Sunday is Coming...

Okay, so I know it's a few days late... but I went to a Good Friday service last week and this video was played. I absolutely loved it's powerful message and it hit home for me.

I thought I'd share it with you all.

 Sunday is coming...

 

Saturday from Highpoint Church on Vimeo.

The Creepster Has Risen!

**So I actually wrote this last year on Easter, but since I lost that blog, I thought I'd repost to the new blog site. Besides, it was one of my more popular posts accounting to Google along with my Good Friday post. :-) ** 

Wow….today marks the most important day in all of history. And I swear I’m not joking around this time. It really does. 

THE most important day ever. 

As in ever EVER. 

The greatest event in human history of all time. One that has impacted every corner of our Earth.

Today represents the day that roughly 2000 years ago, Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead. (Creepy, I know.) I’m overwhelmed at the thought of it. I mean, really….someone coming back from the dead??? Literally. Dead. As a doornail. Then alive. Walking and talking like you & I. And it’s not just a myth or folktale. Thousands of people saw him. It’s been documented. It's probably the best and most accurately documented event in history. There's manuscript evidence, archaeological evidence, eyewitness accounts, corroborating accounts, literary consistency and changed lives to prove it happened.... plus some other types of consistencies and expert scrutiny.

Craziness. 

(But that’s old news… if people do any true and hard research they'll know that. And I’ve already covered how crazy and creepy He is before.)

He basically rocks my face off (and will yours too if you let Him)…and not only because He didn’t come back all goblin & ghoul style from the dead, but He came back to give us the opportunity to have everlasting life…..WITH Him. Pretty damn cool if you ask me. Cool in the most un-creepy, but still creepy type of way possible. 

I pray that we all focus on Him today and all days to come. We can’t just think about him during our hour long church service today (or just during Christmas). He’s more involved with our lives than we can even imagine. So let his creepin’ butt in your life and start to recognize Him all around you. I know I’d rather have Him creepin’ on me than anybody else….what about you?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”– John 3:16 

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you. So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” — Matthew 28:6-10

I can’t wait to see this face in person someday. It gives me chills thinking about it! I pray you feel the same. It’s going to be awesome! Hope to see you there! 

The Greatest Author of All Time

**So I actually wrote this in 2011, on Good Friday, but since I lost that blog site, I thought I'd repost to the new blog. Besides, it was one of my more popular posts according to Google. :-) ** 

Today is “Good Friday.”

For most people, that means an amazingly lazy day off of work.

(Okay – that’s exactly what it means to me too! #Guilty… And yes, I still use hashtags in my blogs. #GetOverIt)

Today though, is more importantly the 2000-ish anniversary of the day my home-boy, Jesus, was crucified.

Now, hang on… whether you’re a believer that Jesus was Christ or not… this event DID happen. Jesus was a person who lived approximately a gazillion years ago, and he was crucified. There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that proves this event happened. But that's not the point of this post. 

Non-believers, your issue with the J-Man is not relevant until Sunday… it's only Friday right now. So keep reading…

Have you ever read any details on what happened a gazillion years ago today? If not – here you go. It’s actually a really great story… especially if you’re a dude and into power struggles, blood, guts and gore. (And ladies – don’t tell the guys, but there’s a love story mixed in there as well… shhhh!) Maybe just try to think of a way more old-timey version of Gladiator…

Anyway – I digress.

So here is a very short and sweet synopsis:

• Jesus is found guilty by the Roman governor back in the day. (Guilt of nothing, really… but the story line wouldn’t have a cool ending if He hadn’t been convicted, right? The Screen Writer of this story definitely knew what He was doing in order to make the climax really hit home. NOBODY saw the ending coming. Except maybe a prophet or two, but whatever… you get my point.)

• A true criminal named Barabbas is released in His place. (Way to go, Governor… Way. To. Go.)

• Jesus is mocked, beaten, ridiculed, and tortured. (See? Great dramatics right there…)

• He is hung on a cross to die, with nails punctured through His hands and feet – while still awake and fully aware of the pain. (They didn’t have the humane methods of the death sentence back then that apparently we do today. Though Jesus did get a Last Supper of bread and wine, which is cool. #WineRocks #SoDoesBread #HopefullyHeHadSomeButterOrJamToo)

Alright, so that's the short and sweet version. 

So about today. Good Friday.

What confused me for the longest time was why it was call “GOOD Friday.” I don’t see anything “good” about our much loved protagonist being mocked and beaten. I also personally don’t know how He was able to take it. I’m not really the stand-back-and-let-people-belittle-and-hurt-me type. (Maybe that's why I'm not king.)

People on the side of the road even poked fun at him regarding His claim to rebuild the Temple in three days. (This, ladies and gentlemen, is what you learned in 9th grade English class. A little thing called “foreshadowing.” Take note.)

You know what I would have done to those jokers if I had been King??? 

Rocked their little Roman, helmet-and-toga-clad world, that’s what…
Maybe I would have pulled a bazooka out of my terry cloth and wasted them right then and there.

Wait – bazookas weren’t invented yet, you say? Well, that’s the cool part of being the Son of God. I could have magician-ed a massive bazooka into my hands right out of thin air.

Or maybe I would have used more era-appropriate measures such as a swarm of King Cobras or wild dogs to take them out at the knees and ankles.

Or...

Maybe I would have let all of what actually happened, happen…

Just like Jesus...

No, never mind.

I most assuredly would NOT have done it His way. We all know I’m not smart or creative enough to write the ending that did happen; where three days later, the Writer had Jesus rise from his tomb.

And now, all of mankind has the chance to live happily-ever-after…. for eternity.
(The “ever-after” part there is quite literal.)  

God created and played out in real life this story. And he did it for His enemies.

He did it for you. 

He did it for me. 

What kind of crazy, out-of-this-world love is that? 

I wouldn't have done it. Never. I would not have sacrificed my own child for anyone, not even someone I loved deeply. Let alone my enemies.

But that's a pretty sweet ending for us, huh?

So yes – I do finally understand why today is called “GOOD Friday.”

Psst! In case you’re still wondering… For lack of a better, theological type of answer, it’s because today is the day that Christ purchased us with his blood that lead to His resurrection. It’s a holy day. A very good day, indeed.

Boom. In your face, Roman soldiers!

Make sure to check in with the sequel on Sunday. That’s when the really good stuff happens!