The cross saves us from disaster

1. Youth Devotional - Power of
the Cross
The cross saves us from
disaster
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2. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it
is the power of God.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)
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3. In 1967 while taking a class in photography at the University of
Cincinnati, I became acquainted with a young man named Charles
Murray who also was a student at the school and training for the
summer Olympics of 1968 as a high diver. Charles was very patient
with me as I would speak to him for hours about Jesus Christ and how
He had saved me. Charles was not raised in a home that attended any
kind of church, so all that I had to tell him was a fascination to him. He
even began to ask questions about forgiveness of sin.
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4. Finally the day came that I put a question to him. I asked
if he realized his own need of a redeemer and if he was
ready to trust Christ as his own Saviour. I saw his
countenance fall and the guilt in his face. But his reply
was a strong “no.”
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5. In the days that followed he was quiet and often I felt that he
was avoiding me, until I got a phone call and it was Charles. He
wanted to know where to look in the New Testament for some
verses that I had given him about salvation. I gave him the
reference to several passages and asked if I could meet with
him. He declined my offer and thanked me for the scripture. I
could tell that he was greatly troubled, but I did not know
where he was or how to help him.
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6. Because he was training for the Olympic games, Charles had special
privileges at the University pool facilities. Some time between 10:30
and 11:00 that evening he decided to go swim and practice a few
dives. It was a clear night in October and the moon was big and
bright. The University pool was housed under a ceiling of glass
panes so the moon shone bright across the top of the wall in the
pool area. Charles climbed to the highest platform to take his first
dive. At that moment the Spirit of God began to convict him of his
sins.
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7. All the scripture he had read, all the occasions of witnessing to him
about Christ flooded his mind. He stood on the platform backwards to
make his dive, spread his arms to gather his balance, looked up to the
wall and saw his own shadow caused by the light of the moon. It was
the shape of a cross. He could bear the burden of his sin no longer. His
heart broke and he sat down on the platform and asked God to forgive
him and save him. He trusted Jesus Christ twenty some feet in the air.
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8. Suddenly, the lights in the pool area came on. The attendant
had come in to check the pool. As Charles looked down from
his platform he saw an empty pool which had been drained for
repairs. He had almost plummeted to his death, but the cross
had stopped him from disaster.
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9. * According to the Cincinnati Post, University of Cincinnati officials have
checked out this story, which has been posted many times on the Internet
under the title of The Power of the Cross. “UC spokesman Greg Hand said
two Charles Murrays attended UC then. One left UC before ’67 and
another was not enrolled at the time. Neither were divers. Still, Hand is
not ready to call the story fiction. ‘I’m of the opinion that maybe the
names were changed in this story,’ he said. The university swimming pool
in Laurence Hall is housed in a room whose west wall is made entirely of
glass panes, a fact which substantiates a key part of the story. ‘It’s one of
those things where you kind of hope it is true,’ Hand said.”
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10. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need an evangelistic Youth Camp/ Bible
Study Series with an Olympic Theme?
What is salvation all about? What does it
mean to be saved? This sports themed
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum uses the
Olympic Flag to introduce the concepts of
sin (black circle), forgiveness (red circle),
purity (white background), spiritual growth
(green circle), heaven (Yellow Circle) and
(Baptism) blue circle.
Creative Youth Ideas
Go for the Gold
-> Tell me about “Go for the Gold”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/goforthegold.html

11. www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com
Need a Youth Camp/ Bible Study Series
on ”Running the Christian Race”?
The race as a metaphor for the Christian
life is used in several places in the Bible.
This series is a great follow up for new
Christians or to re-emphasize the basics of
our spiritual Journey in the Faith. This
Bible Study / Camp Curriculum has a
sports theme and is great for athletes as
well as a tie in to the youth Olympic
Games.
Creative Youth Ideas
Destined to Win
->Tell me about “Destined to Win”
www.creativeyouthideas.com/destinedtowin.html