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I just showed a video to my grade four class called The Easter Story. It was a cartoon version, abridged and modified for a young audience. I almost showed them a clip from the Jesus video which is much more realistic, but decided to leave that for next year. They’ll be a whole year older then, more able to understand and handle the truth.

But I wonder. Did I do the right thing? Is it ever a good thing to abridge the gospel, to paint it in colours that aren’t quite so stark, so difficult? The story is a difficult one. Torture is never pretty and we know that Jesus suffered under the Roman torturers. Betrayal is never easy to take and we know Jesus was betrayed even by those closest to Him. But most difficult of all is the struggle to grasp what it all means. Did this man, Jesus, really take on all the sin of the world in those final moments? Was it really a victory for all of us? Maybe we should tone it all down just a notch. He was a good man, after all. We can all agree on that. Isn’t that enough?

God’s word says no. God’s word says he was the Son of God, meant to suffer torture and death for us. God’s word says He did indeed die for the sins of mankind and then rose again to be the first among the resurrected. These are truths that cannot, that must not, be abridged. It is God’s truth after all. No mere mortal will ever . . .

Read more: Abridged Version

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"T.G.I.F.," under normal circumstances, means "Thank God, it's Friday!" - we smile, relax and look forward to a much-needed weekend break. Well, today is Friday, but it is no "normal" Friday - it is Good Friday, the day we commemorate our Lord's death on the Cross.

Let us acknowledge THIS day--with holy awareness and heart-felt thanksgiving...

So what do we say TODAY? "It's Friday...and He's faithful! It's Friday...and He's forgiving! It's Friday...and He's my Friend!" All because of the Cross; all because on that momentous day in history when He defeated sin, death and hell forevermore. Our Lord came face to face with His foe--and ours. He has "bruised the serpent's head"

and He's become our conquering King! We can shout for all our todays and all of our tomorrows, wherever we are and wherever we go:

THANK GOD, IT IS FINISHED!

What does that mean to ME this Holy Week? The finished work on Calvary frames the portrait of my life. And as I live within its . . .

Read more: T.G.I.F. (Easter version)

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The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! 
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
John 12::12,13

What in the world was Jesus thinking about!?

Riding into Jerusalem and stirring up a huge demonstration was the kind of thing that could get him killed.
The Pharisees and Saducees, two different groups who normally fought like cats and dogs were finally agreed on one thing: Jesus must be stopped--permanently!
And why is that?
If nothing else, Jesus played no favorites. He told anyone who cared to listen what He thought. He told them the truth in a flat out unvarnished fashion.
Pharisees were laymen unlike the Saducees who were the priestly caste.
The pharisees had begun as an honorable group of Bible scholars whose only desire was to ensure that all Israel knew God's word and observed it. There were many good Pharisees in Jesus time. Nicodemus and Joseph from Aramathea were only two.

But there were many who loved the authority and honors they accumulated. Some were even on . . .

Read more: What in the world was Jesus thinking about!?

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"I haven't got a thing to wear!" If you own a teen daughter, you've heard it! If you own a teen son--forget it...fun's more important!  AND fun it was for the crowd who watched the Emperor parade down the street in HIS new clothing, which really was nothing--the poor guy hadn't a stitch on, but thought he was clothed with garments of royal fare!

You remember the fairy tale...and you're reminded of it every time you look in YOUR closet...not a thing to wear! NOT your REAL closet--no, your Prayer 'n Praise closet! For you see, it's Palm Sunday - and YOU have nothing to wear! OR do you? Check again....the only garment you own you've got on right now, and it's a cloak of heaviness....that will not do for a Palm Sunday Praise Gathering!
What to do??

Cast it off...take it to a consignment shop; no, no one else needs it either! Throw it off--exchange it for a garment of praise! For "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad...!
Psalm 118:24)." The happening this coming Sunday is not heaviness--it's holy praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Hear the crowds as they proclaim . . .

Read more: What to Wear When There's Nothing to Wear!?!

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What if it really happened? What if an intelligent signal was received from space, and verified as a genuine signal from another intelligent race of creatures? What if there was absolutely no mistake about it - this was the real thing, a coded message sent as a communication to Earth, to let us know that we were not the only sentient life in the universe?

For many people it would be a thrilling, wonderful discovery - their reaction might be to break open the champagne and celebrate for many days, but for others it would be as scary as hell! What if this extraterrestrial was aggressive and hunting for food? What if it was infectious, or poisonous? What would the military forces of Earth do?

Among the many revelers would be the evolutionists. They would say that because life was found elsewhere in the universe, this proved that life could evolve by accident from non-living materials, without the help of a Divine Being. The implications of this are that life is essentially meaningless, and that Man is not significant in any way. But this is not a logical line of thinking.

First, God could have created intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, just as easily as He created it here on Earth. The incoming intelligent signal would prove only that there was an incoming intelligent signal. It would not prove evolution at all. Second, science has never shown how life can evolve from non-living materials, so it is by no means certain that it can happen here, or anywhere else in . . .

Read more: SETI - Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute

  1. Setting Your Mind On Things Above? Part IV
  2. Erosion
  3. A New Covenant
  4. So, Who's Fool Are You?

Subcategories

The Spur Article Count:  92

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com

Wonders of Creation Article Count:  37

Written By Richard Gunther.

Harris Dvores Article Count:  1

Harris Dvores is a corporate lawyer in Orlando, Florida. But only from 9 to 5. For more than 20 years, he has pursued his passion to create: everything from Christian music and church skits, to Star Trek scripts and board games. His new website, www.harrisdvores.com, is a playground for the mind and spirit. A Jewish believer, Harris has been given truly amazing stories to share about the power of God.

Rev. Spence Laycock Article Count:  49

Rev. Spence Laycock pastors at Church of the Open Bible, Ponoka, Alberta, Canada.

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis Article Count:  2

Pastor Bert Nieuwenhuis is the interim pastor at Somerset Bible Chapel, Manitoba, Canada.

Diane Davis Article Count:  1

Diane Davis, a former policewoman in Toronto, recently retired from a lengthy career as a civilian member of the Ontario Provincial Police.  Amongst many things, she is now turning her attention to writing, music, and her 5 grandchildren.  She is also Pastor Tim's mom.

Melva's Devotions Article Count:  48

Blog Writings by Melva Cooper.

Melva Cooper is a wife, mother and grandmother from Jonesboro, Arkansas. God has given her, in her retirement years, the ministry of writing for HIM. "Even in old age, you will still produce fruit" is a verse He has given her (Psalm 92:14). And it is her desire to serve Him all the days of her life.

Barb's Mantle Article Count:  59

Barbara, a Christian homemaker, began her Web Site through encouragement from her son, and a dream. It quickly became a ministry for the Lord. She began writing devotionals to encourage, inspire, and build up spiritually those coming to her site.  Barbara is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

Sandra Boyte Article Count:  10

Writing poetry that brings glory to God is Sandra's passion.  No matter where she has lived, or what she has gone through, she has found that God is always there before her to lead her in His paths and to catch her when she falls.  Married, with two sons two granddaughters on the way, Sandra's future goals include writing more poetry trying her hand at writing short devotionals for children.

Dr. Harold McNabb Article Count:  98

Dr. Harold McNabb pastors at Westshore Presbyterian Church in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Peggie's Den Article Count:  77

"Ever feel as though life is a lions' den and like Daniel, you're right in the middle of it all? Enjoy these "Devotions from the Den" (Lions 'n Life at Peggie's Place) and delight in God's promises of love, joy and peace for whatever is happening in YOUR den today!"

Misc Article Count:  77

Miscellaneous archived items.

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