It’s Good Friday. Last night, my Lord was taken away. He gave no resistance.

Today, He has been paraded between groups of “authorities”, beaten and abused by every one. He will be condemned to death, nailed to a cross and left to hang with common thieves.

In the mid-afternoon, He will die in agony.

And, where was I? Where would I be if I had been there two millennia ago? Like each of those followers, like each of those men, like each of those women, I’d be somewhere... alone. Where was Peter, brave Peter? He was lying to protect his sorry butt. Where was John? In the shadows avoiding all recognition? Where was Judas? All alone; running from the consequences of his actions. Everyone else? Well, they were drifting back to Jesus; watching from afar. Some stood at the cross. He will soon be dead. And, His followers will drift again.

Where would I be?

This is my day of reflection – the day I consider the cost of Christ’s punishment and death. Those were my crimes for which He paid. Those were my sins – vile sins of rejecting God’s goodness and seeking my own faulty way; the way that in itself leads to death.

I will mope around the house today. No Good Friday Service for me. There never has been one. I don’t want to be with people. I don’t want to sing songs of joy that anticipate Sunday’s resurrection. This is my day to be alone, to consider the cost of my sins; the cost that the very Son of God willingly paid. Beaten and whipped – I caused that. Mocked and spat upon – I caused that. Nailed to the cross – I caused that. Dead – I caused that.

Where would I have been? I wonder, amazed.

Now I know that He is mine, I am His forever,
He is leading me along life's way;
He'll be holding to my hand when I cross death's river,
He will take the sting of death away…
     He will take the sting of death away.
         (“I am His and He is Mine” by GT Speer, 1965)

"Fine, Lord, I'll serve."

At the beginning, it was a wholehearted, enthusiastic, unrestrained, "Yes, Lord. All for You, Jesus. All for You!!!" Now, I'm 'older'; the passion, the drive and the enthusiasm are all still there, but the realities of life are crowding in. What have I really accomplished?

That's the point - I'm not 'called' by the Lord to 'accomplish' anything. That's His Work; I'm just called to serve. So, here He is, calling me again, to step into something new - a blog.

Oh brother, who would ever want to read my idle ramblings? Well, it has to start somewhere, and it has to start with someone, so it might as well be me. I am being called to write this blog... for you, for me, and for the Lord Jesus Christ. (Lord, You did hear me ask, "Why me, right?") So, while I don't rightly know what 'it' is, I am responding affirmatively.

What about you? Are you called to serve? Forget about this crazy idea that by becoming a Christian, you became a volunteer for whatever some 'authority' has in mind for you. If you know Christ, then you've been CALLED to serve HIM. He has put a burning desire in your heart to do something for Him. What is it for you? What gets you fired up for God? ARE YOU DOING IT?

It took me three years to make my initial 'big' leap of faith. I was raised as a conservative Baptist, but I heard God asking me long after my delayed commitment, "What did I (God) lose while you (Howard) waited to respond to MY Calling?"

Guys, don't wait. Don't delay things. There is no one else to do the things that are uniquely yours. (I'm no theologian, but I know the Bible backs this up - sorry, no chapter and verse; every Christian is supposed to know this.) Get on with your calling - as you are called. Not too little, and not too much. Walk side-by-side with the Lord as you do His Work and you will receive the crowns that He's set aside just for you.

And, sooner or later, you'll be wondering just like I do, "Why me?" Dare I be so bold to answer in His place? Because He loves you and wants to do GREAT things through you! It's that simple.

You are CALLED.

- Howard