A SOBERING THOUGHT

Consider how much darker this world would be if it weren't for people of faith.

RL Keller

THE PRICE PAID

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”  Romans 5:6-8 New Living Translation

    There was a time, preordained by Almighty God, when he would send his own Son to make a payment on behalf of those whom he created. Scripture confirms in at least three places that there was a specific time when forgiveness would become available to all mankind. Acts 2:23 (NLT), which says: “But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him”; Galatians 4:4 which says: “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law” and John 17:1 which says: “After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” A plan set since the foundations of the earth; a time known only to God himself; an hour that would change the course of history.

     What the Lord did for us we could never do for ourselves. We were, as Paul says, helpless and without hope.  Without the existence of God there is nothing. We live, we die, we rot in the ground. We cease to exist.  As we approach Easter Sunday, focus on the price paid for your redemption. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Reformation Study Bible.

AMAZING PEOPLE

     Today I experienced two things that made me scratch my head. One was the inconsiderate nature of humans. In our start up meeting at work, one of the female leads was speaking about what was on tap for the day. One of the workers was talking aloud to a co-worker next to him at the same time. He was told to stop talking. His response was both rude and disrespectful. Frankly, I was a bit surprised because the guy seems like a decent guy. I came across him later in the day and made mention of the situation, tell him what he was doing was seen as being rude and disrespectful. He said he saw my point but didn't think it was a big deal. This is the same guy who admitted to me a day or two ago that he had serious anger issues. That he would pick a fight with someone that angered him at the drop of a hat. He didn't care if it got him fired. I was thinking more in terms of doing jail time.
     On my way home I saw someone fling an empty clear plastic cup, empty but for some ice cubes, out his car window onto the grassy median. As the cup was in mid air the cap and straw came off and flew in a slightly different direction. People amaze me at times and not for any good reasons. Mostly for the ignorant, insensitive things they do. elk

RAMBLING

     Ok, I confess that last entry was kinda strange. It's what I was feeling at the time. Felt like airing it out.  Saw back-to-back concerts this past weekend. Casting Crowns, with Danny Gokey & Unspoken at the Rock in Newark, NJ on Friday night & Toby Mac with Matt Maher, Mac Powell, Mandisa, Capital Kings, Ryan Stevenson & Hollyn Saturday night at Temple Univ. WOW! We had floor seats for the Toby Mac show. What a blast!! Casting Crowns was superb as usual and the rest of the acts were all great! I was a little disappointed with all the talk that took place Friday night, but all in all it was a good show. Toby Mac was the bomb though. He tore it up! God was lifted up and glorified and we all left filled to overflowing. elk