Easter and Resurrection.... Just a few thoughts

So today is Tuesday. It's not just any Tuesday, but instead the Tuesday after Easter. The Tuesday after the day we celebrate the resurrection. As Christians we are a resurrection people. We are to celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty. Jesus was NO LONGER there. Jesus conquered death. It's a very beautiful story really. No one believed Him, no one trusted Him, no one knew what to really expect when He talked about His upcoming death. Whenever I hear the Easter story of the disciples and their coming to the tomb it always makes me think. It makes me think as to how this story affects me, and who I would have been in the story. The disciples were baffled as to how this could happen. They had no idea, how or why it did, even though time and time again Jesus told them what was going to happen. He told them everything that they would need to know. Literally, everything! But they didn't get it.

Mark 11:17-18 - " ¹⁷Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?"

We are a lot more like the disciples then we care to think. We are a lot like them. We have ears, but do not listen, we see the miracles of God, but refuse to understand. It gives me great hope that even the twelve closest followers of Jesus struggled. They saw and heard everything He was doing, and yet still struggled. But when it came to His resurrection and He came among them, then they believed. We are a resurrection people, the tomb was empty. The disciples were able to tell us that. Besides actually being there and seeing it for ourselves, we have the best view of it. Now we just have to believe in it.

It's been too long

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update this. Life seems to going at warp speed. Oh well. I have continued reading the Bible and I am really enjoying what I am reading. I am on Daniel and it is a fascinating book. The majority of it is end of the world prophecies and such. Life is going really well right now, I really have to much to complain about. Even if I did, it wouldn't do me much good to complain. We had our first deposit due for the mission trip this summer to Crownpoint, New Mexico. I think it is going to be an awesome trip where the students can explore God's creation and work for the Navajo people like they never have. We gave out Bibles at this past weeks Tuesday Bible Study and the students love them. I have never seen so many middle schoolers go crazy and study so much in their own bible. That's all for today.

<><,
Joel

How is it January already?

Well the obvious answer is, because last month was December, and that's how it goes. But really, time is flying. FLYING... Life is going really quickly and I don't know how to slow it down. Maybe it's not supposed to be slow, but who knows. The past couple nights that I have gotten into bed, I have read been reading the Bible, and going through some of the smaller books because they go quickly but there is so much interesting stuff in them. So far I have read, Philemon, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and James. That's 4 out of 66. Not too shabby. I need to read them out of my Bible and not Catherine's that is beside the bed. That way, I can highlight in it, and underline, and right side notes. I'm sure she wouldn't mind, but you know, if I am going to go back and read the notes and underlining it might be helpful if it's my Bible. I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions, but this year I have one. It is to be more responsible. Just in general. Hopefully I can work on that. Until next time, I am off to have some dinner.

<><.
Joel

Here I go again!

Alright well it's officially Christmas Eve! I can't believe that it is finally here! Last night I helped out with the Live Nativity here at church. It was a lot of fun, but most of all it was awesome to be a part of the reenactment of Jesus' birth. I was a shepherd, and it while I was playing that part, I found myself just pondering what it must have been like to be a shepherd when the angel came to speak to them. One of the things that I picked up from the Nativity last night was in the story it says that the angel appeared to the shepherds and THEN the skies opened up and a whole host of angels showed up singing praises to God. That is so cool. It must have scared the crap out of the shepherds. I know it probably would have scared me. There is also another part of the story that gets me every time, and that is when the angels tell them to go, they do. Without hesitation. They gather their sheep and go. Go and find a king that they have heard was supposed to come. If it weren't for the faith of shepherds and other significant followers of Jesus, this story would have never been known. As Christmas rolls in and out tomorrow so fast, I pray that we will all remember to go, when God tells us to. <><

That Simple Star

There is something magical about the Star of Bethlehem. Something completely magical. Yeah it was the guiding light that led the Wisemen and Shepherds to greet the King of Kings. There is something magical about looking at the star. Catherine and I have recently put a Moravian star in our loft shinning from the top window of our house. I love it. I love looking at it. It is so amazing to think that The star was the first decoration for Christmas. It was the first thing that was "hung up" to show that finally it was time to celebrate. God hung up the star in the sky over a small town that could have been easily forgotten throughout history. Now that the Savior was born there, that town will never be forgotten. I invite all of you when you look at a star, remember what the most beautiful star represented. It's something supernatural, which is better than magical. <><

A New Start!

It is official I have started a NEW blog. I hope that I can do a better job of keeping this one up. I am actually writing this one for me, but if anyone from the old one wants to read it, or anyone new wants to, you are more then welcome. This blog maybe interesting to some, may be boring to others. Some may like what I say, others may be turned off. Let me know what you think. Today is a day of new beginnings, but it also a very special day to me. It is December 11, 2009. I know, I know, you can read it underneath the heading of this post. But, it's important to me because it marks the 8th year of Catherine and I being together! 8 YEARS! Wow. The time has flown by, but feels like we have been together forever. I am so blessed to have an awesome wife. God knew what He was doing when He picked her for me. Today is also significant because it marks the 2 week mark before Christmas. It only got to 40 degrees here today, and is supposed to get down to around 20 tonight. Finally Winter is here! With Christmas almost here, I look amazed at our God who gave us His Son, for all. I know some people may say, "Jesus really wasn't born on December 25." And they are right. The important thing is that we are using that day to honor our God for bringing Jesus into the world for us. However, I do have a problem with that. We are to not only celebrate His life and His death and resurrection for one day each. We are to continue to celebrate it each and everyday. We are called to "Tell it on the Mountain" everyday and spread that good news! It is the Gospel, and it is our job as Christians to not only spread it, but also live it! Thanks for reading my first rambling. <><