learn something new about Jesus

This morning I finished a podcast of a sermon by Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church.  It was the first installment in a long series he is doing on the book of Luke.  Not only do I recommend listening to these sermons but I want to especially recommend you take at least 7 minutes and watch the end of the video below.  Follow the link and advance to about 1:08:00 of the sermon (yes, that's 1 HOUR), watch until the end.  After that, it's up to you what else to do but I recommend prayer, repentance and humbling yourself before the Great God of the Universe, Jesus Christ.

Mars Hill Church | Luke's Gospel: Investigating the Man Who Is God | Eyewitness to Jesus

Posted using ShareThis

the worst human creation ever...

This post will drift just slightly from the usual for me but as of recently this issue has come up several times and I'm compelled to share the burden.

Human Trafficking

"Sex trafficking is a massive global enterprise based upon force, coercion and deception. Traffickers transport or detain their victims for the purpose of exploitation and profit through acts of sexual violence. This trade in rape for profit victimizes thousands of women and children every year."  via sixty1.org

This is heinous.  To take even 5 minutes and think about the realities of this criminal activity is to enter into a battery of emotions that can bring even the toughest of men to tears.  Last week, thanks to twitter, an organization called 'love146' was brought to my attention.  This, in addition to recently meeting Caleb Lange who works with 'sixty1' and finally seeing Taken, the 2008 movie starring Liam Neeson, has continued the barrage on my heart and so I'm prompted to share.

I don't pretend to know everything about the sex trade "industry" and haven't actually met anyone who was trafficked before but with the limited exposure I've had my guts have been ripped out and I don't think I'll ever be able to let this issue go from my mind.  I would encourage you to spend some time looking at the organizations I mentioned above as well as reading materials on human trafficking and efforts that are under way to end the sex trade and modern-day slavery.

Here are some resources and organizations:
State Dept. Trafficking in Persons report, 2009 
Not For Sale 
humantrafficking.org 
endhumantrafficking.org 
Initiative Against Sexual Trafficking 
FBI Initiatives 
Department of Justice

No one person, organization or country will be able to end this atrocity but together perhaps over time we can all change the course of thousands of people's lives.  I encourage you to look into this and search out a way you can get involved.  Pass your knowledge on to others and encourage them to do the same.  Let's end this!

 

the Cross

Over the last 2 weeks the focus of my heart has been drawn back to the cross of Christ. In 2 separate books at around the same time the subject came up and in both cases my heart was pierced. I was broken over the reality of what my sin required at Christ's expense. I was reminded of the penalty Jesus paid in my stead. I was awakened to the pain and shame of the cross and as a result saw worship deepen and God's glory magnified in my life.

The shame of the cross was probably the strongest stand out from this time of re-focus. This shame was specifically pointed out in one of the writer's references to ancient Roman times. I had heard of 'Alexamenos graffito' (pictured above) before but didn't fully recognize the symbolism of this image and what it may have to say for us today. The fact is that death by crucifixion was the most shameful death possible in the Roman Empire. This death was reserved for the worst of criminals and was so shameful that many Romans considered it not fit to even speak of. In the case of the Alexamenos graffito the cross and the man upon it - with the head of a donkey - and anyone, like Alexamenos, who worshiped Jesus were being mocked because the idea of worshiping a god who was crucified was ridiculous. What god would ever let someone kill them in this way? What kind of power could a god like this really have? Why would a "king" identify with this shameful act? The answer to these questions that hounded me for days were those that revealed I was the reason for this shame. It was his unsurpassed love for us that drove God to die. Jesus gave of himself, "no one takes [my life] from me, I lay it down of my own accord." (Jn 10:18) knowing full well the pain and the shame. But he despised that shame (Heb 12:2) and bore the cross to make righteous the unrighteous (2 Cor 5:21), to absorb the wrath of God that was against us (Rom 5:9). By this cross the very power of God is revealed and shown to us though it is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor 1:17-25). And by humbly giving his life the name of Jesus has been lifted up above all other names and is the only name that brings everyone to their knees in worship (Phil 2:5-11) either now or in the age to come. He is forever King of all kings.

So much shame, such great love, unsurpassed power shown in unmatched humility; a simple gaze upon the cross has revealed such glory to me. The immense greatness of God and the utter darkness of me stand apposed at the cross. I am forever changed by the truth of the exchange made on that hill. Through these weeks my heartfelt worship has been changed once again, my view of Jesus made a little clearer, my thankfulness deepened and my love for God and others strengthened. Only Jesus made this sacrifice, only the Father was willing to send his own son, only the Spirit can reveal this to the hearts of man. Our God is great and deserving of all our worship.