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Everlasting Calvary

Apr14

Everlasting Calvary by Amanda at Wittingshire.

Amanda writes, “The bottom is sound, because beneath everything–no matter how far we fall, how deep we plunge–beneath everything are the everlasting arms of that “everlasting Calvary,” holding us, bearing us up.”

I’ve always thought of the image of a tunnel, that there is a “through”. No matter how dark or long Friday’s tunnel, there is a Resurrection Sunday coming.

Jesus’ disciples weren’t so sure about that “through”. They left the scene of Jesus’ passion and hid themselves for fear.

But John says, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them . . . ” (John 20:19)

Then the disciples saw “through” to the other side, the end of the tunnel that is Eternal Joy. Because of God’s Everlasting Calvary.

A Better Resurrection by Christina Rossetti

Apr14

I have no wit, no words, no tears;
My heart within me like a stone
Is numb’d too much for hopes or fears;
Look right, look left, I dwell alone;
I lift mine eyes, but dimm’d with grief
No everlasting hills I see;
My life is in the falling leaf:
O Jesus, quicken me.

My life is like a faded leaf,
My harvest dwindled to a husk:
Truly my life is void and brief
And tedious in the barren dusk;
My life is like a frozen thing,
No bud nor greenness can I see:
Yet rise it shall–the sap of Spring;
O Jesus, rise in me.

My life is like a broken bowl,
A broken bowl that cannot hold
One drop of water for my soul
Or cordial in the searching cold;
Cast in the fire the perish’d thing;
Melt and remould it, till it be
A royal cup for Him, my King:
O Jesus, drink of me.

Sometimes I see no everlasting hills either. In fact, the past few days have been a lot like the tone of this poem —dry, frozen, tedious, numbed.

But I nevertheless believe in a better resurrection.

The Cross

Apr14

Christ on the Cross



Christ on the Cross
Rembrandt van Rijn

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit . . . I Peter 3:18

And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death�
even death on a cross! Philippians 2:8

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 3:19-20

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 3:18

Easter Parade

Apr14

Easter Sunday



Easter Sunday
Carty, Leo

God expects from men something more than at such times, and that it were much to be wished for the credit of their religion as well as the satisfaction of their conscience that their Easter devotions would in some measure come up to their Easter dress.
Author: Bishop Robert South
Source: Sermons (vol. II, ser. 8)

Do you buy new clothes for Easter? Why? Where do you wear your new clothes if you don’t go to church? Did you get a new suit or dress on Easter when you were a child?

My girls have been asking for new dresses, but we haven’t managed to go shopping yet. Money’s a little tight, too. Maybe today or Saturday, we’ll go to the resale shop and find something for my five girls who are home–maybe even a new shirt for each of the two boys.

The Old Rugged Cross

Apr14

Silver crucifix lying on open Bible


On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.
Words and Music by George Bernard

Islam has its crescent and sword, Marxism its hammer and sickle. Buddhists have statues of the Buddha himself, laughing or serious, according to one’s taste. Other religions and philosophies have their symbols of power and victory.

Christians have the cross. We may pretty it up and hang it on a gold chain, but at its heart Christianity is about an old rugged cross, an instrument of torture and death. A cross is not much of a victory. A cross is not about becoming powerful or defeating all one’s enemies. A cross in Roman times meant only thing: a slow and painful death.

And yet . . .

Cleaning House

Apr14

Maundy Thursday “has also been known as Sheer Thursday, due to the idea that it is the day of cleaning (schere) and because the churches themselves would switch liturgical colors from the dark tones of Lent. This name is a cognate to the word still used throughout Scandinavia, such as Swedish ‘Skärtorsdag’, Danish ‘Skærtorsdag’ and Norwegian ‘Skjærtorsdag’.” From Wikipedia’s article on Maundy Thursday.

Computer Guru Son and I are spending today, Friday, cleaning house instead of Thursday. We hope to get it all picked up, and shined up and cleaned up for Resurrection Sunday. Maybe I should post before and after pictures. However, I’m too embarrassed at the mess to post a before picture, and I may be too disappointed at what little we are able to accomplish to post an after picture.

Thank the Lord we are saved by grace and not by a clean house.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Apr14

Old World Cross I



Old World Cross I
Zeitz, Mary Beth

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Words by Isaac Watts
Music by Lowell Mason

This hymn may be my favorite of all the hymns about the cross of Christ.

What if it were True? What if the God of the Universe really did become man, live among us, endure the pain of living and even the pain of death, an ignominious tortured death on a cross? What if He did it for the sake of love, love for His very torturers? Would it not demand your soul, your life, your all?

Hot Cross Buns

Apr14

Hot cross buns
Hot cross buns
One a penny
Two a penny
Hot cross buns
If you have no daughters
Give them to your sons
One a penny
Two a penny
Hot cross buns

In England on Good Friday it is traditional to eat hot cross buns for breakfast. These are round rolls or buns with an indented cross in the middle. The custom is supposed to have started at St. Alban’s Abbey when a monk baked the buns to give away to the poor.

Recipe for hot cross buns.

To This Great Stage of Fools: Born April 12th

Apr12

Johanna Spyri, b. 1827. I have found birthdates of April 12, June 12, and July 12, all in 1827, for this author of the beautiful story Heidi. Take your pick, but read Heidi. It’s a wonderful story about a feisty little girl, Heidi, and her friend Peter and how they are tempted to do wrong, confused about spiritual things, and finally loved and forgiven. The themes of the story—broken relationships, reconciliation, forgiveness, sin and temptation–are woven into the story in a way that teaches and entertains at the same time. Modern writers of “Christian fiction” could learn a few things from reading and emulating Johanna Spyri’s classic book.

Henry Clay, b. 1877. He ran for president and was defeated three times. Always a bridesmaid . . .

Hardie Gramatky, b. 1907. Author of Hercules: The Story of an Old-Fashioned Fire Engine and Little Toot.

Beverly Cleary, b. 1916, is 90 years old today, and the celebration includes D.E.A.R. Day. Do all you children’s literature aficionados know what D.E.A.R. stands for? Have you D.E.A.R.-ed today?

I gave Betsy-Bee (age 7) a choice last Saturday between reading Heidi or Ramona the Pest for our next read aloud book. She chose Ramona, so we’re reading all about Ramona Quimby’s adventures in kindergarten. I had no idea until I was writing this post that the two authors might share a birthday.

On this day at sunset, the Jewish celebration of Passover begins. And Wordswimmer, a blog on writing and the writing process, with a special focus on writing for children, shares excerpts from a conversation with Yehuda Amichai, Israeli poet, on the writing process entitled Encouraging Words to a Young Poet.