Easter Is More...

The bad thing about Easter is that it's on the calendar. I don't want to criticize 2000 years of church history, but I wonder if we've made a mistake. Easter becomes a day in the year that I can look forward to and a day in the year that becomes a quickly fading memory. I wonder, are we are supposed to memorialize the resurrection or materialize the resurrection?Don't get me wrong, I love Easter Sunday! I'm just concerned that by having it be an annual day on the calendar I overlook the full impact that day has on my life. Somehow it's more than a day to remember - it's a day to live. It's a day that changes everything. The day of Easter represents transformational power that is available each day of the year. Maybe we lose the point when Easter is a church service that I dress up for and come home from. When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church in the 15th chapter he included a theology of Easter that we overlook. The resurrection of Christ is more than a day in history, it is a day in my future. I will do that too one day! Jesus and I have that in common!The empty tomb should be more than a day that I celebrated, it's a reality that I live. As a pastor, I love that there is a day that is the highest church attendance day of the year to applaud the power of Christ. I love that we know it's not about a chocolate bunny or a decorated egg. I just wonder if we really celebrate well the power of Christ when it's a day that I look forward to and back on and not a transforming truth that impacts my eternity... daily.Maybe I can learn how to have it be both.Thinking about Easter,Pastor Dave

Good Friday

Jesus, and I went for walk on Good Friday. It was an amazing walk. Usually I have some question or issues that I need his input on, but this walk was quiet. We both knew what today was about.

At one point I wanted to ask him why he asked God to forgive those who crucified him. I could have thought of something far more appropriate than, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” But when I looked at him I realized that words would get in the way. So we walked.

I almost asked what happened to him when he was in the tomb. Theologians debate about that all the time. I could get the answer right from his mouth and do the talk show circuit correcting all those who live on taking the mystery out of the mysterious. But, yesterday didn’t seem to be a good topic for words.

So we walked. Slowly my questions that almost made it past my lips started to fade and I became aware of His presence. I didn’t need to know. I didn’t need to ask. I didn’t even need to listen. Just walk.

I sometimes forget about the power of walking with the Master. Often I am too hungry for insight to experience nearness and too eager to have answers to drink in what is living. Just walk.

I realized the One walking with me knows about my failures - and still walks with me. I thought about the fact that the One next to me that knows my thoughts - still loves me. I celebrated the One who journeys with (and in) me knows my soul is not flawless - and yet he receives it without hesitation.  

His smile reminded me that he enjoys being with me too. There was no point in asking why he does. I’ve tried. It’s a circular argument. He loves me because he loves me. Today I just walked in that.

The fire in his eyes provided cleansing when they meet with mine. One time, when we glanced toward each other, I realized that not only does he look deep into my life, he allows me to do the same when I look at him. It’s like looking at the sun, you can’t do it for long, but when you look away the brightness remains and impacts everything else you see. I like that about him. 

Sometimes words mess up presence.

Today, I’m doing more than remembering the cross. I’m walking with the One that went there. I'm not done yet.

Quietly Walking,

Dave

Will you meet me at the Gate?

Jesus, I have to be honest. I don't know if I would have rode into town that day. I mean, the "Hosanna!" and palm branches would have been cool and everything, but if I knew what was coming.... 

You could have taken the road from Bethany that headed south to Bethlehem (we all like visiting our birth place). But you rode west to Jerusalem (we all would rather avoid our death place). It would have taken longer to go to Bethlehem, but it wouldn't have been as dangerous.

You could have rode a little to the north and the east and visited Jericho. The history of walls falling as God's people claimed what he had given them would have been encouraging and not as costly.

You could have gone straight north and made the big trip back to the Sea of Galilee. It's a great vacation spot! It's the area of miracles - walking on the water! But you rode the shortest and most costly distance. You rode to your own funeral.

I'm wondering, what did you think about during that 2 mile journey? Were you excited about going home? Did you even bother packing, because you knew it would be a one way trip? Did you know that one day you'd ask me to give my life too?

I guess I need to learn how to lay my life down don't I? I'd rather take longer trips that are filled with personal nostalgia, or memories of great victories, or places that remind me of how you worked in my life. I'd rather not take the short trip to giving all of my life to you. 

You set the example for me and took the trip that cost you everything because of your love for the Father. 

So here I sit on my in my driveway at Bethany looking to the north, over my shoulder to the east and down to the south, wondering if there is a way to follow you without making the short trip west. The ironic thing is, I know the joy of the party is on the other side of the cross. It's just, it would be so nice to visit Galilee this time of year.

But, I'm following you to Jerusalem. Will you meet me at the gate?

Letters

Dear Jesus,

It's almost Easter again. Do you think that this one could be different? I've gone through a lot of them. I wonder what it takes to make this one different somehow. I'm not bored, really I'm not. I love the season of death turning into life, it's very important and I know that… I'm just kind of hungry for more than a day on the calendar.

Love, Dave 

Dear Dave,

I would love for this Easter to be different for you! This day is about so much more than a holiday on the calendar. Yes, lets have this one be different. What did you have in mind?

Love, Jesus

Dear Jesus,

Well, I was thinking maybe you could do something really cool, something that is CNN kind of stuff. The kind of thing that would go viral in a day. Maybe… what if this Easter you showed up and everyone in the whole city was healed. I'm talking hospital emptying miracle! How do you feel about fireworks without the fireworks? Think about it- what if there were spontaneous explosions in the sky filled with color, not because some guy lit a fuse, but just by your power.  Oh! You could make the explosion have a message like, "I Am Alive!"

Love, Dave

Dear Dave,

No.

Love, Jesus

Dear Jesus,

Please Jesus, there's something in me that really wants this season to be different. I really want you to show up and do something that will get everyone's attention.  Think of the good it would do. What if you parted Lake Michigan and your followers could cross to Wisconsin? You could do so much more with this day!

Love, Dave

Dear Dave,

Rather than me making the season different with a gimmick, how about if you made the season different with surrender? Consider this - I've already made the day, it doesn't need to be added to, it just needs people willing to let it be real in their lives, the day needs you to let my power do a miracle in and through you. I don't need CNN, I've got you.

Love, Jesus

Dear Jesus,

Oh. 

Love, Dave 

Dear Dave,

This Easter could be so much more. Let my story change your life. Let truth set you free. Let my victory give you hope. Let passion for me spill into the world around you. Let yourself be changed. Yes, this Easter could be different, but it's not about me doing something different - it's about you letting me be who I have always been… in you. 

Love, Jesus

Dear Paul,

I want you to know I love your letters to the churches, I've really gotten a lot out of them. I'm working on making this Easter different and I wondered if you could help me with something. How would you feel about doing an interview with CNN? I really want this Easter to be special. Can you part water?  Would you…