Monday Morning Musings ...

Yesterday was a very good. Easter is always good and this one had some extra special elements to it, and one disappointing one. The first special part was doing the dedication for baby Drew. He was in ICU for 10 days or so, most of those in a coma and on a ventilator. He was in the hospital another 7 days after getting off the ventilator. He was very sick and some of the prognosis(es) were not encouraging. People really rallied in prayer and he is doing great. His doctor called it "miraculous" and one of the nurses just said "Wow!" upon seeing the turn around. This was a very few dry eyes dedication, including yours truly. I love baby dedications, but this one was extra special.

Another special part was the conclusion of the service. While the worship team sang "Jesus Paid It All" 8 of teens and a sponsor painted a 5 panels that turned out to be Christ's blood stained face, hands and feet. The congregation was on their feet as they finished, it was a powerful moment.

The attendance was good, it was the largest Easter attendance in my 6 Easters here. That was encouraging. In that number was a few of my former volleyball players, it was great to see them. A mother and daughter attended who said it was the first time they had ever been in a church service and are planning to come back this Sunday. That is awesome, and way to go to the person who reached out to their neighbor and invited them.

The message was entitled "It's Not Over". I told about the Cal vs. Stanford football game that finished with a last second kick off return that won the game as the band came on the field. Everyone thought that game was over since the kick off happened with 4 seconds remaining, but it wasn't over. I told of a couple who divorced after a few years and then God got hold of his heart and his life was changed. They ended up remarrying each other and served the Lord for many years. It looked like it was over with the divorce, but it wasn't over. Then came to Christ dying on the cross and it looked like it was over, but on that first Easter he rose again and it's not over. No matter what you are facing, no matter what your past is, not matter your economic or physical condition, it's not over. There is hope in Christ.

We examined Matthew 28:5-10, 16-20. The scripture reminds to not be afraid. We are paralyzed and kept from living for Christ when we choose to live by fear instead of faith. We need to remember that Christ is here and that he has risen. We don't go looking for him in the cemetery and we don't flowers to the tomb, because he is alive and he is with us. In all of this you need to remember that no matter what, it's not over. We are reminded to go and tell others about Jesus. In fact this passage says that we are to go quickly and tell them. We are not to tell them quickly, but we are to quickly. Too often we go very slowly, if at all, and if get to others we tell them quickly and quietly. They need to know that no matter what they have done it's not over. We must also come to grips with the fact that we have told the truth. No more excuses. It's not over.

What are you fearful of trying? It's not over. What has you paralyzed? It's not over. What have you been slow to do that you know you should do? It's not over.

The disappointing part of yesterday was that I don't know if anyone made a decision for Christ. That is always the hope and prayer, and no one responded in the service or to the insert they could have filled out. But, it's not over, so I will keep praying for the word that they heard to take hold.