Palm Leaves and Asses

In Roman times, palm fronds were used to celebrate victories in wars and games as well as for festive times. The Jews regarded the palm leaf as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Isn't it fitting that the people of Jerusalem waved and lined the street with these leaves as Jesus made His triumphal entry into the city?

The ass , when compared to a horse, is a lowly creature. The horse is more powerful, majestic, and bold. However, the horse is also used in war and was a symbol of victory when the king returned from battle riding high on his stallion. The lowly ass was a symbol of peace. Therefore, when Jesus rode in on an ass, He was coming in peace, not in war as the leaders of the day feared.

Why didn't the people understand?

The leaders wanted to keep the status quo. They wanted to stay in power and were determined to do anything to remain there. The people wanted change. They were tired of the Roman government and wanted their Messiah to come swooping in and obtain a physical, here-and-now victory over their enemies. All these ideas and prejudices blinded them to the truth--Jesus was here for all of them. He was entering the gates of Jerusalem as the first step to giving them what they most needed and, in truth, desperately wanted. He was giving Himself.

Just a few short days later, these same people that cheered and greeted Him at the gate turned on Him with venom and demanded that He be put to death. Unbeknown to them, they didn't really succeed in killing Him. He freely and willingly gave His life for all those people there, for all the people before them and for all the people after them forever. There was no way they could take His life if He didn't offer it to them.

That's why He rode on an ass in peace. He was peacefully taking our place at our judgment and sentencing.

That's why the palm leaves were unknowingly chosen by the people. They were forecasting a triumph that, at the time, even they couldn't possibly understand without truly believing in their hearts what He has said.

He triumphed over sin, death, and hell not by taking lives in a war, but by giving His own in our place.

Hallelujah!! What a Savior!!

It Was a Zoo!!!!

Today was a very nice day. Wall to wall sunshine. Slightly warm temperature with a cool breeze. And a family trip to the North Carolina State Zoo! It's been several years since I have visited the zoo. I used to go fairly regularly and have been missing it. Since I was able to get free tickets, I told everyone we were going and set the date.

We set out around 9:30 and traveled the 75-mile distance to Asheboro, NC. After arriving at the zoo, we started at the Africa exhibits. We first saw the Reticulated Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) and Ostriches (Struthio camelus). After admiring them for a while, we strolled over to the new Watani Grasslands to see African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) and White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum). I hadn't had the chance to see this newly redone exhibit and was excited to see the larger space for these massive pachyderms and the increase in the size of the herds. Next door was the African grasslands where we were able to pick out Gemsbok (Oryx gazella). Most of the antelopes were resting far away.

After a stop at the Hamadryas Baboon (Papio hamadryas) where we were able to get nice views of their daily lives (including some views that elicited some gasps and guffaws!), we viewed some of the tropical plants in the African Pavilion. Upon exiting, we headed towards the Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) exhibits. Next came the Red River Hogs (Pomatochoerus porcus) and the Lion (Panthera leo). Unfortunately, the Lions were not out for us to see. They must have been resting in some corner. Mikayla was finally able to get a good view of "her" Grant's Zebra (Equus burchelli boehmi) before we headed back up the hill to North America.

Before crossing the border between the continents, we took a stroll through the aviary. I love this place!!!!!!! There was a little drama between two Chilean Flamingos (Phoenicopterus chilensis) as we entered the building. Feathers were flying and squawks were sounded! Wesley was able to see the Blue Poison-dart Frog (Dendrobates azureus) among other species as we went inside. Upon walking through the doors to the tropical aviary, we were able to pick out several of the species that were present there including the Pekin Robin (Leiothrix lutea), White-headed Mousebird (Colius leucocephalus), Victoria Crowned-Pigeon (Goura victoria), Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber), and Sunbittern (Eurypyga helias).

Our first North American exhibit was the Sonoran Desert exhibit. We were able to see a Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californicus) who didn't say "beep-beep", an Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), North American Cacomistle (Bassiriscus astutus), a Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas) and several desert reptiles including a Black-tailed Rattlesnake (Crotalus molossus) and a Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum). After we exited the building, we had to hurry to see the Red Wolves (Canis rufus), Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), Black Bears (Ursus americanus), American Bison (Bison bison), and American Elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis). All of these animals are very impressive!

By the time we had viewed the bison and elk, the zoo had closed and we weren't able to see the Streamside exhibit or any of the Rock Coast exhibits or Cypress Swamp exhibits. Oh well! One can't do but so much in a day. We will just have to visit it again soon!

All in all, it was a grand day. I am looking forward to my next visit!

What God Wants

Isn't it funny how two different people can read a book or article and come away with totally different meanings or ideas from it? Each person comes with their own preconceived ideas and thoughts that are based on their own personalities, their upbringings and their experiences. Each of those things colors their perception and allows for many different ideas that make the world a very interesting place in which to live.

One such Book is the Bible. It was finished several centuries ago and yet, even today, people still get it wrong. Some people see it as a book of stories or myths. Some people take certain portions of it as the truth and other parts they discard. Others see it as God's inspired Word.

Over the centuries, different groups of men have used the Bible to justify their actions. Europeans used it to justify the Crusades. Southerns used it to justify slavery. Northerners used it to justify abolition. Some anti-abortionists use it to justify killing doctors. Still others today use it to justify their worldly lifestyle while the people down the street seclude themselves from the rest of the world. These examples are among many such ideas that people have used God's Word to justify their actions that are very contradicting.

How can one group use the Bible to support an idea while another group uses the same Bible to support the total opposite idea?

The answer is very simple. Sinful Man with his own preconceived notions takes portions of Scripture that seem to support his idea out of context and uses it as a weapon, wielding it about to crush anyone that doesn't agree with his own personal ideas.

But is that what God wants?

NO!

God wants His children to use the Bible first and foremost as a personal letter of love from Him to His children. Secondly, He wants us to use it to learn more about Him and His nature. Thirdly, He wants us to grow in Him by reading His Word and learning from it. And fourthly, He wants us to use it as a weapon to defeat the forces of Satan and bring many lost souls to a true knowledge of Him.

How do we do that? By reading the Bible with open eyes, hearts, and minds and let God tell us what He means by each passage of Scripture. We need to throw away what we think we know and let God use His Words to mold us into being like His Son.

Yes, different people will always do God's will differently. He didn't make robots that have no control over their own thoughts and actions. But when we let God show us the true meaning of His Word, we will all start to become more and more like Christ and less and less like ourselves.

Faith

I had a very important reminded today of what faith really is. It's not a feeling. It's not a hope. It's a strong conviction that God will do what He promises. When the way is stormy and rough but we do what He asks anyway, we show faith. Even when the odds are stacked against us or the way seems utterly impossible and foolish (especially to the world), we exhibit faith and please God by doing what He wants. Even in the ordinary, day-to-day tasks like working alongside someone that you can't stand or being happy when your plans fall through or not worrying about something that we can't control, we exhibit faith in God and His plans for our lives by our reactions to those circumstances.

What do you want to exhibit? Faith or faithlessness? Now, don't get me wrong. No human will ever have complete faith until he is in Glory. But for me, I want to strive to have complete faith in my God.

Mark 9:24
And straightway the father of the child cried out,
and said with tears,
Lord, I believe;
help thou mine unbelief.

Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away.
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do; where He sends we will go.
Never fear. Only trust and obey.

Trust and obey; for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Driving

Driving is such a freedom-fulfilling desire for many young people. We all remember well how excited we were to get our Learner's Permit and then finally our Driver's License! Oh, the places we can go! The things we can do! The sights we can see! And all we need to do is crank the engine, mash the gas pedal and take off down the road!

But can I offer a few observations I have made over the years that cause me to wonder where they learned to drive?

1) Why do people use the passing lane as if they are on a Sunday drive?
2) Why do people not use their turn signals at all or only right when they are making a turn?
3) Why do school buses and semis pull out in front of you? Do they really think they can accelerate that fast? Or is it just to tick you off?
4) Why do people only get into a turn lane in the last 10 feet and do it veeeerrrrry sllloooowwwwly? Isn't there a whooooole lot of turn lane before that?? Isn't the reason for a turn lane to not cause an interruption in the flow of traffic on a busy street?
5) Why do people rubberneck at other collisions on the road? Are they taking notes on how to do the exact same thing?
6) Why do people drive like maniacs down the road when the other people are going the speed limit or slightly over? Do they really need to be that aggressive?
7) Why do people drive down the road with their turn signal still blinking? If they are that blind and deaf, they do not need to be behind the wheel!
8) Why do people ride their brakes? It really confuses the person behind them.
9) Why do people speed up, slow down, speed up, slow down, speed up, etc? It is sooooo annoying!
10) Why do people always brake around nice curves? It hinders the people behind them that want to slide smoothly through the curve at a nice rate of speed.

These are just a few of the many observations over the years. Are there any answers?

What do you think?

All About Me

OK. So I'm not feeling as inspired now as I was earlier this afternoon. But these little blogonaires (I maybe have just coined a new web word!) are fun and give a little more insight into my personality. So here goes...

1. What is your name spelled backwards? Nivek Sknarf (Sounds like some Russian spy name).
2. What did you do last night? Watched TV and had a steak dinner.
3. What was the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? An update for RealPlayer

4. Have you ever licked a 9 volt battery? Ummm...No
5. When was the last time you swam in a pool? I can't remember
6. What are you wearing? House pants and long-sleeve shirt
7. How many cars have you owned? 2

8. What is the type of music you dislike most? The noise that is called hard rock and techno.
9. Are you registered to vote? Yes
10. Do you have cable? No, satellite.
11. What kind of computer do you use? Dell
12. Have you ever made a prank phone call? Yes. Once. Mom and Dad weren't happy. End of story.

13. Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? No
14. What is the furthest place you ever traveled? So far, Albania.

15. What's your favorite comic strip? Calvin and Hobbes
16. Do you know all of the words to the national anthem? Yes
17. Do you shower in the morning or at night? In the morning.
18. What is your favorite pizza topping? Do I have to choose? I guess I could narrow it down to Canadian bacon (Pea Mill bacon for all my Canadian fans! ;-) )
19. Chips or popcorn? Again, do I have to choose??
20. What cell phone provider do you use? Verizon.
21. Have you ever smoked peanut shells? Why would I?
22. Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? Hahahahahahahaha
23. Orange juice or apple juice? Apple
24. With whom were the last people you sat at lunch? My family.
25. Favorite chocolate bar? These choice questions are killing me! I would have to say Hershey's Special Dark!!!!!!
26. Who is your oldest friend and how long have you known each other? My sister. Since she came down the "Suez Canal"!

27. When was the last time you ate a homegrown tomato? Last summer from our own garden.
28. Have you ever won a trophy? Yes. For piano and AWANA.

29. Favorite arcade game? Never played many.
30. Ever ordered from an infomercial? Yes. It was for a piece of exercise equipment that was supposed to make me do crunches while sitting. The rubber band broke and the plastic part collected dust until I threw it away.

31. Sprite or 7-UP? Sprite
32. Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school/work? Yes. We all look like navy blue and khaki drones.

33. Last thing you bought at Walgreens? Never shopped there.
34. Ever thrown up in public? Never. But I have fainted several times. Talk about embarrassing!
35. Would you prefer being a millionaire or finding true love? True love.
36. Do you believe in love at first sight? No, I don't think true love at first sight is possible.
37. Spongebob or Jimmy Neutron? Neither
38. Did you have long hair as a young kid? No.
39. What message is on your voicemail? All erased.
40. Where would you like to go right now? Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!
41. What's the name of your pet? Petless for now.
42. What kind of back pack do you have, and what's in it? Don't have one.
43. What kind of tennis shoes do you have? New Balance

She WILL Be The...

Next Food Network Star!

So says Mikayla this afternoon.

After several good intentions, Mikayla is finally going to supply the family with Sunday dessert. I just returned from taking her to the grocery store to get the necessary ingredients. It's a simple Apricot Ginger Parfait. But she will do it herself and she is super excited about making it. I really didn't think there would be fresh apricots in the store in March, but to my surprise, they had some.We also picked up the gingersnaps that we will need to complete the scrumptious fare. While there, we had to taste the bread samples and Mikayla also made her rounds in the produce department tasting oranges and cantaloupe.

On the way back home, she was chatting about this and that when she suddenly declared her dream for when she was older. I will recount the conversation here. It wasn't recorded and will not be verbatim but you will get the gist of it:

Mikayla: I want to be the next Food Network Star when I grow up. And then I will famous...but if I have a husband, I won't be able to spend much time with him.

Me: Why not?

Mikayla: Because I will always be on shows all the time.

Me (smirking): Well, they may not have the show when you get older.

Mikayla: I really hope they do because I want to be on it and have my own show. I really like to cook.

Oh the dreams of youth! I am going to do all I can to encourage her in this direction. It's nice for me to be able to share my love of cooking with someone. I hope that she will keep this love all her life and turn out to be a very good cook/baker. And be on the lookout! In the next 10 years or so, you may very well be hearing about Mikayla, the Next Food Network Star!

Whew!

I'm glad this week is over.
I'm glad this week is done.
If I had even one more day,
It certainly wouldn't be any fun.

No more special orders.
No more "where's my part?".
No more silly questions.
No more answers tart.

Help returns on Tuesday.
Only one more day of this.
But in between those two hectic days
Are two whole days of bliss.

Happy Weekend!!!