Saturday, March 31, 2012

Scott and the Antarctic Team: Modern Christian heroes



A hundred years ago this week Captain Robert Falcon Scott made his final entry in his diary before he and his team succumbed, a scant eleven miles from their supply depot.

His last words were: "For God's sake take care of our people"

He and his team had shown invincible courage on their return journey from the Pole. Not only in their dogged persistence to reach their goal but also in their selfless care for each other.

Evans died an agonizing death from frostbite but never once complained. Captain Oates, also limping with frozen toes, left his comrades in the tent with these words " I am just going outside. I expect to be away sometime." 

He walked to his death in the blizzard in order that his team mates not be slowed down in their race for survival.

What the painting of his heroism does not show is the Cross he was carrying.

In Westminster Abbey on Friday a packed congregation of international figures joined in singing  Scott's favourite hymn

 "On ward Christian Soldiers."

Although I am a naturalized Canadian there are times when I feel a surge of pride in my Mother Country. This was one of them.

Jubilate.

Ian

Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Stations of the cross.The crucifixion


Isaac Watts, the 18th century hymn writer penned these famous words as a prelude to his six stanza hymn.

"When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the  Prince of Glory died.
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride"

For "survey", in modern vocabulary, we would employ the word "contemplate"

Indeed the Cross of Christ MUST be pondered, for the event that took place at Calvary 2000 years ago holds eternal implications for all men living today.

Saint Paul said:

"It is a true saying and can be completely trusted, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst."

How did Christ fulfill that mission?

By dying on the cross at Calvary.

That should be the focal point of our thoughts today as we enter the week before Easter.

On your death-bed you will not be wishing that you had spent more time at the office. It will be your faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross that will be of supreme importance.

Ian

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Stations of the cross. The crucifixion


Big Cross in Groom TX
Big Cross in Groom TX

Driving East towards Amarillo a few years ago I saw a towering cross appear on the horizon.
After another mile I was able to pull over into the parking lot and see something uniquely American.
It was the Groom Cross and its stations erected right out there on the high prairie.

There happened to be a man standing there with his wife and, lo, he was the one who had had the vision to build this 190 foot cross.

He had been a professional footballer who, tired of the synthetic values of his sport, began to seek a deeper meaning for his life and in his darkest moment found both his redemption and his mission to do something "BIG" for God. 

The Groom Cross was the result.

I know that this huge aluminum edifice bears no relation to the cross of Calvary, but it has proved the words of Christ to be true:

"If I be lifted up I shall draw all  men unto me."

At a million visitors to Groom, the biggest cross in the world is doing it's job.

Here's a quote from a man called William Carey:

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God."

I guess that's what Steve Thomas did when he built the big cross in Texas.

Ian

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Stations of the cross.. Simon of Cyrene


There are people who, by strange and mysterious ways, manage to receive honorable mention in the Gospel records. The man called Simon is one of them.
He came from Cyrene in North Africa, would have been black and, like the Ethiopian Eunuch, had probably come to Jerusalem to worship.

Unbeknown to him God had a special task for him to fulfill. There on the Via Dolorosa Christ fell beneath the heavy burden of His Cross. Not wishing for the scheduled execution to be delayed, the roman soldiers ordered Simon to take up the cross of Christ and carry His burden down towards the Damascus Gate.

Thus the name of Simon of Cyrene has become enshrined for ever in the Easter narrative.

Simon just 'happened to be there' and unwittingly became part of the prophetic redemption of mankind.

Here is a point to ponder. Today you may just 'happen to be there' to lift someone's burden for a few steps on a hard journey. Do it if you can, for Jesus said "In as much as you have done it unto the least of my brothers, you have done it unto Me."

Jubilate.

Ian

Monday, March 26, 2012

The Stations of the Cross.The women of Jerusalem



The Via Dolorosa was packed with pilgrims in Jerusalem for the Passover. It was just as crowded two thousand years later when Pauline and I pushed our way through one Good Friday.

One of the carvings in the wall showed us Jesus being tearfully followed by the Matrons of Jerusalem.

They were overcome with grief at the seeming disaster unfolding before their eyes.

Never once moved from His marvellous composure Christ tells them to save their tears for their own sons.

 "There are times coming when calamity will befall all of the Jewish people because of what is happening today."

And, of course, within thirty years Christ's words were borne out with the sack of the city by the Romans and the dispersal of the whole Jewish race across the earth.

At this seventh station ponder this thought. With marvellous precision Christ prophesied the imminent fall of Jerusalem (even in direst pain). He also foretold with similar clarity His return in glory to this earth: a word that is just as shortly to be fulfilled.

Don't you think it might be wise thing to make immediate preparation for that event?

Jubilate.

Ian

Sunday, March 25, 2012

The Stations of the cross.



The main focus of Francis of Assisi's stations of the cross was on the Via Dolorosa(Way of sorrows)

When a man took up his cross it was tantamount to the death sentence. It was a one way trip to a certain and bloody execution.

When Jesus left from the back entrance of Pilate's courtyard he was bearing a heavy cross and He was walking towards the exit sign from this earth.

That's the sign towards which all mortals face but in Jesus case He knew where He was going, what He was doing and who He was doing it for.

The pre-requisite condition for all followers of Christ is to take up our cross DAILY. But for us our pathway is not the Via Dolorosa and an EXIT sign: it's a shining path that grows brighter as we get nearer to the ENTRANCE of the place He has prepared for each of us.

That's a point worth pondering today.

Jubilate.
Ian