Just as Easter is incomplete without Good Friday, Good Friday is hardly “good” without the resurrection. I hope you take time today to put aside the distractions of chocolate, eggs, and bunnies to consider why we celebrate this day.
In an effort to provide you good content, I’m going to occasionally (no more than once a week) re-post old blog posts. Some of you may remember some of these posts, but I hope they will be a blessing to you.
Today is Good Friday, a holiday I never really thought about growing up. We never got it off from school or had any special activity at church, so it was never more than a passing thought. I just thought that is was a part of the Catholic calendar that I need not pay attention to, kind of like Ash Wednesday. Easter, however, was a rather big to-do with Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies, Easter dresses, and Easter eggs.
I’ve since come to realize the importance of Good Friday. Without Christ’s death, there is no resurrection. Yes, Christ’s resurrection is something worth celebrating (without which we have no hope – 1 Corinthians 15), but in a rather more somber way Good Friday deserves celebrating, too.
On this day we remember the work that Christ did on our behalf. Because you and I have sinned against an infinite, holy God, we are worthy of eternal punishment. That’s the just reward for our actions. No amount of good works can counteract the wretchedness that we are.
Yet God did not leave us there. Instead of requiring of us what we cannot do, He did it for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life and to die. Since He did not sin, His death wasn’t deserved or necessary. He chose to die that we might live (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Our Savior died not because of His sins (since He didn’t have any), but because of ours. Good Friday is somber not because He died (after all, He comes back to life!), but it’s because of our sins that He suffered so.
Understanding Good Friday gives proper perspective to Resurrection Sunday, Easter. It allows us to remember why it is a holiday!
While God did the work of salvation on our behalf, He forces it on no one. He offers it up as a gift, one that you and I can choose to take. This changes everything for the one who accepts this gift. As a Reliant K song says, “The beauty of grace is that it makes life unfair.” Instead of being rightfully cursed, we are unjustifiably blessed!
If you are a Christian, I challenge you to spend some time thinking on the Cross today, maybe reading Isaiah 53 or one of the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion (such as Matthew 27:11-61). If you aren’t a Christian, but are curious about what Good Friday is all about, I would suggest that you check those passages out as well.
If you have any questions about what I’ve said or would like to discuss this, please leave a comment or email me. I know that I might not have been as clear as I would have liked.
Originally posted 3/21/2008
Two years ago this week I planted my first garden
I’ve been wanting to see Phantom Menace in 3D and not having any Star Wars-loving friends in Raleigh, I decided I would go myself.
Yes, I like Star Wars; so? I do see the ridiculousness of paying $13.50 to see a movie I’ve already seen a half dozen times, but I did it anyway. As the first movie ticket I’ve purchased in over 6 months, it’s really not that extravagant of a purchase.
Anyway.
I started making my plans on Monday. I originally had hoped to see a matinee next week when I was off for President’s day (I’ve never had President’s Day off before), but when I was offered good pay to work it anyway, I took it. I’ve only been back at work for 4 weeks after a 3 month break, so I’m not really in need of a holiday.
Since a matinee was out, I decided to go on a week night so it wouldn’t be busy. Tuesday…why not?
Oh yeah, Tuesday was Valentine’s Day. I’m comfortable enough going to the movies by myself (though this was a first), but not comfortable doing so on Valentine’s Day.
So I postponed my “date with myself” a night, going out on Wednesday. Which also turned it into a celebration of thankfulness as I got my first “real” paycheck in over 3 months that day, too.
I enjoyed it, though I must say I don’t know if 3D really adds too much in the experience. And watching it in the movie theatre didn’t allow me to do something else during the pod races, like I usually do. I don’t really find watching a fake sporting event where you already know the outcome particularly interesting. I’m still glad that I went, though.
Yes, I love Valentine’s Day. I love writing Valentine’s Day cards to single friends and eating chocolate. I like flowers and pink and hearts. I think if I ever do have a significant other, it’ll lose some of its sparkle.
So, here’s a Valentine’s Day greeting to all of you, regardless of your relational status.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Photo by corrieb
I hope that you’re having a great Christmas season, one in which you’re focusing on the true reason for this hope- and gift-filled time.
This year, I’ve chosen to fly to Kansas on Christmas morning. This Christmas will be a little different for my family as we’re all on baby watch! For those who have been asking, still no word yet on when my niece, Bean, will make her appearance, but I think it’ll be any day. She’s “due” on Monday, but you know how that goes.
Since I’ll be spending some extended time in Kansas, I won’t be regularly posting here until the new year. I’ll be sure to post once Bean has arrived, as well as let you know when my “baby” arrives and is available…should be Monday. These are exciting days!
I’ve lived in various apartments and townhouses for over 7 Christmases now, but for various reasons (space, non-celebrating roommate), I’ve not had a full-sized Christmas tree until last year. Even then, it was my roommate’s and her house, so while I was able to add my own ornaments and touches, the decorating was primarily hers.
Since this is the first year to be on my own, it’s the first time I’ve been able to decorate how I choose. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I was excited. Growing up, my mom would literally put a tree of various sizes in every room (maybe still does…I’d have to count). Clearly, Christmas decorating is a big deal in my family.
Looking around my apartment and my budget, here’s what I came up with:
I made this small ceramic tree in middle school. It’s sitting on the kitchen/dining room ledge.
This nativity set was made by my grandmother (Hi, G. Zoe!). She made three sets: two for her daughters and she gave the third to me, her only, favorite granddaughter. This nativity set sits in the dining room, above the books that I’ve had checked out from the library for a long time… Maybe they’ll become a part of the double baby-watch, because I certainly haven’t been reading much fiction lately.
Since the birth of the Savior is the most important thing about this season, I actually have two nativity sets up. The other is on the bookshelf as you enter the apartment:
This wreath is on my front door (I realized I’ve been showing you pictures walking from the back door to the front. So if you climb up onto my balcony and come in the kitchen, this is the order you’d see things…). I assembled it myself, as I really wanted to use LED lights and loved this bow. The neat thing about these lights is that they’re also on a timer, so they’re on from 5-11 PM each night without me doing anything extra.
And finally, for the grande finale, the tree:
As you can see, I decided to make my tree match my apartment. Everything on the tree is new (that and the wreath are this year’s new additions). I had wanted a prelit tree, but then I had a hard time finding one that used LED lights, and that was important to me. For less than the price of a prelit tree with traditional lights, I put this one together with lights. Best thing? It uses less than 30 watts so I’m not wasting energy and money.
I also had hoped to get a 7′ tree, but ended up “settling for a 6.5′ one. I’m so glad I did…I forgot to factor in how short I am. This one looks great in the space, and I’m able to reach the top. Barely.
For those of you who are skeptical about LED lights because their light is bluish, check out the “warm white” color. It is a bit brighter than what I’m used to with traditional Christmas lights, but not bad/weird.
I considered adding a stocking (or two…being optimistic?) as I had the perfect place for them and I think they’re cute, but I decided not to put up a stocking. Certainly nothing against those who do, but I’ve decided to keep Santa and his accouterments out of my decorating. I find the whole Santa Claus thing (as it is usually done) not only distracts from the real miracle of Christmas, but also adds the whole “naughty/nice” thing which flies in the face of the gospel, which should be the real focus now and year-round.
Don’t forget to spend some time today really thanking the Lord for all the unmerited blessings He’s given you.
I really thought this would be a hard list to come up with. Nope. It was completed in 5 minutes! I clearly didn’t make any distinction between alive and dead. As far as I know, half of these people are alive (Fforde, Card, Bridges, Friedman, and McCulley), and half are dead.
1. Ayn Rand. I’d love to ask her why she couldn’t see that any system built on self-interest would never be in the best interest of the people.
2. Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’d just love to hear more stories of her childhood.
3. C.S. Lewis. I think I’d be way too shy to ask him any questions!
4. Jasper Fforde. I wonder if he’s as humorous in person as he is in his books?
5. Orson Scott Card. I’d love to hear him talk about Ender’s world.
6. Jane Austen. Mainly because I think it’d be cool to say I had Jane Austen at my Thanksgiving dinner…
7. Corrie Ten Boom. Definitely would be inviting her for her, not her writing. Though I loved The Hiding Place in a hard-to-read way.
8. Jerry Bridges. His writing is so gospel-centered, and I think that would be a welcome addition to any meal.
9. Thomas Friedman. I’m now reading my 3rd book of his. I don’t agree with him on a lot of things, but he’s very astute.
10. Carolyn McCulley. I really respect her and think I have a lot to learn from her.