Browsing Tag

The Cross

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Who was really in charge? … And More Groups!

Posted on July 30, 2025

DIgging again and it just strikes me how many disparate people played little and big parts in the crucifixion of the Lord. 

Think about this list: 

Judas (betrayal)

Peter (The ear of Malchus, the denial)

The Sanhedrin Jewish counsel (ordered the arrest, paid Judas)

The Jewish armed crowd that arrested Jesus (Fell backward when Jesus spoke)

Annas, the Jewish ruler (first examined Jesus)

Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest (next examined the Lord)

Pilate, the Roman ruler (found no fault, but ordered the crucifixion)

Mrs. Pilate (dreamed and warned her husband not to have anything to do with the crucifixion)

Herod, King over a Jewish province (made an alliance with Pilate that day)

Barabbas, Jewish criminal (released instead of Jesus)

Simon of Cyrene, African (likely a Jew from center of Greek learning; compelled to carry cross)

The robbers on either side (justly being crucified)

Joseph of Arimathea, Jewish councilman, but sympathized with Jesus; took body to bury)

Jesus, Himself. 

God, the Father.

Of course, you know that God, in Son and Father, are the ones who facilitated all the others who had input. They brought this unlikely crew together in this purpose. God didn’t make them sin, in the cases where they were parties to the crucifixion. But God used the malice they chose to display for the redemption of mankind. People who would have never conspired together under any other circumstance came together to accomplish God’s provision for my salvation, and yours. 

There’s a good deal in Old Testament prophecy about several of these listed.  God planned every detail of the Thursday and Friday of that Passover weekend. The little people that He made from dust only thought they were contributing to events that day. Some of them were pompous about it. Some were circumspect. Some were violating consciences. Some were  involved at the compelling of others. But all were subject to the eternal will of God for your redemption. God never lost power over the situation. After all, the soldiers fell down backwards when He spoke, while they were supposed to be arresting Him. He could have called twelve legions of angels at any time during the process…angels that were also created by Him! 

Pilate thought he was in charge. Peter thought he should be afraid of those around the fire. Barabbas thought he got away with something. Herod thought he was using great wisdom and Joseph thought his tomb would hold the body. But God knew all along. 

More groups!…

26. This one’s northwest of Fort  Worth, Tx. It meets at the Briar church, which is between Azle and Boyd. They’d love to have more diggers. The name is Andrea Lester and the number is 817-988-1403. 

27. Then back to East Tennessee again! This group is for those in and around Cookeville. Meeting monthly and sometimes varying with schedules, the norm is a Thursday, early in each month. Time is 1:30 and contact is Mary Parker Lawson. 

28. This one is am amazing teen zoom group. These girls are such a blessing and they are all over the geographical map. SEVERAL of them are finishers this year and I have loved getting to know them. They are capping the group at fifteen, but I think they’d start another group if there are more girls and more moms who’d like to help facilitate.  Contact is Amber Parker Roberts via facebook. I think the way this works is that there’s a mom always there in the physical room from whichever point the zoom connection emanates. But you can ask Amber and she’d be happy to help. I’m thankful for several moms in this venture who are getting girls to heaven and raising girls who are helping their mamas get there, too! (I’ve really watched this one glow!)

29. Again in Texas (It’s big!), this one’s in Bloomberg, TX, meeting at the Cass County church on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm. Contact number is 903-826-1427—April Britton.

30. Jenny Townsend (via Facebook) welcomes any Indianapolis, Indiana diggers to the group meeting at the building at 10 Shelbyville Road in Indy. Contact Jenny Lynne Townsend for details. 

More soon! Send me your group info if you’d welcome more girls!

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Reminders I Needed at FHU

Posted on March 18, 2025

Today, Glenn and I were able to attend the Bible lectures at Freed-Hardeman University. Rich in fellowship and faith, the atmosphere was encouraging beyond what I’d anticipated. Everywhere I walked, there were women who wanted to talk about Digging Deep and it made me so thankful for the Word that binds us together in a unity that is the unique tie that will extend beyond this lifetime. Everywhere I went, there were those who asked about the members of my physical family and who told me that they had been in fervent prayer for our family. It made me so thankful for the active advocacy of Jesus in the throne room of the Father, on behalf of His faithful. Everywhere I went there was laughter and the sound of Christianity in gathering places. It made me thankful for the assembling church that will finally come together around the throne. 

There was a sister there who is headed for surgery in the morning, but who chose that encouraging atmosphere just prior to a day when she will either receive good news or resign herself to a long road of illness ahead. There were sisters who asked me to pray for specific things, like a husband who just became an elder in a precarious church situation, or foster children whose futures are hanging in the balance as courts make decisions, or grandchildren who are being raised by parents with mental illnesses, or for the steadfast faith of a son who is headed for USMC boot camp in this volatile world. There were heavy things to add to my prayer list last night as I redeemed my voucher, given through the Word, to beg to God, Himself. The heavy cross is the burden that, in turn, carries all heavy things to the One who lifts burdens.  Nothing I could do on earth could merit what I can do before heaven; not by a long shot.

I’m so glad I went. At the beginning of the day, I thought “What in the world am I thinking? …Driving seven hours today to walk around a crowded campus and listen to lessons I could hear online while making some headway on this house or on the Easter dress I’m trying to make for Eliza or the bridal shower we’re planning this weekend or the four retreat lessons I’m trying to prepare for the following weekend or the Digging Deep lesson that will be discussed on the podcast in just one week…???   WHAT am I thinking, going there, where Glenn and I always see lots of old (I mean truly elderly) and eccentric men and women who claim they were classmates of ours? I mean, do I really want to do this? 

As we prayed tonight before falling asleep (well, at least Glenn has fallen soundly asleep beside me here) we praised Him for allowing us to go and be encouraged. I know there are problems in the church. (There’s humanity in the church. Human sin is always the problem.) I know there are always plenty of things we could be making or accomplishing that will all be burned up one day. I get it that we cannot do it all. But I am thankful for days like today that show me, in a succinct lesson, the good that lives on in the body of the Lord. I’m thankful for the grandchildren who jumped up and down when they saw me in Auditorium A and who sat beside me while their papa was speaking. I am most thankful for the glad day, after I’ve left the planet, when we will jump for joy again and sit together again and sing the song of Moses and the Lamb!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Crown

Posted on August 5, 2024

Like David. my Lord was a king, a potentate.

With scepter in his right hand and dainties on his plate. 

He should have worn a golden crown—A robe without the jest:

But he was stripped and wounded, while giving me His best. 

 

Like Aaron, he was holy. a turban crown was His. 

He laid that down beside the throne—poured out eternal bliss

To come to earth to rent the veil and enter there for me

But tearing was contingent on the suffering on that tree. 

 

He poured out wealth and majesty. He poured out the right to reign.

He poured out equality with God that I could access gain.

He poured out honor, left His place beside the throne of God

To sit by old Judean wells and dusty paths to trod. 

 

He traded allelujas for mocking cries and shame.

He gave up all authority, inherent in His name.

He left the perfect garden for dark Gethsemane

Came down from Zion’s eternal mount, to bleed on Calvary. 

 

His crown should have been golden, with holiness engraved

But piercing wooden thorns he wore, my sin-stained soul to save. 

With tissue torn, exposed and rent, and cross on bleeding back

He made His way to Golgotha. While armies were in tact…

 

And stood at heaven’s ready, to rescue heaven’s prize.

They nailed him there and shouted blatant mockery and lies. 

Choosing human weakness, succumbing to the death

Bruised by men He formed from dust, he breathed his final breath.

 

And in that time of tearing veil, of darkness in midday

Of dead men walking through the town and shaking earth’s display. 

They took the crown, now bloody, cast it to the ground. 

And wrapped him in a rich man’s cloth and laid his body down. 

 

His body resting in the tomb. The  purchase is complete.

The kingdom price is paid by blood. So wonderfully sweet

Is my redemption. If I had a thousand tongues to sing

And if I had a thousand crowns that I could humbly bring…

 

And alabaster boxes to brims with fragrance filled,

The blessing of anointing Him would not the sweetness yield

To honor nail-pierced hands and feet emerging from the grave.

The King of Kings laid down the crown, my wretched soul to save. 

ccolley

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Best of Lads to Leaders

Posted on April 17, 2022

Avelynn Ferrie…just after third grade speech.

Colleyanna Giselbach leading her song for the ladies.

Sometimes people, even Christians, need something very encouraging to get them through adversity or times of discouragement. Needing this right now, my husband and I made the trek for our 29th year straight to Lads to Leaders, the largest youth event among churches of Christ. A tool that allows congregations to keep the autonomy of the New Testament church while joining together for fellowship and training programs, Lads to Leaders is coming out of the Covid months with about 2/3 of its participants now back at convention and fully engaged. There were several brand new congregations represented and lots of churches were back bigger and stronger than ever before. Best of all, nothing was missing in the zeal-and-anticipation category. Christians simply cannot be present at any of the conventions without being blessed.

Malachi (L) and Ali’i in 2013

In the year 2013, my husband and I traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to talk to the Christians there about family. Our contact was Pisa Soli, a faithful woman of God, mother to Malachi (who at the time was 8 years old) and a skilled nurse. While there, we met Flori Barber, new Christian, wife to Rafe, and mother to four-year-old Ali’i. (You see the boys in the photo.) Both Pisa and the Barbers were transplants to Honolulu from American Samoa, where Pisa’s father was a gospel preacher and planted one of the first Samoan congregations. Pisa had been instrumental in converting Flori to the faith.

Through a series of events, both the Barbers and the Solis (and the extended Soli family) have moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where the West Huntsville family is blessed by their sweet fellowship and examples. We have 23 Samoans now who are faithfully in our midst every time the doors are open!

This year at Lads, I watched both Malachi and Ali’i give excellent speeches from the Joshua one admonition “Be strong and courageous.” in winner’s circle speech. That means both of these young men have already won their speech divisions in previous years. Also in winner’s circle was AJ Soli (Malachi’s cousin) and Gideon Soli (who won first place this year in winner’s circle!–wow!), Pisa’s little brother. All told, an approximate (…you always have to approximate with big Samoan families) 20 West Huntsville Samoans were involved in competing or judging events at Lads this year.

Best of all, Ali’i’s dad, Rafe Barber, is one of the newest Christians at convention this year. It’s what we were praying for when the decision was made for this good family to come to Huntsville. It has been a long time coming, but we are so very thankful this family is complete in Him. It was the lifetime dream of Flori and Ali’i and now it’s the best of blessings for two little Barber siblings born since the move to Huntsville. My heart is full. God’s providence is full for those who are strong and courageous.

When I say a series of events that brought these families here, I mean several things that have taken courage for these lads participants this year. I mean a very sick newborn who could not get proper care in Samoa, a desire to be in the West Huntsville family, the process of leaving Pentecostalism, a stint abroad in the Gulf war,  the death of a patriarch, the sibling care of younger siblings who are left behind by their Father’s death, the will to be part of the West Huntsville family, the loss of a job, the willingness to come and live–11 people–in a tiny little cabin for three months while finding employment, the desire to be a part of the West Huntsville family, etc…etc…

We are so beyond thankful that these Samoan kids and parents and siblings and cousins, and now even friends who are fellow Christians, are a part of our family. But, the amazing thing I have learned is that there are hundreds of stories like this one that bring people together in the church and, ultimately in this transforming program. Everyone brings a story to the cross. EVERYONE. All of our stories are sin-stained and adversity blotted. But that Joshua promise of a never-forsaking God when we find our  strength and courage is what motivates us to keep going when things are looking their bleakest in this lifetime. The garden of Gethsemane was pretty bleak. The devil thought, for sure, he’d won this time. The grave was impending for the Lord and our only hope was about to be placed in  Sheol. But there was the courage that said “Not my will, but Thine.” There was the strength that said “Father, forgive them.” And there was Sunday morning’s empty tomb.

On that Sunday morning, our stories were forever salvaged in Him. I love Lads to Leaders. But mostly, I love the Lord.

Malachi in Winner’s Circle Speech

Ali’i with Glenn after giving a speech in Winner’s Circle

Here are these two boys today:

 

 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Where Is Your Sting?–Part 4

Posted on January 15, 2018

The Sting of Death Is the Struggle.

Sometimes the last hours before death are intensely difficult. When death follows sickness, the struggle for the faithful— just before the angels come— is often obvious to everyone in the room. When a loved one, due to intubation or shortness of breath or other problems, loses the ability to fully communicate, but looks at caregivers with eyes that plead for some kind of relief, the inability to offer that relief is almost unbearable. Sometimes, as a son or daughter, you are looking at a parent— one who has relieved your own pain, borne your grief, on countless occasions. You would give anything now to ease the struggle as life ebbs away for your loved one, but there is absolutely nothing you can do but pray as the power of life and death does not rest in your hands. 

That’s when you are glad for passages of Holy Writ that are comforting beyond what any mortal can offer. You pray, in those moments, for the “peace that passes understanding”—the peace that can “guard your heart and mind” in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). You remember that neither life nor death (neither of the possibilities at the end of the struggle) can separate those in the room from the love of Christ (Romans 8:38). You remember that, whether this loved one lives or dies, you are still walking in the dark shadow cast by death and that you should fear no evil, for He is with you. There is great comfort in His rod and staff (Psalm 23:1-3). You remember that you may be  approaching a very precious moment because that’s how the death of His saints is characterized. It is “precious” to God (Psalm 116:15). The Word is truly the staff on which you lean in these moments of struggle. 

You also remember that there was One who struggled between life and death for six hours one dark day on a hillside outside of Jerusalem. Surely the desperate look was in His eyes as he bore excruciating pain and suffered unbearable mental anguish. Yet there was no one to come to His aid. His mother looked up into the suffering eyes of her son. The disciple whom he loved looked up and saw the struggle. The Father looked down and, because he knew that the cross was the only path to heaven for me, turned His face away, at least in some sense, from that situation that my sin demanded. He struggled more intensely than anyone in any hospital bed that I will ever know. He struggled so that my  struggle between life and death could be just that—a relatively short, albeit, perhaps painful fight against death; a struggle that ends with eternal victory over death. He, the just One, did the struggle —the suffering—for me, the unjust One. 

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

And because of the empty tomb—the quickening of the Spirit of Christ—the sting of death for the faithful is extremely short and, in fact, is the doorway to victory.