Resurrection is the Word!

He is Risen!

Well Happy Resurrection Sunday everyone! For I refuse to call this day Easter, since the word is derived from the Old English Eostre, meaning East and a Norman goddess of spring. How often does the modern culture and language creep in upon Holy ordinances? For now this great day in history is named after a Norman goddess of spring, we hunt colored eggs, eat tons of chocolate and worship some large rabbit as the gift-giver! Re-dunk-u-lous! Well, enough of my ranting, for we all know that the enemy will poison all that is good, especially the day when he was defeated forever! Hallelujah!

Well I don't have much to say on this day, for its too deep in my heart and inexpressible with words but I did read a sermon that made my heart rejoice even more greatly! And no, its not John Piper, John MacArthur or any other living pastor with a great standing for incredible sermons, it is Martin Luther, the bold champion of the faith that challenged the Catholic Church with his 95 theses. This sermon shows the power of the Resurrection well before I was born and how it was transforming people to be BOLD! If you have twenty minutes read this sermon!

http://homepage.mac.com/shanerosenthal/reformationink/mlmk16.htm

Well, fellas and ladies, enjoy the rest of your Resurrection Sunday! I hope the sermon blesses

your heart like it did mine. I leave you with this statement about the Sabbath from the above

sermon:

"It signifies that we should rest from all works, should not stir, nay, should not allow any sin to

stir within us, but we should firmly believe that death, hell, sin and the devil are destroyed by

the death of Christ, and we are righteous, pious, holy and therefore contented, experiencing

no longer any sin."

Enjoying the Victorious Life in Christ,

Michael the Conqueror

Sabbath Rest or Unrest?

Hey readers,

This day I awoke to enjoy fellowship with brothers and sisters at a Brunch, of sorts, at a friend's house. I began to realize as I watched us mill about getting things ready, chatting, discussing the latest or just our own lives, how we take for granted the plurality of our faith. That we, as God's holy, set apart children would be able to gather with such a deep sense of unity that its as if we all are deeply rooted in the same thing. And we are.

I have a story to explain what I mean. If your mother or father would tell you, "Go cut the grass." You would take out a lawn mower and began mowing in rows across your yard. Now your thinking, what does this have to do with anything. Well, you view the grass in your front or back yard as an entire entity not individual blades of grass, otherwise you would have grabbed a pair of scissors not the mower. This should be how we view the Church of our God, for we are more firmly rooted in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ than any suburban yard could ever show. Thank God for this unity and abuse it not!

Well, after that splendid Brunch, I played some soccer for awhile then came back to my humble Double-wide trailer, the DUB as it is known, and read the account of the crucifixion and resurrection in Matthew. I had not done this in awhile, which I believe I should at least once a month. Maybe you haven't read it awhile either, I would encourage you to consider it. Well, as I read the scandalous events of my Savior's death I realized that the days were quite full of events for the disciples, Jesus and Jerusalem in general, except one. After Jesus is killed and buried on what we call Good Friday, the day after has but four verses given to it. This day in Jewish history was the Sabbath, a day of rest from work and religious rituals. But after the extremely eventful day before (trials, riots, scourging, crucifixions, earthquakes, raising of dead saints, rocks splitting and the curtain of separation being torn in two forever, never to separate man from God again) this day has but one event in it. The chief priests and Pharisees are distraught that their plot to destroy their utmost enemy may be thwarted if they don't act further. So, they appear before the "innocent" governor, Pilate, and ask to guard the tomb in case Jesus' disciples decide to fake the resurrection that their Master foretold. They must prevent this fraud in anyway possible, despite that the disciples had been heart-broken, scattered and silenced when the Christ was buried. Thus, are the wicked never at rest for righteousness always prevails, no matter the schemes or plans laid out. For even upon the Sabbath, the day of rest, these men connived, schemed and plotted with restlessness to keep their fears placated. This is our God who "frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success." Job 5:12 So, the lesson of this extremely long blog is rest easy and assured that whatever schemes of this world or Satan has for you, they will be crushed. Crushed like the plans of these men, when Jesus, the Son of God, burst forth from the tomb and gathered his people together and gave them the power of the Holy Spirit and purpose to tell the world. Rejoice greatly alongside the sinners saved by grace in this truth. For we are truly blessed beyond all knowledge or understanding to have a God FOR US!

Resting in the Grand Weaver's power,

the little Weaver