When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He declared to us a completed action. He referenced an event that was consummated, concluded, and now exists in a finished state. 

What is the “it” Christ references, and how finished is “finished?”  

In terms of desiring something different for yourself, it is irrational to hope and believe this will occur while not fundamentally altering your life’s trajectory.

But then life bore down upon me, my world, my theology, and my God. As the labor of life stiffened, I suffered what is called a crisis of belief.

The choice was ours to make: life or death. 

There is a fundamental difference between information taught and knowledge gained.

Far be it from me to buck the system, especially with a new governor who has other things to worry over than whether or not I'm taking a break as provided and ordered.

While it is hard to get to know some folks, such is not the case with Jesus. He invites us into His heart, asks us to share His life, and promises never to leave us and always to join us. 

While all of the above is true of Jesus, it is only biographical information about Him. The question was, “Do you know Jesus Christ?”

I read his blogs. In fact, I heard Pres speak at our church, and even had dinner with him while he was in town. I read his first novel last summer and have his second book nearly finished.

Thinking all this through and keeping your wits about you while in the midst of the storm is tricky business. If your doctrine—or your God—are inadequate, your position is likely in danger of being overrun. 

I’m talking about communication. Give and take. Reciprocity. The exchange indicative of a vibrant relationship. 

There are big dismissals and smaller ones but each involves a turning away.

When you have a pressing issue, or you see something differently, or you and God have reached an impasse, what do you do? 

Every one of us is on one side or the other of the equation…frequently, if not perpetually. And apparently this is true of God as well.

Forgiveness is not contingent.

God determined that He wanted to forgive us and then made a provision—Jesus Christ—for His desire to be realized.

I forgot. Dianne worried. I need forgiveness. My wife needs to forgive.

More often than not, my struggle is to control people and circumstances, which is to say, I harbor the deceptive belief that if I can gain control of all that affects me, I will achieve rest.

For those who harbor the belief that they can conquer enough of the world to control their fate, relinquishing the resources of their abilities is a challenging proposition.