Palm Sunday: Palms Down not Hands Out

Mark chapter 11 verses 1-10 give an account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus came to the outside of the Jerusalem and as he rested he told his disciples to go and get a donkey for him to ride on. Jesus told them where to find it and what to say to the man who owned it. What came next is the amazing part of the story.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey people came out to the road and began to lay palm branches for him to ride on. Some people even laid their coats down. In Hollywood they roll out the "red carpet," for celebrities to make their entrances or royalty at palaces. No stallion, no key to the city. His entrance was that of a peasant.

So many of the people that day were hoping that Jesus was the Messiah that they had been looking for. The One who would rid the earth of the horrible Roman Empire and set up God's Kingdom on earth. Jesus was not a political revolutionary. Jesus cared less about the empire and more about the souls within the empire. They wanted salvation from the government and did not see the eternal salvation that God was offering.

What the poeple were doing was like someone going to the store and after seeing the signs for free vanilla ice cream go and ask for chocolate and strawberry, ignoring what was actually offered. They were excited to have the one who had healed the sick and were ready to put their hand out to him. This brings up two questions. Why do we praise Him? What do we expect?

These are the questions we will answer for ourselves this week. Can we put our palms down in humble praise to God and for a short time not a hand out? Think on these words. Comment and/or email me this week.jonathan.green03@yahoo.com

Much Love, Do Good

Jonathan

Health Scare

This is a unplanned blog, but one that I could not keep from writing. I am in a strange position when it comes to this whole health care thing. I receive no money from the church, never have, so I work full time. I am a Hospice Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor, so I do ministry everyday. The situation is that I get a large part of my funding from the Medicare Hospice benefit. This benefit could get cut and therefore more jobs like mine become in trouble.

Also, with more Government now in the health care setting the "Separation of Church and State" could come back to bite us Chaplains as well. I know that there are so many people who need health care and will benefit from the coverage, but at what cost? I can see both sides of this issue and have friends that fall on either side.

What happens today can be repealed tomorrow. What one vote brings another can take away. What we give to God never moves. We just keep doing the things we are meant to do.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Much Love and Do Good

Jonathan

Our First "Service": Desire

Desire is a word that has so many meanings. Just say that word in different crowds and you will get so many responses. The song by the Rolling Stones that says, "You can't always get what you want...but if you try sometimes you get what you need," really got me thinking about "DESIRE."

Psalm 37:4 (New Living Translation)
Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desires.

I have heard so many preachers talk about God giving you the desires of your heart, but never what those desires might be. It seems to be such a complicated matter, but what if it's not? I know some people who want things, but what do they really desire?

As a kid I wanted things all the time,new toys, gadgets, candy, books, did I mention candy? The point is that was my world, my life that revolved around me. As I got older what I truly desired changed. Don't get me wrong I still want toys and gadgets and yes candy, but I better understand what I desire.

I desire for my life to have peace. I desire for my children to be healthy and grow into wonderful men and women. I desire love to grow in my marriage greater than it ever has. I desire to help others to know God and His love in ways that will make a eternal difference.

I may not always get what I want, but I have found that God gives me what I need. What do you desire? Make a list of those things that your heart truly wants, and in that list you will find the keys to opening up happiness in your life. Be mindful that the list is ever changing, and somethings are out of our control. At best we can hope to see the things that are at the top of our list fulfilled, but somethings may have to be removed from our list or our lives.

I hope that you have gained something from this week's message. Comment and let me know. Email any private thoughts or prayer requests.

Much Love and Do Good
Jonathan

Welcome

I hope that you will enjoy this weekly posting. The goal is to offer a real life application from God's Word to issues that we all face. I have been in full time ministry for more than half of my life. It wasn't until recently that I truly began to look at the "why's" in my life. I love God and know that He has done miracles for me, but I also know that I have lived parts of my life for the satisfaction of other people's expectations.

No More!!! I will live life out loud for myself and find my way through this life with those that really love me. On my way to work the other morning a quote formulated in my mind. "I would rather fail a million times, learn my lessons, knowing that I wasn't afraid to try. Than to be successful at just one thing my whole life."

Other names that came to mind for the new church: The Church of the Raving Mad and The Church of the Malcontent.

Coming Sunday: "Desire"