"Because the resurrection of Jesus, and His resurrection alone, brings hope that our sins are paid for (Romans 4:25), death has been defeated (Hebrews 2:14), and we have the hope of eternal life when we repent and turn to Christ, accepting what He has done for us." Norman Geisler

It's Wednesday, April 16, 2014, and I send out a hearty hello and welcome. It is the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday, therefore, this is always a special time for those of us who embrace Jesus the Christ as our Lord and Savior. Many people tend to only remember Him at this season or during the celebration of His birth at Christmas. He, if He is Lord, and He is, certainly deserves more than this. Be very sure that I am not promoting myself as an example of a devoted follower but it is hard to imagine someone who says they believe in Him and have been saved by Him but they have little or no time for Him. Again, were it not for His forgiveness, not only in my salvation, but His ongoing mercy and grace, I would have no room to even bring up this matter. But, even those of us who carry His name, we often weeble and wobble around, we make wrong decisions, and we struggle and often fail to live up to the calling He has placed on our lives. Yet, that same eternal forgiveness that was won for us all in His death, burial, and resurrection, it continues to provide us with the daily cleansing that helps us to get back up and go again. The bottom line: He was and is and is to come! (The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 1, Verse 8) Amen and Hallelujah!

Not only was yesterday federal tax day, but it was also the anniversary of that cataclysmic bombing at the Boston Marathon last year. This means there are huge numbers of families that are reliving the horror of that event as well as those who were maimed and living a completely different life than they ever expected. I think we all know that we in this country have far too many of these types of anniversaries. We are aware that living in a free and open society comes with its privileges and, as a side affect, its exposures. What really causes us all some reflection is how we pay out billions for keeping up with potential threats and then find out that we actually had intelligence regarding the Boston perpetrators. This infuriates most of us as we see our government time after time being unable to connect the dots. Meanwhile they choose which laws they will and will not enforce and I don't know about you but I am not made to feel more safe as a result. When it comes down to it, none of us know what a day will bring whether we are going to watch the finish of a marathon or just going about making another day. What we can do is know the One who knows all things and knowing Him allows us to live with confidence. My heart goes out to those whose lives have been altered by the evil that exists in this fallen world. May they look to the God of all comfort is my prayer. Amen.

I know there are tears that define some of the days in our sojourn but we also are a people of hope. Hope as demonstrated in the response of those folks up East and how they came together and stood together in unity after that tragic bombing. They don't talk like me. Come to think about, not too many people do. But, one of the amazing characteristics of this melting pot Republic that we belong to is how that no matter where we are from, regardless of our address, deep down inside we are still Americans, and we connect as the free people that care, that share, and as those who stand together when threatened, harmed, or challenged. I do thank God for the country that He has given to us. Sure, it is far from perfect. In fact, it has, since the beginning been a work in progress. Today I pause to remember God's grace on our land and I offer a prayer that He would guide us through the night with the light from above. Amen.   ....More later.