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The Place of The Skull

The action of this week in history really picked up over Thursday night and all day Friday.  A midnight arrest, a corrupt and unlawful trial, a quick and dirty pardon and then a march to the place called “The Skull”, and then an ole’ fashioned Southern lynching took place at the hands of the Roman government persuaded by the Jewish leaders of the day!

Yes, the Christ, the Son of God, was nailed to a cross and hung for hours before he gave up the spirit and from that some of my favorite verses where written

50 But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and died.

51 Then the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from the top to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart.52 The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead.53 They came out of the graves after Jesus was raised from the dead and went into the holy city, where they appeared to many people.

54 When the army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything else that happened, they were very frightened and said, “He really was the Son of God!” Matthew 17 NCV

And freedom was delivered, to the people of the world!

Andrew gets to read today in a little gathering from the 53 chapter of the book of Isaiah . I thought it was worth sharing on this Good Friday a little bit from that chapter.

4 But he took our suffering on him
and felt our pain for us.
We saw his suffering
and thought God was punishing him.
5 But he was wounded for the wrong we did;
he was crushed for the evil we did.
The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,
and we are healed because of his wounds.
6 We all have wandered away like sheep;
each of us has gone his own way.
But the Lord has put on him the punishment
for all the evil we have done.

and then the greatest part of it all

12 For this reason I will make him a great man among people,
and he will share in all things with those who are strong.
He willingly gave his life
and was treated like a criminal.
But he carried away the sins of many people
and asked forgiveness for those who sinned.”

So, even though he was the Son of God, he let himself be killed by men, for those very men and for us. But the news doesn’t stop there.. wait until Sunday!

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The Month of Love

It’s the first of February.  Wow, where is the time going?  It seems just yesterday we were gathering around the tree opening presents and then one week later making all those resolutions. So it’s been one month into the new year – how are you doing with those resolutions?

If  you resolved something about strengthening your marriage or your relationships and you live in the Chattanooga area, then maybe you check our First Things FlowerFest.  I can’t imagine an easier way to support a great organization and bring home flowers.  If you live outside of Chattanooga, sorry, you’re on your own!

So with it being the Month of Love ( I guess), its interesting to see that February is also “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month”, “Beans Month”, “Marijuana Awareness Month” and “Pull You Sofa Off The Wall Month”.  Needless to say there is a lot (of wackiness) going on!

But back to those resolutions.  We are a month into the year, and some of you have given up or not even started on making whatever changes you wanted to make.  Don’t give up, there’s not better day then today to renew yourself and get started on transformation.

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version, ©2011)

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Second Chances

Oh I feel so bad for the Tennessee Volunteers – the purveyor of second chances. If you did not know, twice this year, it appeared the Volunteers had victory in its hand as the clock expired, and twice, the officials gave the opposing team one second and a second chance to beat the Volunteers.

So here we sit at the end of 2010, the relative last seconds of the game called 2010. How did you match up against your goals? Did you achieve your resolutions from last year – or did you fail short? If you did, you will get a second chance to beat those resolutions, as the new year is upon us. Even though it feels like the end of the game, a new year provides a second chance towards victory. So even though its really just another day, use this ending of the year as a ‘life marker’- a line in the sand – and be transformed.

Look at these words of encouragement from Isaiah, which are actually the biblegateway.com’s verse of the day:

“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:16, 18-19 New International Version, ©2010.

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Cyber Monday – Free Shipping

That’s right, today only Free Shipping on all orders from the Daily Buffet! Just enter JESUSSAVES at check out and you will get free shipping on all orders. (or just subscribe to the mailing list and you will get a free delivery everyday!)

Don’t you just love it. My inbox was overwhelmed this morning with tantalizing Cyber Monday deals. Nothing like the assumption that people will go back to work and shop all day in the office!

Anyway, with the arrival of Santa at Macy’s in New York and the excellent shopping of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the Christmas season has descended upon us. As we look forward 26 days until Christmas, here is a quick reminder to remember what is coming on that day. – no no not Santa!

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

Enjoy the day, and shine your light towards Immanuel.

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Undesirable Number One

As most of you know Harry Potter 7 was released today, and in this one Harry becomes “Undesirable Number One” in his battle of good versus evil. After I made a poster with my son’s picture and name on it at the Harry Potter web site, I started to think about those words.

Undesirable.  It made me think about a real person, who was in the exact state.

Remember this guy mentioned in 1 Peter

4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

and in Isaiah 53

4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;

Yep.  That guy, Jesus, he was labeled, and still is lots of times, as undesirable number one, yet he still took the burden on sin for you.

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

So today, remember that he who was undesirable, gave himself that you might life.  Use your life to bring him the glory and to shine the light throughout the world!

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[e]

23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:21-24