Pastor Mark's Weekly Blog, Uncategorized

Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry

Pastor Mark has currently postponed the message series: Seven Paths leading to darkness, Seven Paths leading to light. 

Palm Sunday: Triumphal EntryMatthew 21:1, Mark 11:1, Luke 19:28, John 12:12

Crestview family,
This Sunday, Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week 2020.  As we enter into this special worship week there are many things on each of our hearts and minds.  The stress and anxiety, coupled with the continual adaptation to ‘abnormal’ is tough.  There are rhythms of coping and engaging in positive constructive activities one day, only to be defeated in some way the next.  It’s been very disorienting.  

As prayers continue to be offered for one another and our world, as we each strive to love our families and neighbors well during this time, including reaching out and walking alongside others both near and far, we must have a firm foundation.    

Our faith muscles are getting a workout.  Our hope engine is looking for the right kind of fuel.  Our love expressions are tested in the home and in the neighborhood.  Our trust is being challenged.  Now is a time of juxtaposition: defined as ‘when two things are seen or placed close together with contrasting effects; the nearness of contrasting realities; the comparison of two seemingly unrelated, almost opposite ideas, placed in proximity to one another creating an intriguing effect.’

Some of us feel fine but others are sick and dying.  We know that God is Sovereign over all and yet things seem a bit out of control.  As we enter into Holy Week with Palm Sunday, we will see and experience a huge juxtaposition: Jesus enters into Jerusalem with great fanfare and ‘worship’ and ends the week being betrayed, denied, and rejected – crucified!  This juxtaposition is intentional on God’s part.  In the contrast of these two realities, the profound truth of salvation in Jesus Christ can be found.  Maybe in the juxtaposition, we too can find our part.    

May the grace and mercy, truth and joy of Jesus Christ be upon you,
Engaged in life together with you,

Pastor Mark  

Here is this week’s video reflection/meditation:    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smyOyByK_T4

View Lenten Devotional Booklet Here

Pastor Mark's Weekly Blog, Uncategorized

As I Have Done For You, Do For Others

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This Sunday March 18 is Passion (Palm) Sunday,

My friends, I will be leaving you soon and will not be with you much longer.  And where I am going, you cannot follow.

I invite you to join me for a celebration of all the things we have shared together, of life, laughter, and love.  I want to remind you of the important things for the future.  And I would like to show you the full extent of my love for you.

As you enter into the sanctuary for worship on Sunday, remove your shoes and enter with stocking feet.  The time we will be spending together will be holy ground.  See you at 9:30am Sunday Morning.

– – Jesus

PS: Our text for Sunday will be from John 13:1-17 as well as highlights of several of Jesus teachings.  We will imagine together what Jesus might have said to the disciples during his washing of the disciples feet.  See you Sunday!

Pastor Mark

Pastor Mark's Weekly Blog, Uncategorized

Triumphal Entry? Yes and no… YES!

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Palm Sunday: Triumphal Entry?  Really?  REALLY!  But not in the way we would think…

The last two weeks of messages have been hard hitters.  Jesus goes after the heart of it all by going after the heart of the law’s design and purpose by going after the heart!  This is what Jesus is after.  He desires to redeem, reclaim, renew our heart.

This Sunday is Palm Sunday and kicks off Passion Week.  We journey with Jesus and each other through the incredible drama of Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem and then the unbelievable week of teaching with the disciples ending in terrible betrayal and denial of his own disciples of their friendship with him.  And then it goes from bad to worse as Jesus is beaten, flogged, mocked, and crucified on an instrument of torture.  Unbelievable.

As unbelievable as this sequence of events is, believe it.  And as much as we can’t believe the disciples actions during this powerful final week of Jesus life, we must also see ourselves in the disciples shoes… our own rejection, our own denial, and our own sin that holds him, by his own willingness, to the cross – to the point of death.

I want you to take a look at the following passage: Philippians 2:5-11.  These are words from one of the earliest church confessions/hymns.  As you read it, think on Jesus words from the message three weeks ago, “I have not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill it.”  Understanding this is critical to our faith and salvation in Jesus.

How does Jesus humbling himself through his incarnation, how does Jesus obedience to the point of death, how does any of this ‘fulfill’ the law of God?  To understand and believe the answer to these questions is at the heart of the Christian faith… their’s that word again… heart.

Life is short… what does God give us, a few decades or more?  Make your life count.  May our lives be found in Christ Jesus.  That in his life, obedience, death, and resurrection – we may find life.  May our lives be lived in the animation and power and grace of the Holy Spirit.

Our text for Sunday is Matthew 21:1-17.  A triumphal entry (?) and an ‘angry’ temple table overturning!  Some powerful truths are being revealed through Matthew’s Gospel.  And that’s exactly what it is: Gospel – Good News.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Mark

Check out this entry in Mark’s weekly blog on the Crestview website, here!