Stones...

"If these were silent, the stones would cry out!" proclaims Jesus to the Pharisees as they demanded His disciples cease their "Hosannas!" Luke 19:37-40

During the course of Holy week, we see the disciples fall away one by one. No longer courageous followers but meek and fearful...What if they remember me? They might imprision or worse, kill me too! Why has it gone this far? Why does Jesus not call upon His Father for help? Why doesn't He protect us? I can't say all these questions went through their minds...but given their actions, it would not be surprising.

On Palm Sunday Christ entered Jerusalem to loud Hosannas...Bravely and boldly the disciples followed Him as He rode into town. But things turned ugly and they didn't know what to do. Even though He had warned them, more than once...they just weren't ready! So they fade into the background...less conspicuous that way. No longer singing Jesus' praises. But there were others. Regular people who, by their words and actions, take the place of the disciples to become the "stones who cry out" in Scripture...

**Blind Bartimaeus, who found his way to the road in order to be there when Jesus passed by...he cried "Have mercy!"
**The woman who anoints Jesus with Nard. We do not know her name but we know she stepped out in faith to prepare His body.
**The servant girl in the court of Caiaphas (again, no name) but she is the one who pointed out Peter as a follower of Jesus. She had a part to play in his first denial.
**Pilate's Wife who spoke out concerning a dream..."Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." (Matthew 27:19)
**The Women at the Crucifixion...Mary Magdelene, Mary the mother of James and others who had followed Jesus and attended His needs. They did not leave Him in His final hours but sat at the foot of the cross, even at their own peril.
**The Centurion who watched Him die. "Surely this man was the Son of God" (Mark 15:39)
**Joseph of Arimathea who went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus body (Mark 15:43). Not timid, not grovelling, not begging...BOLDLY as a follower of Christ.

There were more who are barely mentioned in the Bible and others whose stories are lost in time. Those who became the stones and cried out "Hosanna" in Jesus' last hours on earth.

Intelligent Conversations...

Don't you wish you knew what they were saying to one another? Makes me smile all over!

Lent...

Today on Busted Halo's Lenten Calendar we see the following:


March 30th, 2011
Strength and Wisdom are not opposing values. — Bill Clinton




FAST from using your strength to affect other people negatively.



PRAY for wisdom in our leaders at this time.



GIVE at least 30 minutes of physical activity today.

Mental Illness

I grew up in a family that included persons with mental illnesses. Of course my opinion was a little warped as a child because in those days the only treatment for Manic Depression was Shock Therapy. I haven't researched the treatment thoroughly but I do know it didn't help.

It was drilled into our heads that this was something to keep to ourselves. It was spoken about in hushed tones...don't let the neighbors find out. If they did, we would be shunned. Isn't it a shame that the things most needed by those suffering (love, acceptance and support) were the things denied? Anyone with mental illness was made to feel as if they were second class at best...unreliable, untrustworthy and tainted at the worst.

I would love to say that today, because of research, treatments and enlightenment, things have changed...but have they? How do you view mental illness? Does it make you uncomfortable? Why? It's not like it's contagious...and even though you cannot see the symptoms (as you would with a broken leg or after a surgery), they are very real.

Please view the videos below...Comic Relief in the UK is working to provide funds to help those in need...and they do a good job of speaking out...It is time to change!

Lent...

Do you get excited when the calendar rolls around to Ash Wednesday the way you do the first Sunday of Advent? Is there the anticipation of the 40 days that we are called to penitence, sacrifice, contemplation that there is while we await the birth of the Christ child?

Between the two, if you had to make a choice, would it be Advent or Lent? I suspect an overwhelming majority would say Advent...after all, what is more fun in the church year than the anticipation of Christmas? That being said, which do we need more? Advent or Lent?

Have you ever stopped to think that Advent is a celebration but Lent is a gift God gives to show us the Meaning of Life...God Himself? Perhaps we are meant to take our eyes off all the distractions of our lives and focus on the One who brought us Salvation through the cross. He calls us to look with an open heart and clear eyes so as to remember that we are His children. We are the ones He loves...we are His treasures. Not because of any great thing we have done, but because in His eyes we have value, we are worthy of His Love (even though it so very hard for us to believe).

During the season of Lent, God prepares us to once again behold His mighty love through the actions of His Son and our Brother, Jesus Christ. This is not a gift one can receive without preparation...Lent is our time to get ready.

Come ye Sinners...

The Wesley Singers from Tennessee Tech University visited our church recently...they sang beautifully...



Although this is not their version, I felt the need to share the song...what an appropriate choice for the Lenten season!

Ummmm....

Just about the time you think you've seen and heard it all...



Not judging...just wondering...