I’ve been thinking about the events that led up to the crucifixion of Jesus.   One thing that sticks out in the story to me is how “successful” and “famous” we would think Jesus was, right before he was crucified.   John chapter 12 gives the following account:

 He was given a 1st century palm frond “ticker tape” parade into the capital.

Large Crowds gathered to hear him speak.

He was known and loved for feeding the hungry and healing the sick.

They called him the “king of Israel”  (even better than being the ”king of pop”)

The whole country was buzzing about Jesus bringing his friend Laza rus back from the dead! 

Even his biggest critics, the pharisees had this to say about him: 

¹⁷Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. ¹⁹So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”  John 12:17-19

To most of us Jesus’  life would seem to have been at that point “as good as it gets”.   He was loved.    He was famous. ….and even better, famous for doing good! 

The most amazing part of the story is that Jesus chose give up fame and applause for death and dishonor.  He gave up the shouts of “Blessed is the King of Israel” for the torture and mocking words from Roman Soldiers.   Jesus left “as Good as it Gets” for something inexplicably better.

Sunday we will celebrate that choice…and the thing that Jesus said was “the very reason I came“!

This week was the finale of the “Disaster” series.  As I said Sunday, some parts of the story of  Noah are disturbing-even frustrating.  The story of Noah messes with our ideas of God “rescuing” us.  Much of the responsibility for rescuing human kind and the animal kingdom fell on Noah.  God gave directions and gave warning, but it was Noah (and his family) who built the ark and gathered the supplies to survive the flood.  It disturbs me that no one else chose to join Noah and his family and be saved from the coming Disaster.   In the end though, the story of Noah is a story of Hope.  As I posted yesterday (here) there are many things in the story that give us reason to have hope in our God.

I’ve learned that the most chaotic weeks lead to the best Sundays…definitely the case this week.  I am excited to see the momentum gathering for the “greater things yet to come” in this city.

Failure to Excel onstage this week.  Even though they were a last minute change and were coming off of a late show at the Chamelion, it “felt” like they were supposed to be here this week.  Thanks Guys! 

Josiah’s Birthday yesterday…and I forgot.  Another missed opportunity to buy the guy the twilight collection he’s been hinting about almost every Sunday.

I got locked in the Basement AGAIN.   Thanks Tyler for “rescuing” us! 

Thanks Dave for the Chick-fil-a pez!  If you have “millions” of pez dispenser are you a collector or a hoarder? 

We need several more folks to help out Bridge of  Hope with their Spaghetti fundraiser on April 10th.  Interested?  info@actionchurch.com   This is a great way to “take action” for a very worthy organization.

I say it often…but it never gets old…Thank you actionchurch crew!!!

Here’s a couple of pics (thanks Garrett)of a couple of elements of actionkidz latest teaching series “Indiana Jones and the search for love in action”.  The creativity level of the actionkidz crew is seriously off the charts!

Next week is going to be simply amazing for the kidz of actionchurch.  The crew has been planning and working for weeks.  Yet another reason to invite a friend (with or without children)  Easter Sunday…