Saturday, August 29, 2009
The perfect Saturday
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Taking Up My Cross
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me"
(Mark 8:34).
So often I hear this verse and look at it with the perspective of a “cross” being some hardship I’ll have to take on in order to follow Jesus. But this wasn’t written in my lifetime where the cross was a symbol of Jesus’ death for me. This wasn’t written in a time when people wore cross necklaces around their necks as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for them. Or even as a sign to others that you’re a Christian. Mark didn’t write this in a time where the cross was a symbol on the tops of buildings or in front of churches or strategically worked in as the “t” in the logos of churches and youth groups.
Mark wrote this during the only time in history when the cross was the method of excruciating execution. This was the death for murderers, thieves, and rapists. This death was slow, painful, and full of suffering. This was the death of shame, mocking and degradation. Most importantly, it was death.
To follow Jesus was to sign up for death. Jesus knew that people who chose to follow Him wholeheartedly were going to be in trouble. Because the things they were signing up for did not match up with the popular and acceptable ideas of the day.
To follow Jesus was to go against the things that were accepted.
To follow Jesus was to break laws that
To follow Jesus was to be an alien in your own land.
To follow Jesus was to be prepared for opposition.
To follow Jesus was to take up your cross. And be executed.
Just like Jesus took up His cross. And was executed. For us. For once. For all.
So, whoever will come after Jesus must be willing to lose their own face, accept the possibility of death, and follow Him.
Most of us cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose your life for choosing to follow Jesus. We’re the lucky ones. There are people all over the globe who cannot publicly proclaim their faith without the threat of persecution, jail, or even death. There is a Christian organization in place in
Are you?
Am I?
Would I actually be willing to take up my cross and walk that same road as Jesus and die?
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me"
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Sing For Joy
Sing for joy to God our strength
Sing for joy to God our strength, our strength
If we call to Him, He will answer us
If we run to Him, He will run to us
If we lift our hands, He will lift us up
Come now praise his name, all you saints of God.
Draw near to Him, he is here with us
Give Him your love, He·s in love with us
He will heal our hearts, He will cleanse our hands
If we rend our hearts He will heal our land.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Top 10
One of my favorite things on her blog was her Top Ten List- this is her intro:
Due to so many people being currently interested in my romantic status, I have decided to lay it all out there for everyone. Thus, I have composed a list of the top 10 men I would date. If you know one of them, feel free to set me up. If you do not have connections with any of these 10 men, do not set me up. I'm tired of going on dates with people who resemble wolverine (and I wouldn't even go so far as to say he resembled the pseudo hot version of wolverine as done by a handsomely hugh jackman) or who want to take me on a tour of their church. Yes this actually happened...on the first date. Therefore, either follow these guidelines, or don't set me up. It should all be rather simple now.
I am now following in her footsteps. Here is my Top Ten: (in no particular order)
10. Anderson Cooper
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9. Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls
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8. Tyler Watts
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7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia
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6. Seeley Booth
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5. Nathan Scott
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4. Eli Manning
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3. Adrien Grenier
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2. Jason Morgan
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If you're thinking WHO? Let me tell you. This is Jason Morgan. Used to be Quartermain. But. He got hurt. And didn't remember them, so he got a new name and a new life. Now he works with Sonny Corinthos in the coffee business in Port Charles. Sometimes he dates the most annoying people ever (ie Sam), but that's his only flaw. Oh. Yeah. He's on General Hospital. I love him. And have loved him for about 13 years.
1. Anthony DiNozzo, NCIS
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