DIY Easter

What are you doing for Easter this year. For many families this season is heartily anticipated. There is a 40 day period of preparation called Lent; then comes Palm Sunday when people begin to remember Jesus’ last week on earth; and finally there is the weekend with Maundy Thursday (Passover), Good Friday, and Resurrection Day. Churches prepare huge celebrations, dramas, cantatas, and special services (which will be remote this year). People purchase Sunday clothing, plan Easter Egg Hunts, and large family gatherings. BUT ...

This is the year that everything External will be different. There will be no large community gatherings because of the COVID-19 epidemic. We must stay home. So what will Easter be like? Perhaps, in its own way, for one year, better, because, if we will, we can focus on the internal meaning rather than the external events.

So, what is Easter? Is it the clothing, the chocolates, the choir specials, or the crowds? Not really! Easter celebrates the atoning death and the surprising resurrection of Jesus. Easter celebrates LIFE (not life with gusto, which only distracts us from real life - but LIFE that connects with God and goodness). So, what will you be doing this Easter?

It is time for a do it yourself Easter.

How can you do that? Plan! If you have children, here is a recommendation. Purchase a Kindle version of the book “The Case of the Missing Body.” (It is 99￠, hope that does not break the bank!) It contains a nine act play, and some added stories and facts. Most of the acts only require 2-4 actors, and are written so children can understand. Pass the book around, and read the parts. Then talk about how each scene fits into the larger Easter story.

Order this book today on Amazon.com

Children learn by doing … not by sitting in a church service. This play is doing! Your family will greatly benefit if you will spend the hour you normally spend in church, reading through this play. Don’t fight the system, don’t mourn the loss of normal … just do something different, and you will be glad you did! (And talk about it for years!)

The book is on Amazon.com - click here!

This Easter is a great time for something different! A great time for DIY, with help, of course. So try it out.

And please pass this idea on, so others can enjoy Easter, wrapped in its full meaning also.

Is the World Sick?

The world seems to have gone crazy … a new disease is attacking … the CoronaVirus. Is there anything that can be done? Our medical community is working, governments of the world are attempting to solve the problem, but is there anything I can do?

The answer is yes. One answer seems to be to stay in and to self isolate, in order to prevent yourself from getting sick [and if you are sick, to prevent the spread of this illness to others]. Tourist transportation is shutting down, schools are closing, and most religious organizations have shuttered their doors this weekend. Are you stir crazy yet?

As the world has shut down, many of us have slowed down … for a week or two … we are preventing illness from spreading. But maybe we are looking at this in the negative. Is there a positive?

Yes, there is a positive. We are able to chip away at all the things we have put off at home. The lists we have made, and put off until tomorrow can now be worked on. Our yards can be cleaned up. We can stream the movies we have wanted to see, and also we now have time to pick up a good book.

While the world is on lock-down and self-isolation, the opportunity has arisen not to prevent CoronaVirus, but to seek health! While all else is on hold, we now have the chance to help ourselves physically (exercise), mentally (a good book) and spiritually. The world has seen problems before. Often people turn to things that make them devolve (James 1:6-9). The Bible would instruct us to look towards God so we can improve (James 1:2-5). “ Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life” and not a corona (crown) virus.

Our world has faced many problems before. The book, Spring: Connecting with God can help in today’s situation, by giving perspective. The book takes a look at past crises, and how the decisions of people and leaders resulted in either status-quo … or something better, as the crisis abated.

What will it be for you? Will this lock-down improve you? Or when we are past the calamity will you just return to normal?