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.

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Ramblin' Random Wednesday

1. Ever had any run-ins with the "library police?" ~ The worst i've ever experienced is a late notification being received.  Everything was fine and dandy once i returned the books in question.  I was fortunate to not encounter the dark suits and sunglasses.

2. Do you have a special organizational plan and place for wrapping paper, gift bags, etc., or do you just purchase whatever you need as you give gifts? ~ My sole responsibility at Christmas time is to wrap presents.  It can take me more than 10 minutes per package.  More if it is an odd shape.  Now, having said that, as much as i would like to have a little work table, with all of my supplies laid out on it... it usually ends up me on the floor, or coffee table in an uncomfortable cross legged seat, my legs going numb and my back going out.  Even during the year, my Beloved brings the prize to me for wrapping before any birthday party/shower event/etc.

3. Have you ever been in (first-hand witness) a natural disaster? ~ By God's grace, i have never experienced a natural disaster first hand - that is i have never been where one was happening, but i have seen the devastation first hand on a few occasions.  Being a member of the National Guard exposed me to several floods where we were deployed to help out. I was also deployed to help after Hurricane Katrina and Rita (which rolled in while we deployed - some intense hours in Army huts at the end of an Air National Guard runway) Some help was not as easy as others.  I will never forget the sight... the devastation , the smell... or the sense of personal pride of being able to do something, anything, to help.

4. What's your favorite Barry Manilow song? ~ Barry who?  Just kidding Linda... um... to be honest... never really a fan of Mr. Manilow. The only song that comes to mind is "I Write the Songs".

5. What's the best costume you've ever worn? ~ Ooh... that brings back some memories.  Way back, before High School, i was into the Rock group KISS.  Ace Freeley being my personal favorite of the group. 

My costume was not Ace, but of a zombie soldier.  I mentioned the KISS connection only because of the makeup, which completed this costume.  I spiked out my hair to make it look matted and stuff.  I did a full white face and neck and then used black to make it look like a skull.  Then i colored pieces of smooth toilet paper and paper towels with a pale flesh color and then stuck layers of the stuff in various places all over my face and neck.  Highlighted various areas with "dried blood", etc.  I had some memorable reactions to that one.  The desire to get in costume, even at sci-fi or renaissance festivals, has waned dramatically since then though. 

6. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? ~ Thesaurus, definitely.  I have come to rely on spell check in both Word and Firefox way too much.  I find that it also helps a lot in my writing.  Especially when i am using the same word over and over.  The Thesaurus helps me find other words that mean the same thing, sometimes even fits better.

7. What's your favorite breakfast food? ~ French Toast.  Yummy!  Although, a really good Blueberry Muffin, say from Dunkin Doughnuts, will give them a run for their money on some mornings.

8. Have you ever purchased anything from an infomercial? ~ Not directly, but now that our local mall has an "As seen on TV" Store... a few.  The ShamWow is awesome.  I also have the drain snake.  Both work as advertised.

9. Have you ever crawled through a window? ~ Not sure why, but i actually chuckled at this question.  The answer is yes.  As a latchkey kid there was many a time i would forget my key and have to find my way in.  Especially since there was a better chance than even my mom would not be home until late.  Now i look back and realize i should have been more responsible and made sure i had my key, back then it was just my normal way of doing things.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? ~ I do.  It happened to me... even though i was too daft to recognize it at first.  The afternoon i met my Beloved she was supposed to be on a canoe trip, and i was being introduced to her roomate on a blind date.  The three of us spent a whole football game talking about the Sovereignty of God.  Later, after the homecoming dance and dinner, the whole Christian group from her college went to Denny's and later to a park (at 1 AM).  Two or three days later i was on the top of a ladder, working on someone's gutters (i was a carpenter's apprentice at the time), when the Holy Spirit gently tapped me on my shoulder and "asked" me if i had been paying attention.  It took a little while, but i eventually got my act together and got in touch with her... even though we were seperated by over 50 miles, and i didn't have my own car.

11. How man pairs of jeans do you own? ~ Umm... four.  2 black, and 2 blue.  One of the blue ones are really faded, the other is too long in the leg.  One of the black pair is too small now that i've added on some "love handles".  I'd wear them all the time if i could get away with it though.

12. If someone were going to bake a cake to honor/represent you, what would it be? (Think creatively, like Duff and Crew on "Ace of Cakes.") ~ I am not a big fan of fondant cakes.  The icing is not all that delectable... in my opinon.  However, i think a cake that would represent me would have to have four elements... 1) It should look sort of like the Matrix or TRON... 2) It should have some samurai elements... 3) It must incorporate some Elven influence, and finally 4)  It must represent my faith in Christ.  The first 3 could be summed up by one word/genre/game:  Shadowrun, while the later could be represented by using a cross.

Music Monday - 20091026 - a trilogy

I don't handle changes to sleep schedule well. Truth be told, i don't handle changes well. 8) But things have been getting a little hectic at work of late. Lots of work, which is a good thing. But the result has been me having more trouble than usual keeping my thoughts straight. Coming into this morning i did not have a song picked out. Some floating around in my brain but nothing that stuck out. When i finally put finger to keyboard i decided i wanted to come up with a Michael W. Smith song. I just really appreciate his heart for God, and his passion often comes through in his music. With my affinity for storms, and rain i almost went with Healing Rain. I like the visualization of that song. In the end i went with a song that is closer to my heart... the cross of Christ. Where else do i find that my sins are forgiven? Lest there is a payment for it, i shall suffer for my own sins. But here is where i find that it has been paid in full. I've used this song once before, but i am using Michael W. Smith's version today...

The Wonderful Cross by Isaacc Watts When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died My Richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride See from His head His hands His feet Sorrow and love mingled down Did e'er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown Oh the wonderful cross (2x) Bides me come and die and find that I may truly live Oh the wonderful cross (2x) All who gather here by grace draw here and bless your name Were the whole realm of nature mine That were and an off'ring far too small Love so amazing so divine Demands my soul my life my all Oh the wonderful cross (2x) Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live Oh the wonderful cross (2x) All who gather here by grace draw here and bless your name Life so amazing, so divine Demands my soul. my life, my all and the beauty and the shame in the glory of His name Oh the wonderful cross Oh the wonderful cross (2x) Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live Oh the wonderful cross (2x) All who gather here by grace draw here and bless your name

I do not feel that we can ever become too familiar with the cross. We are still friends with Christ. We are still forgiven by grace - Christ no longer hangs there, we are completely forgiven. Out justification is complete before the Father... but these are the results of the cross. We can not enjoy forgiveness of sins, with Christ, we can not experience fellowship with Christ, we cannot fully grasp the peace we now experience with God without Christ going to the cross in our stead. We may experience universal grace... we may experience prosperity on this Earth... but we will never fully obtain lasting peace and satisfaction in our hearts without Christ's accomplishment on the cross. It all points to, and emanates from, the cross. As a result... we experience the fullness of joy when we receive the healing rain of God...

Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith Healing rain is coming down It's coming nearer to this old town Rich and poor, weak and strong It's bringing mercy, it won't be long Healing rain is coming down It's coming closer to the lost and found Tears of joy, and tears of shame Are washed forever in Jesus' name Healing rain, it comes with fire So let it fall and take us higher Healing rain, I'm not afraid To be washed in Heaven's rain Lift your heads, let us return To the mercy seat where time began And in your eyes, I see the pain Come soak this dry heart with healing rain And only You, the Son of man Can take a leper and let him stand So lift your hands, they can be held By someone greater, the great I am Healing rain, it comes with fire So let it fall and take us higher Healing rain, I'm not afraid To be washed in Heaven's rain To be washed in Heaven's rain... Healing rain is falling down Healing rain is falling down I'm not afraid I'm not afraid...

It when we feel His forgiveness raining down on us we feel the freedom to worship, and praise, and rejoice freely. Although human emotions are finicky, easily manipulated, they are also indicators of genuine responses though. Sometimes you have to let it lose and sing... I have been searching for a song that would express passion and joy in what God has already done, but it's hard to find the songs on YouTube some times. 8) I remember a lot of songs that i used to sing in church... i can visually remember people clapping their hands, etc. But i've not been able to remember the song titles, or lyrics... 8/ Oh well... i trust the concept was conveyed... 8)

Music Monday - 20090921 - and other randomness

Of late i have been desiring to grow more passionate about my relationship with Christ. (Last weeks blog is HERE.) One cannot be passionate about things unless they spend time pursuing and thinking about it. Although i have had this song on my Music Monday blog before (ironically almost exactly one year ago) it is where i am at again this morning... unless the Father calls i am unable to respond (John 6:44)

Draw me close to you Draw me close to You Never let me go I lay it all down again To hear You say that I'm Your friend You are my desire No one else will do 'Cause nothing else could take Your place To feel the warmth of Your embrace Help me find the way Bring me back to You You're all I want You're all I've ever needed You're all I want Help me know You are near

So, i have been working on drawing close to God by reading Living the Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney, i have been thinking about the things of the cross, and a lot of my prayer life has been centered around what Christ has done for me on the cross.

Music Monday - 20090119

Wow what a week. I have been dealing with a strong cold for about four days now... and my mind has been fuzzy and my head feels like a bowling ball. Today it's snowing outside and my beloved is giving me guilt trips for not being able to take the kids outside to play in it. To be honest, even if i was home i am not so sure i'd want to be outside right now. Yesterday as i avoided the masses at church because of my cold, i sat and listened to a sermon by Robin Boisvert. It was a sermon he did at Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, MD back in December, titled "The Divinity of Jesus Christ". What a great reminder. I think if you ask many Christians today, "Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God", most - if not all - would answer yes. If you asked them, "Do you believe Jesus Christ was God", i am not sure what the percentage would be. I hope it would be overwhelmingly the majority. Too often we as Christians (and i am certain that i am among this group, so i struggle with this too) move away from "the main thing". What is our faith based in? Where does our hope belong? Is it that God will give us peace and prosperity? A trouble free life? I know i have to work on my own heart daily. Lately i've struggled with the unknown of an upcoming employment change. God willing my job will not change, just my employer. God has consistantly proven to me that He is moving in my life in the area of my career, and yet when this little bump comes i begin to get fearful. Why!?! Hasn't He shown what He can, and has, do(ne)!?! Ultimately my peace and prosperity is not to be found in this life. Any bank account/portfolio i accumulate is dust. Any possesions i "own" now will someday lie in ruins. I can't hold onto either if it came down to it. I can be a good steward and do things to hold on for a while, but in the end i will have to let them go. Jesus has said that He is going to prepare a place for us (either a mansion, or a room - does it really matter? If we are in the Kingdom of God does it matter if it's an efficency, or a spacious manor?) - and that is where my ultimate peace and provision lay. To be a street cleaner in the Kingdom of Heaven would be a grand thing! After listening to Robin's message i scrolled down to my praise and worship section on my little MP3 player and despite me having the thing set up to random shuffle, two songs kept playing. One was...

What a Glorious Mystery by Stephen Altrogge from the All We Long to See albumn Who can comprehend Your holy ways O Lord Your glorious power without end From which the stars were born How could we ever understand The moving of Your hand? How could we ever come to grasp The One who never began? Oh, what a glorious mystery You are Oh, what a glorious mystery You are Though we only see in part You’ve completely won our hearts Oh, what a glorious mystery You are Who can comprehend Your gracious mercy Lord Great loving kindness that would send A Savior to be born? Why would you, Jesus, die for us Who cursed Your perfect name? Why would You come to reconcile Those who caused Your shame? © 2002 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI).

Ultimately this is the "food" we should "chew" on. Everything else we seek to know about God should all be centered around, and return to, the cross. For without it, there is nothing sustainable in our lives concerning the things of God. Thank you Robin for such a beautiful and poignant message.

Speaking of books

Recently a visitor to my blog drew my attention to the book "The Way of the Christian Samurai" (not really sure why ;-) ) and I really enjoyed it (thus my review of it yesterday). I really do feel as though it is an easy enough read that most Christians could gain something from it.



But once I finished it, it actually made me thirsty for more - reading that is. I have had "The Cross of Christ" by John Stott for what seems like forever, but I have never read it. I need to start that... but that was not enough. No. I have gone to the well known as Amazon.com and order yet three more books (which I am sure my beloved will laugh, and cry about).

I have ordered, "Living the Cross Centered Life" and "Humility: True Greatness", both by CJ Mahaney. The first one is a follow on to "The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing" and I am really looking forward to seeing what Mr Mahaney has followed up with. While I was looking at this book I saw the second book. Having been fed under Pastor Mahaney when he was the senior Pastor of Covenant Life Church I can honestly say that he, along with all those in leadership with him, lived out the principles of humility. Pride is a constant foe in my life and when I saw this title I immediately wanted to purchase, and then devour this book.

The last book I've ordered was "Seduce Me"by Darcy Cole. As a Christian husband I feel that it is my duty to make sure that my own "lawn" is well maintained and thus there will be no need to covet my neighbors lawn - if you know what I mean. There are some raised eyebrows - especially in my National Guard unit - when people learn that I am overtly interested in the pursuit of intimacy with my beloved. They chide me like I am doing something sinful, but then I am not ashamed to declare my love and "interest" in my wife. After all, marriage is ordained by God. He has used it to give an example of His relationship with his church, and there is an entire book in the Bible dedicated to such a relationship. But to be totally honest, I felt that I needed a fresh perspective on how I could pursue my beloved better.

Now, to get off my duff (so to speak), knuckle down, and actually read some books that make me think and can make a difference in my life.



Verse for today:
2 Timothy 2:14-19, ESV
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God [1] not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, [2] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

Living Cross centered

I actually managed to drag my tired old bones out of bed at 6:30 this morning so that I could go and walk for exercise. I really want to make this a habit in my life. I actually have goals in this....

1) I want to get back down to 185. I'd be happy to get back to 190! lol :)

2) I would like to lower my colesterol back down below 180. I would especially desire to get the good and bad ratios back to healthy levels.

3) To walk for 10,000 miles. Now, that seems like a crazy number... maybe it is, maybe it isn't... but it sets a "carrot" before me. Something to shoot for. One thing a marksman does before he takes a shot. He focuses on the target, not the sights of the weapon. This allows the eye to naturally adjust the weapon to line it up with the target. In this way I hope to keep my 'program' sighted in on the goal of 10,000 miles. By God's grace I hope it will be a habit so that when that goal is reached it may be a mere stepping stone to continue on.

Ok, this is getting a little off track... maybe. :) Who knows where this is going. "Is anyone driving this bus?"

My beloved got an MP3 player for me before I left for my two week training. It was my Father's day gift this year. Wow do I enjoy that little thing. What a wonderful little device that I can use to listen to Praise and Worship music, contemporary Christian music, AND (for me this is the biggest thing I was hoping for) I can download and listen to sermons. This morning what a wonderful walk. I listened to a sermon from what I would consider to be a "sister" church - Living Faith Church in Frankliln, WV. The sermon was on a subject near and dear to my heart, "A Cross Centered Life" (Pastor Steve Teter, 6-May-2007).

I have heard similar sermons before by CJ Mahaney (who wrote "The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the main thing, the main thing") and to be honest I struggled to keep my mind focused on the sermon, but God stirred my sould again. My mind fills with doubts, but God is good. I want to focus on what little morsels God places before me, and then allow His Word to nurish my soul and see where He leads.

The one thing that really struck me and inspired todays blog (finally getting around to it...) was that when my Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and became a propitiation for my sins I am completely forgiven. My sins which are ever before me are completely and totally forgiven. So much so that I am considered to have kept the law perfectly because of what He accomplished. Not by anything I did, only by what He has done. And there is nothing in my life that my Father is surprsied by. Every day of my life is known to Him already.

Now, this does not give me license to go about and sin. The very fact that I am redeamed and forgiven, reconciled, changes my heart. I want to do nothing but please and obey my Lord, despite my failures.

The last thing that stuck in my mind was this. As we walk through this life, as we work more and more on our on going sanctification, we (should) become more and more aware of our sins. This side of heaven we never arrive, we are constantly being conformed into the image of or Lord, why? Because He loves us.



Verse for today:
1 John 3:4-10, ESV
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's [2] seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.