to turn over, to cleanse you...me...of.
He is teaching every day... can we learn from Him?

His disciples, what are they thinking, they seemed so dazed. His Father, anticipating the hours of turning His face from His Son.

It is Monday and just a few days left before the world is turned upside down.

For you & I, is it much the same? Only a few days left? How much longer, Lord Jesus? How many more days?
Work while it is yet day, for the night is coming!

Happy Atheist Day

So, Just wanted to wish every body a Happy Atheist Day!!!

What, you didn't know atheist had their own national day? Well, it is today, April 1st.
Today is "April Fools' Day" right?
And Psalm 14:1 says "The fool has said in his heart, There is no God."

Hope you all have a great day!

Say What?

I recently was shown a book that one of our "THIRD GRADERS" from church brought home from school that had language and subject matter that would require a movie to be rated at least PG-13.
I was truly surprised even though I don't know why anything surprises me any more. I will not even give you the first letters of the words used because I really don't need to. In fact you already know the words I am referring to.

Now remember, I said a third grader...not high school or middle school but ELEMENTARY school.

Then yesterday, I sat out at the ball field for five hours watching J.V. and Varsity baseball. I didn't hear one teenager or adult use any offensive language what soever, for which I am very grateful. HOWEVER, they play music between innings and between games on loudspeakers, one of which was right in front of where I was sitting (did I mention LOUD music). I do not know who chooses the music that is played but the only bad language I heard was from those songs. Most of the words used were words that we may not consider terribly offensive, though still unnecessary, there were a couple that made me cringe.

Of course if I say anything in public, I am simply the old, cranky, old fashion, fundamental, intolerant, extremist that wants to complain about everything.

Funny thing, I would have never dreamed as I was growing older that any of those words above would ever be used to describe me. Isn't life funny?

Well, garbage in garbage out... freely feeding that language to our kids even in a school atmosphere and school property... should we wonder what the verbal out come will be for many of them.

Okay, I'm going to take a swig of geritol and prune juice now and go lay down for a spell...before I HAVE one. (A spell that is)