At the First Congregational Church in Tomper*...
"Erin! Monica! Greetings in Christ!"
"Betsy!! Happy Good Friday!"
"Where's Trajetta??"
"She's coming! She wanted to take some photos of the stone mill real fast."
"Hi Erin! Hi Monica!!"
"Bitsy! Hi~~!!"
"Where's Trajetta??"
"She'll be here!"
"I'm so happy you all came in from the city!"
"Thank you, Betsy. We wanted to be sure to catch at least one of your Pa's sermons!"
"Oh, he'll be pleased as pudding to see you! And you'll eat with us, right?"
"We'll eat all you let us eat!"
The girls laugh with an easy joy.
"What a wonderful day to meet! He is risen!"
"He is risen, indeed!"
You will die soon, you know. No matter how old you are today, it doesn't seem like it took that long to get here, does it? Time is unravelling out from under us. Yesterday you were born, today you're this age, tomorrow you rattle out your last breath. Those two unbreakable appointments on God's calendar draw closer. Death and judgment." And just as it is appointed for people to die once, and after this comes judgment," Hebrews 9:27
For this reason the message of the resurrection should be carefully considered.
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."
This is not a new message. Every Christian has heard it, believed it and been given new life from God through it. Then comes the warning that a false form of godliness, a casual acquaintance with God, is a vain, or empty, belief. It does not save. The evidence that Paul gives here is the evidence provided throughout the Bible, that a truly saved person lives their life by the Word.
Some believe only in form (2 Timothy 3:5). They may be convinced on some level, or some parts may sound good to them, but they've never had a true love for God as that is always evidenced by righteousness. (John 14:15)
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"
The Old Testament spoke of the suffering and resurrection of Christ. Jesus quoted and referred to these passages, as He worked to fulfill them.
"and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also."
The testimony of eyewitnesses confirmed the reality of who Jesus is. Over a span of forty days, the word spread quickly. He had risen!
"For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me."
Paul confesses that he was unworthy of God's salvation and, aware of that, labored for God and His kingdom. In terms of years and extent of ministry, Paul exceeded all of those named above. John outlived him, but did not have a ministry as extensive as Paul's.
"Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed." 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
All very simple. As Jesus asked, "Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
•───────────︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵────────────•
* Find it on the Paprihaven Map!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/20400598379/
Tomper is the region of Paprihaven where people from pre-industrial times have settled. Not caring for the highly automated, commercial, rushed life of the city, the folk of Tomper are quiet and relaxed.
Tomper itself is a fine region of gentle hills, lovely forests and expansive fields. Tomper is bordered on the west by the Shadow River, on the east by Lake Paprihaven and Lovebird Lake, and on the south by Mac Road.
Erin and Monica, part of the ladies Bible study group at First Christian Church in the city, have been seen many times, including Paprihaven 1324:
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/26995441928/
Betsy and Bitsy Calvin have also been seen many times, especially during celebrations of the Gospel, such as last Thanksgiving!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/54169156640/
He is risen! He is risen, indeed!
Previous Resurrection Day celebrations at Paprihaven:
2016
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/25962038802/
2017
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/33242471123/
2018
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/41096879842/
2019
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/40651803253/
2020
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/49797426658/
2021
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51090488089/
2022
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52007131618/
2023
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52801255348/
2024
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53619891870/
