What a small cross to bear......

[Xi Bowhunter]

Easter has got me thinking.....About life in general. And just how selfish the world (including me) really is. We have lost sight of what these holidays are all about. Easter and Christmas are the two big ones. We commercialize and exploit these holidays for petty human wants instead of showing the respect and reverence that we really should be showing. Jesus Christ is at the center of these holidays, but yet we push him aside and focus on other things...Why? I am just as guilty as the rest of the world of this crime. I just don't know how I can loose site of a story like the rising of Christ from the tomb and ascending into heaven after the poor pitiful humans put him to such a brutal death. And he did that for you and me. How selfless. But what can I do but pray for my wrongs and try to do the right thing next time? Not much I guess. But I speak to him every day, I tell him my faults, and I feel sad. But he hides behind those tears of mine and tells me its okay, and I feel a little less depressed ans disheartened. But it doesn't help the pain of betraying him, and straying off his path. Its really not that hard of a task, just do the right thing, and follow in his footsteps. My problem is foolish, selfish, human material desires and temptations. It is so easy to do the wrong thing, but doing the right thing is simple too. God has given me so much, and I have given back so little. I deserve a bout of depression and a tearful eye, that is my cross to bear. And oh what a small cross it is.

[RLWEBB]

Good post. You are right on the money on this one. This is what's truly important in life and we sometimes take it all for granted. You know, the most stiring and thought provoking words in the Bible are "For God so loved the world," and "But God." If you can really get a grip on those the rest is much easeir.

[Xi Bowhunter]

I am trying to strengthen my Catholic/Christian faith and become a better person. Humans are faulty by nature, and temptation is great sometimes. I've got a girlfriend who has just now started going to church at a non-denominational church, and she asks a zillion questions about the bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. And while I am no scholar, I do have a minor in religious studies. I have to answer a lot of questions, and do a ton of research for her, but she is trying to find her way the same as I am. I am doing my best to help her out, but I have to tell you, it is helping me out tremendously as well. I grow closer to my faith each day, and every lesson I give her is a lesson for me. Growing up in all catholic schools has given me a lot of knowledge about religion as a whole, but I am far from having all the answers. I have even studied the Koran, and found out that there are many similarities between that book and the bible, but they are worlds apart as well. Religion has always been a passion of mine, and the bible is full of life lessons that hold true still today.

[RLWEBB]

I know what your saying. Lately I've been reading and studying I and II Samuel concerning David. What a man he was. The Bible calls him "A Man after God's own heart" and yet it also says he "Was a man of blood." I think that when look at at the lives of those "Great" men of the bible we see that God did some of the greatest things with some of the most sinful people. David had Uriah killed so that he could marry Basthsheba, Moses killed the Egyptian who was mistreating the Israelite, Paul stood by while Steven was stoned, Solomon sinned by being led astray by all of his foreign wives.

Look at those great men and see how they were flawed, as we are, but look at what God did with them and through them. We have been bought with the blood of Christ and we are no longer are own. We have ben saved by the wonderful grace of God thru faith and it is up to us to share that with others as you are doing. If we stay in the word, and stay close to Him in prayer, we can grow in love and knowledge, and be able to share this with others.

You mentioned the Koran. Look at their "Prophet." He's still in the ground somewhere. On the other hand, our Lord and Saviour arose the third day, defeating death and the grave and is the first fruit of God's salvation. We are now brothers with him and will share in his resurection one great day! Thank God for the cross!