We Forget Joy Comes In The Morning

Sometimes we forget joy comes in the morning, when darkness will be past,
It’s when we close our eyes; we see dawn break at last,
We want loud processions, parades of glory in the street
Spectacles of reigning wealth, and easy paths beneath our feet.

It deludes us, we don’t see it
Hope is not a shout;
It won’t be a blinding light,
For just one candle gives us sight.

It’s not a demand, just a gentle call,
It is not in grand cathedrals or decorated halls.
It’s not a loud, boisterous bell,
It’s quiet in a prison cell,
Or asleep homeless in the park
It lights the drug infested dark.

It sings where we fear to go; it holds the alcoholics’ hand,
In the gutters where hatred flows; where Man makes war on Man,
The lion of Judah waits in the wing,
The song lives on, through eternal spring

The Love we pray for will be restored
If we open our hearts’ battered door.
It will reconcile our brothers and sisters,
We will find his spirit, in faith's small whisper.

By Earl Presley & Sue Simonson

Implications of the Resurrection

The early church was regularly reminded of the present-day implications of the Resurrection for Christians.
We in Christ are given an opportunity to experience Resurrection -- the old life is behind us, a new life in heaven lies before us. Jesus has rolled away the stone for us.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.
People of God, emerge from the tomb and live!
We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
• We are not to be partial, the gospel is for everyone
• Jesus is Lord of all, God-anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power
• He gave us that power
• We are to go around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the
• We will be put to death; but raised from death with Christ.
• We are to preach and testify as witnesses to his resurrection.
• Anyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name and we are bound to forgive them in his name also.
• We are to be Faithful, so choose loving actions in the midst of uncertainty

It is a privilege to be chosen as a witness, but God’s mission to provide salvation is accomplished already, and God’s mission to proclaim the gospel will be accomplished as well – with us or without us. If we choose to abandon Christ’s mission, He will raise someone up to take our place.
Death cannot hold him...
Grave cannot hold him...
We cannot hold him...
By their fruits ye shall know them. Are you bearing fruit?