Pathways Press.com

Written by Mike Creavey, a contemporary evangelizer, teacher, and writer.

John of the Cross wrote that our transformation, our conversion and configuring to God could be likened to a piece of timber consumed by flames. Life, he wrote, is a long and often painful process by which our Lord purifies and sanctifies each one of us with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Just as a log thrust into a fireplace spends a great deal of time first being heated and dried out, so too does the fire of God’s love warm my soul and begin to dry it. As my damaged nature and my sins are dried up and purged by the steady presence of this divine flame, I begin to slowly transform into something altogether new. This never comes without pain, for no such transformation ever can. We usually fear such change. We fear moving away from a place in which we feel comfortable, terrible as it may be, into a process that will surely be characterized by suffering. But ironic as it may seem at first glance, suffering is not to be feared. It must be embraced and offered to God. When I make such an offering, I begin to experience something extraordinary. My cross begins to resemble his cross. In truth, it actually becomes his cross. My bruises, my cuts, my gashes, my sorrow – they all converge with his own and he takes them upon himself. As this drama unfolds, he returns everything to me. His blood becomes my own. His hands and feet become my own. Better said, I become a true member of his own Mystical Body!

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20]

Written by Joel Stucki, a contemporary writer

[Jesus] offers life in abundance! How can we grasp how wonderful that is if we turn a blind eye to sin and death, and to the seemingly unbreakable grip in which the world is held? What good is it to say that the Lord of life entered death, that the sinless one bore our sin, if we refuse to look at sin and death for what they are? Yes, sorrow gives way to victory. But to grasp the victory, we must grieve the sorrow. A great work of art is not always enjoyable, but it is always challenging—it changes those who encounter it. We think beauty is something pleasing to the eye. It is not. Beauty has nail-holes in its hands and feet. Blood runs down the face of beauty, beaten beyond recognition. Beauty is not that which is pleasant and easy, but that which transforms.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. [(Isaiah 53:3]

Written by Allan Anderson of the Village Church

The birth of Jesus was the greatest gift the world has ever received! Thirty plus years later, his crucifixion and resurrection opened the portal to the promise of eternal life for all those with faith and belief in God. In our lives and especially within the immediate family, the promise and birth of a child is the hope for the future. In many cases, the loss of a child at a young age can be devastating and often profoundly challenges the future of entire families. Several years ago, our son and daughter-in-law lost their 10-year-old daughter to leukemia. Although the medical treatments were state of the art, the needed biological match never materialized and after 9 straight months of being hospitalized, our granddaughter received a heavenly welcome home. In retrospect, God’s grace and caring became more visible each and every day during her illness. Strength and support grew both through prayer and acts of physical caring for our son’s family and spread to other parents of the children with similar difficulties. In the hospital lounge on the children’s floor, groups gathered in prayer, new friendships were formed, and the definition of needed support was understood and realized. There were care portals on the Internet that contained international support and commentary. This led to the anticipated get together called “Wonderful Wednesdays” where trends and surprises were gathered and shared: a perfect example of people being the hands of God. When life came to an end, the caring continued. Out east, the ritual of calling hours at a funeral home brought over 250 visitors to offer expressions of love to our family. The next day, almost 600 people attended the Memorial service for our beautiful 10-year-old girl. Sadness had become personal strength! Once again, a child was born and through the strength of faith and understanding, countless lives found meaning and direction to assure others and build confidence for their futures.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. [Psalm 147:3]

Written by Jerry Lawrence, a contemporary pastor and writer.

The crucifixion of Jesus, though brutal and humiliating, served a purpose beyond comprehension. As Jesus hung on that cross, every drop of His blood and every moment of suffering ushered in a great exchange—our bondage, shame, and sin for His righteousness, access, and acceptance. Consider the significance of the bloodshed, a symbolism echoed in the Passover lamb’s sacrifice. Just as the Israelites applied the blood to their doorposts for protection, we receive grace, mercy, and peace through the blood of Jesus Christ… The tearing of the veil at Jesus’ death symbolizes the profound shift from an earthly temple to a temple indwelt by the Spirit of God—our bodies. This transformation… signifies our role as living stones, built into a spiritual house to offer sacrifices pleasing to God…Let us boldly approach the throne of grace, knowing that through the cross and the blood, we have been made heirs of God’s promise, recipients of His boundless love, and vessels of His glory. May we walk in the fullness of this truth, glorifying God in our bodies and spirits, now and forevermore.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? [1 Corinthians 3:16]E

Written by Ruth Grendell from the Village Church.

As we transition to Lent related to the crucifixion and resurrection and dying to self, I concentrated on Acts 28: 1-10. Paul and others intended to go to Rome. However, a great storm forced them to abandon the ship and swim to the island of Malta. They were welcomed by the people who learned about Paul and his beliefs. The Chief Official stated that his father was very ill, and he asked if Paul could go to him. After praying, Paul laid his hands on the man, and he was healed.  I wear my Maltese-shaped cross necklace most of the time that reminds me that I must strive to deny my own ways, and cling to following the ways of Jesus who lives in me.

As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed. As a result, we were showered with honors, and when the time came to sail, people supplied us with everything we would need for the trip. [Acts 28:8-10]

Written by David Avila, a contemporary media producer, filmmaker, and church planter.

The power of the cross is the gospel’s power to transform us. It is good news that saves us. The power of the cross moves us from death to life. It starts us on our journey as a new creation, leading us to maturity and growth in Christ all along the way. A message so simple but so paradoxical; a message that contrasts man’s wisdom against God’s folly; a message we are entrusted to proclaim to the nations.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. [2 Corinthians 3:18]26

Written by Doreen May from the Village Church

Sweet Angels Sing

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. [Revelation 5:9]

Written by Wade Johnston, a contemporary writer and professor of history and theology.

What do you see when you look at the cross? You have the God you see there. If you see a God angry with sin, full of wrath for sinners, you have that God. It is indeed sin that put Jesus on that cross. But, on the other hand, if you see a God who loves you so much that he went to that cross, embraced it, climbed up on it and held himself there in order to keep hold of you, you have that God. You have a God of love. I’ve noticed that the crucifix is an interesting thing in modern American Christianity. American Christians love the baby Jesus in the manger, but they sometimes don’t like Jesus on the cross. I’ve even heard some argue that an empty cross is better than a crucifix, because Jesus rose. Using that logic, though, an empty manger would be better, too. If you want something empty, the tomb is the way to go. The point of the manger is that Jesus was in it. The point of the cross is that Jesus was on it. It’s interesting that throughout history some of the saints, our fathers and mothers in the faith, who most contemplated and embraced and confessed the cross, Christ crucified, also eagerly contemplated and embraced and confessed the manger. Why do you think that is? It’s because in both they found the same thing: love.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:8]

Written by Peggy Stackle from the Village Church.

We saw a license plate at the gas station not long ago: Godi2de.  We had to ask.  The driver said “Goditude: God will take care of it.”  What a great testimony and reminder, especially if you’re sitting on the freeway with heavy traffic and crazy drivers out there.   When I was a singer my favorite hymn, and warm up exercise was Spirit of the Living God.

Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God. Fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

It still is and it’s the prayer I pray for confession.  Jesus died on the cross for us.  And before that he was God’s messenger to us. He was trying to teach us how to live together successfully.  It’s what that window in our sanctuary is about: This way, follow Jesus.  Be as much like Jesus as you can be.  Try.  I pray for forgiveness for not meeting my potential and I am confident that God will take care of it.  God will make me an instrument whenever it’s part of God’s plan.  I am so thankful for God’s grace and forgiveness.

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. [1 Thessalonians 1:6]

Written by Dale Melenberg, a contemporary pastor.

Jesus encouraged his disciples to give up their lives for the kingdom. Do that, he says, and you will live. These words are intense—even harsh, like bad-tasting medicine. But the effect is life-altering—the gaining of our soul. What can we possibly give in exchange for our soul? We must deny our own pride and ego. We must deny that we can manage this life on our own. We must deny our sinful impulses to do things our way. We must deny our very selves. We must take on ourselves the cross that Jesus bore for us—and follow him. Jesus went the way of the cross to die, to lose his life—only to take it up again. We are invited to do the same. And we will be saved. For whoever loses their life of sinful human impulses—pleasures, pursuits, pride—for Jesus, will find life to the full…Jesus asks us to receive his grace, the Father’s love and mercy extended through him, and to simply follow after him. Maybe it’s not as difficult as we think.

Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. [Matthew 16:28].