Stations of the Cross: The Sixth Station

A Series for Holy Week.
Thanks to Lisa Dye for leading us in today’s meditation.

THE SIXTH STATION
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.

Scripture

For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6, NIV

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Scandalous Grace of God

This appreciation is by Jeff Dunn.

I first met Michael Spencer, via the telephone, after I had my heart turned inside-out by a bit of writing most would never have dared to compose.

It was shortly after his (in)famous collection of posts, The Coming Evangelical Collapse. As a literary agent, I spent considerable time “scouting” for new writers and/or new ideas to write about. When I read the Christian Science Monitor’s version of The Coming Collapse, I immediately went to the Internet Monk’s site. There I found a treasure chest filled with posts and essays on all sorts of topics: the Bible, Christians and depression, contemporary Christian music, and one titled Our Problem With Grace. (If you are fairly new to this site, I recommend you start with this essay. It will give you a great picture of Michael Spencer’s heart.) I printed off a number of these and stuffed them in my brief case. I had a business and family trip to make to Ohio and wanted to take them with me. Before I left, I emailed Michael and set a time to talk with him the following week.Continue reading “Scandalous Grace of God”

Stations of the Cross: The Fifth Station

A Series for Holy Week.
Thanks to Jeff Dunn for leading us in these meditations.

THE FIFTH STATION
Simon of Cyrene carries the cross.

Scripture

When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

Luke 23: 26 NASB)

Meditation
On his way to the hill of execution, Jesus experienced pain and suffering beyond the lot of mortals. One of his sufferings was the inability to carry his own cross. Helplessness is humiliating, perhaps more painful than physical suffering. Lying on the ground, blood flowing from where the whip ripped open his back, flowing from the thorns pressed into the skin of his forehead. His strength oozing out like his blood and sweat and, yes, tears. And now he cannot even carry the cross that will end his life. He has to rely on someone to carry it for him.Continue reading “Stations of the Cross: The Fifth Station”

Stations of the Cross: The Fourth Station

A Series for Holy Week.
Thanks to Jeff Dunn for leading us in these meditations.

THE FOURTH STATION
Jesus meets his Mother.

Scripture

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Luke 1:38 NLT


Meditation
A parent should never have to outlive a child. Those of us with children know how hard it is when one of them is sick. To watch one of our own children die must be the cruelest trick life could play on us. And what if it was a child God gave to us with a special promise, a promise that through the life of this child, things would be different. Lives would be changed. This kid would become a king whose kingdom would never end.Continue reading “Stations of the Cross: The Fourth Station”

Stations of the Cross: The Third Station

A Series for Holy Week.
Thanks to Jeff Dunn for leading us in these meditations.

THE THIRD STATION
Jesus falls the first time

Scripture

The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again.

Then they led him away to be crucified.

Mark 15: 16-20, NLT

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My View: Genesis 1

By Chaplain Mike.

My interest in the first chapters of Genesis began to blossom when I was in seminary, studying under Dr. John Sailhamer. Over the years, I have come back to it again and again. My understanding has grown and been refined each time I’ve taken it up.

It saddens me that Genesis 1 has been so often co-opted for use in contemporary battles with science, particularly with regard to the age of the earth and the scientific model of evolution.

This has made it extremely difficult to simply teach Genesis. For while Christians need to stay informed and be able to interact with the findings of science (see, “Bruce Waltke on Staying in the Discussion“), such concerns were certainly not those of the Torah’s original audience, nor are they essential to studying what the Bible teaches.

Jesus said that the Bible’s central message is all about: (1) God’s Messiah and his redemptive work, and (2) God’s Mission of taking the Good News of forgiveness to all the world (Luke 24:45-47). The groundwork for that message is laid right here in Genesis 1.

Today, I would like to share with you the way I view this foundational passage from the Bible.Continue reading “My View: Genesis 1”

Stations of the Cross: The Second Station

A Series for Holy Week.
Thanks to Jeff Dunn for leading us in these meditations.

THE SECOND STATION
Jesus carries his cross

Scripture

So they took Jesus and led him away. Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha).

John 19:17, NLT

Continue reading “Stations of the Cross: The Second Station”