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<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">If I Can Be the Donkey…</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Corrie Ten Boom was a famous Christian
whose testimony of suffering in Nazi concentration camps and God’s grace through
it all touched millions of lives. A few years ago, in a press conference
following a ceremony in which Corrie Ten Boom was given an honorary degree, one
of the reporters asked her if it was difficult remaining humble while hearing so
much acclaim. She replied immediately, “Young man, when Jesus Christ rode into
Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm
branches and throwing garments in the road and singing praises, do you think
that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was
for him?” She continued, “If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in
his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”<BR><BR> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Mike Hamby, The Triumphal
Entry<BR>________________________________________<BR><BR> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Lending Talent</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">One of my pastor-friends in the Memphis
Conference is a wonderful preacher. Some years ago she was serving on a church
staff in Cincinnati, as a layperson in charge of singles ministry. One day a
layman and his wife took her out to dinner. The layman said to her, "I don't
know how to lead people to Jesus, but I know how to make money. You know how to
lead people to Jesus, so I want to send you to seminary."<BR><BR>After Susan
recovered a bit from shock, she asked, "Are you really serious?" He said, "I
certainly am. And I want you to pick out the best seminary in the country. I
don't believe in doing things half-way and neither does Jesus."<BR><BR>Today she
is joyously at work leading people to Jesus. And he is still busy making money
to underwrite the work of Christ. Both she and he lent their donkeys to
Jesus.<BR><BR>Bill Bouknight, Collected Sermons, <A href=""><FONT
color=#800080>www.Sermons.com</FONT></A>
<BR>___________________________________<BR><BR> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The Triumph and the Tragedy<BR><BR>Go with me
now to the year 1942. The first American troops are marching into London. We are
entering the conflict known as World War II. The people of London are cheering
the American soldiers. The friendly reception exhilarates the young soldiers.
They sing as they march. Suddenly the troops turn into a main street and a
strange hush falls over the scene. The happy songs die on their lips. They are
looking for the first time upon an area in London that has been blown to bits.
They see the great wounds on the city inflicted by falling bombs. They suddenly
realize the city has suffered terribly. In these young soldiers’ hearts, one
moment celebration; the next, great sadness.<BR><BR>The triumph and the tragedy.
Palm Sunday. Good Friday. Life happens.<BR><BR>King Duncan, Collected Works,
www.Sermons.com<BR>_____________________________________<BR><BR>On My
Account</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown and Linus
are standing next to each other, staring at a star-filled sky. "Would you like
to see a falling star?" Charlie Brown asks Linus. <BR><BR>"Sure..." Linus
responds. "Then again, I don't know," he adds, after some thought. "I'd hate to
have it fall just on my account." <BR><BR>In the book <U>Parables of
Peanuts</U>, Robert Short uses this cartoon to make the point that a star did
fall on our account. God came down to us as Jesus: like a lamb led to slaughter,
He died on our account. What humility. What love and, oh, what he accomplished
there.</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Charles Schultz, Peanuts, quoted by Robert
Short</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">________________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">How a King Enters a City</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The Greek author Plutarch describes how kings
are supposed to enter a city. He tells about one Roman general, Aemilius Paulus,
who won a decisive victory over the Macedonians. When Aemilius returned to Rome,
his triumphant procession lasted three days. The first day was dedicated to
displaying all the artwork that Aemilius and his army had plundered. The second
day was devoted to all the weapons of the Macedonians they had captured. The
third day began with the rest of the plunder borne by 250<BR>oxen, whose horns
were covered in gold. This included more than 17,000 pounds of gold coins. Then
came the captured and humiliated king of Macedonia and his extended family.
Finally, Aemilius himself entered Rome, mounted on a magnificent chariot.
Aemilius wore a purple robe, interwoven with gold. He carried his laurels in his
right hand. He was accompanied by a large choir singing hymns, praising the
military accomplishments of the great Aemilius. That, my friends, is how a king
enters a city.<BR><BR>But the King of Kings? He entered riding on a lowly
donkey. If he had consulted his political advisors, they would have been aghast.
What was he up to? Leaders are supposed to project strength and
power.<BR><BR>King Duncan, Collected Works, www.Sermons.com</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">_____________________________________</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">What Is God Like?</DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Legend has it that during Marco Polo's
celebrated trip to Asia, he was taken before the great and fearsome ruler,
Genghis Khan. Now what was Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant and adventurer,
supposed to do before this mighty pagan conqueror? One false move could cost him
his life. He decided to tell the story of Jesus as it is recorded in the
gospels. It is said that when Marco Polo related the events of Holy Week, and
described Jesus' betrayal, his trial, his scourging and crucifixion, Genghis
Khan became more and more agitated, more engrossed in the story, and more tense.
When Marco Polo pronounced the words, "Then Jesus bowed his head and yielded up
his spirit," Genghis Khan could no longer contain himself. He interrupted,
bellowing, "What did the Christian's God do then?...</DIV>
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<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> </DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">The conclusion to
this illustration and for many additional illustrations and sermons for Palm and
Passion Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter can be accessed at </SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: #7f7f7f; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"><A href=""><SPAN
style="COLOR: purple; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">www.Sermons.com</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">.</SPAN></DIV>
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