Tag: Mustache March

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Palm Sunday

Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;  Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.  (Matthew 21:8-11, NASB)

Yesterday, 2 April, was Palm Sunday.  We remember Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  Earlier, He had told two of His disciples to go and fetch a donkey and her colt from their owner.  He even told them what to say to the owner.  How did Jesus know where to find the animals?  Jesus is God!  The Bible verse above tells what happened when Jesus entered the city.

It would be a momentous week for Jesus.  By Friday, He would fulfill His mission for coming to the earth He created:  He would die!  On Spy Wednesday, Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples and closest friends, would meet with the Temple authorities, and conspire to betray Him.  On Thursday, Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples with a Seder meal, known to us as the Last Supper.  Later that night, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was arrested and brought to the authorities, where His trial would begin.  Then there was the horror of Friday. 

Matthew 21:9 image.  Found at Alabaster Grace Ministries, https://alabastergraceministries.org/alabaster-grace-notes/blog/hosanna-in-the-highest.  

His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem is a contrast to the way the week would end up.  First, we have the people shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;  Hosanna in the highest!”  By the end of the week they would be shouting, “Crucify Him!”  “Hosanna” means “Praise God!”  Quite a difference from “Kill God!”  But the people didn’t understand just Who He was.  They thought the Messiah would come to deliver them from under the thumb of their Roman oppressors.  Instead, Jesus came to save them from their sins.  He came to save US from OUR sins! 

Worship:  “Hosanna” by Hillsong Worship

Mustache March is over.  As soon as Sue took this picture, she shaved me.

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Flesh and Blood

. . . since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives . . . Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.  (Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18, NASB)

The author of Hebrews says that Jesus became flesh and blood just like us!  He did so “that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”  The reason Jesus came to the earth was to die a substitutionary sacrifice for us to defeat the devil, and that we would have no fear of death. 

By His death, Jesus became a High Priest, able to minister to us.  After ascending into heaven, Jesus even now is seated at the right hand (the position of honor!) of God; He’s our Advocate with the Father; He’s praying for us even now; and He’s preparing a dwelling place for us.  Jesus, through His death, and our acknowledgement of His death, satisfied God (propitiation), and appeased His wrath, something we ourselves could not do.  

Hebrews-2.18
Hebrews 2:18 image.  Found at The Heaton File, https://heatonkent.com/2017/11/27/jesus-knows-our-troubles/. 

Also, since Jesus was flesh and blood, like us, He knows what it’s like to be tempted.  He’s able to minister to us when we’re tempted.  

Jesus, by taking on human characteristics (although He was fully God at the same time), rendered the devil powerless; He made it possible for us not to fear death (“Death, where is your sting?”); Jesus took on the characteristics of the High Priest (He is the Highest of the high priests); and He is able to comfort us when we’re tempted.  In this Lenten Season, we must remember that Jesus loves us so much, and sacrificed so much, so that we might have eternal life! 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=x8sw-g6P544
Worship:  “Mighty Is the Power of the Cross,” by Chris Tomlin

I’m participating in Mustache March, the Air Force’s unofficial tribute to Colonel Robin Olds.  Why?  Because growing a ‘stache is one of the few things I can do!  I’ll let you see the results at the end of the month. 

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Col Robin Olds during the Vietnam War.  Found at Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustache_March.

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Prophecy IX

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?  (Isaiah 53:6-8, NASB)

This passage is another from Isaiah’s prophecy of “The Suffering Servant,” one of many describing the advent, life, and death of Messiah, manifested by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Isaiah’s narrative here goes into the “why” of Jesus’ sacrificial suffering and death. 

We “like sheep have been led astray.”  How?  Every human being “has turned to his own way.”  The Bible says there is not one of us who is good.  There has to be a way for us to be made right with God.  The solution?  The “Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.”  Jesus took the punishment we all deserve.  When He was being tortured and crucified, God placed all the sins of the world squarely on His shoulders.  This added immensely to the pain He suffered.  My sins would’ve been enough to endure, but Jesus had everybody else’s, too. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6How is your walk with God? Are you walking far away from Him?Some of us believe that we have...
Isaiah 53:6 image.  Found at The Word for the Day, https://thewordfortheday.tumblr.com/post/183292025562/all-we-like-sheep-have-gone-astray-we-have

While He was going through this horrific torture, Jesus “did not open His mouth.”  He at one point told His disciples that He could’ve called legions of angels to come rescue Him, but He did not.  A Bible study I did last Lenten Season ended the devotional with these words every day:  “He did so willingly, and He did so for you [me].”  Isaiah compares the future Messiah’s attitude when subjecting Himself to this brutality to a “lamb that is led to slaughter.”  “He did not open His mouth.”

Jesus would be taken away “by oppression and judgment.”  Isaiah asks if any of the people would bother to consider if Jesus was to take all this punishment in their place, to take the punishment they deserve (“to whom the stroke was due”).  My guess is this is a rhetorical question as the people, who welcomed Jesus to Jerusalem only days before by spreading their cloaks and palm fronds in the road in front of Him, now wanted Him crucified. 

Every one of us has a sin problem.  Jesus paid the penalty we all deserve by going to the cross.  He came to earth for that reason, so we could all have fellowship for eternity with His Father in heaven.  Would you call on Jesus’ name today if you haven’t already?  “He did so willingly, and He did so for you.”

Worship:  “All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Performed by the Brussels Choral Society.
“He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living,” from “Messiah,” by G.F. Handel.  Artist unknown. 

Mustache Update:  Here’s my progress on the 12th day of Mustache March: 

Rollie Fingers - San Diego Padres - 1978.jpg
Rollie Fingers, found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollie_Fingers#/media/File:Rollie_Fingers_-_San_Diego_Padres_-_1978.jpg

Just kidding, this is Rollie Fingers, former Major League pitcher, and Hall of Famer.  As impressive as that ‘stache is in the picture, it’s even more so in person.  When we were stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson in the early ’80s, I used to get to at least one spring training game for my Cleveland Indians.  One day I was walking past the visitors bench, and there was Rollie, mustache and all.  As I said, impressive!  My outstanding Nurse Meghan wants me to grow one like this.  Please check back in five years. 

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Heirs

. . . for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God . . .   (Romans 8:13-16, NASB)

In his letter to the church at Rome, Apostle Paul writes about fear versus love in the spirit of adoption as children of God.  

In this passage, he starts by contrasting “living according to the flesh” with living “by the Spirit.”  The former leads to death (“you must die”), while with the latter, “you are putting to death the deeds of the body, [and] you will live.”  This is another way of discussing the “deeds of the flesh” vs. the fruit of the Spirit (see “Fruit,” February 21, 2022, below).  Paul goes on to explain that “all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”  It’s far better to be called a son or daughter of the living God, than to be outside the family! 

Next, Paul says that those who are led by the Holy Spirit “have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba!  Father!'”  Sons and daughters of God have been adopted into the family; therefore there is no reason to fear.  Anything.  Not anyone, not circumstances, not death. 

Romans 8:15 poster.  Found at Women in the Word, https://t2womenintheword.blogspot.com/2017/06/he-is-our-abba-father-romans-8.html

According to Bible Gateway, the term “Abba” referring to God as Father is found three times in the New Testament.  Here’s a discussion on the meaning of the word: 

“The spoken language of Jews in Israel in Jesus’ day was Aramaic, and abba is an Aramaic word for father that indicates an intimate relationship. One way to render this term in English could be “Dad.” Although the Old Testament refers to God as a father in several passages, it was highly unusual for Jews to use the term of endearment Abba to refer to God. The term reveals Jesus’ close, personal relationship with God the Father, and following Jesus, Paul used it to represent believers’ relationship with the Father as well.”  (Reese, Christopher.  “What Does “Abba” Mean in the Bible?”  February 21, 2022, Bible Gateway Blog, found at https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2022/02/what-does-abba-mean-in-the-bible/?utm_source=bg&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklybrief)

Last, Paul tells us how we know we’re adopted into God’s family:  “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”  The Holy Spirit Himself tells us that we are sons and daughters of the One Who created the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in it.  One word:  Awesome!  Are you a son or daughter of God?  The way to make sure is to ask Jesus to come into your heart. 

Jack and Jan Catton came to visit us recently.  Jack was one of my roommates at the Air Force Academy, and Jack and Jan are among our closest friends.  Jan’s parting words to me were, “No fear.  No fear.”  No fear, Jan.  I’m a son of God Most High!  As an adopted son, I can call Him “Dad!”

The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.  (Proverbs 29:25)

Worship:  “Freedom Hymn,” by Austin French


triple ace robin olds in front of an aircraftColonel Robin Olds in Vietnam.  Found at Sandboxx, https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-man-behind-the-stache-why-mustache-march-matters-to-airmen/

Tuesday begins the month of March, also known as “Mustache March” in the United States Air Force.  It’s an unofficial tribute to Colonel Robin Olds, who was a wing commander in Vietnam.  He had a mustache that definitely exceeded Air Force standards, and was thus a hero to his troops.  He was later the Commandant of Cadets at the Air Force Academy (before my time there), and he was a hero to the Cadet Wing  Across the Air Force, Airmen will grow mustaches and have contests in their units at the end of March to see who grew the best ‘stache.  I’ll be participating g in Mustache March this year.  Why?  Because even with ALS, I can.  Growing facial hair is one of the few things I can still do!