The book of Hebrews is a tremendous book. The writer gives example after example how Jesus (New Covenant) has become all that the Old Covenant looked forward to (i.e.: Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, the true High Priest, the mediator between God and humanity, etc). As you read the first four verses of chapter one, you can’t help but be overcome by the reality of who Jesus is and what God has done.

As you get into chapter twelve (following on the heels of the great “faith chapter” – Hebrews 11) you find this passage:

. . . to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12.24)

Read that last phrase again: blood speaks. Having been one to always assume blood was that which came out when you cut your finger, I never realized it talks. But it does. And there are two times recorded in Scripture in which blood speaks – the blood of Abel and the blood of Jesus.

If you remember back in Genesis, Cain and Abel (the sons of Adam and Eve) both offered God a sacrifice. Cain offered fruit from the ground and Abel offered the firstborn from amongst his sheep. It says that God accepted the sacrifice of Abel but rejected that of Cain’s. Not long after, Cain and Abel were in the field talking when Cain, in his anger, killed Abel. When Cain was confronted, God said: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4.10).

What was the blood of Abel crying out? It was crying out for vengeance, revenge, cursing, retribution,  and recompense against Cain. “Murder!” it declared.

But this speaking blood is contrasted with that of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews tells us that the blood of Christ speaks better than the blood of Abel. What does the blood of Jesus speak? Oh it declares love, hope, peace, and forgiveness! Found in the death and blood of Jesus is everything you need for the removal of sin and the access for deep intimacy with Almighty God.

As odd as it may sound, the blood of Christ is crying out on your behalf. You, a sinner who deserves all that Abel’s blood cries for, receives that which Christ’s blood offers. You don’t have to live in condemnation, defeat, and despair. You can have hope, His Name is Jesus! You can have victory, it is found in Him! You can live like you’re suppose to live, as He lives His life in and through you! You can be filled with His love! You can have unwavering peace in every situation! The blood of Jesus has purchased your freedom and given you forgiveness!

Oh why would you not embrace Him tighter today? The blood of Jesus is speaking. Will you listen and respond?

I arrived home late yesterday after a full day of ministry. I walked in, set my stuff down, and turned on the lights. I glanced at the calendar and realized that it was time to turn it to a whole new month. It is amazing how fast time flies. Several years ago I said the same thing to my dad to which he responded: “it only goes faster the older you get.” How can it get any faster than it is now when it’s pushing light speed?

For the last two years, I have made a picture calendar for my family that contains snapshots of each of us – each month usually highlighting the individual to whose birthday month it is. On the off months, there are crazy and fun pictures that we have taken over the years. It has been a constant joy to see pictures of my parents, my brother and his family, my grandmother, and favorite aunt staring at me throughout the year. Throughout October, a beautiful picture of my mom dazzled from the side of my desk where the calendar hangs.

November is the month of my dad’s birthday so the calendar picture for this month contains several amusing and heart-warming pictures strewn together in a collage-type fashion. As I turned the calendar to the new month, I saw the pictures (which I haven’t seen since I made the calendar last Christmas) and gasped “ohhhh how I love my dad!” It brought a great smile and tremendous joy at the end of a long day.

The thing about calendars is that they often yell at us about how fast time flies and how busy we are. Honestly, two not so good things. Why are we so content to live in a myriad of craziness with little time to rest and focus on what really matters? It truly is the Tyranny of the Urgent.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been attempting to keep my blog updated, to no avail. It is not that I see it as unimportant – in fact it pains me to NOT post – but with the current ministry schedule I’m in, it has been near impossible. But for any who wish to see more posts, don’t fret, they ARE soon on their way. I’ve gained some divine insight into the structure of my blog and the direction it needs to start moving toward in relation to the deeperChristian sites. But until the middle of November, it appears that there will be posts few and far between, to which I apologize in advance. Until then, may you fall more and more in love with our precious Jesus!

But the measure of a life is greater than one event, and Shadow of the Almighty serves as a riveting chronicle of how one of these young men, Jim Elliot, passionately threw himself into a life of faith, creating in his twenty-eight short years a legacy that continues to ripple through countless lives.*

Containing portions of Jim’s own writings, Elizabeth’s insights, and a beautiful gripping story, Shadow of the Almighty captures Jim’s life and testimony of “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

This books has changed and challenged countless lives since it was written, read it and let it do the same to you.

*taken from the back of the book

– Samuel Brengle –

Think about this: Jesus Christ is . . .

Jesus Christ is… Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Jesus Christ is… Almighty (Rev. 1:8; Mt. 28:18)
Jesus Christ is… Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13)
Jesus Christ is… Amen (Rev. 3:14)
Jesus Christ is… Apostle of our Profession (Heb. 3:1)
Jesus Christ is… Atoning Sacrifice for our Sins (1 John 2:2)
Jesus Christ is… Author of Life (Acts 3:15)
Jesus Christ is… Author and Perfecter of our Faith (Heb. 12:2)
Jesus Christ is… Author of Salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Jesus Christ is… Beginning and End (Rev. 22:13)
Jesus Christ is… Blessed and only Ruler (1 Tim. 6:15)
Jesus Christ is… .Bread of God (John 6:33)
Jesus Christ is… Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)
Jesus Christ is… Bridegroom (Mt. 9:15)
Jesus Christ is… Capstone (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7)
Jesus Christ is… Chief Cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Jesus Christ is… Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
Jesus Christ is… Christ (1 John 2:22)
Jesus Christ is… Creator (John 1:3)
Jesus Christ is… Deliverer (Rom. 11:26)
Jesus Christ is… Eternal Life (1 John 1:2; 5:20)
Jesus Christ is… Gate (John 10:9)
Jesus Christ is… Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
Jesus Christ is… Faithful Witness (Rev. 1:5)
Jesus Christ is… Faith and True Witness (Rev. 3:14)
Jesus Christ is… First and Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)
Jesus Christ is… Firstborn From the Dead (Rev. 1:5)
Jesus Christ is… Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
Jesus Christ is… Gate (John 10:9)
Jesus Christ is… God (John 1:1; 20:28; Heb. 1:8; Rom. 9:5)
Jesus Christ is… Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
Jesus Christ is… Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20)
Jesus Christ is… Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14)
Jesus Christ is… Head of the Church (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23)
Jesus Christ is… Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
Jesus Christ is… High Priest (Heb. 2:17)
Jesus Christ is… Holy and True (Rev. 3:7)
Jesus Christ is… Holy One (Acts 3:14)
Jesus Christ is… Hope (1 Tim. 1:1)
Jesus Christ is… Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)
Jesus Christ is… Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69)
Jesus Christ is… I Am (John 8:58)
Jesus Christ is… Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4)
Jesus Christ is… Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
Jesus Christ is… Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
Jesus Christ is… King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17)
Jesus Christ is… King of Israel (John 1:49)
Jesus Christ is… King of the Jews (Mt. 27:11)
Jesus Christ is… King of kings (1 Tim 6:15; Rev. 19:16)
Jesus Christ is… King of the Ages (Rev. 15:3)
Jesus Christ is… Lamb (Rev. 13:8)
Jesus Christ is… Lamb of God (John 1:29)
Jesus Christ is… Lamb Without Blemish (1 Pet. 1:19)
Jesus Christ is… Last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
Jesus Christ is… Life (John 14:6; Col. 3:4)
Jesus Christ is… Light of the World (John 8:12)
Jesus Christ is… Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5)
Jesus Christ is… Living One (Rev. 1:18)
Jesus Christ is… Living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
Jesus Christ is… Lord (2 Pet. 2:20)
Jesus Christ is… Lord of All (Acts 10:36)
Jesus Christ is… Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
Jesus Christ is… Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16)
Jesus Christ is… Man from Heaven (1 Cor. 15:48)
Jesus Christ is… Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
Jesus Christ is… Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
Jesus Christ is… Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
Jesus Christ is… Offspring of David (Rev. 22:16)
Jesus Christ is… Only Begotten Son of God (John 1:18; 1 John 4:9)
Jesus Christ is… Our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)
Jesus Christ is… Our Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Jesus Christ is… Our Husband (2 Cor. 11:2)
Jesus Christ is… Our Protection (2 Thess. 3:3)
Jesus Christ is… Our Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
Jesus Christ is… Our Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)
Jesus Christ is… Our Sacrificed Passover Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7)
Jesus Christ is… Power of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Jesus Christ is… Precious Cornerstone (1 Pet. 2:6)
Jesus Christ is… Prophet (Acts 3:22)
Jesus Christ is… Rabbi (Mt. 26:25)
Jesus Christ is… Resurrection and Life (John 11:25)
Jesus Christ is… Righteous Branch (Jer. 23:5)
Jesus Christ is… Righteous One (Acts 7:52; 1 John 2:1)
Jesus Christ is… Rock (1 Cor. 10:4)
Jesus Christ is… Root of David (Rev. 5:5; 22:16)
Jesus Christ is… Ruler of God’s Creation (Rev. 3:14)
Jesus Christ is… Ruler of the Kings of the Earth (Rev. 1:5)
Jesus Christ is… Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)
Jesus Christ is… Son of David (Lk. 18:39)
Jesus Christ is… Son of God (John 1:49; Heb. 4:14)
Jesus Christ is… Son of Man (Mt. 8:20)
Jesus Christ is… Son of the Most High God (Lk. 1:32)
Jesus Christ is… Source of Eternal Salvation for believers (Heb. 5:9)
Jesus Christ is… The One Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)
Jesus Christ is… The Stone the builders rejected (Acts 4:11)
Jesus Christ is… True Bread (John 6:32)
Jesus Christ is… True Light (John 1:9)
Jesus Christ is… True Vine (John 15:1)
Jesus Christ is… Truth (John 1:14; 14:6)
Jesus Christ is… Way (John 14:6)
Jesus Christ is… Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Jesus Christ is… Word (John 1:1)
Jesus Christ is… Word of God (Rev. 19:13)

(taken from: JesusChristIs.com)

How do we begin to even describe our Jesus?!?! He is beyond all definition and description. But oh how we love Him!

If those Names weren’t enough, here are a few more.

Sit. Ponder. Worship.

In this book by Clarence Hall, the life of Samuel Brengle is wonderfully illustrated – not highlighting a man without fault, but showing what God can do in and through a man who is given over to the King of kings. Brengle became known as one of Salvation Army’s most loved evangelists. His life, love, and testimony is sure to encourage and convict everyone who is willing to read his words.

Brengle’s life was not only a tremendous encouragement to me, but so are his words contained in his many books (click here to see a short list).

– by Nick Thompson –
read more by Nick Thompson