Craig's Blog

a statement of faith

craig — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:03:05 +0000

When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, “This man really was God’s Son!” - Matt 27:54 (HCSB)

Continuing on with the events that occurred the moment Jesus died, take a look at the eyewitnesses. For them, this was a moment that took them to the extreme of human emotion. The words “very frightened” in the original language point to an utmost level of terror and dread.

But also for the eyewitnesses, this was a moment of clarity. It leads to an astounding confession of faith. Sadly, if you look back at v. 41-43, you’ll see an ironic twist. Those who should’ve been the first to confess the Lordship of Christ missed it! The honor was given to a band of worldly, rough-around-the-edges, pagan, Gentile soldiers. The first confession of faith. All they saw was a crucified Jew, but they hailed Him as the Son of God. That’s faith!

Now, let me just stop here and ask you - What would you have done with “the earthquake and the things that had happened?” Today, what do you do with the evidence? I believe each of us faces a “Centurion moment.” I believe there is a moment for all of us where we are pushed to the edge, to the extreme, and we see Jesus for Who He is. It’s just us and Him. When that happens for you, how will you respond? What will your confession be? Or if that moment happened in the past, how did you respond? How are you prepared to respond to seeing Him suffer, die, make available a way into the most holy, and change everything? Will you come with a balled-up fist as a mocker? Even one who on the outside has the “right look” & all the “right answers.” Or will you come on bended knee as a worshipper? Even one, like the rough old centurion and his staff, who does not look the part?

How will you respond?

the saints’ fulfillment

craig — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:24:23 +0000

“The tombs also were opened and many bodies of the saints who had gone to their rest were raised. And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.” - Matt 27:52-53 (HCSB)

Many are confused by this event that also happened when Jesus died on the cross. But, we should actually be surprised if something like this was not recorded in the Bible! Think about it … Everything in the past pointed toward this. So many had longed to see the Messiah, the promised one of God. God had spoken of Him to Eve, Abram, Jacob, Moses, David, and of course, the prophets. All past events pointed in some way to this one!

When the Lord Jesus accomplished His work on the cross, there was a supernatural cosmic paradigm shift. There was deliverance and salvation now available! These were the first moments of the new age. This was the first peek at the cleared ledger. The holy expectation of the faithful was now realized. And it rocked the order of the way things had been. Something in heaven and earth got jarred loose in this detonation of justice and mercy. In this holy collision of sin and grace.

a shaking of the foundation

craig — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:08:24 +0000

“the earth quaked and the rocks were split.” - Matt 27:51b (HCSB)

This event also occurred the moment Jesus died. Again, this is the action of none other than the Father Himself. As His heart was wrenching in pain, all creation was joining in the violent stirring. The supernatural was bleeding over into the natural. The very cosmos was shaken!

Why? Because one so innocent had taken on Himself the weight of the guilt of the entire human race. But could it also be that what Jesus had predicted only days before (Luke 19:40) was coming true? It reminds me of the song my church choir used to sing when I was a boy:

If we keep our voices silent,
All creation will rise and shout;
If we keep our voices silent,
Then will the very rocks cry out!

I want to get in on that kind of worship!

a separation of fabric

craig — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:47:57 +0000

“Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom.”
- Matt 27:50-51a (HCSB)

This curtain was the great physical division between the Holy Place in the Jerusalem Temple and the Most Holy Place. Literally in the original biblical language, the curtain was torn “from above, all the way to the lowest bottom.”

What was happening here? An act of God, fulfilling the requirement He Himself had set up. Honoring His holiness and at the same time breaking through with His love. God Himself was fulfilling what He had promised through the prophet Ezekiel: “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people (Ezek 37:27, HCSB).”

Only God could make that right; only God could do away with the great gulf that sin had caused. And in a beautiful living picture of His mighty action, He separated the separation by tearing the curtain of division … from above, all the way to the very lowest bottom.

I believe that makes room for you & me.

indy is on the way!

craig — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:31:10 +0000


 
Watch the Trailer on Yahoo! Movies



lincoln (b)logs
craig — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:26:24 +0000
Today is the birthday of one whom many consider to be the greatest president in USAmerican history - Abraham Lincoln. A man of immeasurable influence and, despite his untimely demise, a man of great success. 
But was he always successful? A quick rundown of his life’s highlights (or lowlights) is revealing:
1816: His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.	   

1818: His mother died.	   
1831: Failed in business.	   
1832: Ran for state legislature - lost.	   
1832: Also lost his job - wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.	   
1833: Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.	   
1834: Ran for state legislature again - won.	   
1835: Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.	   
1836: Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.	   
1838: Sought to become speaker of the state legislature - defeated.	   
1840: Sought to become elector - defeated.	   
1843: Ran for Congress - lost.	   
1846: Ran for Congress again - this time he won.
1848: Ran for re-election to Congress - lost.	   
1849: Sought the job of land officer in his home state of Illinois - rejected.	   
1854: Ran for Senate of the United States - lost.	   
1856: Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention - got less than 100 votes.	   
1858: Ran for U.S. Senate again - again he lost.	   
1860: Elected president of the United States.	 
It’s absolutely amazing what Lincoln’s perseverance accomplished. Lincoln knew something many people don’t. God places a high value on perseverance through life’s difficulties. 
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. But perseverance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

– James 1:2-4
Consider the stick-to-it-ive-ness of our 16th President, and take heart!



pro bowl-ed over!
craig — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:59:53 +0000
Number of World Champion NY Giants in Honolulu at the Pro Bowl this year … 1.

Number of Dallas Cowboys at said event … 13.

Gotta love it!
I’m officially joining with all the other bitter ‘Boys fans by saying: “Guess there’s always next year!”
Go Cowboys in 2008!



a good prune … not just found in your leftover holiday fruitcake
craig — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:39:18 +0000
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned;

 struck down, but not destroyed.”

2 Cor. 4:8-9
Do you feel hard-pressed?  Perplexed?  Persecuted?  Struck down?  If you are seeking hard after God and His will like Paul was when he wrote this, you are probably not feeling this way because of sin, but because God is pruning you.  And that’s not a bad thing, even if it may feel like it on the surface.
Jesus said, “… my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful” (John 15:1-2).  After the frigid winter, the coming springtime will be a very welcome time of year!  Which plants, shrubs, and trees will yield the richest buds, blooms, and fruit this year?  Chances are it will be the ones that have been pruned by someone who has a masterful knowledge of those plants and a plan for what they need to grow into.
I look back at rough times in my life and now recognize them as times of pruning.  Why?  Because the most spiritually fruitful times in my life, and for the Kingdom of God through my life, have come in the season immediately afterwards.
Is that you?  Are you there?  If so, rest assured that the pruning shears are right where they need to be – in the Father’s hands. Have a happy new year as you keep this in mind!



merry christmas to all!
craig — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 05:45:30 +0000
Have you prepared room in your heart? Listen to this message.
Heading back to Texas after Christmas to see our families!
God bless you all & have the best Christmas yet!



politically incorrect
craig — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:33:12 +0000
Can you believe all the ways political correctness rears its ugly head during Christmas time? It seems like each year, things get a little more ridiculous. Christmas is now generically (and more importantly, unoffensively) referred to as “Holiday.” Nativity scenes are replaced with the Grinch or statues of gingerbread men (I’m sorry, gingerbread people). To keep kids from idolizing obesity, mall Santas have been asked to slim down (okay, that one may not be too bad). And now, I heard the other day on the radio that Santas have been advised to bellow a hearty “Ha Ha Ha” instead of the traditional “Ho Ho Ho” so that no women of questionable rebute will be offended. Where does it stop?
Let’s face it – there is nothing politically correct about Jesus. And that’s okay. He didn’t come to meet people’s expectations. He came to meet our biggest need – lostness, hopelessness, eternal separation from the Person and the destiny for which we were created. He came to save us – in spite of us. So, feel free to call it what it is – a birthday celebration for the King of Glory, the Word become flesh.