Rounding the Turn!

                                            

Thinking about stadiums soon being filled, whether it is The Olympic 1500-meter run, Indianapolis 500, Kentucky Derby, Rounding third base, NASCAR...

 the most exciting part of a race, is as they are rounding the last turn. The announcer gets louder, and the crowd stands to their feet as they round the last turn.

When they round the last turn, it's usually where someone falls but gets up again to finish, maybe the horse or human comes from behind with that last "Kick" of energy to win the race and more!  History has been made many times, as they come around the turn.

Most of the time a thrilling finish is the result of preparation long before the race ever begins. Life is a journey it's even a race against disabilities/handicaps, reputation, failures, low esteem.

 

 Sadly, some participants never leave the locker room.  

Envision rounding the turn! Prepare for it now.  That might include prayer, reading, taking a class, even starting slow to pace yourself up to speed in whatever endeavor.  That old saying of; "Plan your work and work that plan!" applies here.

I have to remember; it's not always how we start today's race. It's about when we round that turn to accomplishing a task, mission or God's plan... We then decide to leave it all on the track, office, keyboard, kitchen, garage, or pulpit.  While rounding that last turn a great cloud of witnesses are shouting: "Here they come!"  People in your circle of life, are watching and many need you to win.

Bible says something like; "Let us run the race set before us!" 

 So, remain faithful to your calling, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and on that eternal prize.

                                                                -Tim

HOSANNA! HOSANNA!

I have read that in the history of Israel, kings and military generals have returned to the cheers of Hosanna. The Maccabees in victory heard the crowds chant Hosanna.  Jesus the carpenter's son, humbly riding a donkey into Jerusalem receives the kingly praise. 

HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!
(quoting Psalm 118:26).

Crowds headed to Jerusalem for Passover festival (another picture of Christ Jesus). Those already in town had heard that Jesus was coming,  they and all the people already on the road, came to meet Jesus waving palm branches and laying them and their coats on the ground before Him, hailing Him as King and Messiah.

Hosanna has everything to do with Salvation (save us now), and the palm branches, everything to do with victory.  Jesus was/is who he had said He was; The Son of God! and worthy of their praise and ours. Jesus through His death, resurrection and ascension has defeated the power of sin, death and the grave!

"O' death where is you sting? O' grave where is your victory?  Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -1 Corinthians 54-57.

 Previously, Jesus had asked those He delivered and healed, not to tell anyone . Now here in John 12, He allows everyone to shout sing and announce that He was King and Messiah!  As always the jealous, power grabbing Pharisees show up and tells Jesus to silence the crowd, Jesus reply to that was: " If these be silent , the rocks would  cry out in praise"  There will be those  people and events, in your life that will try to hinder your praise and devotion and ministry.  Whether we are approved of or not, we can continuously have a dip in our hip and a  praise on our lips.

HOSANNA!

They say Sunday He rides down the road hearing Hosanna!  By Friday they are shouting "Crucify Him". That day He hung on the cross dieing for the sins of the world  (we remember it as "good Friday") and said "Father forgive them".  Finally He said "It is finished".  Watching them roll the stone in front of the tomb, His followers might of said "It's over all right".  The events and paradigms of today make many feel like it's hopeless and over.  How about you still have some praise left?  He was crucified, but on Sunday what happened? (stay tuned in for more).  It wasn't over. It was just beginning! We have great opportunities for ministry ahead.

John 3:16.

We serve a God that is very much alive. He is not dead!  We are then to die to this world yet be alive unto God.  Today Christ followers can give Him that praise of deliverer and King!  Worshiping Him with our voice and life.

HE IS RISEN !!



 

Between the Cross and Resurrection

The day after the crucifixion, being a follower of Jesus had to be brutal.  The world wasn't as small as it is today. You could run and go fishing. No one would recognize the silhouettes on the lake.

The disciples also were held up in an upper room with the doors locked, listening for footsteps up the staircase.  Did they hide in embarrassment or was it fear? Their witness would have to be silenced. Perhaps they were next in silencing/ killing the Jesus revolution.

Questions and debates were whispered, maybe an angry shout from one.  The hopeless notion that the attempt of a war or coupe would ever happen again, had been nailed to a cross and lying in a tomb.

There had been the high of the rally, the shouts of Hosanna. The healing of the sick and His teaching...His teaching may have got Him in trouble with the people with all the love one another, even love your enemies.

He had come to save the world.  What was it all about?  Couldn't the Christ deliver Himself from the pharisees?   The Pharisees and religious leaders were busy having guards and stories in place.  They spoke lies, but that is what seems to prevail on this day.

You can imagine, the disciples looking out the upstair window, seeing small groups talking, some in anger, some in sadness.

What Kingdom was He talking about?  Jesus had been so sure, so powerful, so loving.   They agreed with the cry of Jesus;   "It is Finished."

It was a long day.  Meeting Jesus had seemed like only yesterday.  Yesterday though, seemed to be an eternity away.  They sat around the table, attempting to piece together His actions, Words and teaching.

Maybe you have been there, or there now. In between Friday and Sunday and the only sound you hear...crickets and the beating of your heart.  Sadness, fear and hopelessness is the future you see.

Fear not! As He enters into the room of your heart and mind saying; "Peace to you."  Meet Him there.
He is Alive. He is Alive!
Receive that peace. Allow your sadness, hopelessness and fear to be resurrected to joy, courage and peace!

Receive peace with God, followed by the peace of God, through faith in the work of Jesus Christ. Receiving a new heart and new hope!

I pray you and I, from this day forward, will be like the apostles on Sunday. Saturday they hid by Sunday, many believed (John 3:16).  Following the feast of Pentecost, you could not threaten nor kill them. Allow it to be the same today, during this Jesus revolution of the 21st century.  Let it spread from the church house to your house. Be witnesses, making disciples, teaching those what ever Jesus has taught us!

Read John followed by the Book of Acts. Moving throughout Ephesians and beyond.

                                                                                                                                       -Tim

He's risen indeed!

          For many reasons, it may have resembled a political convention.

The cheers may have been in unison and deafening. The angry embarrassed Pharisees told Jesus to silence the crowd.  They had said themselves: "The world has gone after Him."
  Awhile after raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus makes His triumphant ride into Jerusalem. Thousands plus are on the road to meet, and cheer on Jesus. "He's the Messiah."  "Hosanna! Hosanna!" 

That was on Sunday.  Days later they were shouting; "Crucify Him!" Temple leaders and Pharisees had won.   Didn't they?

Jesus said: "It is finished!"  The disciples said:  "it is over."

Not so fast... Jesus had said; "For this reason I have come." and "My Kingdom is not of this world."  This was right on schedule.

"What do you mean?"

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal.4:4,5.

They were (and many still are) looking for him in a tomb. But He is risen, just like He said!

No, the Pharisees didn't win, nor was it over. Little did they know, it was only the beginning!

He is risen indeed!