Because it’s RESURRECTION day. The occasion is for Jesus, not for the ancient Middle Eastern deity Ishtar. The symbol is the empty tomb, not an egg shell. I don’t want to trivialize the power of the resurrection by avoiding its name.
Category: Random
Hearing
If our hearing is not the means of our obedience, it will certainly be the aggravation of our disobedience.
Talking Behind Someone’s Back
And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” –Matt.9.11
Their tactics were so immature and childish, not to mention desperate. They knew they could not stand to reason with Jesus face to face so they approached His disciples to insinuate that something was wrong with Jesus’ having dinner with sinners.
Two things worth mentioning here:
One, when you have trouble with someone, take it up to the right person right away. You don’t need to go around telling other people about it. If you do, you will just sound like you are desperate for attention and approval. Be man enough and face the person. Let him hear those concerns from you.
Two, beware of people who whisper in your ears. If they don’t have the courage to bring their concerns to the right person, it’s probably because their concerns are unreasonable or plain wrong. These kinds of people sow discord.
Let the Pigs Drown
And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region. — Matt. 8:34
Strange of them to ask Him to leave. Never before in their lives have they seen someone who could cast out demons. Never before in their lives have they seen someone who could drive away what’s tormenting their town. Never before in their lives have they seen someone as miraculous.
And yet the one thing they focused on was not their gain of having Jesus in their town but their loss of a herd of pigs. Pigs! They preferred swine more than their deliverance. Temporal economics over eternity.
Why We Tolerate Vulgarity
People only tolerate vulgarity and coarseness, as a rule, when they can get nothing else. — JC Ryle
Someday
Someday, all the dark, joyful, shocking, painful, sweet, confusing events that both offended us and amazed us; all the things that happened but we never quite understood; all the things that worked against our happiness and comfort; they will all be revealed as a complete picture of God’ providence and how He used each single one of them to prod us along in our holy walk with Him. All tears and sighs will turn to worshipful celebrations. Someday we will understand.
Jojo Agot 