GOOD FRIDAY

As Good Friday draws to a close, I reflect upon what God did for each and every one of us. He sent His son to live in the flesh on earth, to die a terrible death of a criminal.....only to conquer death and the evil one by rising again on the third day! VICTORY! Not just for Christ, but for each and every one of us! Because of this, we not only can enter into heaven, but we can have a relationship with our Lord! What a sacrifice paid for our gain!

I know there are some who wonder if this is really the truth. That we can enter into heaven not because of what good we accomplish, but simply because we choose to believe in Him. Knowing this TRUTH has made such a positive impact on my life, that I wish that I could help all whom I know to understand this truth. We all have to make that individual choice. Do we believe Christ died and rose again? Truth is truth. Remember that whether we believe something to be true or not does not change the fact that it is true. But the choice we make concerning these truths makes all the difference in the world ~ in our lives today and after we die!

Some people question God's existence, given the pain and conflict amidst our world. I thought I would only write original thoughts in my blog, but I received this email from my Dad, and I just couldn't pass up sharing it. Please read the email below, as it succinctly addresses this question of God's presence in a world of sickness, suffering and pain. May we all be choosing to come to Him who is loving, forgiving, steadfast and kind.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: 'I don't believe that God exists.'

'Why do you say that?' asked the customer. 'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.'

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber:

'You know what? Barbers do not exist.'

'How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber.

'I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!'

'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.'

'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and do not look to Him for help.

That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

.....May Christ's pain and suffering be worth it, as we all find our way to Him......