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100 Words: "Forgive Them"

"FORGIVE THEM"

After Christ has endured a sleepless night of illegal trials, unimaginable beatings, and the public humiliation of dragging our Cross through the streets of Jerusalem, He arrives at Golgotha.  Suspended between heaven and earth by three nails pressing His flesh against the wood of the Cross, we hear Jesus utter the following: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing."  

Once again, we encounter the relentless love that pursues the redemption of sinful mankind despite the fact that Christ was just crucified by the same souls He came to save.  

Incredible grace is encountered through complete forgiveness.

100 Words: The Price

Never has a free gift been more costly than when Christ chose to carry YOUR cross so that you could experience eternal life. 

Make no mistake about it: JESUS CHOSE YOU!!!  

Scripture reminds us that Christ was willing to lay aside His rights as God so that He could be the sinless atonement for a world full of sin.  It's an unmistakably amazing love that should cause each of us to immediately fall to our knees and cry out, "Thank You, Lord."  

Max Lucado once said Christ would "rather go through Hell for you than be in Heaven without you."

100 Words: Gethsemane

GETHSEMANE

Before Christ would encounter the Cross to redeem the souls of lost humanity, He would first have to wage war in a garden called Gethsemane.  Nestled below the olive trees anxiously wrestling in prayer, we find the humanity and humility of Jesus on full display.  He anticipates the agony of the betrayals, torture, and loneliness He will face on His journey that will take Him to Golgotha.  He recognizes that there is no going back, that the moment awaits when His life will be sacrificed to atone for all sins.  He submissively prays, "Not my will, but Your's be done."

100 Words: Palm Sunday

PALM SUNDAY

As Jesus Christ entered the gates of Jerusalem, He was cheered by an eager crowd of onlookers.  Some were hard-core fans who knew of His preaching and miracles, others were casually interested, all longed for change.  The Jews had lived under the rule of Rome for almost a century at this point.  They craved the opportunity to escape the excessive taxes and re-establish themselves as a sovereign state.  They viewed Jesus as a means to this end.  Christ's plan, however, was to follow the wishes of His Father; an earthy kingdom would wait because His supreme sacrifice must be made.

2010 Personal Update #2

• Wow, personal blogging has been at an all time low for me since launch "100 Words for 100 Days."  I think that has been both a bad and good thing.  We are in the home stretch for 100 Words for 100 Days (86 down, 14 to go), so the blog will definitely begin to have more personal updates and thoughts about life, not just focused on the project.
• It's been a great encouragement to hear how many people have enjoyed/benefited from the 100 Words project.  Several folks have encouraged me to keep writing them.  I am really thinking about that.  I plan to take a couple of weeks off from doing "100 Words" after day 100, but I am thinking of possibly re-introducing the concept a few days a week here, or perhaps on a spin-off site.  Would love to know your thoughts about that either in a comment or an email.
• Speaking of spin-off sites, I promise there is one coming that will be completely focused on my life as a runner, particularly my journey to complete a full marathon by year's end.  As soon as the site is up and running (hahaha), I will let you know!
• My body is still aching from my second half-marathon, which I ran last Sunday...it rained the ENTIRE time, with several downpours of heavy rain along the way...I made great time the first half of the race, but dropping temperatures and soggy shoes completely zapped the joy and speed from the second half...I still beat my St. Jude time by 3 minutes but was frustrated that based on my first half, I thought I would beat my personal best by 15+ minutes...there is a possibility I will squeeze in another half-marathon before summer.
• I would appreciate your prayers for me over the next month in particular.  Can't go into great details, but I have taken a small step of faith/risk regarding getting back into a form of vocational ministry in the area.  At this point, things involve me staying at Starbucks, but less hours a week so that I have more hours to devote to ministry pursuits.  Not sure exactly how things may materialize, but that's why it involves a small step of "faith" I suppose.
• Very proud of my brother-in-law Mike for embracing God's call to plant a church just outside of Birmingham.  In fact, they are establishing an area food pantry months ahead of launching publicly, which I think is wonderful.  Please pray for Mike and Amy and their team as they make plans to launch Grace Bible Church in Odenville this fall.  
• Things are great on the family front.  Alison is working as an interim substitute 1st grade teacher for the remainder of the school year.  I have been a proud husband watching how hard she works to prepare for the classroom and it has been great for us to work as a team balancing our responsibilities at home.  Maddie continues to rock the second grade and one of my favorite things about her right now is watching her skills as an artist grow.  
• I am a little sad that my two favorite tv shows (24 and Lost) are both ending as series this season.  Let me go on record and say that I am absolutely loving the last season of Lost though--some of the best story telling I have ever seen.  I have been a little disappointed in 24, but am hoping the pace picks up the second half.  
• Thanks again for stopping by to read the blog.  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

100 Words: Live Well

LIVE WELL

Many of us need to wake up and realize that the goal of living should be bigger than "not dying."  In my business, I see so many people who are just happy to make it to Friday because they can't wait to get away from their jobs for two consecutive days.

Is this really living? Or is it merely existing???   

I completely understand the incredible tension between "making a living" and "having a life."  

Choose to live well: Make a difference.  Leave your mark.  Laugh.  Accept help and always offer it to others.  Give more than you take.  Chase God!

100 Words: Desperate

DESPERATE

I believe there is one common thread that binds the hearts of all humanity together: at our core, we are desperate to know God.  

This is no mistake or random occurrence.  It is by perfect design that the created would seek to know and fully be known by the Creator.  Pascal called it "the God-shaped void" in the depths of our souls.  

There is nothing that can fill our longing for God other than God.  The Lord buried within our DNA a spirit to pursue His Presence. 

Allow your desperation for completeness to drive you into His outstretched awaiting Arms!

100 Words: Perseverance

Perseverance is the relentless tenacity to push forward toward your goal regardless of the obstacles that will attempt to derail you.  

Failures will be encountered along the journey, but quitting is not an option for those who possess a resolute will.  

The decision to endure pain, ridicule, and condemnation must be made on front end of the quest or there will be a constant temptation looming to change course.  

Chase after God's heart, discover your purpose, make your plan, and do not stop until you achieve your mission.  

A persevering will is your greatest asset in life's race of endurance.

100 Words: The Crazy Psalms

I will always have a special place in my heart for the "crazy psalms"--the ones where the writer is chewing God out in one verse and falling on his face in praise the very next.  

What I like about these passages is the raw authenticity of desperate humanity seeking to understand the wisdom of the Divine!  

I have experienced a "crazy psalm" day.  One minute I am venting to God because I am mad, frustrated, disappointed, disillusioned, and broken.  The next I am praising Him for His righteousness, unending love, and grace.  

Combining both sides makes one beautiful song!

100 Words: The Power of a Hug

THE POWER OF A HUG

Today I had a customer come behind the bar to give me a hug.  Strange, but there was a reason...

I am aware of several health crises "Beth" has faced.  She never complains and is always smiling!  There is not one ounce of quit in this woman; even the most severe illness knocks her down, but not out.  

She hugged me and said she would miss coffee for the next several days because she is facing another surgery.  She told me not to worry.  

There are days I wonder why God chose to intentionally place this pastor at Starbucks...not today!