Good Friday

 If I pastor a church someday, I would want three icons on the wall-- crucifix, cross, and dove-- to depict the death and resurrection of Jesus, as well as the crucial moment of Pentecost (Jesus living in believers, thru the Holy Spirit, informing and empowering, in "the New Covenant" prophesied in Jer 31:31-34 and Ezek 36:26-27).

We celebrate The Cross today! But two thoughts: 1.) If you don't have all three of those in hand, then you cannot live out the life that God wants for you and from you. Related, 2.) Note the irony that the three icons/events miss the *life* of Jesus-- his words/actions, his teachings, and his "focused on the 12" disciple-making ministry. (How few church leaders fully embrace the latter!) To note, Jesus didn't pop down here for a week, hop up on the Cross, and defeat Death two days later. He lived our kind of life and shows us how best to live our kind of life through the Word.

So, if you haven't done it recently, read the Gospels one chapter per day. (Maybe start with John 18-21 or Luke 22-24, given the season!) Consider and embrace/remember the mercy and the grace of God on your life. And strive to better understand the life of Jesus and to expand His Kingdom, through the Spirit living in believers.

Good Friday to you and yours!