Maundy Thrusday

I always thought that the term “Maundy Thursday” sounded strange. It comes from the Latin term mandatum novum for the foot washing ceremony.

On this day Christians celebrate two very special ceremonies that Jesus instituted during his last Passover meal with his disciples.

The first was the washing of feet. Now this was the job of the lowest servant or person in the house. No one had undertaken the task as they had just argued about who was the greatest among them. Jesus, their Rabbi and leader, used this opportunity to teach them about being servant leaders.

The second was the sacred meal Christians call Eucharist, Communion, and Lord’s Supper. It was a simple act of blessing bread, breaking it and sharing it with the command, “This is my body broken for you take and eat.” Jesus then took a cup of wine blessed it and said, “This is my blood shed for you, take and drink of it all of you and do this in remembrance of me.”

This is also the night that we remember that Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of sliver and the Passion of Jesus began.

Corruption In Holy Places

With all the trouble in the Roman Priesthood in what seems to be worldwide corruption many people are upset and should be. The Roman church is not the only one to suffer from leadership corruptions most every religious group has had to deal with it from time to time. Humans in positions of power sometimes yield to temptation.

When Jesus ran the money changers and dealers in sacrificial animals out of the temple during that first Holy Week the evidence points to the Levites - priestly families - who were involved. They had been accused of cheating people many times but they were people in power. I think that the common people cheered when Jesus did that.

It is sad that so many faithful clergy are tarnished by a few corrupted clergy.

CENSUS???

CENSUS

I received my 2010 Census and mailed it back in. Then I began to think about the big census in the bible. It is found in the Book of Numbers chapter one. The census is one taken by Moses counting the men of military age who left Egypt with him.

Of the 12 tribes there were 603,550 men

Of the Levites there were 8,580 men

Total men of age 612,130 men

But that did not count all the people for there were women and children that did not get counted. Not all men would have been married or have children. Some men would have several wives and lots of children so we can only get a rough estimate. There were also some non Hebrew slaves with them.

There may have been three to four million people in the group that left Egypt with Moses. Add into that the goats’ cattle and other assorted critters and you have a huge crowd trudging through the wilderness and camping out.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday when Christians remember and celebrate the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem to people shouting Hosanna and proclaiming Jesus as the expected Messiah.

This is the start of  Holy Week - Praise the Lord

inadequate

When God called to Moses from a burning bush his whole world changed as God asked him to do what he did not want to do. That something was to return to Egypt and lead the Hebrew people out of bondage. Moses was wanted for murder in Egypt and he felt inadequate for the task. He argued with God about his abilities and fears. Learning to trust in God is not always easy. When Moses trusted God then he became an instrument of God’s power and authority.

When God calls any of us it is because we already have the ability even if we do not know it at the time. All we need to do is trust and begin the task.

New Terrorist Cells

BEWARE

Latest news reports are that five terrorists cell groups have been
operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Bin
Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin.
Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the
body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as: Christians
and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy!

However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by
the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force
in the church! Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not
blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.
Bin Prayin does  whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the body of
Christ! We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has a different
characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin
Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master Jesus Christ to return!
NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT!

HOWEVER, YOU CAN SPOT THEM IF YOU BIN LOOKIN AND BIN GOIN!

Thre Little Words

All too often when the edge wears off of a romance during a long marriage couples begin to neglect to say those three little words, “I love you.”

When we fail to express our feelings of love for our spouse, parents, or children there is a loss in the relationship. Those are words that people never get tired of hearing. It is a matter of spiritual health for us to hear about the love and feel the love through actions as well as words. The feeling of love can heal the body and the mind while the lack of feeling love can depress the soul.

Has it been a while since you told some one you love - “I love you!” - and said it with feeling?