Hey all!
I'm back! Back in commission after a whirlwind tour of Europe on a bus, with some great people that we met for the very first time at the beginning of our trip. Gayle and I traveled to the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. Our favorite was Italy. Many 'Wow" moments...including the Colliseum and may other ruins in Rome. Venice was a highlight as well. It's been said that if a pigeon poops on you in San Marcos Plaza in Venice, you will have good luck. I left Venice triple lucky! I found out that you can clean the poop off your shirt simply by licking your finger and applying the spittle to the spot. Danger: Don't continue to lick the same finger!

This weekend I was reflecting on the Cross of Christ. What a powerful symbol! So much meaning - so much purpose - for such a simple excution device. Is't it amazing that the cross not only held our Savior's body in place while he paid the price for our sin, but it also illustrates the great commandment - Mt. 22:37-39. The vertical post of the cross points upward to the heavens - as if to God the Father, Himself. This is a great reminder to love God with all my heart , soul and mind. The horizontal crossbar on which the hands of Christ were nailed, point east and west. That's how far our sins have been removed. They are also a poignant reminder of the second part of the great commandment: To love your neighbor as yourself - my horizontal relationships. When I can get these lines straight - my relationship with the Father and my relationships with others - then and only then, can I bear much fruit in the power of the Holy Spirit.

What does the cross mean to you? Is it just a couple of hunks of wood slapped together, or maybe something that is designed to be worn around your neck, or on your earlobe - a piece of jewelry? Or is it something that causes you to stop and take notice? Does it speak of grace and love? Think about it...