Pearls of Wisdom and Foolish Mutterings

The Phenomenon of the Cross

Hey, where is everybody? Did Easter do all of you in, or what? I had a very pleasant Easter Sunday, thank you very much for asking. My son was home from college for the weekend (although my other son took off with friends to parts unknown for the weekend) and we had a fun, relaxing (HA! not with four rambunctious grandkids under 6 - no way), exciting day with the family.

To start it off, my son and his girlfriend went to early service at church with Charles and me. It was a very touching service. As some of you know, my church is a little bit - well, different would be a good word. Easter morning was no exception. Pastor Steve started the service with a short video that flashed beautiful, hand-drawn images of Jesus' journey to the cross, with a narrative in the background explaining how His death and resurrection bought and paid for our salvation and freedom from a life stained with sin.

After the video, Pastor Steve spoke about famous icons we are all familiar with - McDonalds, Coca-cola, icons that we are all familiar with at a glance. He said the most recognizable and identifiable icons of our time is the cross.

Then he talked about the difference between the "icon" of the cross versus the "phenomenon" of the cross, the distinction being found in Matthew 16:24, "If anyone would follow me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." The next part of his sermon was the most powerful. He began to introduce a number of members of the church, calling each of them to come stand at the front as he called their name, prefacing each introduction with these words, "The phenomenon of the cross is..." He would then call their name and as they walked to the front and stood before the congregation, he gave a short testimony about them.

For example: the first person he called to the front, was a young man named Scott. Scott works tirelessly, both at the men's home and in the church. He is energetic, enthusiastic and inspiring. When I first started going to church there about 18 months ago, I remember Scott from the very first time I saw him, because he stood out. This clean-cut young man had a zeal for the Lord that was evident without ever speaking a word to him. He's a young man - probably about 27-28 years old. This is Scott's story, as capsulized by Pastor Steve:

"Scott grew up in a normal family, he had parents who cared about him. But drugs got a hold on Scott at a young age and Scott became a meth addict. He was addicted to meth for many years, before his addiction took him to prison. He served his sentence and when he got out, he heard about Victory Recovery Center and found his way there. It has now been many years since Scott has done any kind of drugs and he lives a life of victory now, helping others in their struggle against drugs or alcohol."


The next person he called to the front was a very sweet, giving woman named Lorraine. I know her, and have always only known her, as the woman who works tirelessly at our Women's Recovery Home with the women there, who have all come there to find escape from a life ruined by drugs and/or alcohol (ruined to the point of losing families, being homeless, in jail, etc. - RUINED.) This was Pastor Steve's commentary on Lorraine.

"Lorraine grew up in a loving family. But when she left home, she liked to party and she fell in with the wrong crowd. After several years, Lorraine was a metro city bus driver who had been addicted to crack for many years." "CRACK?" I thought to myself. Lorraine?" It was impossible to reconcile that image with the Lorraine I know today.

Next, Frank and Theresa. Of these two, Pastor Steve said, "Frank lost everything to his addiction to drugs - his home, his family, wife, children. Thirteen years ago, Frank was one of the first men in our Men's Recovery Home. He had nothing left to lose and was tired of living a defeated life. Frank and Theresa had both been through very painful, hurtful divorces. They met here at the church and about a year-and-a-half ago, Frank and Theresa were married. They are happily married and are a wonderful example of the experience of the cross." Frank is the Director of the Men's Home and the Associate Pastor at our church. Theresa has been at the church for a very long time. In fact, she and her ex-husband (who left her and divorced her) were the youth leaders when Pastor Steve and my son-in-law Abel were in the youth group there years ago.

Pastor Steve introduced several others, all with incredible stories of lives redeemed who are no longer living defeated lives. By the time he introduced my daughter and son-in-law - Abel and Breeann - I was already in tears. Breeann had not forewarned us, but I should have guessed that they would be one of God's success stories that Pastor Steve wanted to speak about. Of Bree and Abel, he said, "Breeann and Abel have been married for a number of years. They had some very serious issues in their marriage. They should not be standing here before you today. They should be divorced. But because they chose to fight for their marriage and Breeann forgave Abel and Abel forgave himself, they stand here before you today holding hands and happily married." Abel leads praise and worship at our church, Breeann teaches a girl's youth group and helps Abel lead praise and worship. Yes, I am extremely proud of them.

The phenomenon of the cross is David," Pastor Steve went on, as David came to stand at the front. Just a few short months ago, David was shot five times at point blank range. He stands here before you today as a testimony of the protective power of God. Even though he was shot at point blank range, th bullets missed every major artery, every organ; and he stands here today with a new level of faith in God's power to protect and preserve those who serve Him." You''ll remember David from my blog several months ago. I wrote of his experience of stepping outside his home and being confronted by two gun-wielding men, one in the bushes beside the front door, who shot him as he stepped outside and continued shooting him as he ran around his van to get away, only to be confronted by the second man, who shot him in the chest. Then, as David lay face down on the ground, dying, the second man stepped up beside him and shot him in the head - at the precise moment that David raised his arm over his head to protect himself. The bullet shattered his wrist, but did not go into his head, as the shooter had intended. David has made a full recovery, except for pain from nerve damage in his arm from the shot in his shoulder. His miracle is still in progress.

Finally, Pastor Steve said, "The phenomenon of the cross is myself and my wife, Julie. He stepped down to join the others, as Julie met him at the front and took his hand. We got pregnant as teenagers and got married. Everyone gave us a year at the most. We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary and I think we have some pretty great kids."

By this time, everyone was in tears. It's not that we didn't know most of the stories (or at least the general gist of them.) But the simple act of relating each one of those miraculous stories of lives restored and seeing all of those people that are so beloved to all of us in that church; all of them standing together as a silent testimony - it was just overwhelming. And very powerful.

Pastor Steve said, "I know I haven't spoken very long this morning, but there is nothing I could add to the message presented by everyone standing here." Then he said, "If your life has been changed by the phenomenon of the cross, would you please stand with us this morning?" All over the church, people were standing up, until everyone I could see was standing. It was one of the most powerful church services I've ever witnessed. And one of the most unique Easter sermons I've ever heard. But what could be more fitting than illustrations of lives destroyed that have risen from the ashes because of the redemptive power of Jesus?

The rest of the day was a blur as kids and grandkids arrived at my house and the pandemonium commenced. We all had a great time and I took hundreds of pictures (literally!) which I will mercifully spare you. But I love my new camera - it's awesome! Hope you all had a blessed Easter!