Faith and Spirituality – Page 25 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

Palm Sunday is one of several “holidays”, or more correctly holy days that Christians “celebrate”, meaning observe, during Lent, the weeks before Easter

Christians observe Palm Sunday as a reminder of the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem before being tried and sentenced to death.

Jesus Enters Jerusalem
(Mark 11.1-11; Luke 19.28-38; John 12.12-19)

Many people spread clothes on the road, while others put down (palm) branches they had cut from trees. Some people walked ahead of Jesus and others followed behind. They were all shouting,

image from the LIGHTSTOCK.COM collection, an affiliate link

“Hooray for the Son of David!
God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hooray for God in heaven above!”

Matthew chapter 21, CEV

Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)

Edward McKendree Bounds was trained as an attorney, but instead of pursuing a legal career, he entered the ministry in his early twenties. In 1859 he was ordained as pastor of the the Monticello Methodist Church in Missouri.

He edited a Methodist newspaper and wrote books, concentrating on the practice of prayer.

The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer: Including: POWER, PURPOSE, PRAYING MEN, POSSIBILITIES, REALITY, ESSENTIALS, NECESSITY, WEAPON

Bounds served as a chaplain in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He was captured by the Union Army in Franklin, Tennessee. After his release, he held weekly prayer sessions there.

I took this photo of the historic Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee

The “holy days” of Lent

Lent starts with the well-known Fat Tuesday-Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday.

Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday, illustrated in the Lightstock drawing above.

At my church on Palm Sunday, the preschool-age children march into the sanctuary waving palm branches and singing. The parents and grandparents sit up front, proudly taking pictures and videos. After church, the kids enjoy an Easter egg hunt on the church lawn.

It’s a day to celebrate before we observe the solemn sad day later in the week, Good Friday.

Lightstock-quality photos and graphics site- here.

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Exploring the Heart of

FAITH LOVE HOPE- words created with letter tiles — These three remain, faith, hope and love, and greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13, a Lightstock graphic

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Dr. Aletha

Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor? “ The term “good Samaritan” means a person who goes out of their way to help someone, especially a stranger, often at personal sacrifice .

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

“There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.

On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead.

sketch of a man helping a wounded man lying on the ground-the good Samaritan — from Lightstock.com, stock photos, video, and graphics, affiliate site

Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

“A Samaritan traveling the road came on him.

When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable.

In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

“What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

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Listen to this story now

Brian Hardin, creator and narrator of Daily Audio Bible ,explains the background of the Good Samaritan story and offers insights on what it can mean in our lives. Listen to his talk on his daily broadcast at this link.