Dark Day

The day after a tragic event presents unique challenges. I can think of several times in my life when I have faced these circumstances and how difficult the next day can be. When waking up that morning, it may even take a minute or two to remember how drastically things have changed. Of course reality sets in quickly as we remember that things are now very different. The day after a sentinel event isn't easy to reconcile because there is now a brand new reality for us to live with. We have experienced death, loss, and disruption of our normal life pattern and still haven't had the time we need to process what comes next.

I think about the followers of Jesus and how the day after the crucifixion must have been for them. All they had committed their lives to for three years was apparently gone. Their tight-knit community was scattered and no one knew what to do next. I'm sure they were in fear for their own lives as their seemingly invincible leader had been executed. Their entire perception of reality had been radically altered and no one knew what the future held for them. I would imagine this is the day depression, anger, frustration, and hopelessness settled in and began to take root.

The space between tragedy and hope can feel overwhelming. The realization that nothing will be the same as we once knew it isn't easy to grasp. If we can empathize with the followers of Christ through our situations however, we might be able to see the potential for hope on the horizon. Sometimes the smallest sliver of light is enough to convince us the darkness won't last forever.

We Believe

Today is a day to celebrate life and the power of Christ that defeated death. I'll let this song speak the truth of what I believe.

In the Middle

The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday couldn't have been easy for the faithful followers of Christ. I feel certain they were still in shock at what they had witnessed and the deterioration of Christ's ministry in such a short period of time.

I would imagine they woke up on Saturday and had a moment of unpleasant orientation to this new reality as the awful events of Friday settled in. There had to be doubts about the past three years of ministry and the soul-crushing weight of questions about their future. Despair, great sorrow, and paranoid fear fueled their emotions that day. In all of this, they had no idea of the joyful surprise that awaited them the next day. They had no way of predicting that their deepest sorrow would soon be turned into unbelievable relief and the start of something completely new.

Where are we on this spectrum of emotion and experience? Are we devastated at our current life circumstances? Are we able to see a glimpse of hope and believe that better days are ahead? Or do we feel like we are stuck in the middle and unsure of what to do next? God is working in all of these phases even though it may not feel like it at that moment. Being in the middle means that hope is still on the horizon. Knowing a new day is possible may provide the strength we need to endure.

It's Good

It can be difficult to reconcile the idea of calling something "good" when it seems things are actually  the complete opposite. That is the unexpected twist of Good Friday. We use this to describe a day that was devastatingly awful in history and not because the events of Friday were necessarily pleasant. It's because the death that took place that day was the only way we can experience what is truly good and right. The darkness that overwhelmed Jesus and the doubt that entrapped His followers on that fateful day set the stage for the goodness that was to come. Sometimes we only see the good part of things once we understand how they prepare us for what comes next.

The Darkest Night

I can't imagine how difficult it was for them. To see the life that you thought you knew in complete ruin must have been devastating. All of your expectations and hopes from the previous week had been destroyed. Your confidence is nonexistent and you no longer trust anyone. I'm certain that doubt was overwhelming and fear was a constant companion. How do you pick up the pieces of your life when they are shattered and scattered all around you?

Jesus' family and friends were blindsided by the disastrous events of His arrest and crucifixion and didn't have the coping skills to deal with it. They went to sleep on Saturday night completely unsure of what to do next. They also didn't know that everything was about to change again in a brand-new, eternally-planned, destiny-altering fashion. Their darkest night was about to become their brightest morning. They thought that all hope was gone and instead they were about to experience their hope being fulfilled.

That Sunday morning perfectly illustrates the beauty of the way that God operates. He always has redemption ready when it seems like we are doomed. Even when we are completely off balance and unaware, He is ready to fulfill His promises. It's a reminder we often need to not give up, but trust that God is ready to step in exactly when we need it the most.

Risky Easter

We moved away from our main campus and our normal multiple services this Easter to have one huge event at the Centennial Center at Georgia College. We wanted to do something completely different from the normal routine in hopes of reaching people who might not ordinarily attend a church service. We've invested creative energy, finances, personal invitation, faithful prayers, and detailed planning to see it succeed. We aren't sure exactly what will happen, but we're trusting that God will deliver His intended result.

It's a risky move to change what people are used to, but we believe that you need to take that risk to see a reward. When you're trying to reach a community that isn't sure about Jesus, there's nothing (short of sin) that is outside the realm of possibility.

Share the Message

For Easter this year, our church is doing something different by hosting one large service (instead of multiple services) and by having it at the Centennial Center at GCSU here in town. Our prayer is that 2000 people will attend--not so that we can boast about the number, but so that we might potentially reach people who wouldn't come to a church building on Easter. It's a bit of a risk, but we're trusting in God to fill the building through the faithful efforts of His people. It will take an evangelistic attitude from each of us to make it a reality and I know that the simple act of inviting someone to church (especially something this unique) will bring a positive result. If we believe that Jesus is the only true hope for the world we have no other true alternative but to share that message with our community. I guarantee that some people are simply waiting for the invitation to be extended and for someone to show that they care enough to ask.

What Now?

Resurrection Sunday was a blessed day with large crowds of people attending churches throughout the world.  I have seen online stories of baptisms and very large numbers of people in services. I am celebrating the message of Christ that was shared and the incredible volunteers that made so much of it possible. I also can't keep my mind from moving to what is next.

We have proven that we can draw a crowd (actually that Jesus can), but for lives to be changed there has to be more than just big numbers. How are we mobilizing the next generation of leaders? What are we doing to move people past the shallow steps of early faith and into something passionately meaningful with depth? What efforts are we continuing to put into our community to let them know that Jesus is still alive and pursuing them today? How are we reaching out to the harassed and helpless that are wondering if there is any hope for them on this Monday after Easter?

Many people and churches rest immediately after Easter, but I firmly believe that it is the season to pray and work even harder for the heart of our communities.