Preparing for Easter Sunday

As many of you know, I have been preaching a series about the major points of the Reformed perspective on salvation. The general skeleton has been the "five points of Calvinism". When I set out on this journey I didn't know how long the series would be and now that I am on "limited atonement" I still couldn't tell you when it will come to end. It has been a real joy.

This Sunday I am preaching on John 10:1-18. This passage is beloved by many Christians. Jesus proclaims himself to be the Good Shepherd. But what about Easter? Shouldn't I take a break from this series and preach a special holiday message? Not so much. Every sermon should be about the Risen Lord! This Sunday will be no different. After all the Good Shepherd is the only Shepherd that can not only lay down his life for HIS SHEEP (notice particular redemption!) but he also takes his own life back up again! This is the Easter message...Christ has risen!

On another note, my wife and I must give a prayer of thanks to the Lord. After a great worship service on Friday night with all of you, we came home and were preparing to relax. I was talking with my daughter on the top flight of our steps when I noticed my baby boy, Caleb, beginning to climb the last flight of stairs towards us. I thought in my mind that I needed to go grab him. We don't like seeing him on the steps. As soon as the thought entered my mind, Caleb began to fall down the tallest part of the steps--head over heels. I began to chase after him, screaming for him to stop, pleading for him to stop. I was helpless and just one step behind him the entire time. Just as I was about to reach him, Caleb hit the bottom step and floor. My wife was there on the spot. We just sat there and hugged him as he sobbed.

Here is the funny thing. Not a bruise on his body. Not a scratch. In fact as he was falling it was almost as if he was floating. He fell so softly and gently that it was as if an angel were lightly lowering him to his destination. We just praise the Lord that this weekend could have been so different but God chose to spare us any grief. Praise God for His love endures forever! See you this Easter!