I started reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis a few days ago. It's a bit difficult to read through and takes more time to digest because everything is switched (e.g. "The Enemy" is God and the main character is a demon). However, I'm glad that it's forcing me to slow down and think about what I read. Too often I just chug through a book and as long as I get the main idea I'm good so this reading and thinking combination is working out well. Anyways, there's a section in Chapter 8 that I just kept reading over and over again. Now remember, this is in the form of a letter written by a demon named, Screwtape, to his nephew, Wormwood.
"To decide what the best use of it is, you must ask what the Enemy wants to make of it, and then do the opposite. Now it may surprise you to learn that in His efforts to get permanent possession of a soul, He relies on the troughs even more than on the peaks; some of His special favourites have gone through longer and deeper troughs than anyone else. The reason is this. To us a human is primarily food; our aim is the absorption of its will into ours, the increase of our own area of selfhood at its expense. But the obedience which the Enemy demands of men is quite a different thing. One must face the fact that all the talk abotu His love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would gladly believe) mere propaganda. He really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself -- creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed them but because their wills freely conform to His. We want cattle who can finally become food; He wants servants who can finally become sons. We want to suck in; He wants to give out. We are empty and would be filled; He is full and flows over. Our war aim is a world in which Our Father Below has drawn all other beings into himself; the Enemy wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct.....
It is during the trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be. Hence the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him best... He wants them to learn to walk and must therefore take away His hand; and if only the will to walk is really there He is pleased even with their stumbles (p. 38-39, 40)"
C.S. Lewis is just brilliant. He words things so well! I think his ability to write from the perspective of a demon to his little minion demon gives me such great insight into our weaknesses as humans. I tend to see dry spouts in my faith as the worst times when God feels so distant, as though his distance is a bad thing. Just like those last few lines say, "He wants us to learn to walk (by faith) and must therefore take away His hand." It's like a parent watching their child learn how to walk. The child will never learn if the parent never lets go.... It's in the troughs or the valleys that God lets us "test our legs" in a sense and practice living and walking by faith. His letting go for a bit forces us to test our faith and walk because He wants us to learn. Even if we stumble, He is pleased! Stumbling means we are trying! It means we are attempting to move forward and grow and make progress to becoming more like Him! I may feel like a failure when I stumble, but He is pleased, and He is even more pleased when I cry out to him in the trough, in the dry valley. How encouraging that "the prayers offered in the state of dryness are those which please Him best"!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Narnia
Yesterday I went to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader with my three brothers. After I got over the price of the 3-D movie ticket in Big Rapids (outrageous! and the seats aren't even comfortable!), we got settled in with our sweet glasses on. We were late, surprise, surprise, so we got there just in time for the film to begin. I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire Chronicles or Narnia book series and look forward to each movie version. No matter how many times I read or how many times I watch, I can't get over C.S. Lewis' parallels to Jesus Christ.
For example, somewhere in the middle of the movie, the Pevensie's cousin Eustace is turned into a dragon because he gave over to the temptation of gold and treasure. No matter how hard he tries, he could not change himself back until near the end when he met Aslan. In the scene, Eustace was wounded, tired, and weak after a long battle. He was lying in on a sand bar in the middle of the sea when Aslan appeared. Eustace tried to rise but slumped down into the sand, that is, until Aslan began to gently claw at the sand. With each swipe of his paw in the sand, a red, flaming scratch appeared on Eustace's body. Eustace the dragon rose up (in what looks like pain) and lifted off the ground and turned into a burning ball of light. Finally, he was set back down on dry land at Aslan's stone table as a boy once again. The best part was Eustace's description of how he was changed back into a boy. He tells his cousins that no matter how hard he tried, he could not change himself. He was powerless to do anything to make the slightest change. Until Aslan showed up and did the changing. Eustace said that the change from dragon to boy hurt, but in a good way, "like a thorn being pulled from a foot," type of hurt. How true is this of our Christian walk? Sometimes our sins and temptations overtake us and we turn in to dragons of sorts. Trapped. We know we need to make changes and get rid of sin: so we try and try and try and try and try on our own strength. But no matter how much we try, we can't. We get discouraged because we're trying HARD, but nothing happens then we get disappointed in ourselves. We're stuck in our sin until Christ comes and sets us free. What glorious news! Even though it may be a bit painful, we are changed. That little bit of pain of changing forms is a good kind of pain. A pain that tells us we are being made new and becoming more sanctified as we submit to Christ's authority as the one who can change us. Praise God that we need a power outside of ourselves to save us! Only He can change us, just like Aslan was the only one who could change Eustace.
Christmas is so close. I'm so thankful for God sending his son Jesus so that I can be changed. Constantly. It's not like it's a one time deal then it's done. We are a people with a sinful nature; I am a person with a sinful nature and occasionally I find myself struggling to change myself, to rid myself of sin and temptation; but I can't. It's not until I'm under Jesus' gentle claws that any transformation takes place.
For example, somewhere in the middle of the movie, the Pevensie's cousin Eustace is turned into a dragon because he gave over to the temptation of gold and treasure. No matter how hard he tries, he could not change himself back until near the end when he met Aslan. In the scene, Eustace was wounded, tired, and weak after a long battle. He was lying in on a sand bar in the middle of the sea when Aslan appeared. Eustace tried to rise but slumped down into the sand, that is, until Aslan began to gently claw at the sand. With each swipe of his paw in the sand, a red, flaming scratch appeared on Eustace's body. Eustace the dragon rose up (in what looks like pain) and lifted off the ground and turned into a burning ball of light. Finally, he was set back down on dry land at Aslan's stone table as a boy once again. The best part was Eustace's description of how he was changed back into a boy. He tells his cousins that no matter how hard he tried, he could not change himself. He was powerless to do anything to make the slightest change. Until Aslan showed up and did the changing. Eustace said that the change from dragon to boy hurt, but in a good way, "like a thorn being pulled from a foot," type of hurt. How true is this of our Christian walk? Sometimes our sins and temptations overtake us and we turn in to dragons of sorts. Trapped. We know we need to make changes and get rid of sin: so we try and try and try and try and try on our own strength. But no matter how much we try, we can't. We get discouraged because we're trying HARD, but nothing happens then we get disappointed in ourselves. We're stuck in our sin until Christ comes and sets us free. What glorious news! Even though it may be a bit painful, we are changed. That little bit of pain of changing forms is a good kind of pain. A pain that tells us we are being made new and becoming more sanctified as we submit to Christ's authority as the one who can change us. Praise God that we need a power outside of ourselves to save us! Only He can change us, just like Aslan was the only one who could change Eustace.
Christmas is so close. I'm so thankful for God sending his son Jesus so that I can be changed. Constantly. It's not like it's a one time deal then it's done. We are a people with a sinful nature; I am a person with a sinful nature and occasionally I find myself struggling to change myself, to rid myself of sin and temptation; but I can't. It's not until I'm under Jesus' gentle claws that any transformation takes place.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Two Christmases
After two family Christmases, two days in a row, I'm pooped. And I don't want to eat another thing! :)
Yesterday was Cook Christmas, hosted by my in-laws here in Big Rapids. What a spread of desserts! And today was Thorne Christmas hosted by my cousin and his wife/family in Charlotte. After much eating, talking, eating, talking, playing farkle, eating, talking... I'm ready to be done with that cycle. Ha ha. We really loved every minute of being with our extended families. We love them so much and feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care about us. Both sets of grandparents are getting up there in age (late 80s and early 90s) and it's great to be able to spend time with them every chance we can. I wish I had a camera or notepad every time either of my grandparents gets to telling stories because I want to record them for future generations. Their lives were so cool! Grandpa Cook came from Poland and sailed the Great Lakes; Grandpa Thorne lied about his age to sign up for the Navy in WWII. My Thorne grandparents got my parents a huge binder filled with family history and genealogy. The information in there is amazing and goes all the way back to before the 1800s to our Norwegian ancestors. I'm getting some great ideas for baby names someday in the future. Families are really pretty incredible things.
Only two days of school left until Christmas break... I can't wait!
Yesterday was Cook Christmas, hosted by my in-laws here in Big Rapids. What a spread of desserts! And today was Thorne Christmas hosted by my cousin and his wife/family in Charlotte. After much eating, talking, eating, talking, playing farkle, eating, talking... I'm ready to be done with that cycle. Ha ha. We really loved every minute of being with our extended families. We love them so much and feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care about us. Both sets of grandparents are getting up there in age (late 80s and early 90s) and it's great to be able to spend time with them every chance we can. I wish I had a camera or notepad every time either of my grandparents gets to telling stories because I want to record them for future generations. Their lives were so cool! Grandpa Cook came from Poland and sailed the Great Lakes; Grandpa Thorne lied about his age to sign up for the Navy in WWII. My Thorne grandparents got my parents a huge binder filled with family history and genealogy. The information in there is amazing and goes all the way back to before the 1800s to our Norwegian ancestors. I'm getting some great ideas for baby names someday in the future. Families are really pretty incredible things.
Only two days of school left until Christmas break... I can't wait!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Snow Day & Christmas Cookies
It seems like snow days are the only days I write on here. Well, actually, I don't really ever write on here.... anyways... It's extremely cold outside today and pretty much all of Michigan had a snow day. I'm snug at home with a big fire going in the fireplace, baking cookies, reading, and uploading some new photos to facebook.
Here's a peak at what we woke up to yesterday... and the reason for our snow day today:
On a lighter note, here's one of the kinds of cookies I made. They're called Buried Cherry Cookies from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I got in college. If you've got an hour to spare, these things are delicious! I love chocolate and Zach loves fruit so this was a great combination of the two.
BURIED CHERRY COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 10-oz jar maraschino cherries
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces*** do not substitute imitation chocolate pieces for semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (or low-fat sweetened condensed milk)
Step 1: Prep the cherries and make the dough
Drain cherries, reserving 4 tsps of the juice. Halve any large cherries.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds on medium speed. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in cocoa powder and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. The dough will be dark and sticky.
Step 2: Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press your thumb into the center of each ball. Place cherry in each center.
Step 3: Make the frosting
For the frosting, in a small saucepan combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over LOW HEAT until chocolate melts. Stir in 4 tsp cherry juice. (use more juice to make a thinner frosting). Spoon 1 tsp of frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover.
Step 4: Bake
Bake about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cook on cookie sheet 1 minute then transfer to wire rack and let cool.
Nutrition Info: 97 cal, 4g fat, 13mg chol, 56mg sodium, 14g carb, 0g fiber, 1g protein
Here's a peak at what we woke up to yesterday... and the reason for our snow day today:
On a lighter note, here's one of the kinds of cookies I made. They're called Buried Cherry Cookies from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook I got in college. If you've got an hour to spare, these things are delicious! I love chocolate and Zach loves fruit so this was a great combination of the two.
BURIED CHERRY COOKIES
Ingredients:
1 10-oz jar maraschino cherries
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces*** do not substitute imitation chocolate pieces for semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (or low-fat sweetened condensed milk)
Step 1: Prep the cherries and make the dough
Drain cherries, reserving 4 tsps of the juice. Halve any large cherries.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer for 30 seconds on medium speed. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in cocoa powder and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. The dough will be dark and sticky.
Step 2: Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Press your thumb into the center of each ball. Place cherry in each center.
Step 3: Make the frosting
For the frosting, in a small saucepan combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over LOW HEAT until chocolate melts. Stir in 4 tsp cherry juice. (use more juice to make a thinner frosting). Spoon 1 tsp of frosting over each cherry, spreading to cover.
Step 4: Bake
Bake about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cook on cookie sheet 1 minute then transfer to wire rack and let cool.
Nutrition Info: 97 cal, 4g fat, 13mg chol, 56mg sodium, 14g carb, 0g fiber, 1g protein
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Back at it.
All I wanted was 1 thing to do to keep me busy. Now I have 5.... way to go me. Somehow, the word, "No" needs to work its way into my vocabulary on a more consistent basis.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
My First Season
As of two days ago, I got hired as the JV volleyball coach at Crossroads Charter Academy in Big Rapids. The previous coach is a college student who has a Ferris class that conflicts with too many of the games; she had the option to co-coach or step down. She stepped down and so they gave me a call. Although this position came on rather quickly (try-outs started today), I am so very glad to be doing SOMETHING with my time! We are all moved in to our house, well the downstairs looks lived in, and have even painted our bedroom, put in a new bathroom faucet, etc. There's not much left for me to do except sit around and stare at my curtainless windows and wonder, "Hmmm. What color curtains should I get? Should they have a pattern? Which is cheaper, buying them or making them myself?" you know--big questions in life... Riiiiiiiight. Now I have a little bit more purpose when I get out of bed each day. :)
Yesterday was full of phone calls to the athletic director and varsity coach ironing out practice times/details for the remainder of the week. Oh yes, and trying to figure out if I actually got a para pro job in the elementary building so they could post the coaching job internally and make everyone's life easier. I've called several times and left a message about that, but still no news. It'd be helpful to know if I'm going to be teaching in less than a month or if I need to start looking for a job elsewhere before all the Ferris students come back. As far as practice today, the head coach had try-out practice all planned out for so all I had to do was show up, run drills, and informally evaluate the girls' skills. Kinda nice when I found out only two days ago that I was even coaching a team! I could barely sleep last night because my mind was buzzing with ideas for drills, plays, and team building exercises to implement in the upcoming season.
When I got to the gym this morning, the smell of the newly varnished floor, the smell of new volleyball leather, and the intense humidity brought back so many memories of high school sports in the fall! I loved it! I got there at 8am and the girls filtered in and all arrived by 8:30 when try-outs started. We did basic skills training all morning when around 9:30 we got an unexpected and slightly scary surprise. The girls were lined up on the sideline to practice shuffling under the net when one of the juniors fell backwards with a loud thud. I watched this happen and much to my horror she started seizing! The girls around her backed up and said, "Uhhh, coach!" The varsity coach and I immediately ran over to her as her eyes flickered open and she sat up looking very confused. We sent the rest of the team for a drink break while we tended to the fallen player. She had started feeling nauseous then blacked out and didn't remember what happened. She said that it had never happened to her before. I asked if she ate breakfast, which she had. The gym wasn't overly hot. She played basketball and attended open gyms all summer so it wasn't the stress of the drill. Scary. We took her to the sidelines and sat her down while the varsity coach called her mom. She was really scared and so disappointed because she told me she had been so excited for the first day of volleyball. I tried to comfort her the best I could but then we had to get back to the rest of the team. I talked with her mom briefly when she got there and explained what happened. Mom took her to the ER no questions asked. Not what I had quite planned on seeing the first day, but things happen. And I really hope she is okay.
Overall practice went well, but there are quite a few girls trying out. So many so that we---I----will probably have to make a few cuts. **Wince.** While I've never actually had to go through this process as a coach, I've been through it as a player and it's nerve wracking no matter what. I guess I'm going to compare it to parent teacher conferences. Those I have done. You've got to talk to all the parents (just like I have to talk to all the players) by starting with strengths/positives and gently, delicately introduce the negatives/weaknesses. I guess I just don't want to be the one to make a 14 year old girl's high school days miserable then carry around bitterness towards all athletics her whole life because she got cut in 9th grade. Now that I'm on the coaching end of things, it seems so harsh to cut a girl because she hasn't had the proper training. I've got a lot of freshman coming out for the JV team (because there is no freshman team) and most of them haven't been taught the right form and technique of how to pass, set, hit, and serve. Cuts are tomorrow... How do I decide who to keep and who to let go after two days of try-outs? Some have horrible form/skills and flail arms wildly no matter what the task. Others laugh when I give feedback and correct form. Right now it's hard to know who just hasn't had the time to develop their skills and who just doesn't really care. I have a feeling there's a little bit of both right now.
I'm excited to be in a leadership role. I'm excited to be around volleyball and coach it and teach it and be passionate about it. I'm excited to get to know a whole new group of young ladies and be a positive influence. I'm excited to lead a team of young athletes through a fun and challenging season. I'm excited to gain coaching experience and grow and be challenged.
Yesterday was full of phone calls to the athletic director and varsity coach ironing out practice times/details for the remainder of the week. Oh yes, and trying to figure out if I actually got a para pro job in the elementary building so they could post the coaching job internally and make everyone's life easier. I've called several times and left a message about that, but still no news. It'd be helpful to know if I'm going to be teaching in less than a month or if I need to start looking for a job elsewhere before all the Ferris students come back. As far as practice today, the head coach had try-out practice all planned out for so all I had to do was show up, run drills, and informally evaluate the girls' skills. Kinda nice when I found out only two days ago that I was even coaching a team! I could barely sleep last night because my mind was buzzing with ideas for drills, plays, and team building exercises to implement in the upcoming season.
When I got to the gym this morning, the smell of the newly varnished floor, the smell of new volleyball leather, and the intense humidity brought back so many memories of high school sports in the fall! I loved it! I got there at 8am and the girls filtered in and all arrived by 8:30 when try-outs started. We did basic skills training all morning when around 9:30 we got an unexpected and slightly scary surprise. The girls were lined up on the sideline to practice shuffling under the net when one of the juniors fell backwards with a loud thud. I watched this happen and much to my horror she started seizing! The girls around her backed up and said, "Uhhh, coach!" The varsity coach and I immediately ran over to her as her eyes flickered open and she sat up looking very confused. We sent the rest of the team for a drink break while we tended to the fallen player. She had started feeling nauseous then blacked out and didn't remember what happened. She said that it had never happened to her before. I asked if she ate breakfast, which she had. The gym wasn't overly hot. She played basketball and attended open gyms all summer so it wasn't the stress of the drill. Scary. We took her to the sidelines and sat her down while the varsity coach called her mom. She was really scared and so disappointed because she told me she had been so excited for the first day of volleyball. I tried to comfort her the best I could but then we had to get back to the rest of the team. I talked with her mom briefly when she got there and explained what happened. Mom took her to the ER no questions asked. Not what I had quite planned on seeing the first day, but things happen. And I really hope she is okay.
Overall practice went well, but there are quite a few girls trying out. So many so that we---I----will probably have to make a few cuts. **Wince.** While I've never actually had to go through this process as a coach, I've been through it as a player and it's nerve wracking no matter what. I guess I'm going to compare it to parent teacher conferences. Those I have done. You've got to talk to all the parents (just like I have to talk to all the players) by starting with strengths/positives and gently, delicately introduce the negatives/weaknesses. I guess I just don't want to be the one to make a 14 year old girl's high school days miserable then carry around bitterness towards all athletics her whole life because she got cut in 9th grade. Now that I'm on the coaching end of things, it seems so harsh to cut a girl because she hasn't had the proper training. I've got a lot of freshman coming out for the JV team (because there is no freshman team) and most of them haven't been taught the right form and technique of how to pass, set, hit, and serve. Cuts are tomorrow... How do I decide who to keep and who to let go after two days of try-outs? Some have horrible form/skills and flail arms wildly no matter what the task. Others laugh when I give feedback and correct form. Right now it's hard to know who just hasn't had the time to develop their skills and who just doesn't really care. I have a feeling there's a little bit of both right now.
I'm excited to be in a leadership role. I'm excited to be around volleyball and coach it and teach it and be passionate about it. I'm excited to get to know a whole new group of young ladies and be a positive influence. I'm excited to lead a team of young athletes through a fun and challenging season. I'm excited to gain coaching experience and grow and be challenged.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
"Cute" clothes
There's something I've been meaning to make a quick note of for a few weeks now. That is the fact that a few Saturdays ago at a retirement party, a lady/co-worker at Burton Elementary complimented me on my shirt then added, "But you always have cute clothes on!" to which my coordinating teacher heartily agreed. Now to me this was quite an alarming exclamation because I have always very much been the jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes girl. That's pretty much all I wore in high school and my first two years in college. Nobody complimented me on my consistent "cute" wardrobe back then because I had no wardrobe.
To hear that compliment was rather surprising and marks a huge milestone in my dressing abilities. This has probably been the best dressed year of my life thus far because I had to dress up for school/teaching every day. A requirement Zach was pleased with. It's true that you do feel better about yourself and more confident when you are dressed nicely. I suppose I am moving on to a new phase of life in my sense of style and ability to always wear "cute" clothes. But part of me is a little sad to let the jeans and tees go. That was my comfortable, athletic identity. Sporty Sarah Thorne with her hair forever in a ponytail. Losing that means losing a bit of my athletic side. Changing to the "cute" side is like a sign that that part of my life is over. Teaching has taken over and therefore a whole new set of clothes too.
Most people I met this year were shocked to know I was a tri-sport athlete in high school and played college volleyball. Then I when they learned that I love backpacking and the outdoors they got another surprise. Apparently, clothes can conceal a lot about a person - or show a lot too.
So for now I guess I have to be content to be the girl with the "cute" clothes who actually wishes she were wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
To hear that compliment was rather surprising and marks a huge milestone in my dressing abilities. This has probably been the best dressed year of my life thus far because I had to dress up for school/teaching every day. A requirement Zach was pleased with. It's true that you do feel better about yourself and more confident when you are dressed nicely. I suppose I am moving on to a new phase of life in my sense of style and ability to always wear "cute" clothes. But part of me is a little sad to let the jeans and tees go. That was my comfortable, athletic identity. Sporty Sarah Thorne with her hair forever in a ponytail. Losing that means losing a bit of my athletic side. Changing to the "cute" side is like a sign that that part of my life is over. Teaching has taken over and therefore a whole new set of clothes too.
Most people I met this year were shocked to know I was a tri-sport athlete in high school and played college volleyball. Then I when they learned that I love backpacking and the outdoors they got another surprise. Apparently, clothes can conceal a lot about a person - or show a lot too.
So for now I guess I have to be content to be the girl with the "cute" clothes who actually wishes she were wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
Good Friday.
Ironic that it's called "Good" Friday -- the day Jesus died. Today I sat down and read the crucifixion account from all 4 gospels. I've never done that before. Each one has its own voice and own point of view that results in a well rounded picture of what happened. Every year at Easter I think back to the first and only time I watched The Passion of the Christ. I was at the theater with Zach and my parents and I just cried and cried. My tears were hot with anger because I wanted the soldiers to stop beating Him and the crowd to stop mocking Him... But He had to do it. "Not my will, but yours be done." He had to do it so that mankind could be reconciled to God -- so that I could be reconciled to God.
Praise God that even while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us!
"But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed."
Ironic that it's called "Good" Friday -- the day Jesus died. Today I sat down and read the crucifixion account from all 4 gospels. I've never done that before. Each one has its own voice and own point of view that results in a well rounded picture of what happened. Every year at Easter I think back to the first and only time I watched The Passion of the Christ. I was at the theater with Zach and my parents and I just cried and cried. My tears were hot with anger because I wanted the soldiers to stop beating Him and the crowd to stop mocking Him... But He had to do it. "Not my will, but yours be done." He had to do it so that mankind could be reconciled to God -- so that I could be reconciled to God.
Praise God that even while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us!
"But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by His wounds we are healed."
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