Revitalize Your Church

Poem by Mark Wilson  Photo by Hannah Wilson Faith, the seed of heaven planted by surprise in earthen soil. The barren ground reluctantly invites, mostly disdains this small possibility of hope. Stirs slightly, irritated, yawns and then settles back in lazy slumber mostly convinced that the interruption is merely a burial of another empty dream. Entombed in heavy darkenss the seed of heaven sings as it reaches for a land beyond its grasp and hopes for the hand of God it cannot see. But no dark place can silence the song of faith and hope. And calloused soil cannot withstand for long refreshing rains. Slowly, steadily, the seed of heaven toils upward, onward, through the dark towards heaven's gate. Sometimes singing. Sometimes sighing. Always longing for destiny awaits. Heaven beckons, Earth responds. That is the order of all created things. The earthen tomb becomes a womb of life anew -- and resurrection! A seed, a sprout, a stalk, a...

Today is a brand new day – a delightful opportunity to begin again. I will not be held hostage by yesterday’s pain. If my heart remains open, and my spirit is right, yesterday’s pain becomes today’s gain. I will grow into a better person through the sufferings. Today is a brand new day – and it needs to stand on it’s own. I will not allow myself to be seduced by yesterday’s success, nor frustrated by yesterday’s failures. I shall fulfill my duty this day, and never look backwards for an excuse. Today is a brand new day – and it’s the only one I have. I refuse to let tomorrow’s concerns steal today’s joy. If tomorrow is going to be bad – why should it destroy the day I have? That would mean two bad days instead of just one. I want to make the best of what has been given to me. Today is a brand new day – God’s gift for life investment. It is not to be squandered by worry or regret. Consider the moments. Moments are the stuff life is made of. They march by us ...

Waken, sleeping butterflies, Burst your narrow prison! Spread your golden wings and rise, For the Lord is risen! -- Easter Song by Mary A. Lathbury

My friend, Wendy, teaches college in California and is earning her doctorate at my alma mater, Fuller Theological Seminary. This week, she sent me this delightful message regarding the earthquake they experienced on Easter Sunday: Pastor Mark: As you can imagine, all the talk around the water coolers and in the grocery store lines here is about Sunday's earthquake. In the middle of Trader Joe's in my town a woman cried out gleefully, "Oh, my! When the house started shaking I thought to myself. . . 'Hallelujah! Christ is coming back on Easter Sunday!!!---and then I found myself so disappointed when it stopped!'" You don't hear Christ's name mentioned too often in southern California so this comment just made my day!!!

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf in springtime.” -- Martin Luther

My dear friend, Ed Kleinhammer , a "Living Legend" who played trombone for the Chicago Symphany Orchestra, stopped by my office around Easter time a couple of years ago. He had a question for me. "Pastor, I am writing an article for the International Trombone Journal, and I'm focusing on Mahler's Symphony #2 -- Resurrection!" "Whenever I hear this beautiful masterpiece it feels like Easter, and a little foretaste of heaven.", he continued, "That's where I need your advice." "Do you think it would be appropriate to call Easter "a keyhole peek into heaven?" "You're FABULOUS, Ed! Yes! It's a keyhole peek into Heaven! I'm going to use that one on Easter Sunday!" experience the symphony here. and here -- the grand finale. Aufersteh'n, ja aufersteh'n Wirst du, Mein Staub, Nach kurzer Ruh'! Unsterblich Leben! Unsterblich Leben wird der dich rief dir geben! Rise again, yes, rise again, Will yo...

Insightful post by Keith Drury