Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Written in Red
by Tom Goodman
April 1, 2009

THE "EASTER ENCOUNTER" IS COMING IN APRIL!

Remember
Join us for the Lord's Supper on Thursday, April 9, 7pm.

Reflect
Attend our Good Friday service during your lunch break, April 10, noon.

Rejoice
Celebrate Christ's resurrection on Sunday, April 12, 10am.

"I (heart) my kids. I (heart) Leslie."

As rescue workers removed the dead and wounded from the 2005 commuter train wreck near Los Angeles, they saw that message on a passenger seat.

It was written in blood.

The image made its way around the internet, and the story of the injured man soon followed. John Phipps, an aerospace engineer, was pinned under debris from the crash and having trouble breathing. Not sure if he would make it, he wrote a message to his wife and children using his own blood. "I love my kids. I love Leslie," he printed (using a heart symbol in place of verbs). The blood ink seemed to be running out as he got to the second sentence.

As firefighter Captain Rosario later related the story for TV cameras, he choked with emotion. "The fact that this guy in this situation had the amount of love he had for his family, and for him to realize, 'I'm possibly going to die here,' how could any words explain it?"

Thankfully, Phipps recovered, but the story turns my attention to another man who wrote out his love in blood.

The night before Jesus was crucified, he took the cup from the Passover observance and said, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27-28)

He expressed his love by bearing our sin away in sacrifice. And he commanded us to remember his love, in part, by regularly taking the bread and the cup of Communion. This Sunday we'll look at his command to eat the memorial meal until he comes back.

This Sunday's study will launch us into "The Easter Encounter." That's what I'm calling a special set of worship experiences next week. On Thursday, April 9, join us at 7pm for the Lord's Supper. It was on a Thursday 2000 years ago that the Lord's Supper was first established. Then, on Good Friday, April 10, gather with us during your lunch break at noon for a 45-minute service that will turn your attention to the cross. And on Easter Sunday, April 12, celebrate the resurrection with us at 10am!

What a dramatic way to conclude our long walk through the Gospel of Matthew! Don't miss out!

--Tom

P.S. You can help me prepare for "The Easter Encounter" with your prayers. Learn more here.

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for...

Song of the Week, posted every Sunday.
Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!

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Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
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Written in Red by Tom Goodman April 1, 2009 THE "EASTER ENCOUNTER" IS COMING IN APRIL! Remember Join us for the Lord's Supper on Thursday, April 9, 7pm. Reflect Attend our Good Friday service during your lunch break, April 10, noon. Rejoice Celebrate Christ's resurrection on Sunday, April 12, 10am. "I (heart) my kids. I (heart) Leslie." As rescue workers removed the dead and wounded from the 2005 commuter train wreck near Los Angeles, they saw that message on a passenger seat. It was written in blood. The image made its way around the internet, and the story of the injured man soon followed. John Phipps, an aerospace engineer, was pinned under debris from the crash and having trouble breathing. Not sure if he would make it, he wrote a message to his wife and children using his own blood. "I love my kids. I love Leslie," he printed (using a heart symbol in place of verbs). The blood ink seemed to be running out as he got to the second sentence. As firefighter Captain Rosario later related the story for TV cameras, he choked with emotion. "The fact that this guy in this situation had the amount of love he had for his family, and for him to realize, 'I'm possibly going to die here,' how could any words explain it?" Thankfully, Phipps recovered, but the story turns my attention to another man who wrote out his love in blood. The night before Jesus was crucified, he took the cup from the Passover observance and said, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:27-28) He expressed his love by bearing our sin away in sacrifice. And he commanded us to remember his love, in part, by regularly taking the bread and the cup of Communion. This Sunday we'll look at his command to eat the memorial meal until he comes back. This Sunday's study will launch us into "The Easter Encounter." That's what I'm calling a special set of worship experiences next week. On Thursday, April 9, join us at 7pm for the Lord's Supper. It was on a Thursday 2000 years ago that the Lord's Supper was first established. Then, on Good Friday, April 10, gather with us during your lunch break at noon for a 45-minute service that will turn your attention to the cross. And on Easter Sunday, April 12, celebrate the resurrection with us at 10am! What a dramatic way to conclude our long walk through the Gospel of Matthew! Don't miss out! --Tom P.S. You can help me prepare for "The Easter Encounter" with your prayers. Learn more here. Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for... Song of the Week, posted every Sunday. Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.