Psalm 30:5 declares that although weeping may endure for a night, joy comes in the morning. 

Perhaps, unsurprisingly, when this verse is quoted the emphasis often tends to fall on the joy that comes in the morning rather than the weeping in the night. And obviously there is wonderful truth in that hope. The book of Revelation points us to the great hope we have as those who trust in Jesus that there will be a day when God will wipe every tear from our eyes. 

We will remember them…

ANZAC day has just passed, now for some of us it might be just another public holiday that we get each year or it’s the week where we have lots of ANZAC biscuits. But for others, and for over 100 years now, we stop on this day to remember the sacrifice that people made for our freedom. In WWI and WWII and many other conflicts since then, men and women have left the comforts of their home, fought, and died so we can live in a free country today.

I love these words of Augustine!

Man’s maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.

In the gospels Jesus is asked 187 questions. That's a lot!
And Jesus never rebukes the inquirer for asking their question.*

I grew up in the Mormon Church and difficult questions about theology, interpretation of scripture and of church history were frowned upon. Questions were often labeled as doubts and doubt was seen as the opposite of the sort of faith we were supposed to have.

Easter is always a good time to stop and reflect on Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It is also a great opportunity to share the meaning of this period with those who will stop their work for a few days but not know why. Any of our services this weekend would be a great to bring guests along to learn about the meaning of Easter from the Bible. 

'Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”' (Matt 9:35-38)