Sunrise Service----Resurrection Sunday
I preached the Sunrise Easter Service today overlooking the Kaskaskia River this morning at approx. 6:30 am. This was my second year to do this for this area. There were people there from everywhere. It was such a priviledge to preach about the empty tomb. Jesus the Rock of Ages was placed in the rock of a tomb. The sinless Son of God was Crucified to take away the sins of sinful man and, Jesus was born from a virgin's womb and placed in a virgin tomb.
HE IS RISEN are the greatest words for Christians. Today is our day of Eternal Victory through our Lord and Saviour, the gentle shepherd from Nazareth.
He is my rock and my salvation. He is my strength and my sustainer. He is my Lord and my best friend.
I think of the Hymn that Harry Spafford wrote: It is well with my soul. In that song, the lyrics are "My sin-O the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin , not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul.
There was a story told once that I heard that brings this all into a personal thought. The story goes that there was a carpentar in the city of Jerusalem and he made furniture, beams, and all sorts of wooden products. One day, his son came to his father and said "did you see what is happening today'? "There is a crucifion today and that man, they call Jesus walked by, carrying his cross and the cross he had, was mine." His dad said "son, we make a lot of beams for the Romans and there is no way that you could tell if that beam on the cross came from our shop." The young boy said "dad, you don't understand, I placed my name on a beam and when Jesus went by, my name was on His cross."
This is how I feel. My name was on His cross and He carried it to Calvary and died for a drunken, drug using, social outcast "Biker" like me. This is why I may seem a bit zealous for Christ. This is why I reach out to others. This is what has made me what I am today and whatever I attain in this life, may it bring Him, Honor, Glory and Praise.
HE IS RISEN are the greatest words for Christians. Today is our day of Eternal Victory through our Lord and Saviour, the gentle shepherd from Nazareth.
He is my rock and my salvation. He is my strength and my sustainer. He is my Lord and my best friend.
I think of the Hymn that Harry Spafford wrote: It is well with my soul. In that song, the lyrics are "My sin-O the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin , not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul.
There was a story told once that I heard that brings this all into a personal thought. The story goes that there was a carpentar in the city of Jerusalem and he made furniture, beams, and all sorts of wooden products. One day, his son came to his father and said "did you see what is happening today'? "There is a crucifion today and that man, they call Jesus walked by, carrying his cross and the cross he had, was mine." His dad said "son, we make a lot of beams for the Romans and there is no way that you could tell if that beam on the cross came from our shop." The young boy said "dad, you don't understand, I placed my name on a beam and when Jesus went by, my name was on His cross."
This is how I feel. My name was on His cross and He carried it to Calvary and died for a drunken, drug using, social outcast "Biker" like me. This is why I may seem a bit zealous for Christ. This is why I reach out to others. This is what has made me what I am today and whatever I attain in this life, may it bring Him, Honor, Glory and Praise.
Replies
We went to Sunrise service at a local Lutheran church. It wasnt outside like the services our church used to do at the local convent. There is something about watching the sun rise as you hear the story of the empty tomb
After reading your profile and reading this journal here, I just have to tell you that your story is one that I cherish and gives me the belief that if you can do it, my son who has suffered the same problems as you and is now incarcerated can change his ways and be a better person as you, yourself, has done. I thought we were friends already, but if now, will you be my friend?