tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174221584921205407.post1335351988574902272..comments2023-06-16T18:37:40.460+09:00Comments on The Pious One: Day 18Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15132740516219585697noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174221584921205407.post-20837671929874834252010-05-25T21:22:37.404+09:002010-05-25T21:22:37.404+09:00I guess some might say that it comes down to marty...I guess some might say that it comes down to martyrdom. Was Jesus simply a martyr? Did he die for politics or our sins? Of course, this is seen as debatable to many, but it's clear that people create martyrs which leads us to the crux of this entire thing. Do you believe? Those detached from the Christian message of God will see Jesus' death as political martyrdom for the poor or needy whereas Christians see it as atonement.<br /><br />Bottom line is this: The cross, like God, gets defined through cultural perceptions. People will attach different meaning to it based on cultural elements and desires. My desire, regardless of faith, is to see compassion. I need more in my life and there's nothing wrong with that.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15132740516219585697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7174221584921205407.post-37312422832538114652010-05-25T08:29:23.362+09:002010-05-25T08:29:23.362+09:00I love what you said about the cross and it's ...I love what you said about the cross and it's message. How interesting that you differentiated b/t the feelings evoked by different images of people in torturous situations. I've never thought of it that way. It WAS the ultimate thing that anyone could do for someone else....to die in their place. Then to think that God the Father loved US, who regularly oppose Him and His purposes in thought, action and word, enough to let His only Son die for us....wow. That IS a message of compassion and love, not of guilt. Guilt is not from God.....He desires repentant hearts, not for people to merely feel guilty. <br /><br />When I was in Germany visiting the Romeisers in 1999, I was drawn to a hand carved cross with Jesus still on it. Even though I knew that death didn't keep Him down and He was risen, I felt it was good for me to never forget that ultimate act of love that He accomplished just for you and me...all people. It's still on my dresser and is very special to me. It is a reminder of how much He loves us. <br /><br />My friends when I lived in TX wrote a song called "Worth Everything". It talks about how even if it were only you in the world, Jesus would have laid down His life, just the same because you are worth it. I tried to find the song online but didn't have time....their band is Pocket Full of Rocks, if you want to find it.<br /><br />"I took a look inside my heart, I tried to find a part <br />Is there anything, I could give the King <br />Maybe there's something I've said,<br />Maybe there's something I've done <br />Oh, just anything to make me<br />one of the ones He loves <br /><br />In desperation I stepped back,<br />to see just what I had <br />And to my dismay all I found <br />Was a pile of filthy rags <br />What was I to say, what was I to do <br />Now that I stand here<br />with nothing I could give to You <br />And I hear Your voice call out my name <br />And I listen close and I can hear You say <br /><br />You were worth everything, you were loved by the King <br />You were worth everything,<br />No there's nothing you could bring <br />You were worth it all the time, I loved you all the while <br />Hear the angels sing<br />You were worth everything<br /><br />You stood on the edge of nothing <br />And looked down and saw everything <br />And before you spoke a word, the Father knew how it would be <br /><br />To give every man a Savior, the ultimate sacrifice <br />The giving of what was most dear,<br />the giving of His own son's life <br />And he saw that hill and he saw that tree <br />Oh and he saw the cross, it would one day be your own <br />And I hear His voice call out Your name <br />If you listen close You can hear Him say ...."Kristin and Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06083920268438788637noreply@blogger.com