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| Accommodations for visitors. The new RV of Africa |
A random picture to keep you interested
A Fresh look at Palm Sunday
Watching the liturgical calender and how it is celebrated in a place that has been invaded, where children were taken to be soldiers & brides, perspective is different and it helps me listen to sermons and read the Bible in a new way.
Palms were sold in town and every one has one. They have them on the bodas in the front headlamp, they have them on the bicycle bodas tied to the center steering column, everyone is walking with them. These aren't the whimpy ones we have in the states this is the whole palm branch. It is just opening so when you wave it, it flutters and makes a pretty noise like the wind blowing through it. The lines to get a palm branch yesterday were crazy. Cars don't have traffic laws so they come from all directions and park behind each other, boda's can get through any thing so they pull up and dash off, bicycles same, and people en masse crowding around for the 50 shilling branch.(2cents). Today at church, when they would say Hosanna we said it back and shook the branches for a bit. Ugandans are big about show.
We were late, so sat outside on a bench and this space was full too so we had lots of palm branches shimmering and lofting in the breeze. You really got a better idea of the sense of the triumphal entry.
Then the sermon was about Jesus last week. But, the pastor told it from the perspective of the parables Jesus had told before he got to Jerusalem. The lost son (prodigal) the lost sheep the lost coin. Forgive for recapping it if you already went to church. The lost son runs back to dad and dad has already forgiven him, he doesn't even need to ask. Just to come home he had to humble himself. These are the party people who realize they screwed up and run to God wanting their life to be different they go home to start over and this time get it right.
The lost sheep is another lost soul who followed the goats too far and is making noises to God who obliges and keeps calling them back until they find each other. Maybe those we know who grew up knowing the greatness of God but living respectable lives not knowing they are really lost all the time with out God and then just consult him when in a bind,. They keep making noise until they get it that they are still lost without God to guide them all the time.
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| a sheep outside the church yard, the grass is green here |
Then the coin . The coin is lost in the house this perspective was the congregation who were in the (church) house and lost. Pastor likened them to the people in the church who God has to remind that they are still sinners still lost and still in need of His grace. So, he keeps adding more light and sweeping so we don't get lost in our RELIGION and tradirions . So, the prodigal knows he screwed up and wants to come back, the sheep thinks he is doing fine on his own and God is the help you call when needed, and the coin is in the church and thinks he has got GOD understood. You really have to search hard and sweep and add extra light to find it as it is just sitting there. So, for Palm Sunday Jesus has the prodigals and sheep with him and goes to try one more time for the coin. Monday he starts by throwing out the money changers in the outer temple courts and he keeps working his way inward. Until GOD tears the veil that separates HIM from us. So, the GOOD NEWS has started, God came down to save me from my self and wants to show me his better way... Who have you told this too?
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| a goat outside the church yard |
People are dying to hear it. Just some thought to ponder for your HOLY WEEK or is it GODS Holy Week? Which will you make it Marcy? Love from Africa where it is still hot hot hot...
