Why The Name Change?

You may have noticed that the name of my blog has changed a couple of times. The first name was in Latin, Sed Nome Tuo De Glorium, which means, To His Name Be the Glory. I chose this name because I have a strong desire for God to be at the center of my being; whether it is at school, home, or on the web. I put it in Latin to add a sense of ambiance. Latin is such a beautiful language that has shaped so many languages around the world. I grieve at the thought of it becoming extinct. Therefore, I wanted to try to keep it alive in some way or manner.

The last name on the blog was Gray to Glory. I came up with this when I was meditating on the progression of my salvation. When I was lost, I was dead and my eyes could only see through the lens of this world; i.e. gray. Everything is gray it seems. There is no black and white or right and wrong. In our Post Modern society, we have made everything relative. All truth is truth and there is no wrong. As a lost person, I bought into this. I believed in a universal God who loved in many different ways and beliefs. I was wrong. God has shown me that His love is seen in His Son Jesus Christ; the radiance of His glory (Hebrews 1:3). Therefore, my eyes went from gray to glory.

The new name, Cross Life, is actually an old phrase. I am sure many men through the centuries in the church have coined this phrase. However, Guy Hershberger, an educator and member of the Mennonite Church, uses this term in his book "The Way of the Cross in Human Relations", a book that discusses how Christians should approach issues such as war, relationships, social and economic obligations, etc. Richard Foster, in his book, "The Celebration of Discipline", borrows the term from Hershberger to help him define the life of a believer in submission. I believe Foster gets it right when he says:

“The foremost symbol of this radical servant hood is the cross…Christ not only died a cross-death, but he lived a cross-life. Jesus lived the cross-life in submission to all human beings. He was a servant of all. He flatly rejected the cultural givens of position and power when he said “You are not to be called rabbi…Neither be called masters…” (Matt 23:8-10). Jesus shattered customs of his day when he lived out the cross-life by taking women seriously and by being willing to meet with children. He lived the cross-life when he took a towel and washed the feet of his disciples. This Jesus who easily could have called down a legion of angels to his aid chose instead the cross-death of Calvary. Jesus’ life was the cross-life of submission and service.” (Celebrations of Discipline pg 115-116)

After reading this, I began pondering my life as a Christian. I asked myself if I was living a cross-life, the way Jesus did. I am sorry to say that I am not. However, it is my desire and passion to do so. I long to empty myself like as my King did and take the form of a servant (Phil 2:4-7). I’m striving to not return evil for evil when I am hurt or threatened, but would trust in the one who judges justly; just as Jesus did (1 Peter 2:21-23). I am fighting to be subject to my wife, my church, my employer, and my God consistently (Ephesians 5:21). I am continually pleading with God to help me take up my cross, die to myself, and embrace my King in His sufferings everyday (Matthew 10:38; Philippians 3:10).

This is where I am today. As surely as the Lord lives, I will change; so long as God gives me breathe. There is no doubt that this blog will change as well. That is the wonder about blogs; they are elastic to some degree and have the ability to evolve as we grow. May the Lord mold and conform this blog into a God-centered, Christ exalting, bible saturated blog and my life into a Cross Centered life.