Joy of the Cross

Never in my life have I experienced the love of Jesus for others than I did this last Good Friday.  Friday morning we took an empty cross to the Dam Square, which is kind of the downtown, touristy part of the city.  If you want to reach the nations, this is the place to be.  There are literally people from all over the world passing through there.  After about 2 hours of leading worship around an empty cross and loving on people, our hearts were moved from judgement to compassion.  There are many street performers at the square.  Most of them are dressed up in very dark, halloween costumes that are very glorifying to death.  But after we were able to talk to some of them, we found out that they are all Romanians who travel here to find work. We met one performer who was dressed up as the V For Vendetta character.  Soem of the members on our team came up to him to pray for him and give him a rose with a scripture attached to it.  Through a translator, we found out that he was a Chrisitan.  We brought him to church with us for the Good Friday night service.  We also brought him to church wtih us this monring for Easter Sunday.  He has been longing to have some Christian community to connect to.  His wife is sick and back in Romania, so he is here trying to make money to support her.  After we had finished, it was my turn to carry the cross.  I gladly took the cross and placed it on my shoulder and started on the short 1 mile journey back to base, not knowing the effect it would have on me.  Immediatley, I became the center of attention.  People all around were taking pictures, pointing, laughing.  At first, I kept my head down, but Jesus said, "Look them in the eye.  I died for all of them."  Weeping began immediately as I uncomfortably looked into the soul of every person I passed.  Jesus then told me to smile at them.  As I smiled at people, it was like they were a deer in headlights.  But as I nearly forced them to smile, people would start to crack a grin.  I cried the whole way home and couldn't wait to get to base and lay down the cross and go lay on my face for Jesus.  One lady named Florence we met on the way home, stopped me and thanked me for what I was doing.  She said I had reminded her of what Jesus did for her.

Its easy to forget the message of the cross when you've grown up in the church.  Don't let the fact that its Easter be the only reason we remember the cross.  Take it up daily.  Thank Him for it everyday.  Jesus gave me Hebrews 12:2-Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  The fact that it was extremely painful for Jesus to endure what He did, inside, He was full of joy, because He knew how the gift of salvation would change the world. 
Your continued prayers are much appreciated as we head into our second full week here in Amsterdam. 

If you would like to support me while I am here, this is hwo you can do so:
Write a check to:
Derek Owen
996 Owen Rhea Rd.
Tiline, KY 42083

or go to www.paypal.com and enter my email- fletch3535@yahoo.com

Thank you for all of your support,
Derek Owen