True Power

I never tire of recognizing the dramatic contrast between the world's understanding of power ~ full of intimidation, abuse, ruthlessness and greed ~ with the truth of power in God's economy. For God, power is infinite, available to all, not given through fists or a battle of wills, but through the humiliation of the cross as suffered by Christ alone. Christ chose to pay the price for our sin in taking on the humiliation and profound suffering of crucifixion, thus demonstrating more power than we will ever see anywhere else in creation.

We sang this song this morning at church and I was reminded once again of the utter beauty of real transformation that is offered solely through the gospel. How can anyone turn this down? May we be dogged in sharing such lovely, good news.

The Power of the Cross

by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Oh to see the dawn of the darkest day

Christ on the road to calvary

Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten then

Nailed to a cross of wood

Chorus:

This the pow’r of the cross

Christ became sin for us

Took the blame, bore the wrath

We stand forgiven at the cross

Oh to see the pain written on Your face

Bearing the awesome weight of sin

Ev’ry bitter thought, ev’ry evil deed

Crowning Your bloodstained brow

Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath

Quakes as its maker bows his head

Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life

‘Finished!’ the vict’ry cry.

Oh to see my name written in the wound

For through Your suf‘fring I am free

Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live

Won through Your selfless love

Chorus:

This the pow’r of the cross

Son of God slain for us

What a life, what a cost

We stand forgiven at the cross

Let's Get It Right

With a name like Kelly, St. Patrick's day has always been a fun one for me. Green is my favorite color, and my eyes are green too, so I have always been able to get through St. Patty's day unscathed (and un-pinched!)

Yet it's only in the last few years, as I have seen the holiday reduced to yet another reason for the world to get roaring drunk ~ this time on green beer ~ that I have tried to find out the real meaning behind St. Patrick's Day.

Rather than rehearse all the history here, feel free to spend a few minutes surfing around the internet. But these three things stand out to me:

Do you know that according to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people? I mean, WOW.

That the story of Patrick is that of a brave missionary? This is what I read this morning in my devotional:

At the age of sixteen, Patrick was kidnapped from his home by Irish marauders and taken to Ireland, where he was sold as a slave to a chieftain and forced to herd livestock. After six years of slavery, Patrick escaped to his native Britain. Because he believed that his captivity and deliverance were ordained by God, Patrick devoted his life to ministry. While studying for the priesthood, he experienced recurring dreams in which he heard voices say, “O holy youth, come back to Erin and walk once more amongst us.” He convinced his superiors to let him return to Ireland in 432, not to seek revenge for injustice but to seek reconciliation and to spread his faith. Over the next thirty years, Patrick established churches and monastic communities across Ireland. When he was not engaged in the work of spreading the Christian faith, Patrick spent his time praying in his favorite places of solitude and retreat.

Finally, there is an absolutely lovely prayer attributed to Patrick. I'm going to memorize it:

Christ be with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

In a recent prayer I memorized during Christmas and the New Year, once sentence hit me over and over:

"Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go."

St. Patrick is a stunning example of that, and we have collectively lost sight of that faithful, historic, world-changing witness. On this St. Patrick's Day, let's put St. Patrick back where he belongs, and look for ways to gently inform others of the meaning behind this true "holy-day."