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Rolling Out the Red Carpet--Holy Week Reflections Part II |
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Written by Pastor Ryan
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Yesterday was Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the day that commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. It’s called Palm Sunday because the people laid palms down on the ground to create an ancient “red carpet” reception for Jesus.
The Gospel of Matthew records, “The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting. ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, ‘Who is this?’ And the crowds said, ‘This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.’” (21:6-11)
The crowds heralded Jesus as a king – they believed he was entering Jerusalem to claim leadership of Israel. Once Jesus was enthroned as king, he was expected to lead Israel in successful rebellion against Rome.
The crowds thought they understood what Jesus was intending to do. They thought that he was going to do what they wanted him to do.
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Upside Down Week--Holy Week Reflections Part I |
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Written by Pastor Ryan
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 I like to sweat. I realize that will strike some as gross, but when I sweat I tell myself that all the bad toxins are flowing out of my body. I don’t know if that is really true, but of all the lies I can tell myself surely this is not the most dangerous.
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What part of the book of Jonah is hardest to believe? |
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Written by Pastor Ryan
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 I have to admit that I did not know very much about the book of Jonah. I'm finishing a sermon series on the book, and one of the surprising parts is which part of the story is really hard to believe.
When I talk to people about the book of Jonah, people often voice difficulty over believing that Jonah was swallowed by a fish and survived. Considering what we know about the insides of fish today, and that it is very difficult to find someone who has had a similar experience, some are inclined to categorize the book of Jonah as legend.
But the fish story is not really the fish story. By that I mean that the hardest part to believe about the book of Jonah isn't necessarily the fish part (which, by the way, has little to do with the meaning of the book as a whole).
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Advent: Longing for Christ's Coming |
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Written by Pastor Bill Burns
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 According to the traditional church calendar, the season of Advent consists of the four Sundays before Christmas and begins the church year. This practice originated in the fourth century as a time to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth. Deriving from the Latin word meaning “coming”, Advent focuses on the coming of Christ in two distinct ways: it looks forward to Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, but it also looks forward to Christ’s return.
Appropriately, Advent is a time of anticipation and hope. We share in the hope and longing of those in Old Testament times who waited eagerly for a promised Messiah to come. As that time drew near, John the Baptist “prepared the way” for the Lord’s coming by calling God’s people to repentance. Likewise, during Advent we seek to turn from our sins and make ready for the Lord’s coming. We rejoice with the angels and shepherds in God’s glorious fulfillment of his plan of redemption. Just as God demonstrated his power in coming to earth as a baby, who would grow up to die on the cross for us, so Christ will demonstrate his power when he comes to fully establish his kingdom.
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