I have been through several weeks of illness. I have also seen some of my flock go through some terrible things recently. The message of many sermons today is that life is one continuous party yet reality doesn't bare this out. I have often wondered about the song, "Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before". My experience doesn't match that song. But maybe the writer wasn't talking about happiness as we think of it? Maybe he was talking about growing in closeness to Christ through our difficulties? Jesus didn't try to sugar coat the reality that life would be hard.

You may be reading this today and life has given you a hard blow. Don't be surprised Jesus said in this world you would have trouble. But He cautioned us not dwell in our sadness because He has conquered every enemy that lies before us and one day we will enter into His victory completely. Because of the cross and the empty tomb there is hope.

The Day Jesus Died

This Sunday I will be bringing the second sermon in my series on "Three Days That Changed The World". I will be looking at the day Jesus died. I have chosen the drama within the drama of the two thieves to illustrate how the cross impacts people. You can't honestly confront the cross without making a decision. Jesus taught you are either "for me or against me". There was no middle ground in the mind of Christ. The cross of Christ was God's ultimate invitation to lost humanity. There was nothing more He could do to save us from ourselves.

People often ponder why a loving God would allow people to go to Hell. A holy God could not allow sinful man into His eternal dwelling place, can you imagine Hitler in Heaven? So through the cross He paid for our sins so we could spend eternity with Him. If you do decide to go to Hell you will have to trample under foot the blood and cross of Christ. The cross is the crisis point, either we bow and acknowledge Christ or we continue in our rebellion. The two thieves came to this crisis point and their response couldn't have been more different. Please pray with me this Sunday as I ask people, "Which side of the cross are you on?".

NOTES

• Daylight Savings Time this Sunday, early huh?
• Class 201 this Sunday for church membership
• Easter Musical 03.16.08 pray and invite, desert fund raiser that night for Mission team
• Easter 03.23.08 early this year, please pray and invite your friends
• Man saved at nursing home this week PTL!
• Mission Team love offering 04.06.08 please begin praying now what you can do
• We continue on a record pace for this year, pray for wisdom for the leadership team
• Use this link below to send invitation to friends for Easter

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Thanks for allowing me the privilege of being your pastor. Hope to see you Sunday and I hope you bring a friend.