Easter Sunday, 2011.

The end of Lent - I can start drinking again. Incidentally, it was a lot harder to not drink for 40 days than I expected.

But that's not what Easter Sunday means to me. It is the fact that this day commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes it worth celebrating. Resurrections don't happen; scientifically, it's not possible. Yet it did happen, once, in history, about 2000 years ago, to one man, Jesus. The fact that it did happen, even though it can't, gives me confidence in God's promise of eternal life. It gives me hope that despite the brokeness and pain of this world, by trust in Jesus, all these things will eventually go away, where there will be safety and comfort.

The resurrection of Jesus tells me all this. It's not a feel-good exercise, it's not so I can deceive myself that there is purpose in this meaningless world. I'm not interested in that. The fact that the impossible did happen as promised, means there is actually hope for the future.

Thank you God for this Easter Sunday. Help me live for You.

"Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
A great high Priest whose Name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me."

Autumn songs.

It's been a bit of a dramatic weekend for my household.

People fainting, ambulance arriving, holding up a tram.
2 bee stings only 10-ish minutes apart, then another about half an hour later.
Cooking a steak well done. This was not intentional. Steaks should not be well done.

Despite all that, it was a beautiful day today. I walked outside this morning and I was like, wow autumn has sprung up overnight! Wanting to take the opportunity to take everything in before the trees become all bare.

"This is my Father's world / the birds their carols raise / the morning light, the lily white / declare their maker's praise..."

April 2, 2011.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" - Martin Luther King once said.

If it is important, let me know as this is essentially the full extent to which I'm going to ask.

Grumble.