Intermission....(as it happened on Easter Sunday 2000 years ago).

Christ died and because he bore our sins He went to hell. The devil was right about that but what he did not count on was what would happen when Christ got to hell. You see up to a second after Christ died the devil thought he was smarter than God but as soon as Christ entered hell well let’s just say  ‘all hell was let loose on hell’.

The angels who up onto the last moment had their heads bowed in pain, which the demons had mocked’ were suddenly the ones laughing. Oh boy did they laugh. But before they laughed they fought. The devil thought he could claim Christ just as he claimed so many men of faith.  Remember the righteous people who rose up and went about preaching after the death of Christ there was a battle for them.

When Christ descended, the circle and the multitude went with him ready to fight for their King with a determination to turn hell into heaven if need be. Imagine their happy surprise when Christ declared “Lucifer I have come for the souls of the righteous u have kept trapped in Sheol.” “What do you mean u have come for? You are a dead sinner now remember?” Retorted the devil "Lucifer the sad thing about you is you never learn. I am God. I know the end from the beginning” Christ declared.  “Did you really think you can blindside me?" He asked? His glory fully restored He shined brighter than the sun. His glory brought light even to the darkest places in hell. At that moment, understanding came upon the multitudes of angels and they began to laugh with relief, joy and respect for the Ancient of days. "What is so funny to you all?" Asked Lucifer. "Answer me!!" He bellowed when no one seemed inclined to answer. "Poor Lucifer" said Michael," You were never the smartest were you? Then again if you were you won't have dared God. This is what happened. Christ was sent to die from the beginning. He is the sacrifice for sin. You know God can't behold sin; there was only 1 way to get the sins of the world heaped on Christ. Make you believe this was your ultimate play. Make you think you could win this battle by keeping you ignorant of the details. A rightoues man can't enter hell Christ needed the sins for two reasons to come and set these ones you held captive free and ensure that anyone who calls on Jesus Christ would be set free even the generations to come. So you see you never stood a chance.” “No!!!!” Screamed the devil "No. Not possible!" As he screamed the demons that had not being paying attention turn to see what was wrong. "Why is he so upset on our victory day?" Verflucht asked Elend who was beside him. “How would I know? Are we not here together?" Elend and Nutzlos responded eyeing Verflucht. "I won't allow this I would fight this!” Shouted devil “O my please do" said Dinami "I was hoping you would say that" said angel Chará another member of the circle.

 And so swords were drawn and the angels who were laughing just a few minutes ago looked menacing enough to kill just with a look. This definitely sent some demons running to different hiding places. "Stay your swords!" ordered Christ "Give me the righteous they are all I came here for." Christ said. "You can't have them" stammered devil "they have sinned. And the blood of goats and cows can’t purify them. ” “Yes they have but I have been wounded for their sins, bruised for their iniquities and the chastisement for their peace has been laid upon me. I have purified them with my blood. They are not yours anymore." As Jesus Christ spoke those words the chains that bound the righteous fell away. And they began to go to earth and preach the gospel.  "Apollyon, who is on the winning side now?" Asked angel Próodos.

The demons began to wail and mourn throwing themselves into the fire. All of them trying to avoid the devil and realising that they would never win. No matter what they do they could never win God and now that God has given mankind Jesus Christ any man that trust in Him would be saved.           

All the while this was happening in hell, the angels who had stayed in heaven with God laid prostrate before the Jehovah worshiping as the events began to unfold and their understanding was opened. God sat on his throne smiling with pride at his son and laughing as the angels taunted and the demons. It was a happy day in heaven and if only mankind had been aware of what was happening, it would have a day of celebration as well.

So as we move from Good Friday to Easter, let us remember that the Saturday in between was not left empty we might not have named it but on this day too God was ensuring a space for those who walk in the path He has laid before them.       

 by Dupe Holloway

     

Jesus and Religion, 2 amazing Spoken Word Poetry Videos....!!!

Jesus and Religion....!!!!

2 poets, 

2 poems, 

2 different views, 

2 different messages, 

2 different meaning, 

and I love them both. 

The poems I mean :). 

Jefferson Bethke – Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus

What if I told you Jesus came to abolish religion
What if I told you voting Republican really wasn't His mission?
What if I told you republican doesn't automatically mean Christian
And just because you call some people blind doesn't automatically give you vision

I mean if religion is so great, why has it started so many wars
Why does it build huge churches, but fails to feed the poor
Tells single moms God doesn't love them if they've ever had a divorce
But in the Old Testament, God actually calls religious people whores

Religion might preach grace, but another thing they practice
Tend to ridicule God's people, they did it to John The Baptist
They can't fix their problems, and so they just mask it
Not realizing religion's like spraying perfume on a casket
See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core
It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores
Like let's dress up the outside make it look nice and neat
But it's funny that's what they use to do to mummies while the corpse rots underneath

Now I ain't judging, I'm just saying quit putting on a fake look
Cause there's a problem if people only know you're a Christian by your Facebook
I mean in every other aspect of life, you know that logic's unworthy
It's like saying you play for the Lakers just because you bought a jersey
You see this was me too, but no one seemed to be on to me
Acting like a church kid, while addicted to pornography
See on Sunday I'd go to church, but Saturday getting faded
Acting if I was simply created just to have sex and get wasted
See I spent my whole life building this facade of neatness
But now that I know Jesus, I boast in my weakness

Because if grace is water, then the church should be an ocean
It's not a museum for good people, it's a hospital for the broken
Which means I don't have to hide my failure, I don't have to hide my sin
Because it doesn't depend on me it depends on him
See because when I was God's enemy and certainly not a fan
He looked down and said I want, that, man
Which is why Jesus hated religion, and for it he called them fools
Don't you see so much better than just following some rules
Now let me clarify, I love the church, I love the Bible, and yes I believe in sin
But if Jesus came to your church would they actually let him in
See remember he was called a glutton, and a drunkard by religious men
But the son of God never supports self righteousness not now, not then

Now back to the point, one thing is vital to mention
How Jesus and religion are on opposite spectrum
See one's the work of God, but one's a man made invention
See one is the cure, but the other's the infection
See because religion says do, Jesus says done
Religion says slave, Jesus says son
Religion puts you in bondage, while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind, but Jesus makes you see
And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans

Religion is man searching for God, Christianity is God searching for man
Which is why salvation is freely mine, and forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits but Jesus's obedience alone
Because he took the crown of thorns, and the blood dripped down his face
He took what we all deserved, I guess that's why you call it grace
And while being murdered he yelled
"Father forgive them they know not what they do."
Because when he was dangling on that cross, he was thinking of you
And he absorbed all of your sin, and buried it in the tomb
Which is why I'm kneeling at the cross, saying come on there's room
So for religion, no I hate it, in fact I literally resent it

Because when Jesus said it is finished, I believe he meant it.

Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus 

by Fr. Claude (Dusty) Burns Aka Pontifex

What if I told you that Jesus loves religion

And that by his coming as man he brought his religion to fruition
See this had to be addressed, the use of illogical terms and definitions
You clearly have a heart for Jesus but its fueling atheistic opinions
See what makes his religion great is not errors of wars and inquisitions
It's that broken men and women to participate in his mission
Clearly Jesus says I have not come to abolish
I came to fulfill the law and I came to fulfill the prophets 
And lines about building big churches and tending to the poor
Sounds a bit like Judas when the perfume was being poured 
See His religion is the largest worldwide source of relief
For the poor, the hungry, the sick and repentant thief
Oceans of compassion, opening wide the doors
For single mothers, widows and orphans, married and divorced
We all detest hypocrisy, and empty show is just the worst
But blaming religion for contradiction
Is like staring at death, and blaming the hearse.
See the teacher will teach when the students are ready to listen
But those that choose to sit in the pews and refuse the good news
Is not the fault of religion. 
And If I have the Jersey and I'm playing for the Bulls
There's going to be some boundaries, regulations and some rules.
You can't have Christ without his Church; you can't have the King without his Kingdom
Sins of the Body and internal treason will never ever make me leave him
And that Jesus said it is done, is absolutely true
But he also gave us a mission with many things to DO.
Jesus says if you love me, you will Do what I command. 
Go and Baptize in the name of the Father, Son & Spirit in Every Land. 
And on the night he was betrayed he took his men in the Upper Room
Take at eat this is my body take and drink my blood for you.
A New covenant you see, an act connected to the tree,
Do this time and time again in Memory of Me. 
And at last with crown of thorns beaten beyond comprehension
His eyes were looking for yours and mine; it was divine, no human invention.
So as for religion I love it, I have one because Jesus rose from the dead and won.
I believe When Jesus said IT IS FINISHED, His religion had just begun. 

Imagine you were MARY....lol!!!

Sometimes I think of what Mary went through being the mother of Christ. I realize that I could never quite grasp it.

Just imagine Mary walking to pick her 8 year old son from the safe place in the forest she left him to go gather woods for fire then she hears a loud terrifying roar. As a mother she instinctively moves towards where her son ought to be and discovers he isn't there. Frantic she starts to look for him. Then she hears a giggle followed by a roar, "o my God! That thing is near my son!!"  She starts to run towards the sounds regardless of the danger she is putting herself in. 

Oh, did I mention she is pregnant! Yes, she is 5 &1/2 months! So what you are imagining is a pregnant mother running to snatch her son out of harm's way while trying to be careful so as not to endanger the life within. Awkward running style I guess.

Then as she moves closer to the area she believes the sounds are coming from she hears, "o stop jor! I'm tired of playing"

Her mind races, "Mo da ran! No be my son voice be that? Playing with who? Can't they hear the fearsome sound of that animal? Omo yi o ni pa mi!" 

Then she comes to the clearing and comes to a total stop with shock on her face. She sees her son playing with not 1 but 2 tigers. Not just playing, he is scolding them for not letting him rest. His hands is right in the face of 1 while the other has it's head under Christ's 2nd hand as though begging for a pat. 

"Jesus!! Come here now! Leave them alone. No don't run, walk." 

The tigers start to growl at Mary. Then Christ says, "will u stop that this instance. That is my mother." 

The animals are contrite and move back.

Then Mary turns to Christ and says "I know you created them but please remember I am your mother and I'm human. I love you and would try to keep u safe even though I know in our case u are the 1 protecting me. But Jesus I take your name beg you no use worry and fear kill me. How many times will I tell you, you can play with other animals but not WILD ANIMALS!!! Jor ma pa mi! Ha!" 

Just imagine if you were Mary, would you tell Joseph?
What will you even say? I met our son playing with Tigers.





by Dupe Holloway