Rich Mullins - If I Stand

 

Why do we call it Good Friday?

There are various schools of thought on why the Friday before Easter has been deemed Good Friday, the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The name can seem counterintuitive to many Christians and nonbelievers, since this day is typically viewed through the lens of loss, a solemn moment, often observed with fasting and somber remembrances. 

So why is Good Friday called Good Friday?

Perhaps the best definition should be the words of the Holy Scripture, "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) 

Joy? Jesus counted being tortured, despised, humiliated, and killed as joy? The answer is yes. For in that moment on the cross, Jesus, the sinless One, took the punishment of all of our sins, so that we could become blameless before God. In that cosmic transformation, He became something He wasn't so that we could become something we couldn't. 

Put simply, He died, so we could live. 

Grief

"Oh, look at how she listens . . . 

She says nothing of what she thinks / She just goes stumbling through her memories

Staring out on to Grey Street / She thinks, "Hey, how did I come to this?

I dream myself a thousand times around the world / But I can't get out of this place"

There's an emptiness inside her / And she'd do anything to fill it in

But all the colors mix together / To grey

And it breaks her heart /How she wishes it was different

Game Plan of Life (2021)

Mistakes / Habits to Avoid

Most destructive habit . . . Worry

Greatest loss . . . Loss of Self-Respect

Ugliest personality trait . . . Selfishness / Ungratefulness (Tie)

Crippling shortcut to success . . . Making Excuses

Never a good idea . . . Spreading Gossip

The deadliest weapon . . . The Tongue

Most worthless emotion . . . Self-pity

Greatest problem to overcome . . . Fear