Roller Coaster

Greetings Everyone.

I remember the last time I rode a roller Coaster.  I can’t remember the name of that roller coaster.  It wasn’t famous like the “Cyclone Roller Coaster” at Coney Island, the “Storm Runner” at Hersheypark or the “Matterhorn Bobsleds” at Disneyland.  Regardless of the name, the ride made an indelible impression upon me. 

The theme park I went to was just opening.  Some friends and I were able to go early before the summer crowds began to overwhelm it.  As a result, when we got to the roller coaster, we were the only ones in line.  In fact, ten times in a row we were the only ones in line.  We would get off the coaster, run to the entry point, go through the zig zag lines structure, get to the starting gate, go through the gate and get back on the ride once again.  Ten times we did the slow ride to the highest point and then drop.  Ten times we did the loop de loop.  Ten times we did the corkscrew.  Ten times we rode the beast and thought we had won.

Ah, yes, … thought we had won.  Little did I know the impact that going on the roller coast ten times in a row would have on my equilibrium.  At the end of my venture, I became a little bit nauseous and dizzy.  As a result, I resolved to not ride a roller coaster again.  I have fulfilled my promise to myself.  Roller Coasters.

We are about to head into Holy Week.  It will begin this Sunday with the joy of Palm Sunday and Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  We will then walk through confrontation after confrontation with the religious leaders who tried to trap Jesus into heresy with many trick questions.  We will then rise with Jesus to the intimacy of the Upper Room and the many ways Jesus told and showed his disciples of his love.  Then we will drop down into the Garden of Gethsemane and hear Jesus’ passion-filled prayer to the Father.  We will then proceed to the gut-wrenching events of the trial, the torture, the sentencing, the crucifixion.  Finally we will rise with shouts of joy as Jesus rose from the grave giving us hope that we too shall rise!!  It is a roller coaster of a week. 

Where do you find yourself in this roller coaster of Holy Week?  In your walk with Jesus are you filled with joy and celebration like the Triumphal Entry?  Are you at a point where you are having intense conversations with people who do not share your enthusiasm or focus of faith?  Do you know of people who may want to trap you or undermine you?  Are you at a point where people who share your faith are very important to you and you are making time to spend with them?  Are you at a point where you are struggling with the Father in prayer attempting to define and then perform “not my will but thy will be done?”  Have you reached Easter morning and are living in the joy or resurrection life? 

My prayer for us as we enter into Holy Week is that Jesus will be more real than ever before and that as we walk with him to the cross we will also rise with him to newness of life. 

Walking the road with you.    

Pastor Paul