The Mark of the Cross

(wednesday night, sept 24th)

I'm sitting here staring at a pen mark that was inscribed on the back of my hand. The mark is in the shape of The Cross. Every time i look at it i'm reminded of what the real one stands for. Just such a simple reminderr, but extremely powerful. In fact, i just decided - i'm going to put that mark on my hand from now on, so i can be reminded of The Cross everywhere i go. You know what would be amazing. What would be amazing is if YOU did the same! Just take a pen and draw a single line about an inch long on the back of your hand, and then cross that line with a shorter one closer to the top of the other, looking something like this:


Nothing fancy. The real one certainly wasn't. But just think - if you take two seconds to draw a cross on your hand, and you get someone else to do the same, and they get someone to as well, and on and on, this could be the start of something that might bring God much glory! Because people will ask. And guess what. You as a christian get to tell! So try it!!

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Well the reason the cross is on my hand in the first place is because i went to the most amazing concert this evening. Wavorly and High Flight Society were playing, it was hosted by First Assembly Church, and it was FREE! Oh yes, perfect :-P I don't think i was prepared for what went on there, though. It started out like a typical christian rock concert - opening band, High Flight, came on, and then Wavorly came and did their set. (music was incredible, by the way.) I enjoyed it thoroughly. The music was at probbably 125 decibels (crazy loud) people were yelling and clapping, and there was a mosh pit, though the saddest little mosh pit i'd ever seen :-P haha. Then something happened midway through the concert. A little drama team came out and did the "lifehouse - Everything" skit. I was thriled because i'd seen it on Youtube and been much impacted by it, but never thought i'd see it live. If you haven't already seen it, you can watch it here: (link) . After the pantomime a youth pastor came onstage and shared the Gospel, as i kinda figured he would. What i didn't figure on was the response. I believe over 200 young people gave their lives to Christ there tonight. The young pastor said "Raise your hand if you want to accept Jesus into your life tonight". I thought i'd see only two or three hands go up, but when over 30 hands just in front of me went up, a chill went from my head to my feet, and i was shaken and amazed ast God's grace. The Holy Spirit was certainly in that place tonight. Seeing those hands raised and knowing many more were raised that i COULD'NT see is something i don't think i will ever forget. I don't ever want to.

One more amazing thing - whenever i go to rock concerts, i notice that the atmosphere is not exactly... friendly. Something that shocked me was that the atmosphere was exactly opposite with the crowd tonight. You figure, take 1500 teenagers who don't know each other from Adam and are intent on protecting them and theirs, cram them into a tiny space, and there's gonna be trouble. Not so tonight. Everyone was... kind. Only by the grace of God. One instance i saw tonight - a girl was joking around with her friends, and one of them plasyfully pushed her back, right into a guy that had to've weighed over two hundred pounds. I was thinking "ohhh no" but get this: the big guy threw up his hands and said "you alright?" to the girl. The girl and her friend then apologised to the guy, and the guy smiled kindly. How strange is THAT?? I can guarantee that, with that same scenario, used anywhere else at abny other concert you'd have a fight on your hands. My friends, this is once again the power of the Gospel, changing people's lives. I am amazed at the power of the the Gospel. That's all i have left to say.

I am amazed at the power of the Gospel!