Marty Boller, our pastor from Iowa, sent out this email today... some thoughts on Good Friday.

I encourage you today to not let this day slip away with taking a few moments of quiet reflection on the POWER OF THE CROSS.

Without the Cross, you and I are still lost in our loneliness, our despair, our sin, and most of all, left to our own devices to climb our way back into God's presence.

With the Cross, the power of God has been released on our behalf to rescue us not only from the outward evils of this world, but our inward selves, as well. No longer do you and I have to look inward to find the strength and ability to be a "good" person. No longer do you or I have to place our hope in our ability alone to keep on the "straight and narrow".

No, GOOD FRIDAY is GOOD...because it was God's day to display openingly to all the world, that He loves us so much, that He's willing and able to take on all of the obstacles, including death itself, that keep us separated from Him. In one moment of time, He opened up His arms and embraced all of His creation, past, present and future, and purchased eternal life for us...an eternal life that is not only for the future, but is readily available to flood our lives even TODAY!

PRAISE BE TO JESUS!