The primary reason for my love for Easter may be obvious. Without Easter I would have no hope for redemption and communion with God. Jesus died, as all men must do; yet, He rose from the dead in His own strength, as only God can do. Further, Jesus was the first to die raise from the dead never again to die. This God-man took my place and died to redeem me. Because He lives, I, too, shall live, die, and be raised to eternal life. This reason is enough to claim Easter as the highest day in my holiday calendar.

There is another reason why I claim Easter as my most loved day. When I was nine years old, I had undulant fever and was hospitalized for a time. When I came home, I was bedfast for several weeks, and then homebound for more weeks than I want to remember. My first excursion was Easter Sunday. I was so excited to go out to church. I knew what I would hear, but I never tired of the story. There is a unique tone to Easter in contrast to all other religious holidays. Even Christmas pales in significance to Resurrection Sunday.

Of course, there was the buildup at home: The house had been scoured from top to bottom; dyed eggs; maybe a chocolate egg or bunny in our old Easter baskets; new clothes to wear (or at least a new hat and shoes to complement a hand-me-down dress); a special Easter meal in the oven, with guests invited to dinner. That alone was enough to create excitement.

I recall that Easter day. It was cool enough for a light coat, but it was sunny. Piles of snow remained in the church parking area where it had been plowed and not melted. I had missed the snows. I wore a new pink dress. It sort of hung on me, because I was so thin from my illness. But I felt a renewal. Easter was alive in me. Life could go on.

There had been times throughout my acute illness when I thought I would die. It was an exaggerated fear, but it was real to my childish mind. I was miserable with fevers, loss of appetite, weakness, loneliness, nosebleeds, daily Penicillin shots, and other discomforts.

Now I was in church again … the day we would sing the great hymns of Christ’s Passion and the anthems of Easter morning … Up From the Grave He Arose! Hope returned in the reading of the Resurrection Scripture passages, and the visual celebration of the bread and the cup. Nature burgeoned forth and fortified the hope of life all about us. All of Easter melded together to lift hearts upward in praise to God. “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!”

I didn’t comprehend this well at age nine, but I felt a part of the life given that Easter Sunday morning. Although I was helpless when I was ill, at least the medicine worked and I recovered. Unlike my illness, as a sinner before God, I was more than helpless; I was hopeless … not sick but dead. Only Jesus’ resurrection could give my dead soul life.

This is why Easter remains my favorite holiday.

After two full months of cold
that shoveling out gets rather old
and I’ve considered move to Mexico.
Now its piled both high and deep,
and I have tossed it in a heap
as far as futile efforts I can throw.

Sure, it’s pretty, I’ll admit,
but I would like it now to quit
so once more I can travel to and fro.
I am grateful for each day…
look forward to the month of May
when “snowbirds” from the south will north-ward blow.

“This funny”, he says, “that six weeks of the cold
Does on my ol’ shadow depend…
And six weeks of snow, ice, and wintery mix
will come before winter shall end.

“The first day of spring, in case you didn’t know,
Is more than six weeks from today,
But I say that hope in my shadow is vain:
‘Tis weather or not anyway!”

Some say that God is punishing the country of Haiti for their Satanic activity; others say that Satan has caused the disaster; still others say that it is merely an event that God will use for His glory; and others tell us that it is caused by global warming, natural phenomena, or any of a variety of reasons.

I wonder if we aren’t looking at this all wrong. In the history of God’s people from the beginning of time, more often God has used events of both nature and supernatural means to bring His own people to their knees. Is it as simple as that? Or as complicated? Perhaps.

When I hear that believers are praising God in the midst of this disaster, I know that God is being glorified. When I hear of Christians leaving the comforts of their homes to go and help, I know that God is being glorified. When I hear others praying to God for these people…for their safety and their souls, I know that God is being glorified. When I hear the appeals for funding by Christian organizations that can provide relief to the victims, I know that God is using this for His own greater glory.

Do we rejoice, then, that the tragedy happened? What a horrible thought! No, but we praise God that He is working for His glory and then consider how we can work out our own Christian faith in the mix.

Pray…give…go … This is the missionary mantra that we have heard over the centuries, and it still remains the appropriate response to the needs of the world about us, including the present tragedy. Pray for that one soul who will renounce his denial of Christ and follow the Savior; give to help rebuild the necessities of life for those who have been made in God’s image; go, if you can, to bring life and light to those who may remain in darkness both physically and spiritually. Leave the theology of the event to God.

mix well and refrigerate several hours before serving

Grease loaf pans with solid shortening within 1/2 inch of rim
Preheat oven to 350 F
In large mixing bowl combine 1 cup of the flour with brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices; work with fingers until fine and meal-like texture;
add pumpkin pie mix, milk, eggs, and oil; beat with mixer on low setting until well mixed; increase to high speed for 2 minutes; add remaining flour and mix well; add nuts and raisins;
bake in 1 9x5x3″ loaf pan 50-60 minutes, or 4 mini loaf pans 40 minutes; cool on rack for 10 minutes; remove from pans.

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We are to pray for our leadership. It is difficult to pray for someone that you have otherwise treated in a non-Christian-like manner. A few days ago a friend sent me a refreshing prayer for our leadership. The prayer asked for God to give “optimum health, mental clarity and political prosperity” to our president, and that “what he lacks in political ‘experience’ (God) make up for with supernatural wisdom and power.” If we would so pray, no matter which side of the political fence we travel, we will be doing as well as we should.

Yes, we should be discerning when we vote, we must scrutinize the actions of our law makers, and we must speak out against immoral laws or that which is not good for our country. What we should not do is slander our elected leaders.