The Lush Plains of Sodom with Todd Tomasella and Travis Bryan III

The Cross Means Dying to the Getting of Our Way. This is the way of the cross. Suffering happens in its most elementary sense when some person or circumstance interferes with our plan or desire and prevents us from getting our way. That makes us uncomfortable in the moment. When we yield to the demand or control of someone else we die to self in that moment. We suffer because this interference pulls us out of our plan or our comfort zone. My Pastor Steve began to practice this aspect of the cross. He pulled into a parking lot and saw another car who was poised to compete with him for a parking place. Steve decided to yield and let the other guy have the spot. Steve died a mini-death with Christ in that moment. As soon as the other driver rushed into the spot, another spot right next to the front entrance opened up for Steve. You see when you die to self in your circumstances, God's resurrection life and power opens up new, unexpected and better paths. God gives us our freedom. He never threatens, coerces, intimidates or forces anything upon us. This is the cross-lifestyle we are called to live. It is meekness and gentleness. Blessed are the meek. We are to give others their freedom as God does with us. The strange fact is that we come out better in spite of not getting our first preference. It's like like Abraham and Lot. When they came to the point of needing to split up, Abraham gave Lot his choice. Lot grabbed for the gusto and took the lush plain of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham by default got the promised land, the highlands of Canaan. Guess who came out better? We come out better by giving up control and in love letting others have their way. This principle is so powerful that I have learned to never vie for the choice which benefits me.  ...