Tag Archives: cross your fingers

Capturing the cross

Leave a reply

 

A caption in last week’s news is a reminder of why Go Light Our WorldTMpromotes the true gospel even in so-called ‘Christian’ countries.

 

The photo showed scores of ‘religious’ men diving off a dock into a cold lake in Sophia, Bulgaria (not far from the GLOW ministry in Vetren). They are trying to grab hold of a wooden cross thrown by the Orthodox priest to bless the waters. The men engage in this activity with hope that catching the cross will bring health and prosperity to the one who captures it.

 

Do void superstitions have influence over your life? Are “good luck” and “cross your fingers” woven into your vocabulary? Do you find yourself doing good deeds in hopes it will bring you blessing or good karma?

 

There is a way to capture the cross. And you don’t need to dive into frigid waters after some wooden icon. Simply bow your heart where you are right now, and extend your open hands in submission to the one who died on that cross and who offers His forgiveness and great hope to you. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and show you the way you should go today.

 

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
– Jesus, Mark 8:34

 

 

Living Beyond ‘Luck’

4 Replies

“Good luck!”

It was the response of one God-believing person to my Leukemia treatments. I appreciated the well-meaning gesture, I really did. Having grown up on a diet of Disney as a child, I remember the “luck of the Irish” and “wishing upon a star.” But, luck seems to be superstition that is contrary to real faith. What if your skilled surgeon, after years of perfecting her techniques, said to you before your surgery, “Well, wish me luck!” It certainly wouldn’t instill much faith in their ability, would it? If doctors have reason to believe in their abilities, then what role does ‘luck’ play if you believe in a Living and Loving God?

“Knock on wood.” “Cross your fingers.” Don’t get me wrong. I’m not knocking folks who use these phrases to wish others well. But I wonder if such vocabulary defines – or betrays – what we really believe.

Click on ‘leave a reply’ at the top of the post and tell me what YOU think. Are there other needless (and hopeless) words we could safely eliminate from our daily conversations? What words would you use instead?

Proverbs 16:21
“The wise in heart are called discerning.”. Proverbs 16:21a