This Easter 2009

Happy Easter everyone.

About 9 years ago, Easter would have had no meaning to me at all. It was just another day for me to have a off of school or work and maybe get a little candy in a basket. Today, Easter has become one of the most important holidays to me. Everything a Christian believes, hinges on what happened on the day of Easter. Easter is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. Without that day, there would be no Christianity. Personally, my experience with Jesus begun in 2000. It was totally unexpected and very different. I was with a friend and through a series of circumstances, asked Christ into my life. That was the beginning of a brand new life for me.

Over the years I have learned so much about my faith and belief in God. Most importantly, I have learned of the freedom that comes in Christ. Christianity is quite simple and for too long our culture has turned it into a moralistic, dogmatic, fundamental (with no fun) religion, that lacks life, depth, and real love. Christianity is so much more than that. Instead it is a risky, rebellious, love affair with Christ, that propels you to do things that in your right mind you would never do (Such as share your faith or write a company wide e-mail; haha). I am by no means perfect or even a great person, but instead, I am doing all I know to pursue Christ with all my being.

This Easter, I challenge everyone, myself included, to not just let this holiday pass us by as a day off or a family event with a bunny (which the Chewning kids will definitely do), but take a moment to remember what we are celebrating. God came to earth to live perfectly, die horrifically, and rise gloriously, so that we may know him deeply. We all have different views on what the bible is. Some say it is a story, some say it is a book written by man about God, others say it is God's specific word given to us so that we may know him. Nonetheless, we cannot deny that it has been the most influential writings in all the history of mankind. Nothing has more effected our society than the bible.

My favorite part in all of the bible is Colossians 1:13-23 which says:

God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves (Christ), in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation- if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.

Anyway, regardless of what you may or may not believe, I want you to know that I love all of you. I consider all of you very close friends to me, and you've all played a part in who I am today; both personally and professionally. For that, I thank all of you. If you don't have a church that you'll be attending on Sunday, you're all invited to come with me. We go to a great, fun church full of a young crowd. Its up-beat, exciting and real. I'd love for you to join me. Go to http://www.daystarcf.org/ for details and directions. Either way, have a blessed Easter Holiday.