Sunday, April 08, 2012

Easter Thoughts

I just finished reading "More Than a Carpenter" by Josh McDowell. I knew it was good, but I had never read it. It was a very abbreviated version of Josh's "Evidence that Demands a Verdict." The punch was still there, though. Everything he wrote centered around Jesus - his identity and his deeds. It caused me to do some thinking about how we treat Easter. In Josh's book, the coming of Jesus as God in the flesh and His death and resurrection are the central events in all of history. Jesus can only be a liar, a lunatic of the LORD. Many have come teaching lots of things, but the swirl of controversy around Jesus was constantly not so much His teaching but His identity. Telling a group of Jewish religious leaders "before Abraham was, I AM..." is a direct claim to being God in the flesh. The religious leaders of the day understood very clearly what Jesus was claiming, and fully intended to have him put to death because of it. Even at Jesus' trial, the charges were about His identity not His deeds. As far as His deeds were concerned, He was found blameless.

The crucifixion was accomplished with the full force of Roman efficiency and brutality. No one but Johnny-come-latelys bringing their revisionist delusions would/ could believe anything except that Jesus died on the cross.

Then comes the resurrection. There are too many aspects of this to ennumerate all of them - not even in a lifetime, but one I want to mention is the radical change in the disciples. They were transformed from shrinking, hiding, fearful men to men of whom it was said in Acts 17:6 they had turned the world upside down. What, besides the resurrection, could account for this radical transformation? This singular event in history changed everything. Think of it. One man, three year's of ministry, a horrific death by crucifixion at the hands of jealous men, and an empty tomb on the third day. From this spectacularly humble yet inscrutable beginning, hope and light has entered the world, and all of history is divided into B.C. and A.D.

So, how have we gotten to the place where Easter is about an egg-laying rabbit (how weird is that anyway - what do rabbits have to do with eggs?)? Where did the train of history get off the tracks? What can I/ we do to remember Easter for what it truly is and to tell others the same?

By Grace
MEG
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Easter 2012

  • Snow covered fields and barn this Easter a.m. 

  • Amazing Grace - do I really celebrate, live, walk depending on His grace day to day? 
  • Debated between sparkspeople and weight watchers online - joined sparks.  I have a goal to get it ALL (even the nagging last 10 lbs that stays around to mount an offensive) by the end of December.
  • Whole "gaggle" of swans flying over...spring? 
  • Anchorage, AK broke a record for snowfall - 133 inches. We are up to 220 inches and haven't broken the record of 240 set in 1984. I had been wondering how this snow compares with our AK winters. 
  • Snow's already melted for the day....can't wait until this "spring" looks becomes green!
  • Was great to be in church for the first time in a month. All were happy to see Michael. 
  • We went to the Club for brunch after chapel....
  • We spent the afternoon relaxing. 
  • We're still reading Amon's Adventure so read from that as well as the "Easter" story from Golgotha to Ascension. 
  • Jamin ran in a steeple chase at ASU - took first by 18 seconds! That's my son! Run, boy, run! 
  • Michael has one more week of convalescent leave. This is good - he's worn out from chapel and lunch. 
  • Looking for low fat, high protein, high calories options for Michael. 
  • Thankful this Easter for the gift of hope and new life...and for the absence of cancer and a good path for health for Michael. 
Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...