It\u2019s Easter time. It’s a time of rejoicing for Christian around the world. It is a time of rebirth and a time for a renewal of faith.<\/p>\n
But I was thinking how much we all need a resurrection – a resurrection within us. Each morning when we wake we can choose how we will be on that day. In a sense, in a way, \u00a0it\u2019s like our own daily resurrection. Our spirits can be lifted, our bodies and our faith renewed. We can choose to be the person we\u2019ve always wanted to be, or we can continue being the person we are.<\/p>\n
If we are very lucky we are both of those \u2013 the person we are is the person we have always wanted to be. But I believe that\u2019s very rare. Most of us wish we were better people, more faithful, more compassionate, less judgmental, less confrontational, more happy \u2013 more of some things and less of others.<\/p>\n
I find myself judging others because of the way they look, how they live, what they have, or what they don’t have, what they have or have not done. But I have no right to do that. I have no right to judge anyone, no matter who they are, what they look like, how rich or poor, how they live, what they have, or what they\u2019ve done. My resurrection comes every day I wake and I get to choose what kinds of\u00a0person I will be that day. Will I and do I want to be who I was yesterday? Or do I want to be a better person today than I was yesterday?<\/p>\n
You\u2019re probably thinking that I can change all I want, but everyone else will see and know me as I was yesterday. And I say: So what? What difference does it make what anyone else thinks? It makes no difference unless we let it make a difference. So tomorrow when we wake we can be resurrected \u2013 we can be the person we have always wanted to be, or we can take the easy way and be what we\u2019ve always been. And blessed is the one who is both.<\/p>\n
So, it\u2019s Eastertime. And the people who have not seen the inside of a church in a year will put on their Sunday best and make an appearance in church and celebrate the Risen Christ. And tomorrow they will be the person they\u2019ve always been. And I\u2019m not judging, it\u2019s just something I\u2019ve observed over the years.<\/p>\n
Jesus said that we should pray in private and not pray in public so we can be seen praying. That\u2019s what he said. How many people go to church so they can say the go to church \u2013 so they can can be seen in church?<\/p>\n
Why is it we see hell clearer than we see heaven? Here\u2019s what I mean: The world, no doubt, is full of evil. People killing people. People using people for their own gain. Jihadists blowing up airports and train stations \u2013 and skyscrapers. Rapists, murderers, marauders, cheaters, abusers \u2013 we all can see the worst of humanity more clearly than we can see the best of the world. The moms and dads and grandparents who love and are loved by their family. The children going off to school knowing they are loved. The heroes. The everyday heroes \u2013 the brother who gives a kidney to a sister so that she may live, parents who protect their children, the mom who wakes up early every morning to fix her kids lunch to take to school. The dad who works two jobs in order to provide for his family.<\/p>\n
We can see the hell in our world more clearly than the little pieces of heaven. Why do you think that is? Our we Christians because we say we are? Are we Christians because we show up in church each week and sing hymns and listen to our priests and pastors tell us what the Scriptures mean?<\/p>\n
You know what I think? I think everyone Christian or not should read the words upon which Jesus based his teaching and the foundation upon which all Christian churches should be built.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t proselytize. I don\u2019t care much for proselytizers. Everyone should have the freedom and the right to believe or not believe as they choose. So I don\u2019t write this to knock on your door and hand you a pamphlet telling you\u2019re not going to heaven if you don\u2019t believe as I do. No, that\u2019s not what I\u2019m going to do. I\u2019m going to ask you read the words of Jesus that every one of us, Christian or not should aspire.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Eastertime and the reason for the season is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the rebirth of faith. Whether you believe or not, whether you call your Christian or not, if we all lived by these words from the Man, the Teacher from Galilee, the world would be a lot less like hell, and a lot more like heaven:<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit,
\nfor theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are they who mourn,
\nfor they shall be comforted.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are the meek,
\nfor they shall inherit the earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
\nfor they shall be satisfied.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are the merciful,
\nfor they shall obtain mercy.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are the pure of heart,
\nfor they shall see God.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are the peacemakers,
\nfor they shall be called children of God.<\/p>\n
\u201cBlessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
\nfor theirs is the kingdom of heaven\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026You have heard that it was said, \u2018Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have heard that it was said, \u2018Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.\u2019 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cBe careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.<\/p>\n
\u201d So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him\u2026\u201d
\nNo matter who you are, or what your religion, or what you believe, I hope these Words from the Teachings of Jesus will guide you today, tomorrow and always. If we lived by those words, the world would be much more like heaven. much less like hell, and a much better place for us all.<\/p>\n
Happy Easter!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thoughts at Easter It\u2019s Easter time. It’s a time of rejoicing for Christian around the world. It is a time of rebirth and a time for a renewal of faith. But I was thinking how much we all need a resurrection – a resurrection within us. Each morning when we wake we can choose how we will be\u2026 Read More »<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[228],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12765"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12766,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12765\/revisions\/12766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}