I have heard a lot about the cross this past week.
today from a friend's blog
yesterday at church (it was Easter and all)
and Friday night at Secret Church
All I can say is... I thought I got it (the cross) before Friday night. Friday night, well at 12:30am Saturday, I realized my understanding falls so short. There was so much more intention behind the cross. There was so much I didn't really get about the scene in the garden.
Here is a list of things I didn't get-
- what Jesus meant by "the cup" as he prayed and spoke with the Father the night of his betrayal
- the anguish Jesus went through was NOT out of fear of what was coming but spiritual anguish (I know I have heard this before, but I have had it explained in a new and amazing indepth way)
- how much so many have paid through history because of the cross. not only the symbol but sharing what that means.
- thanks to Discovery Channel I now get a little more about the physical agony Christ endured nailed to the cross
But as I think about the cross I want to Hug Jesus, lay at His feet, and shout at the same time. It indeed does draw one near and make you want to run. It is a glorious picture of love, sacrifice, and God's glory. And ironically it reminds you of His call to love, sacrifice for His glory. Not because you HAVE to, but because when you understand the cross and the amazing magnificence of God you HAVE to. Because to do anything less is so shallow and empty in comparison to the full and abundant life God has in store.
I think the same thing about my Bible. I love my Bible. It challenges me and kicks my tail (after all it IS GOD'S ACTUAL words). What is interesting is that currently there is a lot of talk about the cross. For some reason it is polarizing folks. Kind of like worship (as in music) styles polarize folks. It is interesting. It is heartbreaking. It is thought provoking. Wonder how I could stir up some contraversy over my Bible and make people talk about it so that they read it more?
As I sat in Secret Church at Brookhills Friday night I could not help but think about my friends in China that I visited Christmas 2007. The accapella songs, the discussion of the truth, the simplicity, and how much they LOVED God's word and wanted to know more about it. How they would have been willing that night to be escorted out the door to prison if needed for the message of Christ. I wept as I prayed for them. For others like them. And I smiled to think about the cross in the government church on Christmas Eve with the blinking multicolored rope light wrapped around its edges. It was tacky but divine. it pointed to jesus even though hardly a word I heard I understood.
So my heart is encouraged, and heavy. In numerous ways. Great thing is that it is leading me to HIM. The ONE constant thing. Despite all the contraversies of the world...
I encourage you to take a look at Lisa's blog through the Martins Page, Secret Church and get on the mail list for the next one!! (Can you say amazing 6 hour Bible study!) And no MATTER what you think or do...sit down with your Bible tonight and see what HE has to say to You. About Whatever...
Sorry for the randomness this blog has in it. My heart is full and my brain has a hard time processing.
Uganda is ONE month away. I can't wait. I am already crying just thinking about being with my friends there and seeing what God is doing. I will post more on Uganda tomorrow!
DEFINITELY WISHING WE COULD JOIN YOU IN UGANDA. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPDATES! SO MANY TIMES I LOOK AT ALL THE PICTURES WE HAVE UP IN OUR APARTMENT OF OUR TRIP AND I JUST FEEL SO MUCH JOY AND SADNESS AT THE SAME TIME. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AND I LONG TO BE THERE WITH THEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR HAVING US ALONG ON THE TRIP. ANYONE READING THIS BLOG THAT HAS NEVER BEEN, SHOULD START SAVING NOW TO GO. PERSPECTIVE CHANGING AND WALK TRANSFOMING. CAN'T WAIT TO GO AGAIN!
Posted by: KYLE | April 14, 2009 at 04:01 PM