Back from Branson

I'm back from Branson, MO. Went there with some senior adults from our church. Everyone had a great time. And during the long 26 hours on the bus to and from, a lot of nice conversation took place. Sorry, I don't have any pictures because I forgot my camera, but I have to tell you that the Pierce Arrow Theater show was about the best I've ever seen in Branson. I highly recommend it.

Biking in Austin

Had a lot of fun today. Our family went to Austin and biked about 8 miles around Town Lake. It was pretty cold and windy, but I look forward to the warmer weather, when we can take more of these bike rides. There was an area off the trail where we noticed people flying kites. I told my son, "What a shame. Those people could be home checking their email, surfing the internet, keeping their eyeballs glued to their computer screens. Just look at them! Instead, they're out here flying kites in the sunshine. What is this world coming to?!"

Easter 2007

Tomorrow are church is celebrating Easter along with the Christian church all over the world. It's kinda awesome when you think about it: All of Christendom celebrating the resurrection of Christ on the same day! Wow!

A Seventh Day Adventist recently asked me if I thought it was strange that churches worshiped on Sunday rather than on Saturday. After all, she said, God instituted Saturday for the Sabbath and for worship.

I said it wasn't strange at all that Christians worship on Sunday. First I reminded her of the Apostle Paul's words in Romans 14:4-6 where he asks:

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

It seems to me that Paul is teaching that it's not the day that's important. But then I went on to tell her that Christians began worshiping on Sunday very soon after the resurrection. It was an entire paradigm shift for them. Something extraordinary must have happened in order for the earliest church (Jewish Christians) to change their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. Of course, it was the resurrection of Christ that caused the change of day!

Because Christ was resurrected from the dead, the Bible promises that we will be raised also. So on Easter, I remember the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. I also anticipate the 2nd coming of Christ. Whether or not it's in my lifetime doesn't matter. There's so much joy in the sheer anticipation! Read the Apostle John's words in Revelation 22:7 ff.

"Behold, I am coming soon!... the time is near...Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End...

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.