Easter Aftermath

I made it through my first easter in ministry with few injuries. Our services were well attended and I did wear a femanine colored shirt from kohls. I think the color was sunset orange. It was something. Easter was all that I had anticipated and more. As I preached easter morning, proclaiming a risen Christ, I sensed a closeness to God that I had never sensed before. Here I was (17 years to Easter Sunday a Christian, 10 years after I had been called to ministry) preaching the most important message. Jesus is alive. It was so awesome to preach hope to a people that I brought through the crucifixion scene two days earlier in our tenebrae service. By the way, you definately don't have to be a high church to have a more liturgical service like this. This service on Good Friday was powerful and moving.

I woke up monday exhausted and even a little tired yesterday. I never realized the amount of energy this weekend would take from me. Its one of those good tireds, like when I was in high school and just finished a cross country race. I had accomplished the course. Given it all and pushed beyond what I had. Through this exhaustion I feel strangly refreshed, motivated, and focused to minister.

Does the easter season really make a difference in the life of the church? Honestly, I want to know. Obviously it should, but how do we really take in the season? My sermon sunday morning was out of John 20. There were three reactions to the empty tomb in this passage. Mary weeping, John saw and believed, and Peter simply observed. What is your response to the empty tomb. What does it mean to a Christian? Im afraid, for many of us, it's nothing more than an observation. I pray that you and your churches will be deeply impacted to be changed by the easter message.