#ThoughtsFromTerry Dispatch w.13.2018
Dispatch w.13.2018
Today is Good Friday, and on the surface, it’s really odd that one would call it good. Friday, the day Jesus was betrayed and taken to Garden of Gethsemane to be tortured and murdered on a cross. How then do we refer to this as good?
Well, the core of the Gospel, the Good News revolved directly around this day, Good Friday. As brutal as Jesus death was, and the torture He walked through, it was on purpose, and that purpose was you and me. Christ's death was to make a way for us to come to know God and be the bridge for us to have a relationship with our creator. I love how John Piper put it in his devotional on YouVersion:
“He has sent his Son to suffer and to die so that through him we might draw near. It’s all so that we might draw near. And all of this is for our joy and for his glory.”
Oh, I love that, for our joy and for his glory. This really hit me as I was reading John chapter 16 on Monday. The build-up to Good Friday, and something we should remember daily. Jesus was having his last meal, and dropping massive wisdom bombs on his disciples. John chapter 13-17 encapsulates this and is a fantastic read. Closing out chapter 15 and into chapter 16 Jesus said:
“It’s better for you that I leave. If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come. But if I go, I’ll send him to you... when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.”
The Friend, the Spirit of the Truth, also known as the Advocate is with us, He is in us and as Jesus said he will take us by the hand and guide us into all truth. So, as we reflect on Good Friday, as we prepare to take communion, as we walk into Easter weekend may we be reminded of Jesus words, the Friend is with us. The Spirit of Truth desires us to draw near...the Advocate, the Holy Spirit desperately desires and yearns for us to draw near. The creator of the Universe is not distant, Jesus is not on a cross nor is a tomb, He is ALIVE and He is with us! But, we must draw near to Him, and all of this is for our joy and for his glory!
RECOMMENDED WEEKEND READING
An excellent read from my friend Kris, executive pastor at Bethel Church in Redding, CA. Great insight on Humility, and self-esteem. - Kris Vallotton
This future city concept from Google is fascinating. - Technology Review
I would of never guessed Apple has more self-driving cars that Waymo in California. - The Verge
A lot of buzz and talk about Facebook right now. No matter your thoughts, or opinions about Facebook and how they handled and are handling data...I recommend you download your personal information from Facebook just so you have it. The process is fairly simple and will take a few steps.
Log onto Facebook.com on a computer (not a mobile device)
Click on the Top right Down arrow, then click Settings
In General Settings, you see Download a copy of your Facebook data
Follow the steps...
It will be good for you to see what Facebook has from you.
BITCOIN TIDBITS
It’s clear that Cryptocurrency will have a place in the world moving forward. At least to me that’s clear. But what is not clear is who will be the winner, Bitcoin or Ethereum, or Litecoin, or Ripple, a new up and comer, or so on and so forth. Who knows how all of that will shake out. It’s just like the early days of the Internet in my opinion, there were so many DotComs that launched and only a few survived...and now we have Amazon, Google, Apple and Facebook as the winners.
What I am sharing more today is less about the Cryptocurrency topics, but the underlying technology, Blockchain. It, and technologies like it, are the “Internet” of sorts. Blockchain will morph and become a major part of our technology future.
Google is experimenting with Blockchain technology for use in the cloud. (ZDNet)
Starbucks explores potential use of Blockchain tech for ‘bean to cup’ pilot program (GeekWire)
Square founder Jack Dorsey talks bitcoin and says Blockchain is the ‘next big unlock’ (TheVerge)
Visa is very excited about Blockchain technology, CFO says (YouTube)
Uber creator invents new Cryptocurrency - and wants your help making it reality (Fortune)