This Man

03/21/2010

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Forgive the redundancy, as this video is also posted on our home page, but at some point it will be replaced with another featured video.

Given the time of year and how mindful we all are of the incredible sacrifices that were made for us, so long ago, this song speaks directly to the heart of just what Jesus went through to save us and our willingness to sacrifice for Him.

I first heard this song a couple of years ago and it had an immediate and lasting impact on me. It was much like when I became a mother and realized how amazing Mary was to accept (agonizing though it must've been) God's plan for her son, the Son of God. To that end, this song took the awe I feel when I think of our Heavenly Father and Jesus beyond the next level. Jesus not only gave his life for us and the forgiveness of our sins, but he did it in an incredibly painful way-his ascension into heaven came at an excruciating price. It hurts my heart to imagine the pain he must have endured and he did it for me...and you...It's overwhelming, it's heartbreaking, it's humbling.

I hope you'll enjoy this video and revisit it from time to time when you need a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us.

"I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends."
               -John 15:12-13

The first video is simply a recording of the song This Man, with the lyrics flowing with the song, however:
**DISCLAIMER: THE 2ND VIDEO (of the same song) SHOWS SCENES FROM THE PASSION OF CHRIST. SOME SCENES MIGHT BE TOO GRAPHIC FOR YOUNGER VIEWERS.**
 

Lent

02/22/2010

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As we're heading into the second week of the Lenten season I thought we could use this as a forum for support for those of us who gave something up as a way of recognizing and participating in this special season.

This writer gave up soda for Lent and it's certainly held it's challenges (as was expected). However, I'm finding that when I'm at my whiniest, I think of Jesus out in the wilderness fasting for 40 days (40 days! Not to mention being constantly tempted by Satan) and I have to think, "Okay, this is not that bad, stop your belly-aching, you can do this!" You can imagine this is a conversation I've had with myself repeatedly in the whole 6 days I've been without soda.

In addition to giving up soda I'm spending more time in my Bible, which has been AWESOME!!! It's amazing, I read a passage that I'm sure I've read repeatedly over the years, but this most recent reading presented me with an "ah-ha!" moment. I'd been struck by an earlier portion of the passage years ago, but this time these verses lent me a beautiful clarity that I cannot wait to share with the Sunday School kiddos when the time is right.

So, I invite you to share your Lenten struggles, epiphanies/beautiful realizations, and thoughts as we wade through this heart-wrenchingly amazing season.