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“The Cross is the source of the life you’ve always wanted, a power line direct from God to us … When we take up our cross, when we die to self; when we live like Christ, something profoundly happens in the spiritual dimension. Our world is filled with the presence and blessing of God.”
Sometimes Christians become apathetic with their spiritual life, neither pressing on for change or sliding backwards we plod along not of this world, but not too different either. The Power of The Cross helps to rip the shroud of apathy and bring us into the shadow of the cross that can effect change not just in our relationship with God but with others.
Divided into three parts the book is easily read and can be used as a daily individual or class study.
PART ONE: Crossing Gate
Chapter one: Love Like You Can’t Imagine
Chapter two: Reality; Looking for A Phone Booth
Chapter three: The Cross 101
Chapter four: The Passion Reloaded: More Blood than A Mel Gibson Film
PART TWO: Cross Purposes
Chapter five: The Problem with Hell
Chapter six: Shame on You
Chapter seven: Slaves
Chapter eight: Yes, Virginia, There Is a Devil
Chapter nine: Going Nowhere Fast
Chapter ten: Extreme Life
Chapter eleven: Beyond Extreme Life
PART THREE: Crossways
Chapter twelve: Scandalous Freedom
Chapter thirteen: The Scandal of Forgiveness
The chapter titles of course give a good glimpse into the meat of the book, but nothing compares to the effect one gets from reading and ingesting the sustenance therein. Furthermore, the author has given us a seven week daily reading for the Lenten/Easter season. During these seven weeks he gives us seven different ‘viewpoints’ of/from the Cross and scripture that apply to that viewpoint, and to our own lives.
Once you hear/learn the meaning of the Cross it will change your heart. When you are changed it becomes a battle to daily seek the Cross and manifest the changes necessary to live a life worthy of the sacrifice given on that Cross. This book helps renew the faith that was once so strong, and helps us reach out to others so they too can experience the Power of the Cross.
Highly recommended. Should be in church libraries, and used in small groups.
Reviewed by Linda Baldwin
for The Road to Romance
March 13, 2005
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