Easter Sunday How glorious it would be if we could help folks see that our Heavenly Father has built into each Sunday a greeting of its own: �Good morning glory, good morning grace!� The first day of the week, each Sunday, rolls around every seven days. It punctuates each week with a reminder that our Savior �was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.� (Romans 4:25) The Supper we share when we meet together on Sunday (Acts 20:7), the Lord�s Day (Revelation 1:10), isn�t just about remembering his death, but also about anticipating his coming again and about living as his presence as the Body of Christ in the world until that day arrives. (1 Corinthians 10:17; 11:23-26) Jesus� resurrection from the dead, and our weekly reminder of his victory over death, means that our lives are not lived in vain (1 Corinthians 15:56-58) and that we are freed from the power of death to destroy and to produce fear (Hebrews 2:14-18). Our Lord�s resurrection guarantees our own, and ensures our reunion with those of faith who have gone before us. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) So what�s the point? Well, actually I want to leave you with two. First, Easter isn�t about getting dressed up and going to church once a year to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the springtime. Instead, Easter is a mindset, a lifestyle. It is about living with the firm conviction that death has ultimately been defeated and Jesus has given us �new birth into a living hope.� (1 Peter 1:3) Easter is about living daily with our minds focused on things above, knowing that Christ will come and enable us to share in his glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) We are the resurrection people of God. Life is ours. Not even death can take it from us. Second, to give us our booster shot for glory, God gives us Sunday every week. This first day of the week, the day the early church called the Lord�s day because it was the day of his resurrection, is our weekly time to awaken and cry out to each other: �Good morning glory, good morning grace!� Just as the dawn gave the crushed disciples the gift of the empty tomb and the presence of a living Lord, we too celebrate that our Lord lives and our life and future are bound up with him!"

Good Friday The passion week of the Easter season is here, and I am so grateful for this wonderful time to reflect on what Jesus did for us. He suffered every step of the cross with us in mind. He loved us and willingly took every stripe for us. He shed His precious blood for us. May this week be a time of constant reflection in your heart and soul as you remember the incredible gift of God � His Son's sacrifice for our salvation. Roy Lessin has written a beautiful message of Jesus' purpose and passion for us He Saw You What an incredible journey Jesus made; what an overwhelming expression of love He undertook; what an awesome purpose He had in mind. You were on His heart. When He left His home in heaven, He saw you; When He became a man on earth, He was seeking you; When he stretched out His hands upon the cross, He was reaching out to you; When He returned to His Father, He was preparing a place for you. You are the sheep He has come to shepherd, to guide, to feed, to protect, to shelter, and to carry. You are the one He calls His own. - Roy Lessin

Passive smoking is dangerous! 2004-04-07 11:00:11 New research proves that second-hand smoke is linked to increased risk of premature death, heart disease, ill health in children and the slow healing of wounds. Scientists say non-smokers who live with a smoker have a 15 percent higher risk of early death than those living in smoke-free households. Passive smoking also damages the chemical makeup of cells needed to heal wounds and accounts for abnormal scarring in second-hand smokers. Children of parents who smoke face double the risk of certain diseases compared to children of non-smokers, even if the smoker only lights up outdoors. If indoors, the risk is 15 times higher. Source: www.chinaview.cn