Category Archives: It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming!

IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Lead Me to Calvary

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Many people in Jennie Hussey’s circumstances would have looked for a way out.  A way of escape.  A way of relief.   But not this woman. Not Jennie Hussey.

When friends and neighbors came to visit and cheer up Jennie, they were received with her radiant smile and spirit of joy.  No griping.  No grumbling.  No complaining.  But an attitude of encouragement that both amazed and lifted her friends.

For most of her life, this 5th generation Quaker  lived in the same New Hampshire farmhouse as her ancestors. For decades Jennie worked tirelessly as she cared for and attended to the needs of her helpless, invalid sister.

How did she do it?  Why did she do it? What was Jennie Hussey’s secret?   Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: His Mother

Roma Downey portrays Mary in a scene from the television miniseries 'The Bible'

“A Mother’s immeasurable love for a child she couldn’t save.”

  The headline jumped off the screen.  The dateline was Dallas.  May 11, 2013.  The journalist Steve Hartman wrote:

“Beyond the biological mandate, there’s something about mothering that defies science and borders on the divine — something especially palpable in this mom from Keller, Texas, named Brenda Gorman.”

He tells about Brenda and her husband Gary who decided to adopt a four-year orphan girl, Zia, from the Congo.  All was going well until the Agency called with the bad news that Zia had a rare and fatal heart defect.  Then they asked Brenda, “Do you still want her?”  Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: A Regretful Face

Judas

He was admired by leaders of the revolutionary war.  Twice wounded for courageous fighting. Regarded as a hero.  Celebrated for his courage.  Admired for his patriotism.  After almost losing a leg fighting for America he expected more.

It is said that he grew disillusioned with the war’s progress.  Distrustful of its leaders.  Doubtful of its cause. Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: Secret Disciples

Joseph.Nicodemus

Billy Sunday was a 19th century baseball player who became a 20th century evangelist. He  use to tell of a professing Christian who got a job in a lumber camp that had a reputation of being very ungodly. A friend hearing that the man had been hired, said to him, ‘When those lumberjacks find out you’re a Christian, you’re going to be in for a hard time.’ The man responded, ‘I know, but I need the job!’ Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: The Loving Friend

John.ApostleA little old lady finally realized her dream to become a United States Citizens.  As she stood at the swearing-in ceremony the Judge  said. “Raise your right hand, please.” Then he asked her “Do you swear to defend the Constitution of the United   States against all enemies, domestic or foreign?”

The sweet little lady’s face turned pale, her voice trembled as she responded, “Well, I guess so, but… will I have help, or will I have to do it all by myself?”  Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: The Centurion Soldier

Centurion.CrossIt was Friday.  And the Jews were preparing for the Passover feast.  Behind the scenes their rulers had captured Jesus.  Tried him at night and pressured Pilate to sign the death sentence.

For the Roman soldiers it was another day at work.  Standing guard.  Keeping peace.  Carrying out orders.  And executing criminals.

The Roman army was composed of 25 legions of soldiers with 6,000 men in each legion.  These were broken down into cohorts, maniples and centuries.   This Bible says he was a centurion, a commander of a 100 man division.

For this Roman soldier his assignment on this Friday began like any other.  But ended like no other.  Either in his life.  Or in history.  He had the responsibility of guarding Jesus.  Most likely he was given charge of overseeing and executing the crucifixion. Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: That Fox

Herod.Jesus

Several years ago I engaged in conversation with a man who I thought because of his questions had an interest in learning about Jesus. My hopes were quickly dashed when he said, “Religion is a hobby for me.” So I learned that his questions were not born out of a sincere desire to know more about Jesus, but out of curiosity.

So it was when Christ was brought before Herod.  Luke records that  “when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him” (Lk. 23:9). Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: The Weeping Women

Cross.Women.3Everywhere I have ever preached there have been more women than men. I don’t think that’s because women live longer! It just seems that women in general are more spiritually minded than men.
In fact a 2009 study by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life concluded women are more religious than men: Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around the Cross: A Temple Servant

MalchusHe was not a major character around the cross.  His place in sacred history is reserved for Bible trivia.  His name is only mentioned once in the Bible.  In the History Channel’s movie, The Bible, we see his face quite often. He is correctly pictured as the servant of the High Priest.  Ironically in one scene Caiaphas, The High Priest, requests that the servant keep his ears open for any disruption caused by this man Jesus.

The servant’s name? Continue reading

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IT’S FRIDAY. BUT SUNDAY’S COMING! Faces Around The Cross: The Political High Priests

annas.caiaphas“In looking at the faces around the cross, which do you think was the most sinister?  On whose shoulders above all others rests the responsibility for this supreme crime of history? Whose hands are the most stained by this innocent blood? ”

These questions raised by Clovis Chappel, a preacher of the early 20th century, are interesting and intriguing.

Was it the betraying Judas?  The denying Peter? The cowardly Pilate?  The clamoring Jewish crowd? The suborned witnesses?  The brutal Roman soldiers?   Continue reading

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