The Cross is the main thing

"When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly. I would like that all of us, after these days of grace, might have the courage - the courage - to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Cross of the Lord: to build the Church on the Blood of the Lord, which is shed on the Cross, and to profess the one glory, Christ Crucified. In this way, the Church will go forward." ~ Pope Francis I

I am a "Protestant".  That is, i am not a Catholic.  I am not anti-Catholic, i just do not agree with a lot of the views of the Catholic church as a whole, so, this will NOT be a denominational bashing post.  If this is what is what you, dear reader, are seeking, please continue on, as it will not be found here.

This was a quote i found, just after Pope Francis I was made the Pope of the Catholic church.  While there are things i disagree with the Catholic church on, this quote by the current Pope shows that there are a lot of things that align most of the denominations of the Christian church.

The cross is THE focus of Christ's ministry on the earth.  His birth brought Him from Heaven.  His life paved the way to make His crucifixion relevant.  Hos death paid the penalty.  His resurrection defeated death.  His testimony and ascension back to Heaven showed His true home.  Everything the Christian does is in response to the cross.  There is nothing a Christian can do to earn what Christ has done.  Nothing that a Christian can do to add to what Christ has done.  There is nothing that the world can do that can take away what Christ has down.  The cross is the very foundation open which our faith is built. 

Preach Christ crucified.  Proclaim WHY He was.  Do not withhold, or soften, or... take away from sharing these things.  It will not always be accepted... even by those of us who profess Christ, in our daily lives... but, just because the truth is not accepted... does not make it any less truth.

-=-=-=O=-=-=-

Greetings my fellow disciples, my fellow samurai in Christ

I have been... AFK, from my blog, for all intents and purposes, for quite a while... i am too self conscious to even look back and see for how long (and not counting my 'blips' here and there).  This post will be an "update", and explanation, and hopefully... an idea of where i will be going forward, for now.

OK... the past... "my beloved" left me.  It's hard to explain... and, i have had a role in my own failures, and short comings.  I will not extrapolate as to what happened... that is a private matter, and i do not want to slander, or possibly misrepresent what went on - for either of us.  For my part, i am willing to share, but i am concerned of where the 'line' might be, and in the end, we live in a fallen world.  The troubles are probably a large reason as to why my blogging slowed, etc., but, God is always good, all the time.  I have begun emerging from the valley.  And, from the perspective of my blogging entries... this will come across as sudden... but... God has brought a new woman into my life.  We are both seeking healing for our pasts, as we walk out what God might have for us.  I need to come up with a new... moniker for her, as i prefer to not use real names here.  Stay tuned for that. 

The present.  I have been doing a lot of 'purging'.  Truly.  Furniture, pieces parts, old Tupperware without lids, etc.  This has been including a review of memories, etc.  It also included a review of my quotes from Facebook... i found out that i have 125 quotes!  This has given me an idea...

So, moving forward... for now.  I think i will be using those 125 quotes, which grows in length at varying paces over time, as well as the 7-5-3 picture. :)  However, i have also learned that, real life exists.  I have to ensure i keep up with adulting (i am a single father, for real now).  My career also needs more of my time and attention.  So, i will only try and ensure of a single post per week.  If i am able to get more out, i will do so, but, for now... :)

For those reading this entry.... thank you.  May God richly bless you - not for reading this, but that He lives in you, and you seek Him with all of your heart. 

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap not gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious. saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:25-24, ESV

-=-=-=O=-=-=-

7-5-3

I really have a LOT more to post than just this image... but i have a lot of "personal real world issues i am working on, but... in my opinion, this needed to be shared right away....