Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday begins God's proclamation of Christ as King.
"Christ the King is our message. One of the grand ironies of the way the modern church often does evangelism is we do not present Christ at the center and the Christ we DO present has often been functionally dethroned. Far too many evangelistic appeals are targeted at people’s “felt needs” rather than their real need, which is to have their sins forgiven and undergo a radical change to bring them into submission to the loving, joy-inducing rule of King Jesus. Let me give some examples of this. People are suffering from terribly low self-esteem, (so the thinking goes) and Jesus is presented as the One who can come into their lives and restore their shattered self-image. After all, if someone as special as Jesus loves them, then surely they can love themselves. Here’s another felt need the gospel is often pointed to. That is, people crave significance—their lives are empty and devoid of meaning so they just invite Jesus into their heart and He can fill their emptiness with himself. Do you hear how those mutations of the message are utterly inconsistent with Jesus as the King who desires to spread his kingdom by his emissaries as they bear the message of his gospel?"

Click here for the whole of this wonderful message by Duncan Ross

Pranks and Hoaxes
Read this April Fool's Day post from my
former housemate Justin Taylor. (Also a
now famous writer and editor.) - check the
comments also for some more fun.

Conditional Praise?
Here is a great post from a friend on praising a sovereign God.

*This was especially relevant for me after going through suffering
issues with my parents this last year as they lost their home and
struggled with their health. They would appreciate your continued
prayers.

(HT:JD)

An American Wrongfully Imprisoned In Nicaragua

Have you heard about this? This is crazy. Here is more from MSNBC

2 Timothy 2:2
Once in awhile I get an e-mail that encourages me to keep doing what I am doing. These moments of grace remind me why I want to keep using my life to pass onto others what I have been given in Christ - the love and the knowledge of God which has changed my whole life.

From a friend:

"Time goes by so fast. I remember spending time with you and Mike in bible study in Maucker Union back in '99. What a great time. I also looked through some old pics and saw us at the Capitol City Marathon, another great time. God has done some really great things in our lives! One of them was bringing you into my life at the time he did. I wouldn't be the man I am becoming without him putting you in my life. Thanks for being part of that Mark. Anyway, as I prepare for being married and am going through all the things from my past, I find things that bring me back to the time we have spent together and it only brings warmth to my heart. "

Giving
"Studies have shown that the richer we are, the smaller the percentage­
of our income we give to the church and its mission. The poorest fifth
of the church give 3.4 percent of their income to the church and the richest fifth give 1.6 percent."
- John Piper

Any thoughts on why this is?

The Minneapolis Star Tribune carried an article on Friday, May 3, 1991, from which these data are taken.

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ALLELUIA! - Ayano becomes a Christian



This is from Ayano herself directly to you personally right now as I translate:
"Thank you for praying!! I have so much joy right now! I didn't know at all that you were praying but God heard your prayers. I am so excited! I thank God for you and will pray for you too. I hope I can meet you all someday."

God saved Ayano today at about 6:30 pm Japan time.
So many people have prayed and loved and talked to Ayano, but of course
it was God who answered her prayers, showed Himself to Ayano and gave
her a heart to seek Himself (John 6:44). We just give HIM all the glory and
praise for this joyous day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"Today is a deeply humbling, inspiring, and joyful day. I'm ashamed to admit that up until a couple of years ago I knew nothing about St. Patrick, but now that I do, this day truly moves me towards both reflection and action."

Amy Hall tells us about the missionary behind the famous day.

If this doesn't move you, you may not have a pulse.

Phillipians 4:13

Can you do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you?

Find out here.

The 'Surge' Is Succeeding

By Robert Kagan (Washington Post)
Sunday, March 11, 2007; B07

A front-page story in The Post last week suggested that the Bush administration has no backup plan in case the surge in Iraq doesn't work. I wonder if The Post and other newspapers have a backup plan in case it does.

Leading journalists have been reporting for some time that the war was hopeless, a fiasco that could not be salvaged by more troops and a new counterinsurgency strategy. The conventional wisdom in December held that sending more troops was politically impossible after the antiwar tenor of the midterm elections. It was practically impossible because the extra troops didn't exist. Even if the troops did exist, they could not make a difference.

Four months later, the once insurmountable political opposition has been surmounted. The nonexistent troops are flowing into Iraq. And though it is still early and horrible acts of violence continue, there is substantial evidence that the new counterinsurgency strategy, backed by the infusion of new forces, is having a significant effect.

Washington Post

My Science Class at KIU



(I thank God for these precious kids!)

The Thirsty Heart

Click here to listen to my recent message. (Maki translated)

*See if you can find the part where my water spilled all over the piano! (Don't
worry, there was no damage done.) :)

"The Hope" Video

Pure, simple, and amazing!
Watch it here.

Can you love when it is hard?

"About 500 anti-Christian radicals attacked a Gospel for Asia Bible college in the eastern Indian state of Orissa on Wednesday evening, February 28. Gospel for Asia leaders in the area report the mob, which was mobilized by a Hindu nationalist group, systematically attacked the approximately 300 students and staff members present on the campus. Five students and the women's dorm director were seriously injured. All have been hospitalized, and one student is in critical condition.

The rest of the student body and staff remain inside the dormitories. Local and reserve police have arrived on the scene, but have found it difficult to control the crowd, and the situation remains tense.

The attackers also disconnected the electricity and ransacked the campus, destroying the roofs of many of the school buildings.

"The magnitude of this attack is unlike anything we've ever seen," said Gospel for Asia President K.P. Yohannan. "This is one of the most severe situations we've dealt with, but our students and leaders are not discouraged."

Instead, they are asking God to bless their enemies.

"Please pray that this will become an opportunity for us to share the love of Jesus to the people who are persecuting us," one GFA leader from Orissa requests."

Click here to keep reading