Cascade View Covenant Church

03/31/2026

NOT THE HERO THEY EXPECTED

One of my favorite comic book heroes growing up was Batman. I loved the TV show, Michael Keaton’s portrayal, and now Christian Bale as the Dark Knight. What makes Batman so fascinating is that people see him differently depending on where they stand. The powerful and established often see him as disruptive and threatening because he does not fit their categories or serve their interests. But the vulnerable often see him as a symbol of protection, sacrifice, and hope.

That contrast helps illuminate Palm Sunday.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds welcomed Him with cries of “Hosanna!” They were hoping for a hero of power—a Messiah who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s strength. But Jesus did not arrive on a war horse. He came riding on a donkey, a sign of humility and peace. He was not the hero they expected, but He was the King they needed.

As the story unfolds Jesus makes it clear that His mission will not be fulfilled through force, but through sacrifice. When some Greeks come seeking Him, Jesus announces that His hour has come. Yet the glory He speaks of is not political triumph, but the cross. He is the hero who walks toward the darkness, not away from it. He does not avoid suffering or sidestep the cost. He embraces the mission the Father has given Him.

This is where Jesus overturns our expectations. The world looks for victory through domination, power, and control. Jesus reveals that the greatest victory comes through surrender, obedience, and love. He did not come to crush Rome. He came to defeat sin, death, and the devil. He was lifted up on the cross and lifted up in glory, drawing people to Himself through sacrificial love.

Palm Sunday reminds us that Jesus was not the hero the people expected, but the Savior they desperately needed. He entered Jerusalem in humility, walked straight toward the cross, and gave His life for us.

And that leaves each of us with a question: will we keep Jesus at a distance, or will we take Him seriously? The One who gave Himself fully for us now invites us to trust Him, follow Him, and surrender ourselves fully to Him.

“When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:7–11 NLT

03/30/2026

Maundy Thursday Service is a sacred and solemn remembrance from the early Christian church of Jesus’ mandate to his followers, to “Love each other as I have loved you.” The service is a combination of Scripture reading, worshipping in song and communion. For many, this has become a special family tradition. It concludes with the powerful imagery and sound of each person hammering a nail into the cross.

12/27/2025

09/25/2025

Chipmunk, Rabbit or...Squirrel?

I was on my morning walk a couple weeks ago and just a few feet away I saw a small figure dart from a yard, cross the sidewalk, jump and scramble up a tree. At that same moment a guy was coming from the opposite direction and when he was close I said, “Hey, was that your pet chipmunk running up the tree?” He laughed and said, “I thought it was a rabbit until it started climbing up the tree.” But then he added, “I think it might have been a squirrel without a tail.”

Last week I was on my usual route when I came to the same place as before, and a couple of feet in front of me appeared a squirrel without a tail. As he scampered up the same tree, he paused and looked down at me—I was worried he was going to pounce and attack me. I asked the squirrel, “What happened to your tail?” Luckily for me he didn’t attack but climbed out over a limb, jumped onto another tree and disappeared.

It got me thinking about our current climate. It appears our country is divided not over facts, but over what we prefer to see—what we want to see. I saw a chipmunk. The other guy saw a rabbit. But the truth was and is, it was a squirrel, without a tail. I have to admit, when I saw the squirrel up close the second time with his little stubby tail, he did look like a bunny.

Truth doesn’t come through the accumulation of data or information. Truth doesn’t come from what the majority says, or shared ideologies. The dangers and problem with social media, are algorithms and echo chambers can muffle the truth. So we need to hold our opinions lightly and Jesus tightly. Stepping away from social media is a good and healthy way of recalculating and pursuing a better way. A changed mind isn’t failure—it’s formation. Confession and saying,“I was wrong” is where the pursuit of truth begins. Truth grows when we can humbly say, "I might be wrong."

Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”— John 8:31–32. Truth isn’t just information—it’s liberation that comes from staying close to Jesus and His Word. And we’re not left to figure it out alone. Jesus promised the Spirit of truth who “…will guide you into all truth”—John 16:13. Together, the Word and the Spirit adjust our lenses so we don’t just see what we want to see—we learn to see as Jesus sees.

In our pursuit of truth ask, “What am I missing?” Invite perspectives beyond your usual circle. Let Scripture and the Spirit, not social media, challenge your preferences and confirm what’s true. Speak with grace. Even when you’re right, stay humble and kind.

04/19/2025

The resurrection wasn’t just a moment of victory over death—it was the moment everything changed. For John, it began with an empty tomb. For Mary, it began when Jesus called her by name. For us, it begins when we realize Jesus is alive—and giving us new life. You don’t need a title or a platform. Just a heart willing to carry that hope. We’ve all been entrusted with this sacred kuleana: to go and tell. To show up in grief with grace. To speak life where there’s doubt. To live in a way that says, “There is still hope—because Jesus is alive.”

He Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed!

04/18/2025

Our Leadership Team decided to cancel tonight's Maundy Thursday Service tonite due to Pastor Jim's illness (He did test negative for Covid.) Please join us Sunday for our Easter Service.