Happy Easter
Mike Porter and his wife’s battle with her diabetes, Al & Josh work day in and day out building calls for a living, Charlie Parish and his arthritis, Steve Mann raising a son with a heart that is still heavy, Lamar Williams double shoulder surgery due to call making, Jeff McKamey’s father’s health and the stress of a business that has to make tough decisions in spite of a suppliers problems, Peter worrying about his mother health, Dave the burden of his father’s illness, Bruce and his father in law’s struggles, Richard Meagher and an uncertain job situation, Brent and Jim working full time jobs and then while most of us and relaxing they are turning he lights back on and trying to build a business, Rickey battling his back and the frustrations that followed, Jason and Lisa worrying about their own issues as well as family, watching my sons work so many hours due the nature of their work that even as young men they as so drained by week’s end they can hardly go yet family and Church still require more, Daryl Slaton falls in this category as well as he just finished a new home to boot, Lee Chadwick and prayers he has requested, Jeff Erb and his battle with ALS (God give him peace), Marlin talking of his diminishing strength as age slowly makes its presence known, Tim Clayton and life’s struggles, Tim Bullock, his business and mother, myself as I day in and day out look out the window and wish I could just put my feet in the grass, play ball with my grandson, even breathe without pain.
These are but a few of my friends that are members of our site of Great Men and Women or Guests that check in often, all of who I pray for regularly.
As we celebrate Easter I am reminded that life has its struggles. We, regardless of age realize it’s not a perfect world. As surely as Adam and Eve brought sin into the world along with it came our dilemma. As good as life can be it will always be a book with another page to turn, and what we find on that page is called life, both good and bad. And we all know where it’s headed, there is an end to every book!
Some 2000 years ago God sent his son to live in Human flesh, to know firsthand our struggles and pain as well as the good side, family, friends, helping others, enjoying a talent. At about age 30 the man we call Jesus began his earthly ministry, A battle if you will against evil that mankind brought upon himself. For roughly three years he healed, loved, taught and fought against established religion to introduce people to the real God. A God who cares, a God who is with us, A God who loves us more than we could ever know. Then jealousy, hatred, contempt among other things caused the very people whom he came to save to accuse him unjustly, beat him unmercifully and on a dreary Friday make him wear a crown made of long thorns that was shoved down on his head (my God have mercy the pain must have been nearly unbearable), weak and barely able to stand, drag a cross (legend has said made from Dogwood) to a hill called Golgatha. They placed a small block of wood on the upright piece about a foot or so below his buttocks. Then placed him on that piece of wood and drove spikes through his hands, and crossed his feet and drove spikes in his feet. Then lifted him up and dropped it in a hole as his flesh tore even more. The block was so he could let himself down and rest, but when he did the pressure would constrict the lungs and make it hard to breathe so only a second or two. When he pushed back up to breathe the pain in his feet must have been excruciating! They gave him vinegar to drink when he asked for water. Doctors have told us for centuries that to be crucified was the most horrible way to condem a man to die ever conceived. So the man named Jesus died on that Friday. But before he did he prayed “father forgive them”. WOW
They took his lifeless body from the cross, wrapped it up and placed in a tomb on a cold slab of stone. The guards were order to roll a giant stone over the entrance to keep anyone from stealing the body. I can only imagine what was going through the minds of the ones who believed in him, followed him, and were touched in some way by his presence. What took place while he was in that tomb is merely speculation, but be assured the world which we cannot see was shook to the core.
On Sunday Morning God sent an angle and rolled the stone away. God himself enter that lifeless body and healed those wounds and Jesus The Risen Savior had won Victory over death and the Grave. Buying back with his precious blood our salvation. Glory be to God in The Highest!!! He is Risen So stand up today and celebrate! If you call him Lord, your battles may not be over but the Victory is Assured.
He’s Alive!I Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?HAPPY EASTERYour Friend In Christ
Bro. Mike
