Jamey's Newsletter: Sunday, March 24, 2024
Palm Sunday begins with a celebration. Jesus is celebrated with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Joy fills the air, and excitement is felt on the streets.
And yet, it will all change in a few short days. Today is a sober reminder of what happens when religious expectations are unmet. Things turn ugly when we don't get what we want.
The enigmatic aspect of God is that God often chooses to act in ways that defy our conventional understanding of God's nature. God operates outside the boundaries of our expectations, challenging us to reconsider our preconceived notions of how God should act.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus enters Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, a symbol of peace, and hailed as a king. However, by Friday, the same crowd is manipulated into shouting, 'Crucify him!' They were expecting a political leader, a destroyer of their enemies. Instead, they get a redeemer, a savior who offers a different kind of victory.
Holy Week is a good reminder that in Jesus, we don't get the God we want. Instead, we get the God we need.
Jamey
(Music performed by the Modern Worship Team of Gainesville First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, Georgia)
Weekly Prayer
Gracious God, As we journey through this Holy Week, let us hold fast to the promise of Easter, the triumph of life over death, hope over despair. Strengthen our faith, renew our spirits, and fill us with the peace that surpasses all understanding so that we may walk in the light of Your love today and always.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray, Amen.
Wisdom Nugget: Jesus's entry into Jerusalem, celebrated one moment and condemned the next, teaches us the importance of remaining steadfast in purpose, even when popular support wavers.
A Question to Consider: How can I cultivate a sense of steadfastness and faithfulness, even when outcomes do not meet my expectations?
Meme of the Week
Dad Jokes
Where does the Easter Bunny get a haircut? At the hare salon!
What is Easter Bunny’s favorite kind of music? Hip-hop!
Photo Taken By Me
Book I Read This Week
The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt
Video I Found Interesting
Found Interesting on Social Media
Podcast Worth Listening to:
Articles that caught my eye:
Here are 15 life hacks that ‘seem fake' but are actually a 'true lifesaver'
Why Character Doesn’t Matter Anymore
ADHD SHOWED ME I WASN'T A SPIRITUAL FAILURE
THE CODDLING OF THE AMERICAN MIND
First He Came for Cancel Culture. Now He Wants to Cancel Smartphones
How to be More Productive and Eliminate Time Wasting Activities by Using the “Eisenhower Box”
Around North Georgia
Happening at Gainesville First United Methodist Church
7 am - Sunrise Worship (weather permitting at the lakeside with breakfast afterward)
9 am - Classic Worship
10 am - Modern Worship
11 am - Classic Worship
Weekly Blessing and/or Quotes
When life does not meet our expectations, may we discover the grace to trust in the God we need rather than the God we want.