Three Crosses

4/03/2010 12:47:00 PM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)


            “And it was the third hour when they crucified him…and with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.”  Mark 15:25, 27  ESV

            There were three crosses that day.  Jesus had been crucified between two thieves.  Two of the three were guilty and deserved judgment.  One was innocent and chose to die for the guilty.

            It’s interesting how the two thieves reacted to this horrible situation.  It’s remarkable how Jesus responded.  Each cross bore a significant message.  I want to highlight each below.  Perhaps you’ll identify with one of them.  Hopefully it transforms this Easter into something very personal to you.

CROSS #1 – The Cross of Rejection

            The first thief was only interested in himself.  He didn’t care why the others hung beside him.  He mocked Jesus and told Him to use His “so-called” abilities as the Christ to get them all down.  He rejected Jesus for who He was and demanded Jesus do as he said.  He wanted to stop suffering so he could go on living life as he wanted.  Unfortunately, we are all born with this kind of attitude toward God.  We are self-centered and proudly decide what we will do.  The CROSS OF REJECTION will personally pay for their sin. 

CROSS #2 – The Cross of Repentance

            The second thief was broken and sorry.  He rebuked the first thief for his comments and scolded him for not fearing God.  He admitted that he deserved this penalty for his life but that Jesus did not.  He did not ask Jesus to take away this deserved punishment but humbly cried for an undeserved mercy and grace.  He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  This was the CROSS OF REPENTENCE.  There is hope for the one on this cross.

CROSS #3 -  The Cross of Redemption

            Jesus was crucified between the two thieves.  He was dying for their sins.  He was being punished for the sins of mankind.  He was a perfect sacrificial Lamb being offered for the sins of the world.  His sacrificial death would be enough.  The demands of a perfect justice were met.  The death of Jesus would pave the way for our redemption.   The CROSS OF REDEMPTION opens the door to forgiveness and life.

THE CROSS OF REJECTION ignores and turns away from THE CROSS OF REDEMPTION.  It is a choice with horrible and terminal consequences.

THE CROSS OF REPENTANCE humbly receives the CROSS OF REDEMPTION.  When the thief cried out to Jesus, He said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”  The mercy and grace of God is available to all who humbly repent and cry out to the One who died on the CROSS OF REDEMPTION.

This Easter could be the best one for you personally if you will approach the CROSS OF REDEMPTION from the CROSS OF REPENTANCE.  Please do.

            “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ?  Save yourself and us!  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’  And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’”   Luke 23:39-43

Our Sin Nature Demands a Savior

3/04/2010 09:16:00 AM / Posted by Mike Landry /

Today we visited 9th Fort in Kaunas, Lithuania.  This was one of many Jewish extermination camps during World War II.  Over 50,000 people were killed.  As we walked through the fort and saw where the atrocities were committed I couldn't help but think of how awful and depraved the human heart had to be to do such things.  The Bible does say that the heart is "deceitful and desperately wicked."

With a heart condition like that we need much more than forgiveness; we need redemption.  Our sin nature demands a Savior.  God's holy and righteous nature can't just let something like this go.  He must judge such a heart.  That's what makes His love for us so much louder than normal.  He sent His Son to serve the sentence our sins deserved.  Jesus actually died for us and in our place so that we wouldn't have to.

Of course, we must receive the gift of life that He offers.  Just because He paid the price doesn't mean you or I have to accept it.  We can still choose to serve our sentence, which is death, or we can accept His redemptive gift, which is life and forgiveness.  Have you made your decision yet.

A Great Discovery in Lithuania

3/03/2010 12:56:00 PM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)

As you can see from the picture, I've found a McDonalds!  Ah yes...my internal navigational system can smell out a McDonalds anywhere.  I feel like I'm back home again.  :-)

Seriously, we're having a great time in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania.  We've been able to do some prayer walking as well as get to know a few of the locals.  I met a young lady from this city who comes to N.J. to visit her mom every summer.  When she found out I was a pastor from the US she wanted to know when and where the Bible Study would be here in town.  She's planning to come tomorrow night and brings some friends.  God is working...this looks like the beginnings of a new church start.

Keep praying.

I'll be back in touch ASAP.

Pastor Mike

Stop over at Helsinki, Finland

3/02/2010 03:16:00 AM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)

These guys looks like they've been up all night.  They have!  We landed in Helsinki at 8 am (but that is 1am Sarasota time).  Big shock was to land in the snow.  Snow is everywhere and coming down.  We hope they can take off from here for Lithuania in about 8 hours.

Chad's looking for a diet coke.  Jerry found some coffee for 2.5 euros.  The rest of us are still thinking about what we'll do for the next 8 hours.  Talk again soon.

:)

Heading to Lithuania

3/01/2010 08:42:00 AM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)

It's a sunny day in Tampa, Florida.  Heading to the tundra of NYC and then off to Lithuania.  Pray that our travel plans go exactly as the Lord desires.  Pray that we meet a lot of people who need Jesus.   Updates to come.  For more extensive updates see our Lithuania link on our church website.  www.sarasotabaptist.com



Blessings!

Jerry, Pastor Mike, Sam, Chad and Rod.      :)

Me, a Grandfather?

2/27/2010 02:20:00 PM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)


 


She looks like she's ready to become a Mom.


Another milestone in my life is fast approaching. This coming July, Cindy and I will be grandparents. Our daughter, Beth, and her husband, Steve, are about to have their first child…our first grandbaby.


When I first heard this news, I could hardly believe it. How could my daughter be old enough to have a baby? She’s only 26. And I can’t be a grandparent yet…I’m not old like I remember my grandparents being. Plus, I don’t know anything about being a grandparent other than they were always willing to take me out to get ice cream.


But I guess I’m going to have to learn…and quickly. My wife says she is more than glad to fill me in on the details. By the way, have you seen how expensive baby diapers are these days?! And baby car seats are almost as heavy as military humvees. Then there’s the “baby registry” at stores…they never had that when Cindy and I became parents!


Everything is changing. My wife is now strangely drawn to the baby sections of every store we visit. My daughter is emailing me a weekly baby size report…this week the baby is the size of a cantaloupe. Now I am being asked what I want the baby to call me. “Call me?”


Fortunately I’ve got another 4 months to prepare. I’ve put the word out that I want tips from all the grandparents out there. I figure I can learn some lessons from them and perhaps even avoid some of the mistakes they’ve made. The suggestions are coming in daily. Most are pretty good…some are scary. All are welcome. I’m sure a future blog will contain a sample list.


I couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter in my life. God knows how to make my day and He’s done it. By the way, I’ve decided to be called, “SABA.” More on that name later.

A Superbowl Ad To Remember - Tim Tebow

1/29/2010 05:20:00 PM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)

Tim Tebow is doing it again.  He is a Heisman trophy winner.  He led the University of Florida football team to a couple of national championships.  


He has consistently, unapologetically, and publicly declared his devotion as a Christian to Jesus Christ.  He has practiced what he preaches with his lifestyle on and off the field.  He has earned the right to be heard.  Plus, there are many who want to hear from him.  They want to know more about this excellent "role model" for their kids.


Apparently, the timing is right.  Tim believes now is the perfect time to highlight and celebrate one of his core convictions about life...that is, the right to life.  And CBS is willing to let him do it on their network, during the Super Bowl.  For a price.  Two million dollars.


But now you have pro-abortion advocates screaming that this is not right.  "How dare CBS let a pro-life message be shown!"  Others say that a football game is not the appropriate venue to highlight such a message.  


I believe this is the perfect venue for Tim to celebrate out loud his pro-life conviction.  Most everyone who loves football appreciates what Tim has accomplished in his 4 years at UF.  Those same fans will be watching the SuperBowl because they love football.  The audience is exactly the right one.  They are interested in what Tim thinks.  He's earned the right to be heard.  


Now he wants to positively communicate his gratitude about life and the opportunity he's had to live it to the fullest.  He has said before that he's only alive today because his mother rejected the advice of a doctor during a troubled pregnancy to get an abortion. Is it any wonder that he is pro-life!


Go Tim!  I appreciate your willingness to be one of the few athletes who take seriously their responsibility as a role model in our society.   

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GRACE - God's Riches At Christ's Expense

1/20/2010 10:46:00 AM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (3)



One of the books I enjoyed reading while on my vacation a couple weeks ago was Soul Keeping by Howard Baker.  My friend, Glen Murray, passed it on to me and I am so glad.  It's packed full of gems concerning the cultivation of a strong spiritual life.  I thought I'd highlight one of the lessons I gleaned about GRACE, or rather, the ENEMIES OF GRACE.  

A relationship with God through Jesus Christ is obtained by GRACE.  The Scripture clearly says that our salvation has nothing to do with our efforts (Eph 2:8-9).  However, it is so common among Christians to begin by GRACE and then follow a "different gospel" of spiritual works and formulas.  By doing so, we end up rejecting the very GRACE that enables a person to enter a relationship with God as well as thrive in that relationship with God.

Baker uses A.W. Tozer's "hyphenated sins of the human spirit" to describe 3 examples of these enemies of grace.  Perhaps you can identify with them personally.

The Three Enemies of Grace

1.  Self-Righteousness - this is the person who "believes he is only 'blessed' as a result of his obedience to God's principles, and receiving more grace for the future will be his reward if he puts out greater efforts to live a godly life."  You can see how subtly this mindset will substitute our works for His grace.

  "He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  2 Cor 5:21 HCSB


2.  Self-Defeat - this is the person who is perpetually defeated because he "bears the impossible burden of 'pleasing' God."  We need to never forget that we'll never be good enough to gain access to God on the basis of what we can do.  Pleasing God is always the result of simply turning to Him and drawing upon the ever-present help and power of God that comes through grace.

"Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time."  Heb 4:16


3.  Self-Contempt - this is the person who "feels like a stepchild in God's family" and "is always more conscious of their sin than they are of their Savior." This person is "always resolving to redouble their efforts and try harder to please God.  The treadmill of 'spiritual performance' leads only to tiredness without progress...which leads to more self condemnation."

"Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit's law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."  Romans 8:1-2  HCSB


Pray for the Haitians

1/13/2010 03:00:00 PM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)




          A quick note here to request prayer for the Haitians.  A terrible 7.0 earthquake hit the capital city Port-Au-Prince and many have been killed.  Many more are unaccounted for.  


        Disaster relief efforts are underway and we are waiting for more information on how to mobilize those of you who are able to help.  Obviously, emergency funds will be needed and you can donate through our church (designate those funds for disaster relief in Haiti) and we will be sure to get the funds to our Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Agency for immediate distribution.


        For more information clip on this link for a recent story from the Florida Baptist Witness.    AP photo by Jorge Cruz

Bobby Bowden - More Than A Great Football Coach

1/01/2010 10:15:00 AM / Posted by Mike Landry / comments (0)



Today, Bobby Bowden coaches his last football game for Florida State.  
  • 44 years as head coach... 34 years in Tallahassee at FSU.
  • 388 wins.  Second only to Joe Paterno of Penn State University in the number of wins. 
  •  2 National Championships.
Remarkable results as a coach.  I hope he's able to add one more win today.
Today, he finishes an amazingly productive career as an NCAA football coach.  
Kudos to you Coach Bowden!


Don't stop reading yet!  
I believe his greatest legacy will not be left on the football field.  His greatest achievement is how he has impacted eternity.  Let me illustrate with one very personal example.


About seven years ago I invited Coach Bowden to speak in our church services on an Easter Sunday.  He said he considered it the greatest privilege of all to represent and speak for "his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."  


Before the service began, on that morning, he wanted me to be sure and introduce him to men in the audience who were not christians or who were struggling with their faith.  He wanted to have a personal word with them before speaking.  He thought that it might help them to make sense of what he was about to speak about.


I introduced Coach Bowden to our congregation shortly after the service began and he immediately asked the men to listen closely to what he had to say.  The next 15 minutes were amazing.  He simply told everyone how he had turned his life over to Jesus Christ and how it had radically changed his life.  He pulled no punches and challenged everyone to seriously consider making the same decision he had.  


By the end of the service, 60 men made decisions to give their lives to Jesus Christ.  These men were changed for eternity.  


Now that's what I call a lasting legacy.
Thanks Coach Bowden for making a difference for eternity.

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