Starter Prayer:  "Lord Jesus, if you are indeed The Lord of History, then you are showing us the plan, direction, and meaning of the human journey.  I want to speak like never before the 'Jesus is Lord.' Now it is not an assertion of dominance or rightness over anybody, but only a willingness to trust and follow your humble path."  (From Wondrous Encounters by Richard Rohr)

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-7

There is no other way, my friends.  Walking with Christ will always, always lead us downward.   

A colleague writes in his sermon for today:  

"Jesus does not become Lord by Caesar's way of jumping and taking the top seat...he did not try to kick the God off his throne at the top of the pyramid (as the devil did).  No, Jesus emptied himself all the way to death on the cross.  

This week, this Holy Week, this life of Jesus lived this week, gives us the model for our lives too.  We will not achieve the Mind of Christ by more work, or by attending more worship services, or doing more church stuff.  We receive this Mind as a gift from God through the Holy Spirit.  Let the conforming presence of the Holy Spirit form us into the mind of Christ that we may be emptied of all our desires, need for, want to be the at the top."  (From Pastor Larry Klinker)