IN DEATH … OUR LIFE REVEALS WHO WE REALLY WERE! Just stand in the wings around a family when their loved one is close to death, and remain close by through the days following their final moments on earth. Walk beside them in the hospital or in the nursing home or at the funeral home, and finally at the church. Even if you didn’t know the person at all, by the time you’ve seen all their family and friends, neighbors and acquaintances – and listened to them share how they felt about the person now gone … you’ll feel like you knew them pretty well! And amazingly, what stands out from everything else, is the heart of who they were. You’ll hear about how they touched others and what defined who they really were - at the core of their heart. That’s exactly what I experienced this past week, when my youngest sister, Darlene, and I traveled out to North Dakota to be by our Aunt Vivian’s side and tell her how much we have loved and appreciated her all these years. Especially since the sudden death of our dad when we were still teens and children living at home with our mother! Her love and compassion shone, and she was faithful with birthday cards and Christmas letters. Every time we saw her (maybe once a year – or less), she affirmed us lovingly with her words and hugs. She would always tuck some of her hard-earned money in the cards, and somehow we felt as if it was her way of trying to fill a part of the gap that our dad’s death left. And since Aunt Vivian’s Home-going was during this Holy Week preceding Resurrection Sunday, my mind did back-flips and landed on the hill of Golgotha where there was another Person struggling for what would soon be His last breath as He hung there on that rough-hewn cross. I stood at first far back … I could see that Jesus (that was His Name) was close to death. The breaths came in excruciating, shortened gasps. Something in how He was suffering drew me closer. I stepped out of the safe boundaries and into that risky place where when I looked into His eyes, I had to face the fact that His suffering was – for ME! I remained close by, because I dared not move … not even an inch away, for fear that I’d miss what defined this Man who was dying – for ME! I had walked along the path where He drug the cross. I had watched. I saw, but I didn’t fully understand. The drops of blood. The torn flesh. The mocking crown of thorns. The breathing was becoming only intermittent as the final breath drew near. It broke my heart to think that His life would soon be over: the love, the compassion, and this … this death. It seemed to transcend the normal end of life. It seemed to hold hope … and life … and promise. But it was more than I could fathom. And then the end came. The people came. They talked, they shared. They remembered, they recalled. The love, the care. The miracles, the out-of-ordinary life He lived. The stories He told. The lives He changed. The message they could not get out of their minds ~ because it had changed their hearts. And then I realized something: in His death … His life revealed who He really was. Or rather, who He really IS. Because that final breath on the cross was not the end. It was only the beginning, at least – FOR ME. It was wrapped in shrouded cloths - for a short time. It was still and lifeless – for a short time. It was sealed off from the world, from all of humanity – for a short time. It breathed not – for a short time. But in that short time – eternity was taking shape. Life was getting ready – to burst forth. Hope would not be held back. The cloths could not contain His life – or the life He was bringing me … and you. The breathless form would not remain lifeless. The tomb could not contain the One who eternity was created for. In that electrifying, transforming moment in Time … all of earth stopped, but Jesus moved. He moved - out of His grave-cloths. He moved – towards those He loved. He moved – to bring them, and us, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He moved – in a flash of Resurrection Power – to His Throne. And this world will never, ever be the same. He breathes again. He lives again. He reigns forever and ever. He awaits us, even now. The cross is empty. The tomb is empty. Heaven is filled – with our future! The gap is filled. And we weep no more. Aunt Vivian, we’ll see you soon!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- THIS PAST SUNDAY was rich with the presence and the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, as Pastor Doug challenged the church to “Influence our Worlds with the Love of Christ” – another learning point as we head down the home-stretch on our spiritual adventure!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES to Darrius, who celebrates his birthday on April 2nd! God bless you, Darrius!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, APRIL 4th, RESURRECTION SUNDAY CELEBRATION! Rejoice, Christ is RISEN!!!
- 9:00 A.M. – EASTER WORSHIP & PRAISE (Note earlier time schedule for this week only!) Come and join us in lively worship as we celebrate this special time in the life of the church! Thorns give way to lilies, and forgiveness gives way to freedom! Pastor Doug will be preaching the concluding message of our 50-Day Spiritual Adventure: “Living One Day at a Time through the Power of the Risen Christ”. Get excited about the transforming changes that God has in store for us!
- EASTER EGG HUNT – outdoors on the lawn, for all of the Sunday School children following our worship time!
- EASTER FELLOWSHIP – with juice and rolls for the church family, following the worship celebration!
- NO YOUTH RE: FUEL session this evening. Enjoy Easter with your family!
- THANK YOU for sharing delicious Easter meals and life-changing messages with those in need at the Union Gospel Mission. An updated report with totals will be shared next week!
- MAY 1ST, Saturday, 2:30 P.M. – MOTHER/DAUGHTER TEA with Hazel’s special touch! Plan NOW to invite your family and friends for a delightful time! You won’t want to miss this incredible afternoon!
- A NEW SLATE OF FUN CHURCH EVENTS is underway; be watching for how YOU can be involved, in leadership and with participation!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- Isaiah 30:18 tells us that the Lord longs to be gracious to us! That means that He loves to intervene and answer and give to us His good and perfect gifts! We praise the Lord for safe travels over spring break for so many of our church families, and how we thank God and rejoice that the doctors found Tina’s mom’s heart to be in perfect rhythm and didn’t need to do the procedure! We continue to trust God for miracles for Julia and her brother needing the liver transplant; for healing for Helen, for Jeff, for Michael, for Shirley, and many others. We know God can bring about the sale of the Bucholz home, and meet financial needs for many in our midst, that God might be glorified! We are trusting God for a home for our church, for the return of our nation to God, for protection for our military, for energizing of God’s people, and anointing and strength for Ron and Lundstroms and Seykoras as they share Christ here and abroad. Let’s be engaged in daily prayer for each other, as well!
- THIS WEEK . . . “Lift up your eyes. The heavenly Father wants to bless you ~ in inconceivable ways to make your life what you never dreamed it could be.” ~ Anne Ortlund
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
