Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday Morning Mindset
4 guys made it out... that's this morning, Monday, March 30, at Trestles... "our" surf spot... or at least very near by... good to see that a few guys are in the water- regardless the very small swell conditions. Looks like fun... the spring break crowds will gather.
A recent report disclosed that the average American spends 8.5 hours a day of "screen" time. Eight and a half hours in front of a computer monitor, a television, some sort of screen... every single day... a third of our lives... it was enough to motivate me to get on my bike and ride Saturday morning- but I found myself "surfing" the Internet today instead of joining my 4 intrepid friends there in the line up... more screen time.
It's spring! Easter's just day's away. Never a better time for a new beginning in Christ. No better opportunity to embrace the glorious words of the Psalmist who cried out: "This is the day that The Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" I'm going to turn off my computer and enjoy the day. Hope you do the same.
blessings,
Eric
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Do You Froogle?
It's easy- in your browser type: www.froogle.com. (the period at the end isn't necessary) You'll see a screen that looks a lot like google- in the search window type the name of any product you've thought about purchasing and presto chango- there's a list of the entire internets marketplace and the price listings for the savvy comparison shopper. For example- let's try one together -check out the deal of the day in my side bar - look to the immediate right on your screen. Click it and you'll find the DeWalt 36v Lithium Ion 4 tool cordless combo kit at a crazy low price. Then take the name of the tool kit - DeWalt DCX6401 - type it into froogle and you get something that looks like this.
Pretty cool! Test it out on a few things. What's on your desk? What kind of shoes are you wearing? What kind of computer do you have? Check their replacement value, then be ready to shop with the power of the internet at your fingertips... unless of course you lose them to one of the two very cool saws in the DeWalt kit!
Imagine if you could froogle your friends, your fiance, your church... that'd take the mystery out of a whole bunch of up and coming challenges. God keeps that part of life a mystery, for good reason. Think of the number of people we'd ignore because they just didn't seem of value to the world. The value God places on each of us is why we celebrate Easter. He loves us so much He was willing to give His Only Son, Jesus. No froogle necessary- you and me -no Higher Price has ever been paid for anything in all creation.
Things and people... we get our values confused - not God. We value things, spend our lives chasing them. He values people, created us and gave everything to redeem us. What a great God. What a Loving Father. What a Fantastic Reason to Celebrate Easter!
blessings,
Eric
ps
be careful with those tools!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
easter.com
Preparing for Easter begins long before Christmas. Sometimes it entails mailers, phone calls, daily prayer... it always is a time for introspection and personal evaluation... it's The Story all history hinges on... don't know why it never occurred to me until today- but in preparation I typed www.easter.com into my browser- I was redirected to... Hallmark!
Easter.org is a church in Minnesota... a collection of other .somethings following Easter run in their own random ways... left me thinking about my heart this Easter, my personal preparation.
When Jesus told the disciples one of them would betray Him, something incredible happened- they looked around at each other, then to themselves and finally spoke the question of their hearts out loud: "Is it I, Lord?" They weren't even clear if they'd betray their Lord and they'd been preparing for that moment 24/7 for 3 years- weve got just about three weeks.
Easter. Prayer always helps me. This year I may do a little additional searching as well. Hallmark can snag the domain name but they can't mess with The Miracle. We're invited to get ready... I want to be ready... together, we can go to Easter.
blessings,
Eric
Sunday, April 8, 2007
It's Easter
I have lots of Easter stories. When you grow up a preacher's kid, Easter's a pretty big day. Sunrise services, both as a kid and as a pastor - to times when I was far from God and needing to find my way back home, Easter and the cross have been a hinge point, not only in history, but in my personal life as well.
There was the season I was living on the Atlantic coast of France, surfing. We left the water mid-day to see what the celebration was all about. People were everywhere from what was then the sleepy town of Biarritz down to St. Jean De Luz: bells were ringing, it seemed like we were missing out on a great party. Still dripping ocean, clad in a wetsuit, board under my arm, I stopped an old man and asked him "What's going on? Why all the activity?" Looking at me as if I was from another planet, he responded with a huge smile, one arm waving in the air, "It's Easter. Christ is Risen!"
I hadn't even known it was Sunday.
Saturday, "fine tuning" my Easter message – life times away from that lost young man who didn’t know what day it was - I heard a familiar voice in the next room: my father's. Not his post stroke voice, but clear, confident and at his best, telling his story of salvation. Pastor Ken, who I've worked with at Central Community for most of our years in ministry, was clearing through some old video and had come across this one from several years ago. I had been preaching on salvation and had asked a few people to share their stories as part of the message - including dad. The video's now a priceless keepsake, the moment , when my heart caught in my throat, tears welled up in my eyes, well before I walked into the other room to look at the screen, a favorite Easter memory.
Ken and my dad have been close for decades. They love each other. When Ken was an aspiring pastor and college student, dad was his pastor. Ken’s younger sister Leta, now with the Lord, had spent time as dad’s secretary. Ken and his brother Gene used to sing in church together with dad. They have a bunch of shared memories, even some Easter memories, some I share and at least one when I was out in the world and didn’t know it was Easter. Once, when dad was sick and in the hospital, he held my hand, (I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this), spoke quietly and said “Don’t ever lose Ken- he’s a gift, he’s such a big part of your work.” Truer words were never spoken.
Our family has this Easter memory of dad because Ken saved it and brought it out just when we needed it. Thanks Ken.
Dad’s testimony is worthy of your time: whether you’ve ever met him or not. At his core, he’s the son of a working man, a coal miner. Even at 92 years old, that’s important to him. Even more, he’s a child of God and his words carry weight. They touched my heart this morning as I prepared for our Easter services: I hope they touch yours as well. What a great Easter memory.
There was the season I was living on the Atlantic coast of France, surfing. We left the water mid-day to see what the celebration was all about. People were everywhere from what was then the sleepy town of Biarritz down to St. Jean De Luz: bells were ringing, it seemed like we were missing out on a great party. Still dripping ocean, clad in a wetsuit, board under my arm, I stopped an old man and asked him "What's going on? Why all the activity?" Looking at me as if I was from another planet, he responded with a huge smile, one arm waving in the air, "It's Easter. Christ is Risen!"
I hadn't even known it was Sunday.
Saturday, "fine tuning" my Easter message – life times away from that lost young man who didn’t know what day it was - I heard a familiar voice in the next room: my father's. Not his post stroke voice, but clear, confident and at his best, telling his story of salvation. Pastor Ken, who I've worked with at Central Community for most of our years in ministry, was clearing through some old video and had come across this one from several years ago. I had been preaching on salvation and had asked a few people to share their stories as part of the message - including dad. The video's now a priceless keepsake, the moment , when my heart caught in my throat, tears welled up in my eyes, well before I walked into the other room to look at the screen, a favorite Easter memory.
Ken and my dad have been close for decades. They love each other. When Ken was an aspiring pastor and college student, dad was his pastor. Ken’s younger sister Leta, now with the Lord, had spent time as dad’s secretary. Ken and his brother Gene used to sing in church together with dad. They have a bunch of shared memories, even some Easter memories, some I share and at least one when I was out in the world and didn’t know it was Easter. Once, when dad was sick and in the hospital, he held my hand, (I don’t think I’ve ever told anyone this), spoke quietly and said “Don’t ever lose Ken- he’s a gift, he’s such a big part of your work.” Truer words were never spoken.
Our family has this Easter memory of dad because Ken saved it and brought it out just when we needed it. Thanks Ken.
Dad’s testimony is worthy of your time: whether you’ve ever met him or not. At his core, he’s the son of a working man, a coal miner. Even at 92 years old, that’s important to him. Even more, he’s a child of God and his words carry weight. They touched my heart this morning as I prepared for our Easter services: I hope they touch yours as well. What a great Easter memory.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Because He Lives
There's something exciting about a baptism service: a sense of wonder fills the air as hearts and lives are completely surrendered beneath the water, then lifted up to new life. If you've not followed The Lord in baptism by full immersion- do it. It's what The Bible teaches, it's how all the people in The Bible were baptized and wonderfully, it's one of the ways we show the world that we're living for Him.
My dad baptized me in the little church we grew up going to in Long Beach. I remember 4 of us standing in the wings – we’d all dressed the same, powder blue Levi’s and white shirts – it was the mid ‘60’s. Mickey, Alan and my older brother Tim, it was a good day. Think it was summer… maybe fall… not sure.
Easter Sunday, tomorrow, will be a good day for those being baptized at Central Community. We do it on Easter so they’ll always remember when. If too many people want to get baptized during the year, we do one at Thanksgiving or New Years- even did one once on Memorial Day Weekend, in the ocean in Baja. We try to pick a time that people will always remember. It’s a big step: one worth remembering.
Easter’s my favorite time to baptize: it’s a great time to remember Jesus. When someone says, “Why you getting baptized?” It’s easy to say: “Because He lives.”
Hope you have your best Easter ever and if you’re not busy, join us. It’s going to be an incredible day!
Happy Easter!
Eric
PS
Found this old video of an Easter baptism from 2002. A slimmer, trimmer less gray version of me- and fun to watch: enjoy!
My dad baptized me in the little church we grew up going to in Long Beach. I remember 4 of us standing in the wings – we’d all dressed the same, powder blue Levi’s and white shirts – it was the mid ‘60’s. Mickey, Alan and my older brother Tim, it was a good day. Think it was summer… maybe fall… not sure.
Easter Sunday, tomorrow, will be a good day for those being baptized at Central Community. We do it on Easter so they’ll always remember when. If too many people want to get baptized during the year, we do one at Thanksgiving or New Years- even did one once on Memorial Day Weekend, in the ocean in Baja. We try to pick a time that people will always remember. It’s a big step: one worth remembering.
Easter’s my favorite time to baptize: it’s a great time to remember Jesus. When someone says, “Why you getting baptized?” It’s easy to say: “Because He lives.”
Hope you have your best Easter ever and if you’re not busy, join us. It’s going to be an incredible day!
Happy Easter!
Eric
PS
Found this old video of an Easter baptism from 2002. A slimmer, trimmer less gray version of me- and fun to watch: enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
