Glimpses of Jesus in a song

This is the title track for The Newsboys new album, Hallelujah for the Cross. It's my new favorite! At the bottom there are links to both the Newsboys' version and the composer's version. Praise God for Jesus!

Hallelujah for the Cross by Ross King

Up to the hill of Calvary
My Savior went courageously
And there he bled and died for me
Hallelujah for the cross

 And on that day the world was changed
 The final perfect lamb was slain
 Let earth and heaven now proclaim
 Hallelujah for the cross

(Chorus)
Hallelujah for the war he fought
Love has won, Death has lost
Hallelujah for the souls he bought
Hallelujah for the cross

What good I've done could never save
My debt too great, for deeds to pay
But God my savior made a way
Hallelujah for the cross

A slave to sin my life was bound
But all my chains fell to the ground
When Jesus' blood came flowing down
Hallelujah for the cross

 Hallelujah for the war he fought
Love has won, Death has lost
Hallelujah for the souls he bought
Hallelujah for the cross

 And when I breathe my final breath
I'll have no need to fear that rest
This hope will guide me into death
Hallelujah for the cross

Hallelujah for the war he fought
Love has won, Death has lost
Hallelujah for the souls he bought
Hallelujah for the cross

http://youtu.be/L7NJc1_t6q0 (Newsboys)

http://youtu.be/7dPb4sMp_X4 (Ross King)

Anna Karenina: Conclusion

This post wraps up my thoughts on Anna Karenina. It could be a major spoiler for the book so if you want to find out what happens for yourself stop right here!

Conclusion

The contrast between Anna and Levin is clear throughout the book. While a sense of dirtiness and disgust cover Anna and Vronsky as their desires are fulfilled, the sense of joy and happiness at the ultimate success of Levin's pursuit of Kitty stands in marked contrast. Both Levin and Anna end up with the person whom they desire, Anna in an illegitimate relationship, Levin in a legitimate one. Both Anna and Levin entertain the desire to end their own lives at various points throughout the book. But there the similarities end. Anna is destroyed by what she thought would make her happy and bring her fulfillment. Levin grows as a man and ultimately finds faith in God. This is the story and point of Anna Karenina; the stark contrast between the two ways of living. 

Perhaps Jesus said it best, "For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to
destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14). Anna and Vronsky entered (and were summarily destroyed) through the broad road of pursuing their desires while Levin through the narrow gate of faith in Christ. Tolstoy's great novel stands as a sentinel to us today urging us to choose the narrow, though often more difficult, way of following Jesus.