The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: First, it is a very unusual event. And second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live.
Theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg
A Song of Love
In his allegory “The Singer”, Calvin Miller gives insight into the supernatural war that was waged in those days from the cross to the empty tomb. The Troubadour (Christ) brings a song of love to the world ruled by World Hater (Satan).
Later, as the Troubadour is being tortured, World Hater cries out to God, ” ‘Look how he dies. Cry, Creator, Cry! This is my day to stand upon the breast of God and claim my victory over love. You lost the gamble.
In but an hour your lover will be pulp upon the gallows. Did you tell him when his fingers formed the world, that he would die on Terra, groaning with his hands crushed in my great machine?’
“He laughed and turned to look again upon the Troubadour. ‘Now, who will sing the Father’s Song?’ he asked the dying man.”
Later in the story, Miller paints this scene:
“World Hater reached the threshold of eternity and found the doorway of the worlds, not only open, but clearly ripped away. He strained to hear the everlasting wail, the eternal dying which he loved. All was silent. Then he heard the Song.
“‘ No!’ he cried. ‘Give me back the door and key for this is my domain.’ He felt again and found the great key at his waist had disappeared.
“He steeled himself for the battle out ahead. He would have to fight the Song. He would fight with every weapon in his arsenal of hate.
“But he knew that he would lose. And he knew that when the course of time was done, the door would be put back upon the Canyon of the Damned, and he would be locked in with all the discord of the universe. . . .”
Easter CollectionGames and Activities in celebration of Easter.
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The Crucifixion of Christ
I posted this last year, but it is worth the reminder. This article was originally printed in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and is a medically and historically accurate account of the physical death of Jesus Christ. It contains illustrations and walks through the events of the crucifixion from a medical perspective. Its very enlightening especially this time of the year when we contemplate the events around the easter celebration. This is a scan of the images and reformat of the original article. Only the formatting has been changed.
Click here to download the adobe acrobat PDF file [1.25 megabytes in size] from the website
Source:
“On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ”
William D. Edwards, MD; Wesley J. Gabel, MDiv; Floyd E Hosmer, MS, AMI
Reprinted from JAMA – The Journal of the American Medical Association
March 21, 1986, Volume 256
Copyright 1986, American Medical Association
If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can get it for free from here:
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Easter CollectionGames and Activities in celebration of Easter.
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Dice throwing at the Cross?
There was some dice-throwing that went on at the foot of the cross…I’ve wondered what the scene must have looked like to Jesus…
‘All right, all right–this throw is for the sandals.’
Casting lots for the possessions of Christ. Heads ducked. Eyes downward. Cross forgotten…
It makes me think of us. The religious. Those who claim heritage at the cross. I’m thinking of all of us. Every believer in the land. The stuffy. The loose. The strict. The simple. Upper church. Lower church. ‘Spirit-filled.’ Millenialists. Evangelical. Political. Mystical. Literal. Cynical. Robes. Collars. Three-piece suits. Born-againers. Ameners.
I’m thinking of us.
I’m thinking that we aren’t so unlike those soldiers. (I’m sorry to say)
We, too, play games at the foot of the cross. We compete for members. We scramble for status. We deal our judgments and condemnations. Competition. Selfishness. Personal gain. It’s all there. We don’t like what the other did so we take the sandal we won and walk away in a huff.
So close to the timbers yet so far from the blood.
We are so close to the world’s most uncommon event, but we act like common crapshooters huddled in bickering groups and fighting over silly opinions.
How many pulpit hours have been wasted on preaching the trivial? How many churches have tumbled at the throes of miniscuity? How many leaders have saddled their pet peeves, drawn their swords of bitterness and launched into battle against brethren over issues that are not worth discussing?
So close to the cross but so far from the Christ…
Are our differences that divisive? Are our opinions that obtrusive? Are our walls that wide? Is it that impossible to find a common cause?
‘May they all be one,’ Jesus prayed.
One. Not one in groups of two thousand. But one in One. One church. One faith. One Lord. Not Baptist, not Methodist, not Adventist. Just Christian. No denominations. No hierarchies. No traditions. Just Christ.
Too idealistic? Impossible to achieve? I don’t think so. Harder things have been done, you know. For example, once upon a tree, a Creator gave his life for his creation. Maybe all we need are a few hearts that are willing to follow suit.”
Max Lucado – “No Wonder They Call Him Savior”
Easter CollectionGames and Activities in celebration of Easter.
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In the Service
One day a pastor noticed seven-year-old Alex staring at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church. It was covered with names, and small US flags were mounted on either side. Alex had been staring for a long time, so the pastor walked up beside him and said, “Good morning, Alex.”
“Good morning, Pastor,” replied the youngster, still focused on the plaque. “Pastor, what’s this for?”
“Well, son, it is for all the young men and women who have died in the service.”
Soberly, they stood together staring at the plaque. Little Alex’s voice was barely audible as he asked, “Which service, the 9 o’clock or the 11 o’clock?”
Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level
This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.
Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!
No Way?
The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. Jesus entered our world through a door marked “No Entrance” and left through a door marked “No Exit.” And for all who feel it is impossible to overcome the situations facing them—sickness, death, divorce, persecution, loneliness, despair, addictions—Jesus stands at the human door marked “No Way” and knocks.
Peter Larson
Will Easter Make a Difference?
A pastor tells the following in the Augsburg Sermon Book for the year 1985
“I’ve never seen such a crowd in church, the woman exclaimed’. I didn’t know her, but apparently she was impressed by the number of people here for Easter worship. Then, as she was shaking my hand and moving toward the front door, she added, “Do you suppose it will make any difference?”
I held on to her hand so she couldn’t get away, “What do you mean?” I said ’’Will what make a difference?”
“Easter,” she shot back. “Will Easter make any difference for all these people, or will life tomorrow be the same as it was yesterday?”
Easter CollectionGames and Activities in celebration of Easter.
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First Wedding
A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his cousin asked him, “How many women can a man marry?”
“Sixteen,” the boy responded. His cousin was amazed that he knew the answer so quickly.
“How do you know that?”
“Easy,” the little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.”
Icebreakers Ahead: Take It To the Next Level
This 170 page resource not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities and games, but also includes lesson ideas and discussion questions to smoothly transition into conversations about the issues common to most groups.
Click here to find out how to get your hands on this incredible resource!
The Legend of the Sand Dollar (poem)
There’s a pretty little legend
That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lowly shell.
If you examine closely,
You’ll see that you find here
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by a Roman’s spear.
On one side the Easter lily,
Its center is the star
that appeared unto the shepherds
And led them from afar.
The Christmas poinsettia
Etched on the other side
Reminds us of His birthday
Our happy Christmas tide.
Now break the center open
And here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread good will and peace.
Author Unknown
MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
Dull?
“The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused him of being a bore—on the contrary, they thought him too dynamic to be safe … He was emphatically not a dull man in his human lifetime, and if he was God, there can be nothing dull about God either.”
C.S Lewis