April Fools!!!

My bodacious beautiful bride, as many know, is a second grade teacher.  As a result, she is very happy that this year April Fools day does not fall on a weekday.  Otherwise, she would have to deal with the constant, "Your shoes untied...April fools!"  However, this year April Fools day collides with another holiday that is not as well known.  That day is Palm Sunday.  It begins what is known as Holy week.  It is the day Jesus made his 'Triumphant Entry' into Jerusalem.  It is the day that throngs of people lined the streets shouting praise to Jesus.  Lining the road with clothing and palm branches.  However, it is as if they just waited for the punch line...waiting to say APRIL FOOLS!...waiting to say CRUCIFY HIM!!!

All the while though, Christ knew the punchline was coming.  He wasn't going to fall for it.  How fickle we are.  I can't help but wonder...would I have been part of the group telling the horrible joke if I had lived at that time.  I wonder am I guilty of the same joke today...praising Him one day, and rejecting Him the next.  I pray with all my heart that I never am part of such a horrid and crude joke against my LORD.  In the meantime, I want to give you a poem to consider as we approach Palm Sunday.  I hope you reflect on this and that it helps prepare you for Sunday.

Ride on! by Henry Hart Milman

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

Hark, all the tribes hosanna cry;

Thy humble beast pursues his road

With palms and scattered garments strowed.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die;

O Christ, thy triumphs now begin

O'er captive death and conquered sin.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

The winged squadrons of the sky

Look down with sad and wondering eyes

To see the approaching sacrifice.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh;

The Father on his sapphire throne

Expects his own anointed Son.

Ride on! Ride on in majesty!

In lowly pomp ride on to die;

Bow thy meek head to mortal pain,

Then take, O God, thy power, and reign.

What Will You Do with Jesus?

A. B. Simpson asks a very important question.  The question is simple, yet profound.  It is one that everyone must answer.  Those who say differently answer all the same.  The question is, "What will you do with Jesus?"  So if you have not accepted Him as Savior I challenge you to do so.  If you you have accepted Him as Savior, then I ask what keeps you from accepting His as LORD and King?  However, no matter where you stand right now regarding this question, read the poem and contemplate what kind of relationship you have with Jesus and decide today what you will do with Him.  Everything hangs in the balance.  If you need a different place to go during this season of lent I recommend going to the prayer garden at Canaan in the Desert (http://www.canaaninthedesert.com/).  It is a wonderful place for prayer and is where the picture was taken.

What Will You Do with Jesus?

Jesus is Standing in Pilate's hall,

Friendless, forsaken, betrayed by all;

Hearken! what meaneth the sudden call?

What will you do with Jesus?

What will you do with Jesus?

Neutral you cannot be;

Some day your heart will be asking,

"What will He do with me?"

Jesus is standing on trial still,

You can be false to Him if you will,

You can be faithful through good or ill:

What will you do with Jesus?

Will you evade him as Pilate tried?

Or will you choose Him, whate'er betide?

Vainly you struggle from Him to hide:

What will you do with Jesus?

Will you, like Peter, your Lord deny?

Or will you scorn from His foes to fly,

Daring for Jesus to live or die?

What will you do with Jesus?

"Jesus, I give Thee my heart today!

Jesus, I'll follow Thee all the way,

Gladly obeying Thee!" will you say:

"This I will do with Jesus!"

Poetry...A Neglected Art Form

Poetry is an amazing way to convey thought and emotion in a way that touches the soul like no other.  The primary genre in the Old Testament is poetry.  It affects greatly, yet it is surprisingly overlooked.  For example, the portrait on the right is of the Christian poet John Donne.  However, many do not even know of this great man or others like him.  So as we approach Holy Week I would like to inspire every so often with a poem by a great Christian poet.  As you can guess, below is a poem written by John Donne.  I would really like to discuss these poems with anyone interested.  We can do this through comments below, facebook, phone, or meeting over some coffee.  Also, if you have a poem that you believe would be appropriate please send it to me!  So without further ado...

Death be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;

For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow

Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,

Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,

And soonest our best men with thee do go,

Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.

Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,

And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;

And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well,

And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.