He Is Risen

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He is risen!

and He's my Lord!


Happy Easter!

Why Do They Call It GOOD Friday?

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"Why Do They Call It GOOD Friday?" is a question that both of my girls have asked, and most likely, every thinking Christian has asked at some time or another. The logic is simple really. IF this date (Friday of Passover) is the date Jesus Christ was crucified, then what is so good about that? Shouldn't we call it "Bad Friday," or "Murder Friday," or "StupidSanhedrinBunchOfIdiots Friday?"



The answer, of course, is no. The ancients had it right when they looked at this day as being ultimately a good day. Perhaps even the Ultimate Good Day. Now I know some of you are shouting at your computer screens right now, "That Ultimate Good Day comes three days later!" Yes, yes. I know. Easter is the culmination of the Christian faith. No resurrection = no Savior; and no Savior = no Christianity.



But think about this for a moment. For us: sinners, rebels, no-good-low-rent-smooth-kneed-sight-walking-low-living-Christ-rejecting folk, there is something marvelous about Friday! Yes, the Lord came out of the tomb on Sunday! Yes, because He did we can look forward to a resurrection ourselves in that last day! Yes, it proves that He is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings! But none of that would matter...if. it. wasn't. for. Friday. (Whew. I got my preacher on for a minute there.)



See, without the crucifixion, we could not celebrate the resurrection. In-other-words, without Friday, we would have no cause to celebrate Sunday. The Resurrection would have been little more than a historical blip on the radar. An interesting fact, with no redeeming value. The Bible makes this abundantly clear.



First we have redemption through His crucifixion. Paul said, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7). The picture of redemption is something being bought back. The price has been paid and it is through the blood of Jesus Christ that God bought us back from the Devil. Peter also reminds us of this when he says, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold... But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Second, we have been brought closer to God because of the crucifixion. Again, Paul says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." (Eph 2:13) Good Friday broke down the partition and makes the way possible for us to enter into the very presence of God. Now, friends and neighbors, that's a pretty good day. (Remember that ripped veil? It was what separated the people from God. But that's gone-baby-gone; thanks to Good Friday.)

There is so much more. For instance, we have been sanctified (Heb. 13:12), justified (Romans 5:9), and cleansed (1 John 1:7) because of Good Friday.

But, the third thing I want to show you is that we have reestablished peace with God. Did you know as a no-good-low-rent-smooth-kneed-sight-walking-low-living-Christ-rejecting sinner, God was at war with you? That's right. You and God were enemies. Still are, if you have not accepted Christ as Savior and Lord. But Good Friday allowed there to be peace between mankind and God. Paul said, "

And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God." (Col 1:20) He made peace through the blood of His cross, another benefit of a really, really good Friday.

Think about it. Redemption, closeness to God, sanctification, justification, cleansing of our sins, and peace with the Maker, and that just begins to scratch the surface of this day in history.



I kinda-sorta think that makes it one awfully good Friday. How 'bout y'all?

Easter 2012

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Our annual Easter Picture, this time WITH Shea!

Palm Sunday

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My Palm Sunday message is on the Sermon Player below.





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Regret, Ruin, and Restoration.

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Well, Glory!

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For the first time in eighteen years of ministry, I missed our church’s Easter Egg Hunt. Fortunately, I did not miss all the festivities at our 1^st Annual Spring Picnic. I started about three hours before everyone else, setting up tables, games, my grill for the hamburgers and hot dogs, and started my (soon-to-be) world famous baked beans.

It was a blast. It rained liked Noah’s flood at times, but we moved stuff around and other than being a little wet, it was fine. We had kids playing games like the Easter Egg relay and Plinko. The men were outside playing corn hole and horseshoes, grilling hot dogs and, no doubt, telling tall tales. The youth were stuffing and then hiding eggs, and the women were busy in the kitchen or fussing over who got to hold the fresh babies.

I just reveled in the glory of it all.

We have four folks put in the same hospital over the week-end, so I felt like a doctor making rounds through the ICU and surgical waiting rooms, pediatrics floor, and a “self-contained pulmonary safe room”. (Or something like that.) 

Which is why I had to leave the picnic early and miss the egg hunt.

We might not have had a thousand at our egg hunt, but I guarantee you that any church that did, did not have as much fun as our little church in the country.

Easter 2011

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Our annual Family Easter Picture

Rambling Thoughts

Today is Monday, March 29, 2010. It is Monday of Holy Week. So Easter approaches. It has been a year now since the "Great Easter Debacle of '09." I'm still here. ;) Hoping for a better Easter this year.

As I write this, I think back about 2,000 years and think that Jesus would have been heading to Bethany, to the house of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. He would have just about now past the Fig tree and seen that it had withered. Earlier He would have chased the money changers out of the Temple. I don't have any money changers, or a temple for that matter, but I can think of a few people who require chasing!

The adoption process is slow. Patty spoke with someone from South Carolina Heart Gallery today. The next step is an April 10th class, fire inspection of the parsonage, and then we can start the "home inspection." This is an in depth interview of us, not the house.

Preaching on Noah Wednesday night. The fourth in a series I am calling the Substance of Faith. (Hebrews 11) Abel worshiped in faith, Enoch walked in faith, Noah worked in faith. Ahh, I love alliteration.

So, mostly this week is reflecting on Him, preparing for two Easter messages, and pastoring the flock. It's is truly going to be a great week!