To recap, read CT posting entitled CCC-A Matter of Concern” dated June 12, 2009
Now take a look at Calvary Church’s Easter poster and flyer for this year’s Easter program. If you get that same “snaky” feeling, you are not getting cuckoo. Look closely at the bottom section (circled in red) of the image of the crown of thorns. You will clearly see the semblance of the head of a snake! Creepy, right?
Click on the image to enlarge it.
It would be a wise thing to do for all church event organisers to pray and ask God for discernment and guidance while looking for materials to be used as church promotional tools. There may be things and images that skip our human eyes but nothing is hidden from God. God will reveal it to us if we ask Him for wisdom and guidance.
Moving on to more serious matters. Next week is the start of the Passion Week.
Last year, Berita Calvary posted articles on the series of events that took place during the Passion Week.
Click on the DAYS to read.
Palm Sunday
The Monday of the Passion Week
The Tuesday of the Passion Week
The Wednesday of the Passion Week
The Thursday of the Passion Week
Good Friday
The Saturday of the Passion Week
Easter Sunday
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And they crucified Him. --Mark 15:24
A medical doctor once gave a detailed description of what happens when someone is crucified:
"The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders again the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought-iron nail through the wrist and deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place.
"The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified. As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating, fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to explode in the brain--the nails in the wrists are putting pressure on the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid the stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet.
"As the arms fatigue, cramps sweep through the muscles, knotting them in deep, relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push himself upward to breathe. Air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream. Spasmodically he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen.
It is now almost over--the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level--the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues--the tortured lungs are making a frantic effort to gasp in small gulps of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues...finally he can allow his body to die."
The Bible records this process of death by crucifixion in just a few simple words. How often we take for granted the pain and suffering Jesus endured when He died on the cross for you and me. Let us remember this Easter the sacrifice He made.
PRAYER CHALLENGE: Thank Jesus for the price He paid for your sins through His painful death on the cross.