The Return of Christ

Growing up my Pop was my hero. I remember him coming home from work and I would be so excited because of his return. However there were times that I had gotten in trouble and heard those word's from my Momma, "just wait until your dad gets home". Those words never affected the love I had for my dad or his love for me, but it sure made me less excited his return.

Now little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

1 John 2:28 (NASB)

Thanks to Bro. Randy for making me think!

Devotional Christian

A new web site is up that offers many daily devotions, The web-site is http://devotionalchristian.com/ One reason I am writing this post is because in doing so I could win up to $200 worth of books from wtsbooks.com. (And you can too just follow the directions on the web-site) The other reason is because this web-site gives the reader many different options in devotionals. From Lucado to Tozer and from Rodgers to Spurgon the reader has many different types and styles of devotions. An excellent resource for those of us who enjoy different devotions.

A Few Easter Concerns

A few thoughts have been going over and over in my mind in the last week or so.

What are we teaching the lost as well as the saved with how we celebrate Easter Sunday?
Even with that last sentence why is it only a special day?
Sure the catholic and protestant traditions have Holy Week, but what would happen if every Sunday were celebrated like Easter Sunday?
Why do we only put the resurrection on the forefront of our worship only once a year?
Why do our choirs prepare for one Sunday more than any other (besides maybe Christmas)?
Why do I feel like a bad parent when I don’t want to have an Easter basket waiting for my kids on Easter morning?
Is it any wonder why Christianity is not taken seriously?
Why will I have to explain this to my children?

Easter: originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occured at the time of the Passover.[1]
Easton, M. (1996, c1897). Easton's Bible dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

I am not mad about Easter; our church is phenomenal week in and week out keeping Jesus as the center of everything. I am just a little leery of what the future holds for American Christians if we as the Body of Christ don’t take Jesus seriously.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11: 25-26 NASB

Isaiah 39

At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. Hezekiah was pleased, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and his whole armory and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, "What did these men say, and from where have they come to you?" And Hezekiah said, "They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon." He said, "What have they seen in your house?" So Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them." Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,' says the LORD. 'And some of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away, and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.' " Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good." For he thought, "For there will be peace and truth in my days." Isaiah 39:1-8 (NASB95)

Things I have in Common With Hezekiah

1. All to Willing to Show What Others Will Be Impressed With

2. I Hear the Lord's Word but Just Don't Get It

3. Sometimes I Just Want Right Now To Be Good and I Don't Care About Tomorrow

Lessons I Can Learn From Hezekiah

1. God Has Given Me all I Have; So Brag About Him. He alone is Worthy

2. Meditate, Pay Attention To God's Word! HE is Talking

3. Make Tomorrow Better Than Today, Ground my Kids in Christ!