Month: April 2009

  • Happy Palm Sunday

    When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees . . . and began to shout, Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord....Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip...Sir, we wish to see Jesus.
    John 12:12-21 

    The crowds were eager to see Jesus. They greeted Him shouting loud praises! He had raised Lazarus from the dead, and this was a moment of great celebration. It could have seemed like a great triumph for Jesus, but He understood what was really taking place, and what was truly important.

    In the midst of the joyous festivities, Jesus was approached by some Greeks. In His remarks, Jesus did not talk like a conqueror or king. He did not speak about power, glory, or a movement. Instead, He spoke about being a servant. Rather than talking about life, He talked about death.

    Jesusâ message was simple: He had committed everything to doing the will of the Father and completing His workâeven if this meant death. If these Greeks wanted to bear spiritual fruit in their lives, they too needed to commit everything to serving God...to obeying Him without reservation, no matter the cost...and to understanding they needed to be servants. They needed to understand that God honors servants and rewards those who give up everything in order to serve Him.

    Palm Sunday reminds us of the importance of praising Jesus. But it also reminds us of the importance of committing everything in our lives to following Himâseeking first the Kingdom of God rather than worrying about personal popularity. And it reminds us to be a servant.

    We have the kids wave palms today.  What does your church do for Palm Sunday?

     

  • Curiosity

    Curiosity
    Curiosity was the one ruling passion of Leonardo da Vinci, according to art historian Kenneth Clark. It was this curiosity that helped da Vinci become one of history's greatest innovators. His passion was to explore, to draw, and to invent. Clark called him "the most relentlessly curious man in history. Everything he saw made him ask how and why."

    Curiosity is sometimes a beneficial motivation. It has inspired scientists to innovate and dig for new discoveries. It has moved people to brave danger and explore new territories. It has fueled personal growth.

    But curiosity also can be damaging, and God wants us to be alert to its dangers. He knows that curiosity often has led people to dabble in activities and lifestyles that are harmful and ungodly, or to listen to ideas that lead them astray. 


    Reagan
    I just love the book, "When Character was King", about President Ronald Reagan.  It goes through his life and shows how he recieved his character.  It came from his Mom.  Right now the book is telling about his time in Hollywood.  Reagan really fought against what he thought of as evil that tried to get into Hollywood.  Makes me wonder what America would be like if he would of won that battle. 

  • Today

    I'm off today but I'm not off today.  Kim had to take our Grandson to the Doctor in Sioux Falls.  I have the day care kids, our foster kids and a brother to our foster girl.  Ricky is planning on helping.  I'm enjoying some pre kid time now that I have Kalli on the bus. 

  • Bach

    Even in his youth, Johann Sebastian Bach proved to be a man of commitment and conviction. He had a strong personality, yet always was grounded by his unshakable Christian faith. Although demonstrating rare musical abilities, his uncompromising standards sometimes led to conflicts.

    We see this in 1707 when Bach, just 22 years old, accepted a position in Mahlhausen, near the center of Germany. As with most Germanic cities, the church was the center of civic life, and there were clear expectations for church music. But Bach felt governed by higher principles that could not be compromised.

    These issues came to a head in February 1708, when he composed a cantata marking the annual change in town leadership. The music was a success, but no one seemed to grasp Bach's subtle message: His one Master was God Himself. He hinted at this in his title: "God Is My King"Bach began by quoting Psalm 74, and only toward the end mentioned our new government."

    But Bach resigned a few months later, feeling he couldn't flourish in this environment. He explained that it had been his intention to advance music in the divine service toward its very end and purpose, to honor God and improve the church music.

    Throughout his life, Bach set standards for excellence that still inspire us. Others might disagree with his views or not like his music, but everyone knew that God was his King.

    "Yet God is my king from of old, who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth." Psalm 74:12 NASB