Christ is Alive! ....ARE YOU?

Happy Resurrection Sunday! As you watch this video clip, ask yourself, "Am I awake?" "Am I alive, truly alive, spending my life loving my Father through Christ and loving everyone else?" He died that we might live forever, but also so that we could be awake and alive RIGHT NOW loving Him and everyone (even our enemies)! Make it a Happy Resurrection Sunday for our Savior by being alive in Him, showing the world what He's really like as people experience His love through your fully awake life!!! Click on this right now!

Blessings are Meant to Be Shared...

I am a Golden Retriever fan. I had one, some day I'll have another. Here, this "gang" of Goldens remind us that blessings are meant to be shared.

We are reminded in 1 Peter 3:15,16: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

Tomorrow Christ-followers celebrate the victory of Christ over death, a victory that brings adoption into God's family for all who believe. As God's children, we are equipped daily to say "no" to selfishness, and "yes" to love, generosity, grace, mercy, peace, joy and a whole lot of other Christ-like qualities. Why keep the best thing that has every happened to you to yourself!? Share it with someone! If Goldens can share their blessings, so can we!

Video Clips to Help Celebrate Easter

Here are a few video clips to help you to have a meaningful Resurrection Sunday! Though it's Friday...Sunday's a comin'! Every day two voices call to us...which one will you listen to? Your relationship with God as Father didn't come cheaply. Though grace is free, it cost Jesus Christ. This will remind you of what He went through so you could know Him! What do you do with your regrets? Believe this...it's your best option!

What Makes Good Friday "Good"

Today is the day we remember the price Christ paid that we might know God as Father, both now and for eternity. Circumstantially, Good Friday was horrible for Jesus Christ. Added to his torture and death was the treatment He received from many of the religious leaders of the day, the Romans, the crowds, and from his friends and disciples who deserted Him in fear for their own safety. He's been through that once, so may we never again act like those disciples, choosing safety over worship and obedience. To help remind you of why Good Friday really is "good" (for our salvation), click on this:

 Also, almost seven years ago I had the privilege of officiating at my father's funeral, on Good Friday. It reminded me that it was a great day to have a funeral, for, like Christ, and because of Christ, my father lives today in Heaven. Read the original post here: http://andyfbcdenmark.blogspot.com/2009/04/application-of-phil-48-my-father.html

Never Underestimate The Influence of Your Life...

Joel is much more like a brother than just a friend. We met at Clemson University as students back in 1976. In 1985, I was in his wedding, as he married his best friend, Patty. He was sick as a dog with the flu and missed his rehearsal dinner and didn't feel better until he and Patty, started home from their honeymoon. Though they didn't have the best honeymoon, the did have one of the best marriages I've ever seen. They had three boys, Matthew, Robert and Benjamin, who have grown into great young men. During the mid-90's, I had the amazing gift of having Joel and his family join my church family  in Denmark.

It was a great honor to ordain Joel as a deacon, and to baptize his oldest son, Matthew. During those  three years, I got another gift...I got to know Patty. Oh, I knew her from those sporadic visits during the first decade of their marriage, but those three years gave us an opportunity to become really good friends. (It also helped me to have a better foundation with the boys, too!) 

Since that time, whenever I had good news to share with Joel and Patty, I'd call and ask to talk with Patty if Joel answered, because she had a much easier time getting excited about my good news. Patty was definitely the Tigger to Joel's Eeyore (not that he's "that" Eeyore-ish, but he'd admit his "style" is a bit more on the sedate side compared to Patty's.) Just as they had done in my church, Joel and Patty became very attached and involved in their new church. Three and half years ago they were serving as Sunday School Co-Directors. Three and a half years ago on their wedding anniversary, they got the news that Patty had lung cancer. 

Patty and Joel valiantly fought the disease for these three and half years, and on Friday, March 8th, a week and a half ago, Patty passed from her suffering to the life Christ promised her many years ago. Though we know she is healed,  and home with the Lord,  she has left a huge hole (crater!) in the lives of those who knew and loved her, especially in the lives of Joel and his family. The hole is huge because the love between Patty and her husband and children was huge. 

I was honored to be a part of the service which praised and thanks God for giving us such a wonderful gift in Patty's life and love. Today as I was looking at videos for Easter, I came across this one. It made me think of Patty, and about how many people Christ touched through her life....people who were moved closer to Christ because of the way her life impacted them, either directly or indirectly. This film is true because we won't know until we get to heaven, how far the love in our lives have traveled to "complete strangers," who may surprise us in heaven as part of our "family" because they were links in the chair of our influence.

I believe one of the joys Patty experienced when she arrived in heaven was to find out how far that love has spread. It is still spreading, even as I am sharing part of her story here. So as Easter approaches, remember that Christ died not only to get us into heaven, but to make us part of a wonderful chain of transforming love, a chain that Patty so wholeheartedly embraced. Her life is a powerful reminder of the reason we're here: to love God and love others. If you are willing to be a part of this amazing chain of love and redemption, you, too, will have an unexpected surprise in heaven to find out just how far that love has gone, and just how many lives it changed. 

This is the best life a person can live, and Patty's life is further proof of that. So may we honor the gift Christ gave us through His death and resurrection by passing the gift to others, so they can pass it on to more people, who will, in turn, be able to pass it on to others....just like this video shows....click on it and find out!

Palm Sunday - Your Way or His Way

Holy Week is upon us.  This is not just a time to remember the most amazing event in human history, but also a time to make sure we are in a healthy relationship with Christ. Click the video for a powerful reminder of how Palm Sunday is an excellent opportunity to take a reality check about what's more important in your life: doing things your way or God's way.