He died but He is not dead!

So, I have so much to write about.  In the last two weeks I have been working with a family of 5 little girls and their mother who is dying of cancer and the process to help them be taken care of.  My prayer request is that God would find a safe place for them away from home.  May His will be done! There is a chance that that "safe place" may be with us at Emanuel House either short or long term.  Pray for safety until they are placed and pray for wisdom, rest, peace and provision.

Ruth Esther (13), Rosalía (6), Rafaela or Rosanna (8), Ranyeli (12), Rainieli (4)

While I could easily blog about all of the events of the last 2 weeks, I think I should talk about the fact that today is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter.

I imagine that in various places in the world there is less work today and that there are a variety of celebrations in observance of the day when Jesus Christ gave up His life so that those who believe in Him can one day live with God in eternity.

I imagine too, that there are other places like the United States where in just a few days people who never attend church will decide to attend, where there are egg hunts and Easter bunnies all around, and where many completely will miss the point of why we celebrate this holiday called Easter.

I imagine that also, there are places in the world like the one in which I live, that have experienced spiritual warfare throughout this week...where there are people divided because of differences in traditions (even in the Christian faith), where people spend the week fasting and praying because of expected spiritual warfare, and where beginning last night at midnight non-believers and people in the voodoo tradition begin celebrating that Jesus is dead.

My first year in another country during a week of remembrance of what I consider the most important event in history -- Jesus' death and resurrection -- has been enlightening.  Semana Santa (Holy Week) is a week where there is no school here.  It's a week of fasting, prayer vigils, church campaigns and parades. It is also a week of voodoo gaga's (parades & dancing to devil music), sacrifices, shooting, drunkenness, and time spent in the cemeteries.

[While I must admit that there is a small part of me that is curious to see the voodoo happenings in Quisqueya, I thank God for the opportunity to spend time away in the capital and pray from a distance for the city that I now call home.]

In addition to the spiritual warfare between those against God and those for Him, I also sense division among believers because of the "how" to celebrate or the "how not" to celebrate because of  denomination, culture or tradition.  In fact, I just read yesterday that "a dominican church leader declared that if "anyone was at the beach or at a resort during Holy week, that person is not a true believer, but instead pagan."  I definitely believe that sometimes we miss the mark.  We just don't get it.

I took 2 Emanuel House families to the beach on Monday and we enjoyed a wonderful day enjoying God's creation, swimming, and just having fun.  We were accompanied by some GAP girls who do ministry with Emanuel House on Mondays and the GAP director, Jaime. We also set a record with 14 people in my car.... driving Dominican style.

In my reading this morning, I read from Matthew as Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem for His last passover celebration.  He denounces the religious people who appear holy from the outside but don't understand that living out our faith is even more important than tradition.  I imagine for all of those who go to church on Sunday or for those who have celebrated this weeks' traditions, God would be happy, but would also encourage us to continue to remember the need to turn from our sin, be in relationship with Him, fellowship with other believers, and to remember His sons' sacrifice every week, not just this one.

As I remember how the various churches in which I grew up celebrated Easter with Easter poems or programs, how my previous school celebrated it with the Easter play, how my Atlanta church told of the Passion using the Resurrection Eggs, how right now in the States I would be seeing Easter eggs and bunnies, or how this Sunday is one to enjoy a meal with family, I am struck by how much sometimes culture defines how we celebrate and often what we believe.

None of the aformentioned traditions exist here in the D.R.  My first Easter away at church (I am told) will not have poems, or plays (or eggs or bunnies).  It is possible that even the message of Jesus' resurrection won't even be shared on Sunday but instead was shared previously during the week (and of course is shared regularly as well).  It's shocking though to me that there is a possibility that in an effort to go against one tradition, some could easily not take advantage of a great opportunity to share the Gospel to many people who don't yet get it. And while I understand that Jesus didn't just rise from the dead for us to recognize that on Easter Sunday, having grown up in the US, I'm a little culture shocked this week.  At the same time, being away makes me see how much we Americans tend to mix traditions -- those of the world and those of God.  Maybe some of it is harmless... maybe.  But, we must keep our eyes on His truth that can only be found in His word.

For those who may have missed it.  Here's the true story.

How we celebrate in my opinion doesn't matter.

But we should celebrate it.

We should remember.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish passover.  

On the way, He healed the blind, the lame and the sick.  He forgave the lowest of the low and He was followed by many, including children.  

Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and arrived with people singing sincere praises, "Hosanna!  Hosanna in the highest!"  The people waved palm branches and declared Him King!  

He washed His disciples' feet, showing them humility and that we are in this world to serve others, not to be served.  

Then He shared the last supper with his followers, explaining that the bread was His body that would be broken for them, and that the wine was His blood that would be poured out for them.  

And Jesus explained that His disciples should love others just as He had shown His love.

Then, Jesus went and prayed.

And, one of His disciples, Judas, gave Jesus over to the authorities for just a little bit of money.  

And one of his own disciples later denied having followed Jesus. He actually denied Him three times.  

And, those same people who had declared Jesus to be the King and who had waved the palm branches singing "Hosanna," those same people just days later were supporting Him being hung on the cross.  

Jesus was not just hung on the cross-- 

He was beaten, 
whipped, 
made fun of, 
spit on, 
pierced in His side, 
nailed in his hands and feet, 
and He died right next to two thieves. 

And, the simple truth is that He did it for all of us.  The simple truth is that we all have sinned and just like Judas betrayed Jesus and just like those people who worshiped Jesus as He entered into Jerusalem betrayed Him days later, we also are responsible for Him hanging on that cross.  

In 1 Timothy 1, Paul reminds Timothy that Jesus died for "people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders... for those who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to [us] by our blessed God."  He then goes on to explain how "Christ came into the world to save sinners."

I, like Paul -- You, like Paul -- fall short.

Easter is about recognizing that the only way to be filled with the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a genuine faith is to recognize that it was our sin that caused Jesus to die and to believe in the only One who came to save us, Jesus.  And then, to take the next step and follow Him!

Isn't it funny?  After so many years, so much scripture, we still don't get it.

Jesus was born.  

Jesus died.

Jesus rose again!

And, it's not about how we celebrate.  It's just about remembering that this story is true every day of the year.  And, somehow this stained world has Easter marked on its calendar and we get to celebrate it!  We get to rest in it!  We get to ponder His love for us away from work!

That is the message of Easter.  Don't get caught up in anything else.  Read the Word for yourself!  Repent!  Be renewed!

[For God] sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.     Romans 8:3

My old self has been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   Galatians 2:20

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

2 Corinthians 5:17