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EXPRESSIONS

       

 

BEST OF 2001-2002 

BEST OF 2002-2003

BEST OF 2003- 2004

BEST OF AUG 04 - JULY 05

NEWS

Special three year   anniversary 9-11 edition

Blasi on Board Brings Brightness!

President Bush's inaugural address focuses on freedom, friendship, and faith!

Pop singer Michael Jackson acquitted of all 10 counts!

SGBELECTIONS2004:

'Driven', 'Proven' and 'Results Matter' slates sweep SGB election!

Endorsing the fabulous five for Student Government Board (SGB) elections on Nov 17, 2004!

ELECTION 2004:

MORAL PUSH 4 BUSH WORKED!

Kerry for a weaker America: Running for president, they call him Kerry!

PSelect-cision 2004 asks: "What are issues that are most important to you that you are basing your vote on and why?"

PSelect-cision 2004 asks 40 students, "Which presidential candidate will best lead this country and why?"

Kerry for DRAFT which Bush is against!

Trial advocate Edwards could not defend Kerry against charges!

Who cares for the the 2nd victim!

Republicans are the political party for African-Americans and people of different ethnicities!

Answering, "Voting for neither candidate of a major political party is going to bring us closer to God."

IMPRESSIONS

Carnegie Library corrupts the morals of a minor!

SGB and Rainbow Alliance’s view of homosexuality is not held by all!

Juveniles escape of death penalty could influence abortion decisions.

FDA should continue to ban gay sperm and ignore editorials opposing them!

EXPRESSIONS

Archives of Daily Devotionals Delivers Dosage!

Christian groups seek to provide haven for incoming students!

Boston Red Sox ace Curt Schilling knows all about spiritual strikeouts!

Vote for the perfect candidate 24-7!

HOTPRESSIONS:

The Pitt News editorial, 'Troop casualties undercounted by 17,000'  makes it sound like......

Rebuttal to Daniel Masny's Feb 03,05 Pitt News column

SPORTS    

Pitt  2004 Cheerleading and Dance Team surrounded Schenley Quad with their Squad!

Pitt Cheerleaders and Dance team try to cheer up Panther fans!

"Golf’s New 'Sultan of Swat' Victorious Again"

There’s a New 'Berg' in the ‘Burgh.'

Three Panther fans weather the floods at 6:30 a.m.

Steelers Open Season with Home Victory

Pitt's Track and Field could go the distance!

Pittsburgh Steelers come back with rookie and backup players!

Deja Vu for the Steelers

ENTERTAINMENT:

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

FEATURE

"Top 25 reasons given for why students think the original candy cane was made with red and white stripes and was in the shape of a candy cane?"

Top 14 answers to "Love is....."

My Kiss of a Lifetime hopes to be special!

Top 14 responses to 'A Loving friend is........'
 

In celebration of Valentine's Day, the top 50-26 responses to 'Love is....'

In celebration of Valentine's Day, the top 25-1 responses to 'Love is....'

Top 5 responses given by students to, "What is the most important lesson your mom taught you?"

Acrostic Poem for Mother's Day!

GREEK LIFE:

Greek communities can communicate charity and care!

Kappa Kappa Gamma sister Jessica shows her Pitt spirit with her friends!

Newest sisters of Delta Zeta sorority enjoy a meal at Schenley Cafe after their initiation!

Student Government Board member Liz Blasi enjoys a meal at Schenley Cafe with her Chi Omega sisters!

FOOD

PGSIS 2005 Taste with Haste Cereal Poem

PGSIS Class of 2005 Favorite Cereal Survey Results

EDUCATION

Human Resource Management Final Exam Sample Questions II

Human Resource Management Final Exam 45 Sample Questions

MONTHLY
ARCHIVES

 

   

"Paid All Sins, Savior's Our Valiant Everlasting Redeemer!"(P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R)

"Christ Redeems Our Souls Safely!" (C.R.O.S.S)


Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

Editor's Note: These are devotionals I have had with the Lord and wanted to share what I have learned.

Quiet Times: (Psalm 103, Mark 13, Mark 14:12-26, Philippians 2:8)

May you come to know more and more the One who became your sacrificial lamb and paid the price on the cross to set you free! May you come to love Jesus more and more! Amen!

"He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving kindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things....He is merciful and tender toward those who don't deserve it; he is slow to get angry and full of kindness and love. He never bears a grudge, nor remains angry forever. He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for his mercy toward those who fear and honor him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:3-5a, 8-12, TLB)

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death---even death on the cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV)

Observations:

I learned 3 things about Jesus from this verse:

1. Jesus was found in appearance as a man!

2. Jesus humbled himself!

3. Jesus became obedient to death---even death on the cross!

Interpretations:

I asked myself why is it mentioned that Jesus was found in appearance as a man and the significance of that!

What came to my mind is that Jesus could have been found in appearance as an angel or a bright light but Jesus chose to be found in appearance as a man on earth. Jesus chose that because He was on mission 3:16 and wanted to relate to humanity to help humanity. Being like a human gave him characteristics and DNA as humans but without the sin because He was without sin.

I found the significance of that in the next thing Jesus did. Jesus humbled himself as a human being on earth!

I asked myself what does it mean to humble himself!

What came to my mind is even though He is God, He did not act with power but went into submission as a human for the sake of humanity. He stripped himself of any rights and did the unthinkable.

I asked myself why he humbled himself!

What came to my mind is to be obedient to death. For He would not have needed to be obedient to death as God in power but did the unthinkable and displayed obedience to death as a humble servant without exhibiting any rights!

I asked myself what did obedient to death mean?

The only way death could come in His life was if He gave the permission for it to come. He willingly for the sake of Mission 3:16, allowed death to take hold of Him. What came to my mind is the type of death He was obedient to.

I asked myself why this type of death be emphasized!

I found it very interesting that the word EVEN stood out to reveal the death Christ became obedient to, evidenced by ‘even death on the cross!’

It was not any kind of death but seemed to emphasize a special kind of death by revealing the cross. It is as if to point out that this type of death is so horrible, scandalous, and excruciating to accept, yet Christ was obedient to that type of death.

I asked myself why did it have to be this type of death, death is death!

If Jesus wanted to be obedient to death, it did not have to be the cross! He could have drank poison, been stoned to death, beheaded, or hung but he decided to be obedient to death on a cross! Why? Why? Why?

So I started thinking about it and reasons behind the cross. What came to my mind is that the CROSS was used for these purposes:

For the most notorious criminals.
For the most cursed death.
For the most humiliating death.
For the most painful death.
Jesus wanted to go through this kind of death for Mission 3:16.

How does Jesus fit into the category for the most notorious criminals?

Jesus took upon Himself to pay for all the crimes of mankind which when added together become notorious. Jesus made it His mission to be the sacrificial scapegoat for humanity. He did it willingly. Since all crimes added together amount to notoriousness, this is the death Jesus became obedient to for humanity. He was not silent but accepted the penalty for all our crimes. When I say crimes, I am thinking about all the sins of humanity.

How does Jesus fit into the category for the most cursed death?

It was believed that only the worst people would die on the cross and this was so. In essence, they were cursed for their crimes in life. Now, Jesus comes into the picture and takes upon Himself the worst situations mankind has committed and agrees to take the punishment of cursing because He was on Mission 3:16. When we should be cursed forever, Jesus intervenes. Jesus does not stop there but endures a humiliating death.

How does Jesus fit into the category for the most humiliating death?

When people were to die on the cross, they were stripped mostly naked and put on the cross. It was not a solitary event but people jeered and cheered a person dying in their nakedness. This alone would be so humiliating because you could not cover yourself even if you wanted to. In addition, when a person is on the cross they lose a lot of blood and go into shock. Sometimes it would be as if they were shivering so much and cannot do anything about it. Usually when persons are injured, they are given a lot of covering to keep them warm until help arrives. Not for those dying a humiliating death on the cross. Jesus does not stop there but goes through a painful death.

How does Jesus fit into the category for the most painful death and what is the significance of it?

When people were crucified, the pain was unbearable and there was no anesthetic or morphine to keep the pain from not being experienced. After being labeled notorious, cursed, and humiliated, they are now placed HANDS STRETCHED and FEET TOGETHER as NAILS are POUNDED inside the person.

Do you hear the screams and cries of pain with every hit of the HAMMER as 3 nails are pounded into the flesh of the One who did no wrong?

Other people at least committed crimes and had to face the punishment. Jesus faced it for our sake. Yes, for our sake!

Can you even imagine the pain?

An injection cannot compare anywhere close to it and yet I am afraid of needles. It is painful for me to prick my finger even when not an ounce of blood is taken.

What about the cross?

Jesus could have died other ways but for your sake, He kept the cross in mind. It is interesting that even before He went to the cross, in one of His preaching sermons, He let the people know, “If you want to follow me, you must deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me. Those who want to save their life will lose it but those who are willing to give it up, will save it.”

Now Jesus picks up the cross and carries it until He can carry it no more and Simon of Cyrene carries it the rest of the way to Golgotha.

What is the significance of the cross?

All the other types of death would not have fulfilled Jesus’ Mission 3:16 for humanity but the CROSS had unique reasons for fulfilling that mission. This is what came to my mind:

The blood flow because of the nails pounded in the left hand, cleansed us of all the sins we have ever committed with our left hand.


The blood flow because of the nails pounded in the right hand, cleansed us of all the sins we have ever committed with our right hand.


The blood flow because of the nails pounded into the legs, cleansed us of all the sins we have ever committed with our legs.


The blood flow because of the thorns pounded into the head, cleansed us of all the sins we have ever committed using our head.


There was so much blood that flowed when Jesus was crucified on Calvary for you and me. It is His blood that cleanses humanity of their unrighteousness as Jesus paid the ultimate price for our redemption. It was at the Cross!

When Adam and Eve sinned, they realized their nakedness and tried to hide it. They tried to hide it with fig leaves but God foreshadowed what would come one day, as God provided clothing for them after killing possibly a lamb so they could be covered. A lamb or another animal paid the price so they could be covered after their sinfulness revealed their nakedness.

On the cross, Jesus became naked when He took upon Himself our sins so we could be clothed in His righteousness. He became the sacrificial Lamb so we could be clothed in His righteousness without being naked in sin. No other death would have involved nakedness.

I believe there is a deeper reason for death on the cross than those I thought about above. When the Israelites were to escape the angel of death, they were to put blood on the door post of their door. The blood had to be from a sacrificed lamb.

It is interesting that the blood used to cover the door was placed in a horizontal and vertical way according to Scripture: “Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.” (Exodus 12:7)

If you take the horizontal post (top) with blood on it and separate it from the vertical post (sides) with blood on it, and put them together, you get a bloody cross!

When the angel of death came during the night and saw blood on the top and sides of the doorpost, judgment decided to pass over that particular household where God’s people resided after they did what God told them to, for the judgment to pass over.

In the same way, Jesus died on the cross for a reason. The bloody cross is from the Lamb of God who sacrificed His life for humanity. It is undefiled blood and the purest antidote for our virus sin. When we take His cleansing blood and cover ourselves with it, we are covered by the cross. The cross covers over our entire body with the blood on it.

Now when God looks at us in His holiness, He does not see sin anymore but the blood of Christ covering over us and cleansing us of all sin. Now God’s judgment will Passover us and we can be with Him in Eternity. And so through the Cross, Jesus accomplished Mission 3:16 for humanity. It is actually John 3:16 put to a mission.

There is an awesome song and video by Carmen called Mission 3:16. Even as you think about what Jesus did for you, reflect on the song by Ray Boltz called 'The Hammer'.

I ask you now dear friends, what does the cross mean to you?

Dear friends it is the cross Jesus used to fulfill His mission for you and me. It is more than just a symbol or jewelry to wear on your neck or a pin to put on. Just studying this one verse I learned so much about the cross. Each time you come across a cross, I hope you get a flashback of the screaming pain of Christ as each nail went in to rescue you and me. May that reminder, remind you how much Jesus loves you that He endured the cross for you and me.

When we make a cross using our hands, it is not just a gesture but being reminded of the One who endured it and the One who now covers us by His blood because He loves us.

But that is only one aspect of why Jesus chose obedience to death-even death on the cross.

The other reason that came to my mind is a pathway. When we cross the road, we are actually crossing a pathway to reach our destination. Without a road or bridge or water we won’t be able to get to the other side because they all serve as a pathway.

In the same way, I see the Cross as the only pathway to reach God. When we look to the Cross of Christ, we are looking to the pathway that serves as a bridge to reach our Heavenly Father. All other means and pathways will not let us get across except the cross of Christ.

May you know how much you are loved by Jesus no matter what you have done or no matter where you have been! He loves you so much that He paid the price for you.

Now won’t you accept what He did for you and come into His presence and give your life to Him so He can cover the virus of sin with His blood cleansing us and making us clean?

He will give us a transfusion of change.

I ask you now dear friend, what does the P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R  C.R.O.S.S mean to you?/
"Paid All Sins, Savior's Our Valiant Everlasting Redeemer!"(P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R)/"Christ Redeems Our Souls Safely!" (C.R.O.S.S)

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I love you. Thank you for loving me so much and thank you for choosing the cross to die for me. You became the Son of Man and lived here on earth. Then you humbled yourself and became obedient to death-even death on the cross. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. You died on the cross so that I can be covered in your blood and cleansed by your blood as I acknowledge that I need you and cannot enter Heaven without you being my pathway. So, Jesus I confess all my sins to you and all the ways I have tried to get into Heaven when you already provided the means and the Way. Thank you for all that you have done for me. The cross is the place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace. Thank you Jesus, it is at the cross where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed at the cross. Thank you Jesus, at the cross you died for our sins and at the cross you gave your life for us. I thank you for that and thank you for coming back to life to save us. Thank you Jesus for being there for me! Thank you for loving me. I love you Jesus! Please take me as I am and make my life into something that you will be proud of. I surrender my life to you and need your help to live for you. I am forever grateful for what you have done for me and I can never repay you. I want to live for you and need your help. Help me Jesus please. I thank you Jesus for saving us! Thank you for hearing my prayer and answering me. Whatever your will give me the willingness and strength to bear it. Come into my heart and please make my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you all the days of my life as you help me. Thank you Jesus! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior! In Your Name I Pray precious Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Spend time in His word and let the Lord speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of Mark which are also the devotionals I have been going through before the Christmas Devotionals and hope to continue in them. Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a fellowship you can be part of where you can be part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in Bible Live Eternally!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-720-4579

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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SEPTEMBER 2005

MARK: CHAPTER 1

How seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y to prophecy?  (Sept 01, 05)

Who do you P.O.I.N.T to? (Sept 02.05)

"Will you take a S.T.A.N.D?" (Sept 03.05)

How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E? (Sept 06.05)

"How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Sept 07.05)

"Who controls your T.I.M.E?" (Sept 08, 05)

"What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Sept 09, 05)

"Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you listen to?" (Sept 12, 05)

"What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Sept 15, 05)

"Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Sept 19, 05)

"Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Sept 20, 05)

"Where do you find S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time with the Lord?" (Sept 21, 05)

"Where do you want to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Sept 22, 05)

"What do you actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Sept 24,05)

MARK: CHAPTER 2

"What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Sept 26, 05)

"Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Sept 28, 05)

"What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Sept 29, 05)

"What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Sept 30, 05)

OCTOBER 2005

"Where do you look for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Oct 04, 05)

"Who Do You I.N.V.I.T.E?" (Oct 05,05)

When do you F.A.S.T? (Oct 24, 05)

How do you see your L.I.F.E? (Oct 25,05)

"What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R are you?" (Oct 26,05)

"What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Oct 27,05)

MARK: CHAPTER 3

What are your N.E.E.D.S? (Oct 28, 05)

NOVEMBER 2005

What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?  (Nov 01,05)

What S.P.A.C.E  do you give yourself?
(Nov 07, 05)

"What has E.V.I.L done to you?"
(Nov 08, 05)

"How is your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?" (Nov 14,05)

"Who will give God T.H.A.N.K.S.G.I.V.I.N.G because of you?" (Nov 25, 05) (Taken from Gospel of Luke)

"Where is your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (Nov 29, 05)

DECEMBER 2005

"Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (Dec 01, 05)

"How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (Dec 02, 05)

"How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?" (Dec 03.05)

"What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?" (Dec 28, 05)

"What are you doing with G.O.D.'S  W.I L.L?" (Dec 31,05)

JANUARY 2006

MARK: CHAPTER 4

"What do the P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?" (Jan 04, 06)

"What kind of  F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L receiver will you be for Jesus?" (Jan 05, 06)

"How is your W.A.L.K with God?" (Jan 17, 06)

"What kind of L.A.M.P are you?" (Jan 18, 06)

"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (Jan 25, 06)

"What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?" (Jan 26, 06)

"What do you do with the W.O.R.D of God?"(Jan 30, 06)

"What will you do with the S.E.E.D?" (Jan 31,06)

FEBRUARY 2006

"What kind of  F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L receiver will you be for Jesus?" (Feb 05, 06)

MARCH 2006

"What kind of S.T.O.R.M.S are you facing?"  (March 11, 06)