Good Friday:

(image credit from Brenton Little / text added by me)

Hi friends. Today is an important day in what I believe. Easter for us is not about easter bunnies and chocolate eggs. Don't get me wrong: we totally had easter egg hunts and all the fun stuff when we were kids. My mom actually sometimes filled the eggs with coins & dollar bills (score!) and it was a good time ;) But today, I will reflect on what Jesus came to do for us many years ago.

I know 'religion' gets into so many politics and controversy, but none of it really matters for me! It's sad that people are divided and fight over these trivial things. What matters and lays at the core of what I believe is that Jesus came to make atonement for the sins of all. He rose again 3 days later and defeated death, so that we might live with Him forever! All He asks is that you believe and accept Him. No strings attached. You don't need to do any crazy stuff after. Just believe. That's it in a nutshell.

So anyway, I came across this site, oceaster.com - it's a pretty cool interactive site, I'd check it out just for the design of it.. plus there's a cool message in there too ;) If you haven't been to church in a while or feel like going to check out what this is all about, I'd encourage you to go this Sunday! I will be up in Sacramento with my mom and am honestly a little bummed that I'll miss the service here, this awesome guy is speaking and you can find service info here. It's at a big amphitheater though so if you think you'll feel lost, I know Ruby's church is smaller and more intimate. Check out her blog for some info about a service at her church as well.

I know this isn't related to the normal content of what is posted here. But from time to time, I really just feel compelled to share with you. Today is a day where I can't not share the good news! Whatever your own beliefs are (whether you have different beliefs or none at all), you know I always appreciate you letting me be open and vulnerable, even if you don't agree with it. Whew, that was a novel. If you got through it, thanks for taking the time to read! ;) I've just been sitting here for 45 minutes figuring out what to write & share with you.

Well anyway, I thought I'd leave an Easter thought written by a great author:

"I do not mind telling you that within me I find the Easter message and the reality of the Resurrection more beautiful and glorious than the Christmas scene. Christmas tells us that Jesus was born; that He was born for the humiliation of suffering and death and atonement. But Easter is the radiant and glory-filled celebration of Christ's mighty triumph over the grave and death and hell! When Easter comes, our voices are raised in the triumphant chorus: The three sad days had quickly sped; He rises glorious from the dead! There is the real beauty! This is more than the beauty of color; more than the beauty of outline or form; more than the beauty of physical proportion. In the living Christ is the perfection of all beauty; and because He lives, we too shall live in the presence of His beauty and the beauties of heaven, forever!" - A.W. Tozer