Why Death? "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement." - Lev. 17:11 (NASB )    Today we remember and celebrate (yes, celebrate) the betrayal, crucifixion, and death of Jesus Christ. Christianity is a unique company of people, for it is the only "religion" where its God died for His own. Most folks outside "the church," and some inside, do not understand why Jesus died on the cross. Was there not some other way to make the people right? In other religions mankind can carry out certain deeds or live in such a manner that their "god" will accept them, but not Christianity.     Christians are a distinctive group that believes the only way to be accepted by God is through the blood, according to the Bible. The blood theme is one that is found everywhere in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. At the...

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18 (NASB)           When I pulled in the church parking lot yesterday, I noticed how dingy the cross over the sanctuary has become. Our church is located adjacent to several railroad tracks, one of which is used daily to haul coal, so even after a good cleaning it will quickly become dirty again.  As I am sitting in the parking lot, making a note of this new item on my "to do" list, something happened. As I viewed the dusty mess I felt as if the Holy Spirit was speaking to me about more than the cross on our roof.       There is an attempt to "clean up" the cross and its message in order to appeal to humanity. However, the cross and its message cannot be "cleaned up" without distorting or destroying its meaning. Any attempt to "clean up" the message  will rob it of its inherent power n...