Archive - Month: April 2012

A Child’s Precious Understanding of Easter & The Simplicity of the Gospel

A Child’s Precious Understanding of Easter & The Simplicity of the Gospel

Christianity

My lovely wife volunteers in the elementary-aged kids ministry at our church. Tonight, our church offered a couple special Saturday evening services to accomodate the influx of church visitors for Easter remembrance and celebration.

My wife was teaching the 4 year old kiddos about Easter and asked them, “Do you know why we celebrate Easter?”. She was fully expecting an answer about [the illogical connection between] stealth-ninja, egg-painting bunny rabbits, ultimate kaleidoscopic scavenger expeditions, and the inevitable free-range parental consent of sugar-comas.

This precious little boy said “I know! I know!” and offered a beautiful and perfectly complete answer that illustratively explains the simplicity of the Gospel…

[Continue Reading…]

Read More ≫
Jesus Sat Up

Jesus Sat Up

Christianity

Again, Easter offers an odd dichotomy for Christians: horrible pain and transcendent celebration, overbearing weight and jubilant joy , total depravity and complete grace.

We know there is overwhelming evil in the world. We know we “are not perfect”. We know our actions… much less the depths of our thoughts. This is called sin. Sin creates debt. However, there is a problem… how can the debtor pay this debt? The debtor cannot undo what has been done. For humans, time is linear. We live and die.

Romans 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

The past is unchangeable. Justice and the satisfaction of “payment” must be made. This is not optional.

The payment is Jesus’ death. 

John 3:16-18: 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

[Continue Reading…]

Read More ≫
“Good / Brutal Murder Friday”: Medical, Visual, Historical, Social & Cultural Perspectives on the Crucifixion

“Good / Brutal Murder Friday”: Medical, Visual, Historical, Social & Cultural Perspectives on the Crucifixion

Christianity

Easter offers an odd dichotomy for Christians: horrible pain and transcendent celebration, overbearing weight and jubilant joy, total depravity and complete grace.

Today is Good Friday. The term “Good Friday” is such a misnomer… “Good Friday” = The Brutally Bloody, Grotesque & Definitive Physical Murder of Jesus Christ. The reason it matters and that it is “good” is because of Glorious Sunday, when Jesus Sat Up.

In contemplative observance of “Good Friday”, I thought I would post a few videos and resources that provide various perspectives on Jesus’ crucifixion.

[Continue Reading…]

Read More ≫