(xaris and shalom)

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. I read this verse today and it kind of jumped out at me. Jesus prayed to the one "who was able to save him from death". And "he was heard". Yeah. Which is why He died on the cross then, right? I mean, that is not exactly what I would have in mind if I prayed to be saved from death. The next few verses make things a bit clearer, if not easier. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was not delivered from death in the immediate sense. But He was more than delivered from death. He conquered death! Anyway, that's about it. Just a reminder that God's answers to prayers may not al

My mind kind of wandered today during the last hymn (which is one of my favourite hymns): How sweet and awesome is the place With Christ within the doors... I'm not exactly sure what I usually picture when singing this hymn, but today (especially after communion), I was suddenly thinking of a bride coming to her husband. Sweet, yes, and also awesome -- tinged with a righteous dread. The picture was lovely. And as I thought about it, I realized that it's going to be hard for a man to live up to that picture which I have of Christ and His church. Oh, I know that I'm a sinner. I don't deserve to be married to a perfect man (even if I could find one!) But at the same time, I'm HIS. I belong to the God of the universe. My Father is the King of all creation... I'm not going to run off with some bozo. My Brother, my Betrothed, is the Conqueror of Death itself. I began thinking of other standards which I have for men. So I'll go on, chancing the sort of resp