As we celebrate Easter Sunday, I thought it would be good to share this interesting article which I happened to come across on the internet.  YES, on the Internet.  The article asked some well thought out questions for all to read especially for Christians who get all caught up in laws and rules and formulas instead of allowing people to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior wherever they meet Him.   There was no name attached to the article so it is anonymous.  Please read it carefully:
 
“How does the thief on the cross fit into your theology?
 
No baptism, no communion, no confirmation, no speaking in tongues, no mission trips, no volunteerism, and no church clothes. 
 
He couldn’t even bend his knees to pray.  He didn’t say the sinner’s prayer and among other things, he was a thief. 
 
Jesus didn’t take away his pain, heal his body, or smite the scoffers.  Yet, it was a thief who walked into heaven the same hour as Jesus simply by believing . 
 
He had nothing more to offer other than his belief that Jesus was who He said He was. 
 
No spin from brilliant theologians.  No ego or arrogance.  No shiny lights, skinny jeans, or crafty words. 
 
No haze machines, donuts or coffee in the entrance.  Just a naked dying man on a cross unable to even fold his hands to pray.”
                                                *******
So I have to ask, does this fit your image of what is means to be a Christian?  Remember, that Christianity is NOT A RELIGION.  All religion is man made.  Yes, Judaism is a religion, Islam is a religion, Buddhism is religion, even atheism and communism are religions. Even the people who call themselves the Green people who worship and adore the earth-theirs is a religion.  BUT Christianity is NOT A RELIGION.  Christianity is a RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST. 
 
In the Gospels;  Matthew. Mark, Luke and John, it is clear from the teachings of Jesus and we read how He lived His life, that the most important thing is our relationship with God.  I know you will all list things like: our health, our finances, our careers, our relationships with others ,etc. they are  most important.  BUT everything literally finds its meaning in our relationship with Jesus Christ
 
John 3:16 says: “ For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that whosoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

In the Gospels we find over and over again the Good News that God wants us to have a full life; an abundant life because He loves us so much.  This full life is a gift and it really is a possibility. When you accept Christ into your life you can become a full, creative, unique, and beautiful person God created you to be.
 
I am quite sure many of you have heard over the years that giving is so important.  That is true, however, we rarely ever hear about the spirit of receiving.  Very few of us know how to receive gifts graciously and freely.  You see what typically happens is that our pride and our arrogance get in the way.  We don’t want to be obligated to the person who is giving to us. 
 
With Jesus all you have to do is to receive His gift of salvation, it is a free gift.  He paid the price already for us.  Faith is accepting the free gift.  Faith is receiving the free gift. He is offering it to you will you freely.   That is what the Cross reminds us of - that JESUS freely gave HIS life to redeem our lives!   Salvation is a free gift.

This Easter, as we celebrate the RESURRECTION of our Lord and Savior JESUS CHRIST, be sure to take accept this free gift if you haven't already.   If you have already accepted salvation, take some time to thank HIM and celebrate HIM today!

For the Christian, Easter is an exciting time!  It is not about the bunnies and eggs; it is
a time of rejoicing because JESUS our SAVIOR died on the Cross for our sins.   He not
only died but was resurrected on the 3rd day after the crucifixion as the bible tells us in John 19 and 20.

​Why do you think there is so much hatred of Jesus today?  The answer is simple, it's because HE lives! 
No one argues or protests over someone who is dead.  Muhammed is dead, Buddha is dead,
Joseph Smith is dead.   But JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!    HE went to the cross for all of our sins!
 
Now sin isn't something a lot of people like to talk about.  Sin is something that in our
society we have pretty well avoided or talked away or rationalized out of existence;
 but it has not been eradicated in God's Word. 
 
Every human that has ever been born has been born as a slave to their own desires,
as a slave to sin. We want to have what we want to have, and we want it now. The
only problem is that we care about our own desires more than we do about anything
or anyone else. We make our own desires out to be more important than what God
desires for us. Because God's desires do not fit with our desires, we forsake God
 and we rebel against him.
 
But GOD's glorious solution to man's greatest problem happened on Easter!

We received GD’s supreme blessing when we really deserved GOD’s wrath.  GOD
became man in Jesus Christ and He did so not to be served, but to serve HIS creation!
The King of eternity, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who reigns in power over all creation
 from eternity past to eternity future, who crushes nations before Him as a rod
 of iron smashes pots of clay, this very King humbled Himself and "took the form
 of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" and lived among us as our servant!
Doesn’t that take your breath away?
 
And if that does not amazing enough,  there is a passage in Micah 7:19 that
 states that not only have our sins been forgiven but they are cast into the depths
 of the sea.  This is sometimes referred to as God’s waste removal system.  The
complete removal of sin, complete forgiveness.  When JESUS cleansed us, HE took
care of all our sins – past, present and future.  They were all forever washed away!
 
I know some of you are going to say "I am unworthy of God’s forgiveness because
I have done so many bad things".   That is actually a true statement.   We are all unworthy.
That’s why forgiveness is so amazing! God delights to show mercy.  HE has compassion on us
and if we ask, HE will hurl all our sin into the depths of the sea.   Experience God’s
mercy and pardon today.
 
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate sign of the incredible Good News of God’s
 love for us.  The Cross is the ultimate sign of God’s faithfulness and our assurance
 that He will never leave us or forsake us. 

Because of the ONE who died for us on that Cross we have the ability to be at peace with GOD,
the Father.   Yes, we lost that peace in the Garden as recorded in Genesis 3, but we regained
that peace once again through Jesus Christ.   As if that was not amazing enough, know that if
we chose Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will spend all eternity with HIM in heaven.
 
Then why do so many of us Christians live like we’re the boss and Jesus is the one
 who’s supposed to live for our convenience?  It’s not supposed to be that way. He is
 the King. He is owed our allegiance and obedience.  Not because He’s some weird
supernatural dictator, but because HIS love drove HIM to come to earth and die for us on an
old-rugged cross!  JESUS took the punishment that we deserved when HE died on the cross.  But it didn't end on the cross and it didn't end in the tomb because JESUS didn't stay dead, HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE ON THE THIRD DAY!   HE IS RISEN!    THAT is what Easter is all about and why it is soooo exciting!! 

Accept HIM today as your LORD and Savior....HE IS THE RISEN LORD!