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 Passion Week
Passion . . . a word that often raises eyebrows. While it’s frequently used to describe the type of goings-on found on steamy soap operas, this time of year we hear it describing something entirely different: the final hours and crucifixion of Jesus.
It’s called that because then, as never before, Jesus showed his passionate love for us. Do you think of God as a passionate being? Let’s take a quick look at the events of Passion Week (the week before Easter) and see what it tells us about His emotional state.
After His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus wept over the city. Then he went into the temple and threw out the merchants – and you can be sure they didn’t
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just fold up their stalls and leave because He asked so politely. Other highlights of the week include a prayer session so intense it caused “sweat like drops of blood,” betrayal by someone from His inner circle, public humiliation, unimaginable pain, and a slow, agonizing death.
And He did that all for you.
As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection, take a moment to let that soak in. His passion didn’t end in the New Testament. He is ― right now ― deeply, emotionally, in love with you.
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 We don’t know anything about the life of the man on the cross next to Jesus that would give us a clear picture of him. We know he was a criminal bound for execution, and that’s about it. But perhaps we can read between the lines a little. He was not like the other criminal being executed that day. The other prisoner was callous, hardened by life, and merciless. He joined the Roman soldiers in taunting Jesus. (Read more here)
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Take home the last 3 Women of Faith conferences for just $5 each. Contagious Joy, Extraordinary Faith, and Amazing Freedom DVDs are now on sale at a never-seen-before discount. Just $5 each! Buy all 3 and get a $120 value for a mere $15 dollars!
At these prices, you can buy a whole set! Heck, at these prices, you can buy a set for your mom (Mother’s Day is coming soon), sister, friend, that nice nurse at the doctor’s office, your Bible study leader, a local nursing home or women’s shelter . . . or maybe you know a woman serving in Iraq or Afghanistan who could use Women of Faith’s brand of encouragement.
What will you do with your DVDs? Let us know! We love a good story. We might even use it in an upcoming issue of Faith to Faith. |
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 Many churches have an Easter tradition of some sort of theatrical program depicting the last days of Jesus. But in Oberammergau, Germany, they’ve been performing their passion play for 375 years! The story goes that in 1632, the Black Death came to the village of Oberammergau. Nearly every family lost someone to the plague. At the town’s cemetery, the residents made a promise “to act the history of Jesus Christ every ten years.” On Pentecost in 1634 the residents of Oberammergau acted out the play on a stage built over the fresh graves of plague victims. A 6-hour-long production, the play now requires some 2,000 actors, singers, instrumentalists and stage technicians. The 41st performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play will be in 2010. Tickets just went on sale; contact your travel agent for more information.
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Have you seen our Encouraging Words page? We just updated it with a new look and new features – including online Bible studies. We’ve chosen selections from our popular Women of Faith Study Guide Series you can use for personal study. Expect to see a new study every two weeks.
NEW from Women of Faith: Now you can sign up to automatically receive the Bible studies by email. Plus we have a new devotional message every week (and you can sign up to receive those by email, as well.) Check it out here. |
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Easter Around the World
This year, Easter Sunday is March 23 (unless you’re Eastern Orthodox, in which case it’s April 27). You probably have your own Easter traditions, but did you ever wonder how people celebrate in other countries? Click here to see a few of the more interesting traditions. However you choose to celebrate, enjoy the season – and the reason for it! |
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 Hamming it up!
While not everyone eats ham this month, it is a traditional Easter dish. Why? To find out, our crack investigative team consulted a “Pork Information Specialist” (seriously, that’s her title) to get the scoop. To find the answer, test your knowledge of ham trivia, and get some ideas for what to do with that leftover ham, click here.
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 2009 National Conference: Reconnect
It’s a modern paradox: we’ve never been more connected ― yet we’ve never been more alone. If all that technology brings us together, why do we feel so isolated? It’s time to reconnect. Our 2009 National Conference will focus on getting back in touch with ourselves, our friends and family, and with God. Don’t you need to reconnect? Dates and location coming soon.
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Infinite Grace Starts Soon!
 The end of this month, in fact. We’ll be in Omaha, NE on March 28 – 29 for the first event of our 30-city tour. Have you registered yet? It’s going to be an exciting year! You’ll see both familiar faces and some that may be new to you. We’ll explore what it can mean to rest in God’s unending, unequaled, Infinite Grace. Find out more here. |
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Copyright © 2008 Women of Faith. All Rights Reserved.
Faith to Faith is a free monthly publication of womenoffaith.com
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