We have entered Holy Week. The palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna" have faded, and if we rush directly to Easter and "Hallelujah!" we miss so much of the story. Holy Week is hard. In the Gospel of Luke the Triumphal Entry is in chapter 19 and Easter is Chapter 24. The teaching, cleansing of the temple, Last Supper, betrayal, arrest, denial, trial, beating, mocking and crucifixion that occur are the hard parts and they are also the necessary parts. Without the hard parts, we miss that God is with us through all of the hard parts of life. Pause this week and remember that God holds the hard parts too.

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In Micah 6:8 the question is asked "What does the Lord require of you?" The answer is to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. I have met with people from 2 different organizations in my community. The way things are currently, these groups helped me see ways in which I might have an impact in a good way on the community around me and on people in the world. I invite you to check out The Good Faith Network and Unbound as well as groups in your community where you can get involved and make a positive difference in the world.

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This Lenten season I have been preaching about temptations as found in Luke's gospel. Luke sends the disciples into a Samaritan village and when they are not welcomed they are ready to fight. Jesus turns anger into grace. At a meal and Jesus watches the people try to sit in the seat of honor, he tells a story about humility and how to do for those who cannot repay you. This week, the Rich young ruler goes away said when Jesus tells him to sell all he has - money is his idol. So what are our idols? How do we deal with the temptation of wealth?

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