He Has Risen,” Where’s the Potato Salad”

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 

(John 20:6-7) 

It seems so orderly, somehow. When the disciples look into the tomb, they see the linen cloths lying on the stone bed, 

with the face cloth folded up neatly a little distance away. There are is no magnificent song, no linen left noticeably thrown around the room. 

Rather it suggests to my mind that when He rose from the dead, Jesus simply sat up, removed His wrappings, folded His things and then stood up and went about His day.

Such a calm, simple beginning for the day that changed the world. A beginning like any other -- one that says "This is home; this is well; this is your life where you belong." A beginning unlike any other -- because this is the day that sees death defeated, first for Jesus, and ultimately for every Christian who belongs to Him.

Wow, I say to myself,” It’s Easter Day, I can’t be calm like Jesus”, right before the worship service starts, I remind myself, “we do not need to be afraid”! I have a reflective thought. “It’s a tender moment very calm in the balcony, as the choir finishes up a short rehearsal on songs for the Resurrection. Even as people are hurrying around working on the finishing touches, being positive, I’ve put everything into a space, but it still feels like it’s a part of me.” I want to give a group hug and shout out in song to everyone involved in the Music, ‘He is risen; He is risen, indeed’!

Just think of some of the things we tend to take for granted as we worship. There are many things, but with the focus on music this Holy week, I want to give a special praise shout out to all the different choirs, worship teams, small musical groups at different churches, specially Bethlehem Lutheran church, that practice so hard throughout the week. Also think about all the behind the scenes effort to learn how to play instruments, bells, new songs all the effort to get the sound system right and all of the prayers and planning that goes into worship. We are reminded of Gods calling acts of service for Him and for yours behave in the spirit of spreading the word of God. But the motive for all of our songs is not a sound, it’s a spirit and truth of the Gospel.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16

“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12-13

I sat in ‘Awe’ and said to myself, “this is a big deal to the Lord’s church”, Boy Ron, “what a ministry of music that matters”. It’s vastly important because Music helps educate God’s People. Paul said,” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” But that can’t happen unless we learn God’s word. God wants all Christian to grow in godly wisdom, affection, grace, love and goodness. He wants us to grow up to be more and more like our Savior Jesus Christ. And one of the best ways to learn these things is through music. So, Paul tells us to be, “teaching and admonishing on another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.” Always remember the main audience for our singing is never the people around you or in front of us. The main audience for our singing is God!

Listen to this, “The Lord your God is in your midst. The Mighty One will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will greet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” Really? The soloist is God who will sing a solo of joy over our presence in heaven. How astonishing is that. Zephaniah 3:17 All our songs, all our songs flow out of one great reality: God’s grace, so why not always Sing a Joyful Noise? If we’re under law, then we’re bound by guilt, death, condemnation, eternal punishment. But we’re not under law; we are under grace. By grace He chose us. By grace He cleansed us. By grace He adopted us. By grace He justified us. By grace He purchased us. By grace He forgave us. By grace He taught us. By grace He promised. By grace He sealed us. That’s why Paul said, Romans 5, “We stand in grace.”

God Bless You and This Ministry!