Category Archives: blood

Truly This Man…the beginning.

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Happy New Year!!!

That phrase can pack a lot of meaning after finishing up 2020.

Hope these first few days of 2021 have been good. I know for me, the last few months have been tumultuous.

But my God is still Lord and in control of the universe. I got this because He got this.

I want to share a story with you. Thanks for reading today!

The pounding of the hammer. Obscenities from the condemned. It is all so familiar to me. Everyone screams. Having crucified hundreds before, I understand the pain that I inflict. This man was no different. Well, no different in that he felt that pain. No, he seemed to embrace the pain. In fact, it almost is as if he wants to know the pain.

I remember when he would speak or preach, there was that same intensity. He always would strive to connect with people. Often times, after the crowd would dissipate, there would be a few stragglers wanting to talk to him. Making direct eye contact, he spoke. And the people listened. They walked away changed. Sometimes he even performed miracles. Intriguing.

What was it about Jesus that had changed them? As I stand here overseeing his crucifixion, I see an ordinary man being tortured to near death. Maybe something in his eyes. It was the eyes, I am sure of it.

Right now, all I see is a bloody mass for a face. His own mother would not even recognize him. Now my curiosity is piqued.

“Soldier, hand me a rag.”
“Yes sir!”

Alright, Jesus, let’s see what is so special about those eyes.

“AHH!!! The light! I can’t see! Help!”

“Peace, do not be afraid.”

“Who are you? What is going on?! Wait, my eyes, I CAN”T SEE!”

“Peace. I am here. Are you ready to see into my eyes?”

“Hold on. Are you Jesus? Wait. Why can’t I see? Where am I? Am I even awake? Just a second ago I was watching you get nailed to a cross. I wiped the blood from your face so I could see into your eyes and then I went blind.”

“What you speak of is correct. But your true request, to find out who I really am, has been granted.”

“All I wanted was to see what was in those eyes. I have seen people transformed. Some physically and others, well, in a different way. Now I stand here blind talking with you. Are we not at Golgotha anymore?”

“We are but I have chosen you. You have a special purpose yet you know not of yet.”

“So I am still doing my duty in commanding your crucifixion? Are there others here? Please explain. And please let me see again!”

“Patience my son. I have given you a second chance. In just a moment, we will return to our respective places outside of Jerusalem. I, on the cross, and you, watching it all.”

“Okay. But how is all of this possible? How can we be there and then here, in the blink of an eye? I mean, it’s not like you are god or something.”

“And now we have come to the crux of the matter. The source of your unbelief. You don’t believe that I am God. Yer we are speaking face to face and you are blind. What do you make of all this?”

To Be Continued…

So many things…

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As I started this endeavor, I was hoping to have things to write about each day.

Well today, I was not disappointed. Where to start…

God gave me a couple of ideas so let’s jump in!

jump in

Today, at school, I had my students retake a test. I teach high school science. On Tuesday, the students had their first test. It was a disaster! Over half of the students failed. Not a good start to the year.

badgrade

When a student fails a test, there could be many reasons as to why. But this post is not about those reasons.

I want to make note of the retake. Each student had the opportunity to take the test again. Whatever grade they earned on the first try was erased by the second attempt.

Redo.

Do over.

Try again.

Keep swinging.

Take another shot.

God gives us a reboot.

He forgives us.

That is what the cross is all about.

The reasons why we need forgiveness are numerous. Too numerous to list.

But for all these reasons, there is but one single answer. Jesus.

His sacrifice on the cross grants us a retake.

He makes all things new. You and I can have another shot.

Let your heart be overwhelmed with God and His love.

You can know the joy of having a second chance.

aecond chance

Let today be your reset. You are forgiven. You are righteous.

Sleep well friend.

We will talk more about that whole test retaking stuff tomorrow.

All it took was a cross.

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Who Am I? That question will likely be repeated many times this year. I will try to answer that question with my posting. This blog, in essence, is my journal.

journal

As I discover my identity in Christ, I will write in my journal (this blog).

You, as the reader, will hopefully be challenged, enlightened, or whatever God gives you, when you read each post. I also want to encourage you to comment. There might be something you write about that another reader might be thinking.

Above all, it is my hope and prayer that this post will bring glory to God. Sure, I like when people “like”, comment, or even follow me but all of that is icing on the cake.

God gets all the praise and honor. After all, He did say that if “I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me,” John 12:32

Remember 2017? My posts all had the same format.

The Word. The Worth. The Work.

This structure helped me to explain my thoughts and hopefully, communicate them clearly. I will use the same organization for the Who Am I? posts.

The Word – Colossians 2:13-15

hammer and nails

The Worth – I am alive because of Christ and all it took was the cross.

I was dead in sins. There was no life because of my sinful nature.

But God made me alive! He forgave my sins! Even more, he took the power away from my enemy and nailed it to that cross!!! It is finished!!!

The Work – Who Am I? I am alive! I know that based on what I read in Colossians.

So now, because I am alive, I can start living. No more dead man walking stuff.

I guess this means Jesus nailed it!

 

Because of P, we get Q.

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Before I get into this post, please read my previous post. It is the foundation for today’s message. Here is the link, Two people, a bus, and a gift.

foundations

A through P. That marks my progress so far this year. Today is about the letter Q. This one was more difficult than most of the others. But as I typed the last post, a seed of an idea started to grow. Again, Two people, a bus, and a gift was the beginning and now it will continue.

My best friend is computer/IT guy.

I have a friend who is a medical doctor.

I have another friend who is a financial planner.

My wife is a graphic designer.

My pastor is also my mentor.

What do these people have in common? They are all qualified.

The Word – qualified

The Worth – In any type of setting where a person is receiving something, it is important that the giver is qualified.

In no way would I go to the doctor for a surgery unless I knew that he/she was trained and educated to do the procedure!

It would not make sense to take advice from someone unless they have experience and knowledge in the specific area in which I need advice.

You know what? God is qualified. 

That begs the question, “What is God qualified to do?”

The short answer is that He can do anything because He is God.

But the specific answer is that God is qualified to forgive me and you.

Hebrews 9 talks about the superior quality of Christ’s blood over the blood of goats, calves, etc. that were used in sacrificing. Reading the whole chapter would be better because of the context but I will put verse 12 here for now.

Hebrews 9:12 “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”

The blood of animals was temporary. It did not last. In essence, the animal blood was not qualified to take away sin. But Jesus, who was perfect, eternal, and human, was uniquely qualified for the task of removing sin.

I like that phrase, uniquely qualified. It would be good to remember it.

The Work – Because God is passionate about loving us and Jesus is qualified to remove our sins, we don’t need to try to save ourselves! We can’t do it anyway! Our good works and the like are not qualified to save us.

What we can do is accept this truth by faith. We can rest in the knowledge that God has taken care of everything. His life can flow through us everyday!

Make and spend time with Him today. Thank Him that He is qualified!

And you know what that means? We are now qualified!

When, by faith, we accept His sacrifice, we are now seen as righteous!

We become His tool on earth for His work and His kingdom!

So go out and live purposely because you are qualified to do so!

Qualified With Green Tickmark

 

It is Finished!!!

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It is finished! Frankly, I am glad to be rid of the negative commercials and all the hateful stuff that seemed to surround this election. 

The American people have spoken. We have elected a new president. I hope all you fellow Americans got out to vote. It feels good to vote. I played my part. Freedom is wonderful.

This blog is not about to get political so don’t be concerned. I did, however, have a thought when I saw this map.

2016-electoral-map

***This map is not accurate***

For instance, I live in Wisconsin. After some checking, I found that Wisconsin should be red on a map like this.

So please don’t get picky about certain states. I want you to look at the whole picture.

You see mostly the color red. Red is the color of the Republican candidate. In past elections, there may have been more blue states.

Here is the thought that passed through my brain when I saw this map.

What color does God see when he looks at America? 

No, I am not talking about a certain candidate. I am speaking about a far greater and much more important issue.

Sin. 

In the Old Testament, we have a vivid picture of what God sees when it comes to sin.

Here is a summary from Exodus 12:12-13, 21-23:

“12“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

21Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23When the Lord goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.” Bold emphasis is mine.

passover-door

The Israelites needed the blood to survive that night. If God saw the blood, they were spared. 

Jesus shed his blood on the cross. He cried out “It is finished!”

You and I can now have a covering of blood. We can be washed of our sin!

Again, What color does God see when he looks at you?

On a personal note: Has Jesus covered you with his blood? Are you forgiven by Him?

On a public note: Can we pray for our country to be covered by the blood of Jesus? In fact, not just the United States of America but all the countries of the world. Jesus died once and for all!