Good Friday.

Another question students keep asking me is "J died on Friday? Why do you call it GOOD Friday?" It's a good question. The hero and whole point of our basis of religion is brutally murdered and we call it good? If you only know the physical side - it's horrible. The Father gave me two succinct points to answer Easter and I wanted to share them.

We celebrate Easter because
1) J died the death that we dont have to, (He took the death penalty we were waiting to take).
2) He came back to life proving He can bring life after death to those who trust in Him.


It's simple, yet the point. He's so good. Today, 2,000ish years ago was so bad.

Last night, we got to watch "The Passion" with our guys study group. A few of us had seen it before, a few of them had seen parts of it before they were believers so now it was completely different. It's so good to see, yet so painful. I sat balled up in my chair with all my muscles tense. At times I wanted to jump in and push them all back, at other times I just cried and apologized over and over again, still at other times I just thought what a Man, and some others I found myself just begging Him to get to the cross so it could be over soon.

After saying what I said all week and knowing what I know, it's hard to see this and still not go...why? "For the joy set before him [He] endured the cross" (Heb12:2) Joy? Wow. Me? Wow. How do I respond to that? Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us. I... have previously... I still am too selfish to lay this aside. I mean looking at what J did and for me? for joy? I think my run is pretty pathetic. Not in a condemning way but in a - lets step it up. Quit jogging halfheartedly, let me show you how to run now.

I hope today I get to run. Run with joy. Run with the joy set before me. Run hard. Run joyfully. Run with Him. It's Good Friday and I want it to not just be "another Good Friday" but I want this one to change my perception of what Good Friday really is. Let us run hard and love great (which invites the opportunity to suffer first and then continue to Love). Strengthen my heart and my mind and somehow in Your power Love them through me. Then it's a Good Day.