Easter

It appears that I gave up blogging for Lent. Though this is not technically true, it is clearly what happened, no matter the cause. I will consciously redidicate myself to improvement on this endeavor.

It is difficult to come up with anything new to say about Easter. It is renewal.Of course, we talk about the "new covenant," as opposed to the old covenant after the flood symbolized by the rainbow.

When i think about the new covenant, I almost have a feeling of relief. I am not good with rules, routine or consistency. Anyone who knows me is sometimes painfully aware of this character trait of mine. Some of my more disciplined brothers and sisters have difficulty understanding my lapses. There have been many difficult and turbulant experiences in my life due to my personality. It seems simple to people who are disciplined to simply do stuff. They do not understand that if I could change this I would, or at least reduce its occurances to those with less gravity and effect on others. This sounds like rationalization, who knows? I just know I struggle with circumstances, a lot. So, when Jesus came to die for me and I learn from Him that I cannot "earn" my way into Heaven, I am relieved. If it depended on me, I might as well break out the hotdogs and marshmallows and get ready for the great, long barbeque.

Fortunately, for me, jesus is here for me. not just me, of course, but for me personally, not my family, not our congregation, not americans, for me personally. This is profound. It is, to me, the most profound of all truth.

If I did nothing but sit in my new La-Z-Boy for the rest of my life, this truth would still apply. If I sold all my possessions and made a promise of poverty and found a cave and spent my days in solomn prayer, this truth would apply. If I moved to some remote area where no one had heard of jesus and converted everyone to Christianity and gained millions of followers for the Lord, the same truth would apply.

So, what is the incentive? Why should I write this blog entry? Why should i wake up and go to church? Why serve in leadership in our church? After all, the result is the same. Jesus came to save me and his position as the Son of God, who came here and died and rose from the dead, gives me the ticket.

My favorite Bible passages are the 23rd Psalm and Mathew . I am reassured. Also, I learn that sin is sin. My sins are like everyone's sins. i cannot do anything to make up for my sinfulness. I also learn that I have the power to do all that jesus did and more. now that is something to contemplate. i am told not to worry, since the birds and flowers are taken care of and so why won't the Lord take care of me? Now that is an insurance policy!

So, how does and Elder respond to Easter? My first reaction is gratitude. I am so grateful that my salvation and relationship with Jesus is not dependent on me. To become the change we want to see, I need to react in kind. Not to secure salvation, but because of gratitude. I need to give back. understand, this is my response to Easter. Another person's response is between them and jesus. Though I will fail and struggle, I will continue to try. I will get out of the recliner and walk over to church. I will talk to my brothers and sisters and work to be of service. I will listen to find opportunities to teach the story of our Lord and his mercy.

I hope members of our church call upon me to be of service. I can be a little dense, sometimes. it is good to spell things out to me in plain words.

So my renewal is to rededicate myself to doing good, praying, loving the Lord, listening to the Holy Spirit and trying to pick up on the cues and follow the path which jesus has blazed for me, personally.