Tell the Whole Truth About Easter !

To Learn the Whole Truth, Read Josh’s Evidence for the Resurrection

Christ’s resurrection is more than an historically documented event to be shared. It is a transforming reality. When our families and friends know why Jesus rose, they will discover the whole truth. To discover this for yourself or to lead your church group, click here.

Christ's resurrection is as relevant today as it was in the first century--our present and eternal lives depend upon it. Easter happened. The resurrection is an historical and living reality that can empower us to live a life full of meaning and purpose. For six pages of absolute-must-read, click here.
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Postscript (4:30 PM): Frost all over my KIA at 6:30 AM when leaving for Sunrise Service. The thermometer in front of the bank said 41 degrees. No, I wasn't dressed warm enough!! ~~ After Worship Service (after 12:30) I took a long drive because an incredibly beautiful, warm afternoon. Some trees are so-o-o-o green while others (ornamentals) are magnificent with pink, or white, flowers. I saw purple Iris, yellow Daffodils, various colors Azaleas, Tulips; too many to name. After what seemed an incredibly long Winter, North Carolina is "Springing" to New Life.
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Spring is the Birthday of the World

'Tis like the birthday of the world,
When earth was born in bloom;
The light is made of many dyes,
The air is all perfume:
There's crimson buds, and white and blue,
The very rainbow showers
Have turned to blossoms where they fell,
And sown the earth with flowers.

—Thomas Hood
(Poem quote from BeliefNet.com.)

The Passion of the Christ

As I said yesterday, I was reflecting on the price Jesus Christ paid for my salvation. I did a Google search (regarding The Passion of the Christ) and read interesting information. Then I found, and read, an article that shattered my esteem for Mel Gibson, Jim Caviezel, and The Passion of the Christ. I direct you to the website of Moriel Ministries. As the late Paul Harvey would say: "The other half of the story." I'm not endorsing David Lister. However, his articles are very thought provoking.

The Passion of the Christ

This is not a "good" Friday. This is a somber day for Christians. I am planning to watch (on DVD) the Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ, staring James Caviezel. I found this very beautiful description of the film at http://www.mylifeafter.com/.

From: Therese Heckenkamp, Female, 22
Location: WI, United States
Date: April 9, 2004 9:14 pm

Take courage, watch The Passion

Mel Gibson's masterful rendering of The Passion of the Christ is not a popcorn movie. Try tossing fluffy kernels into your mouth, and your hand will freeze midway. Your mouth won't close. Your teeth won't chew. Your throat won't swallow. The very light and airy nature of this typical movie-going snack cannot compete with the gritty substance of The Passion.

By no means a "feel good" movie, The Passion nonetheless makes you feel—in a most powerful way which works for good. Troubles in your own life shrink in proportion as you focus on the One who redeemed us, who shed His innocent blood to pay our colossal debt—a debt which too many of us are ignorant of. Now that Gibson has brought Christ's passion to life so that we may experience the ultimate, sacrificial death (in the convenient space of a mere two hours), those who wish to avoid the film's impact rationalize their stance by saying the film is too graphic. Yet difficult as it is to watch, this is a film to be received with reverence, wonder, and thankfulness. Gibson should be commended for his courage to show it like it was, in all its dark and grisly details. Moreover, his having made such a movie available to the world is a stunning accomplishment in itself. Modern media has been used in ways so horrendously harmful to faith and morals, that it is bittersweet justice to see this movie used as a tool of God.

The Passion is an intense paradox of divine proportions. How can a movie so graphically disturbing be refreshing and encouraging? The fact that it is so disturbing tells us something. In our own thoughts of Christ's life, we all too easily breeze by the painful parts, or else sugar-coat them so that they're palatable. But in doing this, we're in danger of minimizing the greatest act of love. How can we ponder upon the way Christ brings so much goodness out of evil if we refuse to recognize the evil? Christ assures us as He labors under the weight of the cross, "I make all things new." This applies not only to His mutilated body, but to our sin-stained souls.

Only by moving past personal prejudices to realize Gibson doesn't mean this film to be a celebration of gore, but as a means to expose the very vile nature of sin, can the viewer hope to understand why such suffering is essential. During the scourging, the soldiers delight in the spray of blood, the way many of us delight in our sins, failing to see their truly foul nature. Likewise, our moral carelessness is contrasted to Mary's tender, meticulous devotion as she mops up her Son's precious blood. As the movie progresses, every gruesome act is balanced by remarkable moments of mercy and love, such as Christ embracing the cross, Veronica wiping His face, and Mary kissing her Son's bloody feet. We respond not only to the sorrow, but to the goodness, truth, and courage. If Christ can bear all this for us, His love knows no bounds. Faith is bolstered, hope is enkindled, and life takes on new meaning.

As "Catholic" means "universal," so is this film. While working on multiple levels, it speaks to us all, no matter that the language is foreign. The subtitles, far from being distracting, appear naturally, while the use of Aramaic and Latin increase the sense of historical authenticity. What viewer could sit through this heart-wrenching drama unmoved? Voice tone, facial expressions, and actions all speak to the heart with a universal language of love, pain, and forgiveness. Ruthless acts are interspersed with skillful flashback scenes of touching proportions. The relationship of Mary and Jesus brings home to us a very human, personal aspect.

"It's just too disturbing," people still protest as an excuse to avoid the experience that may force them to alter their lives. We're fortunate Christ didn't take such an outlook when it came to saving us, for it's due to this extremely disturbing nature that forgiveness was merited and the gates of heaven were opened to us. At Christ's death, this realization is what makes the devil unleash his hellish shriek. If Christ had the courage to carry the cross and die for us, surely we can find the courage to sit back in cushy seats and behold this courage. Christ suffered excruciatingly; the least we can do is make ourselves aware of it. In this way, perhaps we can begin to appreciate just how much He suffered.

It is an understatement to say that The Passion demands your full attention. Christ endures such severe savagery from the soldiers; indeed, He invites more torture by his unwavering submission to the will of His father. Your eyes remain riveted to the screen, though forced to avert their gaze at particularly excruciating moments. Unlike the devil's unyielding black eyes, we don't delight in these brutal images. The goodness in us flinches at every whiplash. So powerful are the images portrayed—such as the sweating of blood in the garden of Gethsemane, the horrifying scourging, the forcing on of the crown of thorns—that those who have never meditated—indeed, who barely know the meaning of the word—will find themselves doing so; while others who have attempted this contemplative form of prayer will discover just how far short they have fallen from envisioning the real passion.

Conditioned by the world to avoid pain, it is all to easy to flit over Christ's sufferings briefly, even casually, as we minimize them in our imagination. This movie changes that. Faced with the stark, soul-shaking reality, one must embrace it, lest he flee like Judas, driven to despair. Only by embracing the truth can one discover the depths of supernatural beauty and love concealed in Christ's sufferings. You find yourself thinking, Christ did so much, suffered so much for me . . . What can I do for him? In contrast to the worldly attitude of, "What can I get?", the viewer now asks, "What can I give?" Like Simon who was forced to help carry the cross, we may protest at first. But then, having come so close to Christ, a holy allegiance is formed so that we will endure anything for Him—because we are with Him, and He gives us strength. And when the journey is accomplished, we do not want to leave Christ's side.

Yes, The Passion is a disturbing movie, but in a most beneficial way. It rocks mellow Christians out of a comfort zone of passive, sketchy views of the passion. So skip the popcorn, take courage, and watch The Passion. If you can bear it, you will be rewarded with the final triumph—made all the more triumphant because it is not final at all, but a glorious victory for all eternity.

The film ends, but it is not the end. Christ offers this triumph of salvation to us all—if we'll only pick up our cross and follow Him.
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Therese Heckenkamp, a traditional Catholic, is the 22-year-old author of Past Suspicion, a suspense novel with a Christian slant. Her other writing credits can be found on http://www.pastsuspicion.com/.
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After those inspiring written words, I invite you to watch Martha Williamson and her inspiring video Easter in Black and White.
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Incidentally, a gloomy, rainy day in North Carolina. It's like God is weeping over the Crucifixion of His Son, Jesus Christ, and weeping at the indifference of most of the population.
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The "third hour" (3:30 PM to be precise) and we've had rain all day. However we now have a thunderstorm, and torrential rain (God's tears). (5:30 PM and still raining hard but somewhere in our nearby area "pennysize" hail according to weatherman on the evening news.)
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12 Secret Homemade Uses for Eggs

Why Eggs Aren't Just for Eating

The egg is a symbol of Easter, and of rebirth, as well as one of our most versatile foods. But it is so much more…

The egg is one of the most versatile items used in cooking, but its list of uses does not really end within the borders of a frying pan.

It can be used in many other activities including arts and crafts, skin care, creation of musical instruments and even gardening. If you have plenty of spare eggs at home, you can try out the some of these cool egg-based items.

Make your life “eggciting” by enjoying the many uses of eggs.

Lorraine here with a comment: As a "vegan" I avoided eggs for many years. More recently, however, I started buying Eggland's Best... from vegetarian fed hens... at more than $3.00 a dozen. I boil them to add to my large salads. Sometimes I drop peeled boiled eggs in a glass jar of beet juice with vinegar (attractive in a salad). Once I poached....

Eggs are one of the most nutritious foods money can buy.

This brings a big smile to my face !!

Laugh along with me. This is amazing!! I marvel at the technology of the Internet!! Click this link to see if you get a message with the name Lorraine Edwards. I'm asking a serious question: How did they get my name on all items??
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If you have been following my "blog" you know that I am very serious about health and nutrition. Writing about several "scams" was by necessity, not choice. I wanted to include this blog because I find it so humorous and it brings a big smile to my face!!

National Start! Walking Day

by Catherine Holecko

Today, April 8, the American Heart Association encourages us all to get out and walk for 30 minutes. The group is asking workplaces to promote the event to employees, but I think it's a good reminder to all of us that walking is a super-easy, accessible way to fit a little more fitness into our lives. Check out this list of benefits from the AHA. Research shows that walking (or participating in some other moderate physical activity) for just a half-hour a day can:

Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Improve blood lipid profile
Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity
Enhance mental well being
Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer
Reduce the risk of non insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes

Lace up your sneakers and take a walk today. Aim for about 3,000 steps in those 30 minutes and you'll reach that "moderate" activity threshold. For help tracking your activity, and motivation to do more, try a pedometer or activity computer.

Postscript (9:30 AM): I don't want to venture outdoors today because freezing temperature last night and three to six inches of snow in the nearby mountains!! The weatherman promises nice weather for Easter.
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Postscript II (6:30 PM): I didn't walk (not even to the mail box). But I'm proud to report that I completed the Income Taxes and e-Filed Federal and State. This is a tremendous relief because one month ago I lacked motivation, and energy, to tackle the project. Today is one day short of the two month anniversary since I diagnosed the source of my illness. At this Easter season, I'm grateful for my own "resurrected life"!!
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When things go wrong...

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit.

—Unknown
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What Is Depression?

While sadness touches all of our lives at different times, the illness of depression can have enormous depth and staying power. Even the ancient Greeks noted how disabling it could be, and that it was more than a passing bout of sadness or dejection, or feeling down in the dumps. If you have ever suffered from depression or been close to someone who has, you know that this illness cannot be lifted at will or wished or joked away. A man in the grip of depression can't solve his problems by showing a little more backbone. Nor can a woman who is depressed simply shake off the blues.

Being depressed has nothing to do with personal weakness.... Read the entire article, and supporting information, by clicking here.

...Depression could be described as a lake fed by many streams. Its tributaries include traumatic or stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, and psychological traits, such as a pessimistic outlook or a tendency toward isolation. An episode of depression may result from one particularly powerful experience or from a confluence of several factors. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, during a given year approximately 1 in 10 adults will suffer from some form of depression. Each episode usually affects a chain of people. It can fray bonds between you and your family and friends by spoiling intimacy, sapping emotional resources, and stealing the joy of shared pleasures.

Very honestly, I have struggled with Depression and/or Dysthymia since I was a teenager. I received this article via today's e-mail from Everyday Health. Throughout my life, I have held fast to the scripture I claimed for my own (at 15 years of age): "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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As I have struggled to regain my health (from acute ozone poisoning), I've also read about depression. On 12/01/08, I "filed away" an article titled Depression Linked with Abdominal Obesity. I revisited that topic today because that may explain why I have excessive abdominal fat--and gained ten pounds--since I lost the job I loved February 13, 2008. Quoting from the article:
"This is the first large study to demonstrate that older persons with depressive symptoms accumulate more visceral fat than their coumterparts without depression, Vogelzangs told Reuters Health.

..."Depression roughly doubled the odds of gaining visceral fat, Vogelzangs said. An association with waist circumference was also observed, but fell short of statistical significance.

"As suggested, the increase was specific for visceral fat; no change in overall obesity was noted. This supports a biologic rather than dietary explanation for the findings, the authors note."

This is a plausible explanation because my diet is above reproach. No junk food!! I avoid Church potluck meals; I rarely eat in restaurants. I scrutinize product ingredients before I purchase, I buy $4. loaves of organic whole grain bread, organic salad fixings....