Easter's story; execution by crucifixion.
Execution by crucifixion, what a cruel way to die,
On an old wooden Roman cross,Christ was lifted up on high
Oh the pain He has BORNE, as His flesh was so torn ;
There was nothing about Him to make us want Him
Nothing beautiful nor majestic yet He carried my sin
Then a spear pierced His side; water and blood poured forth
And He cried it is finished...He'd finished the course
Oh! He died yes He died this Man crucified
And God laid upon Him all my foolish pride
All my guilt and my sin Jesus took upon Him
Exucuted by crucifixion, what a terrible sin
Roman soldiers were so used to it , they did it all the time
The Appian Way was filled with crosses in a line
But when the sky was blackened and the sun refused to shine
The centurion said truly this was the Son of God
And just then the veil was rent in the temple of the Lord
He said Father forgive them for they know not what they do
He was saying it for that time but it was also for me and you
For it was our sins that caused Him to die upon the tree
Yes it was an old wooden cross that day on Calvary.
And when the veil was rent in the temple that day
It provided for me and you a glorious way
To go in to the Holy of Holies to the Presence of God
A place where beforehand no man has ever trod
It will be a glorious meeting, that meeting in the air
And the saved of all the ages will all be gathered there
Yes it was His execution that provided the way
And though we think it was a terrible day
Yet I rejoice because Jesus died there on the cross
Were it not for that execution, man would be forever lost

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No need for fear.....Yesterday I was at our regional hospital for routine blood work and while there I observed that there were many different people in the waioting room. That may sound stupid but what I mean to say is there was a real diversity of folks waiting to have the needle stuck in their arms and it made me think about a truth from the WORD OF GOD. And I will get to that truth in a minute.
I also observed that there were two young children, one a little girl, she would not be over two years of age and both mommy and daddy were there with her. And I could not help but think how refreshing to see both parents with this little one; not just mom. Thank God for moms but thank God for dads as well. And in another corner of the waiting room was a little boy probably five or six years old and he was with grandma and I could not help but notice he was a real handful; bouncing from chair to chair.....you know the picture. I felt compassion for both these children because I knew that they were going to get the needle. THE LITTLE GIRL WAS THE FIRST and I braced myself as I expected to hear some crying, maybe even screeching as they put the needle in her arm. However there was none of that and before long she emerged with mommy and daddy, one on each hand. It really was a beautiful sight as she walked away with her little shoulders squared oozing confidence and dignity. I thought as they walked across the open area towards the staircase, atta girl! What a good attitude for such a little one.
And then it was the six year old boy's turn to go in to the inner sanctum; where they take the blood. There was weeping and wailing and maybe even some gnashing of teeth soon to be heard coming from that room...quite different from the little girl. But soon he too emerged from the lab seemingly no worse for the wear. However the same degree of confidence and dignity just wasn't apparent.
This brings me to the truth found in the book of Romans that was written by the Apostle Paul. It is found in chapter 8 verses14 & 15: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, yhese are the sons of God.(Daughters implied also)For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."This Greek word Abba has been likened to our term Daddy. And we can have confidence that our heavenly Daddy has us in His care and His hand is holding ours like that mommy and daddy held onto their little girls hand. I couldn't help but notice the contrast in the two situations and I can think of some thirty and forty and fifty...even sixty and seventy year old "kids" who weep and wail and gnash their teeth every time a little trial comes along, a little blood test maybe and I also wonder if they are living in a soirit of bondage to fear when God has made the provision for them to live without that fear and selfishness, parinoia all the time. He has given us the Spirit of adoption so that we can cry out to our heavenly "Daddy"to help in time of need instead of weeping and wailing or worse.....grumbling and complaining! That little girl exemplified to me what the difference is when we let Jesus rule and reign in our lives. I am grateful that I was there in that waiting room that day and had the privelege to observe the things I saw, especially that tough but tiny little trooper. Remember we have a heavenly "Daddy" who cares for us and He won't allow anything that comes our way to hurt us as long as we keep our hand in His.

My experience in Grenada recently with the short term missions team has, as with Randall, changed my thoughts on a lot of fronts. Here are some of my thoughts about worship. Worship, in the church we visited on the Sunday we were there, so contrasted with the way we worship in our church - or maybe I should say, how I worship.

This experience comes at the same time that we are reading through the Bible in 2007 (as a congregation) and I have just recently finished Leviticus - the book which deals with matters of worship. The Israelites had laws showing them how they could stand before the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart - laws governing their atonement. “Our worship today is made possible by the atoning power of the blood of Jesus, the one-for-all sacrifice that God himself has provided for our eternal redemption.” (Topical Study Bible, p.131)

My thoughts about our worship no way speak condemningly of others, just my observations about myself - which I share with you.

Sunday morning service began at 8:30 am - so we had an early start to our day. When we arrived, not late, the congregation were already totally involved in singing and worship, the church almost full several minutes before church time. The attitude of worship - with singing and praising God - went on for considerable time (I did not keep track). I was overwhelmed - so moved by how totally involved they were in their worship.

Later in the day, while spending a few quiet moments with our host, I mentioned to her that I was so moved by the worship of the people - and that we in North America do not worship with the total abandon of these dear people. Her response was simple and matter-of-fact - “People worship differently who have to pray for their food.”

I have had a difficult time getting that response out of my mind and heart - and all the more now that I am back home.

Our worship - and again, I am part of it, so do not point fingers - involves a well-trained, highly talented, worship leader who knows all the latest music - and all the words put on a screen for our convenience. Our part in the congregation is to worship - but . . .

Do we really consider what we are doing? That we are worshipping our Lord, out of a total grateful heart? Instead of worshipping HIM, we often think of our own comfort. And you know what I mean because we have all heard of the comments, after service, that “I didn’t care for the worship”!! God forgive us - who are we worshipping? - God or ourselves?

Here are comments which I have heard - “I didn’t know all the songs, music too loud, I couldn’t hear, too long, I didn’t like the music, too slow, too fast, couldn’t hear the leader.” How do these comments fit in light of the fact that we are supposed to be worshipping God. What about the service with no music - shouldn’t we be still able to worship?

I have seen people do some pretty interesting things during the worship time - including text messaging someone on their cell phone.

God forgive me for my neglect of worship to Him, forgive me for my lack of understanding of even the concept of worship.

Nowadays, hardly a day goes by that we do not see on television, Moslems in their mosques praying - or worshipping Allah. Although we do not agree that they are worshipping our God, our Creator, Redeemer, Saviour, and Healer - the list could go on and on - we must take pause in their “practice” of worship.

I was reminded in Grenada, too, that we in North America have the most - in terms of things and living conditions – and we must be careful not to be thankful the least.

So, over the last two weeks, I have been thinking on this topic of worship a great deal. I am aware that my real worship does not involve music, or even being in a church service; it is the deep attitude of gratitude in my heart - for the God I love, honour, and serve.

This topic could go on and on - but it was once again a wakening in my spirit. I have been forced to do a scripture search on the topic of worship and it is a lengthy one. Join me in your own search. I will end with one of the many scriptures, on worship in the Word, in Deut. 6: 5, “Love the Lord your God with all your strength and with all your soul and with all your strength.” How I desire to be there.

Submitted by Naida