The Prayer Cross

I recently saw a commercial for one of the most disturbing ways to make a dollar that I have seen in quite some time. The product is called The Prayer Cross. It is a crystal cross with a diamond shaped stone that when held up to a light apparently allows one to read the Lord’s prayer (just in case you’ve lost your Bible!).
Here are some of the descriptions of this necklace from the commercial. See if you are troubled by the descriptions as I was.
“One of the most important prayers in all of Christianity…Secret center stone…Watch as people gaze in amazement and as they experience the magic of the prayer cross for the first time…One of a kind spiritual accessory…When held up to the light the entire Lord’s prayer becomes instantly and almost miraculously visible…The Prayer Cross makes the perfect gift for any occasion…It is sure to bring joy and comfort to all who WEAR it…The perfect way to keep the Lord’s prayer close to your heart."
This kind of marketing of the cross and of Christianity has and certainly will continue to be commonplace in the United States.
The cross is not a good luck charm. It is not a magical, hocus pocus trinket, . It is not a spiritual accessory.
It is the place where Jesus, the Son of God, paid for my sins with His blood; with His life.
It was cruel and shameful. It is where my Lord became a curse for me.
The only joy and comfort that comes from the cross is found by those who place their faith in the Savior who gave His life there for sinners.
Let us remember 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Let’s remember the cross and it’s real message; for it is the only one that truly magnifies Jesus.

You Must Be Born

Yes, I know Jesus added the word "again", but I couldn't help but think that if God had not given life itself, we would not ever know new life in His Son.

Physical birth and spiritual birth have similarities.

I think Jesus knew this full well when He was visiting with Nicodemus (John 3).

1) Pain - Both birth's come as the result of pain. The mother's pain and labor at giving birth; Jesus' suffering on the cross for our sins.

2) Life - New life comes into the world in the form of a little baby; When the Holy Spirit regenerates us we are new creations (2 Cor. 5).

3) Joy - Wonderful, Blessed, Happiness! What peace! What delight!

I write these thing as I sit in the hospital listening to my new daughter cry for her mommy.

Welcome to the world little one.

Welcome to our family, our lives, our hearts.

Daddy and Mommy love you.

May you someday know the new life that comes through faith in God's Son, Jesus.

A Conversation with Death

CHRISTIAN: Hello, Death, my old enemy. My old slave-master. Have you come to talk to me again? To frighten me? I am not the person you think I am. I am not the one you used to talk to. Something has happened. Let me ask you a question, Death. Where is your sting?

DEATH, sneeringly: My sting is your sin.

CHRISTIAN: I know that, Death. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked, where is your sting? I know what it is. But tell me where it is. Why are you fidgeting, Death? Why are you looking away? Why are you turning to go? Wait, Death, you have not answered my question. Where is your sting? Where is, my sin? What? You have no answer? But, Death, why do you have no answer? How will you terrify me, if you have no answer? O Death, I will tell you the answer. Where is your sting? Where is my sin? It is hanging on that tree. God made Christ to be sin—my sin. When He died, the penalty of my sin was paid. The power of it was broken. I bear it no more. Farewell, Death. You need not show up here again to frighten me. God will tell you when to come next time. And when you come, you will be His servant. For me, you will have no sting.

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

- John Piper, A Conversation with Death on Good Friday

Relient K - Give Until There's Nothing Left (acoustic)

"If by excessive labor, we die before reaching the average age of man, worn out in the Master's service, then glory be to God, we shall have so much less of earth and so much more of Heaven. For it is our duty and our privilege to exhaust our lives for Jesus. We are not to be living specimens in fine preservation, but living sacrifices, whose lot it is to be consumed." - Charles H. Spurgeon