Good Friday

You may want to Increase your (main) audio output before playing clip, it's audible, just recorded at a low volume. Alice Cooper talks Jesus Christ. He's so right. Amen. 🕆  

Good Friday.

Christ’s arrest, trial, suffering, crucifixion, and death are recorded in all four Gospel accounts, with slightly varying chronologies and details. Having been betrayed by his disciple Judas Iscariot, Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and led away to be tried. First, the Jewish religious authorities examine him on the charge that he has disobeyed the traditions of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and made blasphemous claims about himself. They adjudge him guilty.  

Some theologians I've listened to posit that Good Friday actually occurred on a Thursday, which makes sense because that amount of time concurs with three full days and nights. Whether or not you want to believe this is up to you. What matters is accepting Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior. 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 

"Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes." - Romans 10:4 

Easter Monday.

The text at the link below appears to have been removed from the site, or maybe moved to a link contained in the page - I don't know why. The message excerpt below remains the same. It's the same I posted other Easter Mondays:

Christianity.com: What is Easter Monday and Why Do We Celebrate It?

Easter Monday may not be the first thing you think of when you remember the Easter calendar, but it highlights an important part of the Easter story: what happened after Jesus got out of the tomb?
[.]
Easter Monday is a continuation of the joy of Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday, Christians celebrate that Jesus is alive, and therefore, we can find new life in Him. Easter Monday is celebrated differently in various parts of the world and within different denominations.
[.]
What Follows Easter Monday?

When the resurrected Christ first appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not with them. The disciples told him what they saw, but Thomas said he would need to see Christ’s nail-pierced hands for himself to believe. A week later, Jesus revisited the disciples. This time, however, Thomas was with them. Jesus showed Thomas his scars, and he believed. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

- - -

Easter Sunday

From Christian Bible Reference:

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Remember those who are alone, those for whatever reason, can't be with their loved ones. 

 

Remember those less fortunate. 

 

We all have reasons to be incredibly grateful for what we have. Pray. Give Thanks.

Happy Easter to all.

 

HE is RISEN!

Holy Friday.

From Crossway.

We Are Barabbas

Pilate’s Ruling

Jesus became a substitute for us in a colossal way.

On Jesus’s final day on this earth he was arrested in a garden and taken for trial. It was a brief ordeal because there was no real evidence. There was no attorney with exhibit A or a last-minute witness to take the stand who would clinch the verdict. The three mock trials probably lasted a few minutes each. Jesus bounced from Pilate to Herod and then back to Pilate again.

It was in the final trial that Jesus was sentenced to death. It seems as if Pilate didn’t necessarily want to send Jesus to his death, but he bowed down to the pressure of the Jews (Matt. 27:22–24). As the Roman governor over Jerusalem, Pilate already had a difficult relationship with the Jewish population. He previously had remedied a budget shortage by pillaging the temple treasury for funds. The Jews were so angry that many rioted. The soldiers Pilate sent to stop the riot ended up beating many Jews to death. That will certainly make you an enemy of the people. At another point, the Jews were so exasperated with Pilate for decorating his palace with idols, they actually appealed to Caesar. The ruler was less than thrilled at the bickering and asked Pilate to remove the idols. Pilate was supposed to keep the Jews under control, but he just couldn’t seem to do it.

Now Pilate faced yet another potentially explosive issue: what to do with Jesus? Another riot would have been costly. With two strikes against him, a third one might put Pilate out of work and on the streets for good. The situation with Jesus came to a boiling point during the Passover. It was tradition that the Roman Empire would allow one convicted felon to go free, and the Jews could choose who this would be. Matthew 27:15–18 records this moment:

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.

Pilate might have said to himself, “Here’s my opportunity to simply let Jesus go free. We’ll put forward the worst prisoner, a murderer, and we’ll put forward Jesus. Surely they won’t let the other guy go free.” But they did. The chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to release Barabbas. Pilate was so surprised, he asked them again a second time, “‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas’” (Matt. 27:21). And so just to clarify, Pilate asked them one last time, “‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Let him be crucified!’” (Matt. 27:22–23).

This whole scenario is surprising to say the least. Jesus had been accused of crimes that could not be proved. Then there was Barabbas who was basically a terrorist. The crowd chose a murderer over the one who brings the dead back to life. They chose evil over the one who loves perfectly. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but the crowds roared to free Barabbas and to crucify Jesus. And Pilate caved in to save his job.

Matthew 27:25

All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

Easter Monday.

The text at the link below appears to have been removed from the site, or maybe moved to a link contained in the page - I don't know why. The message excerpt below remains the same. It's the same I posted Easter Monday, 2023:

Christianity.com: What is Easter Monday and Why Do We Celebrate It?

Easter Monday may not be the first thing you think of when you remember the Easter calendar, but it highlights an important part of the Easter story: what happened after Jesus got out of the tomb?
[.]
Easter Monday is a continuation of the joy of Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday, Christians celebrate that Jesus is alive, and therefore, we can find new life in Him. Easter Monday is celebrated differently in various parts of the world and within different denominations.
[.]
What Follows Easter Monday?

When the resurrected Christ first appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not with them. The disciples told him what they saw, but Thomas said he would need to see Christ’s nail-pierced hands for himself to believe. A week later, Jesus revisited the disciples. This time, however, Thomas was with them. Jesus showed Thomas his scars, and he believed. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

- - -

88 year old woman, late stage dementia. Knows Jesus.

Easter Sunday.

From Christian Bible Reference:

Click=enlarge 

 

 

 

 

   

Remember those who are alone, those for whatever reason, can't be with their loved ones. 

 

Remember those less fortunate. 

 

We all have reasons to be incredibly grateful for what we have. Pray. Give Thanks.

Happy Easter to all.

 

HE is RISEN!

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 22:17-18:

17 I can count all my bones.
         They look, they stare at me;

18 They divide my garments among them,
         And for my clothing they cast lots. 

The Crucifixion of Jesus.

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion.

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV: 

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD.

 

 

Easter.

From Christian Bible Reference:

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Have a Blessed, safe and enjoyable Easter, whatever you do, wherever you are. 

 

Remember those who are alone, those for whatever reason, can't be with their loved ones. 

 

Remember those less fortunate. 

 

We all have reasons to be incredibly grateful for what we have. Pray. Give Thanks.

Happy Easter to all.

 

HE is RISEN!

Easter Monday.

Christianity.com: What is Easter Monday and Why Do We Celebrate It?

Easter Monday may not be the first thing you think of when you remember the Easter calendar, but it highlights an important part of the Easter story: what happened after Jesus got out of the tomb?
[.]
Easter Monday is a continuation of the joy of Easter Sunday. On Easter Monday, Christians celebrate that Jesus is alive, and therefore, we can find new life in Him. Easter Monday is celebrated differently in various parts of the world and within different denominations.
[.]
What Follows Easter Monday?

When the resurrected Christ first appeared to the disciples, Thomas was not with them. The disciples told him what they saw, but Thomas said he would need to see Christ’s nail-pierced hands for himself to believe. A week later, Jesus revisited the disciples. This time, however, Thomas was with them. Jesus showed Thomas his scars, and he believed. Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Easter Sunday

From Christian Bible Reference:

Click=enlarge

Have a safe and enjoyable Easter, whatever you do, wherever you are. Remember those who are alone and those who are separated from their loved ones.

 

Remember those less fortunate. We all have reasons to be incredibly grateful for what we have.

A Blessed Easter to all.

Easter Sunday.

From Christian Bible Reference:

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Have a safe and enjoyable Easter, whatever you do, wherever you are. Remember those who are alone, can't be with their loved ones or are involuntarily isolated and quarantined. Remember those less fortunate. We all have reasons to be incredibly grateful for what we have.

Happy Easter to all.

Who will be breaking the law on Easter? Be Rebellious!

We are breaking so many Covid-19 laws, ordinances and regulations tomorrow. Somewhere, in an undisclosed, semi-rural area southwest of the Twin Cities - or is that northeast? (feel free to track us, Google) - about 40 of us will be getting together for the day. This was planned over a month ago and we're going ahead with it.

There are a few, newer caveats implemented. Everyone agreed that anyone not feeling well, no matter how slight, won't attend.

A decontamination station will be at the home entrance, with hot soap and water, disinfectant, sanitizer, Clorox wipes (yes, someone actually scored some of those!), thermal temperature scans for the kiddies, three big kick-ass RAM extended-cabs will be blocking off the private driveway and me and two of my nephews will be guarding the gate with our AR-15s and other various firearms, including revolvers that we're likely to frequently twirl on our index fingers like cowboys.

Cousin Cletus is our designated sniper. He's also responsible for supplying the Tupperware of Spleef and in his possession at all times, he holds the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

This is the first time in my memory that restaurants won't be open for Easter buffets. An impact that is all too painfully harsh both economically and socially.

That places of worship are closed is truly sad. I've heard in the news some are holding services while people remain in their cars in the parking lot and I think that's an acceptable workaround - considering the circumstances - rather than indoor mass.

What are your plans for Easter? Family gathering? Small or reduced number of guests from past years? Isolation? Going on a cruise, maybe?

Will you be Breaking The Law?

All parties mutually agreed in canceling the running-chainsaw and cleaver-juggling contests, but that's more due to the weather forecast than fear of Coronavirus.

Easter Sunday

From Christian Bible Reference:

He is The Living Christ

Commercialized Christian Holidays

Is it just me, or are Christian holy days the only ones that are uber-commercialized?

You did catch the "Hop In For These Great Deals", right? "Hop In"? I bet they paid big money to an advertising agency for that gem.

I've never seen advertisements for "Super-Savings Big-Discount on all Pools and Spas" during Purim.

I don't see sales of "Buy One, Get One Free" commercializing Passover.

"Mattress Liquidation Sale During Ramadan."  I've never read that.

"Oy Vey! It's A Rosh Hashanah Blow Out Discount Weekend!  Everything Must Go!" Big discounts on yarmulkes and Tzitzits , maybe?  It's just a thought.

And why exclude Atheists? Add an Atheist holiday to the calendar.  "40% Off on Everything, Including Sale Items during Atheist Event Week!"

Why are there no Muhammad Peeps?

It seems a large part of a target market is being excluded. I wonder why?

Have a Blessed Easter.