Think with me for a minute on what we view as good. Successful career maybe, getting married, going on vacation, having kids, a retirement plan, getting your doctorate. Births, weddings, sunny days, and on and on. We are all caught by these things. While these things are good, they have no ability to give us life though, yet they capture our lives and even our souls if we let them.

We all fall for it, we live in the effects of a fallen creation. God never intended for Adam and Eve to break covenant with him, but right when they did, they noticed their shame and covered their nakedness. Also, they were banned from the Garden forever. Never to return to that intimate place again.

Adam’s actions affect us all, we are all sinners. We were born constituted sinners. Even before our little baby self could actually sin, we were all sinners. That’s rough, right? Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But here’s where Good Friday comes in.

O Blessed Christ, O Son of God, O Image of the Father! In all of the Father’s gladness, he is most glad to share with us his most beloved Son. In giving us Christ, the Father held nothing back. He took his most precious treasure and unwrapped him and sent him to us, that we might know the Father. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason for gratitude—in showing us the Father, he makes a way to the Father for us. O Blessed Christ, O Son of God, O Image of the Father!

Here are 24 quotations about Christ to keep us thankful. Share them around the table. Speak them to yourself. Post them where others will see.

I was recommended a jolly, little book called Rejoicing in Christ, written by Michael Reeves. I have to tell you—there are passages that cause my heart to pound faster, like there’s a little drummer boy inside me, and I have to stop and take a breath.

Reeves has hit upon a nerve, a deep place in which deep calls out to deep. In this blog post, I want to share a passage of his and make some observations about the danger in spiritual growth.

I have read this passage seven or eight times already, and I haven’t grown tired of it yet. Little Drummer Boy is still drumming.

In talking about the life of Christ, Reeves writes:

Last week I shared an eight-minute talk on my puny view of Jesus. I had come to a point when I realized I was treating him WAY TOO SMALL. How did I realize this? I was exposed to a larger view of Christ.

At first it came as an imposition:

“You want me to re-consider my view of Jesus? Don’t you know I’ve been following him for 30 years already? I don’t need to re-think Jesus.”

Then I made excuses:

“I believe the basics, that’s enough. I don’t have time for this. You’re just talking semantics.”

Then I got mad:

“Who are you to challenge my view of Christ? I’ve been leading people for years, are you saying I’ve been doing it wrong? My walk with Jesus is MY business!”

But finally I gave in because saying I had the King of kings all figured out was pretty prideful. I barely have my wife figured out. Who was I fooling?

In the end it was a matter of humility—admitting I didn’t know Jesus in the ways I could know him—which meant there was MUCH MORE to Christ to know. I just had to enter the process. So I did.

I’d like to make three points about this process.

Note: On April 23 I participated in a Christ Talks event, where 10 speakers shared insights on the person of Christ from their unique perspectives. You can watch the video or read the blog , which is a portion of my Christ Talk.
Intimacy with Jesus hasn’t been a struggle for me. I like to live my life from my heart. You could say I haven’t been “shorthearted” when it comes to Jesus. But I have been shortsighted in my vision of Christ.

For the last year and a half—after 30 years of being a Christian, including some years in Christian leadership—I’ve been in a process of rediscovering who Jesus is, and I’m coming to love him more. I’m seeing how a greater vision of Christ increases my intimacy and my love for Christ.

On Saturday, April 23, from 9:00 – 12:30, we’re going to feast on Christ. The event is called Christ Talks, like TED Talks, but about Christ. Ten speakers are going to help us see Christ the way they see Christ as a result of their unique journeys. There will also be times for audience questions and responses.

As the facilitator of Christ Talks, I’ve been coaching each of the speakers. I have to say – I feel spoiled to have had the privilege of reading each talk. I’ve been moved deeply by the experiences they’ve shared in their pursuit of Jesus. And moved deeper still by the person of Christ that has been revealed through them.

After reading the rough drafts, I already feel full of Christ but want more. And more we shall have at Christ Talks. You are warmly invited to bring yourself and others. The event is free and is at Calvary Harvest Fields.

The talks will be videotaped and posted at the Christ Talks page, where you can read more about Christ Talks and view videos from Christ Talks Youngstown.

But here’s the lineup of speakers (times are approximate) for this Saturday: