Friday’s Word

Can We Be Certain?

Jeffrey Long, a radiation oncologist, was fascinated by near-death experiences.

And for 30 years he has studied them as a scientist and a doctor. He has also written extensively about them. He now says he is certain there is life after death.

Being “certain” about life after death may seem strange to you. But you can also be certain.

All you have to do is what Dr. Long has done:

Look at the evidence.

I once heard a teacher at Perkins, our Methodist seminary at SMU, deride certainty—and people who claimed to be certain.

He said, “The opposite of faith is not doubt, it is certainty.”

He would define faith as trusting things we can’t be certain about. Trusting things that may turn out to be wrong.


That means he teaches future ministers of the Gospel things that he feels are only possibly true.

But they may be wrong.

In other words, faith is a guessing game.

I don’t believe that.

I’m with Jeffrey Long.

If you look at the evidence long enough, you can come to conclusions.

You can reach certainty.

I am certain about the Resurrection.

I have found that, when God does a work among us, God will always give us sufficient evidence to believe it.

The evidence for the Resurrection is more than sufficient.

When I stand in the pulpit on Easter Sunday morning, I will tell a story I know to be true.

Join us.

But remember—the only way to Easter is through the Cross. Good Friday worship is at 7:00 p.m.

A week away.

Easter is 11:00 a.m.

Come. Behold what God has done for love of us.

Max’s Corner

Palm Sunday

Holy Week begins.

The entrance into Jerusalem.

Remembered in our Parade of the Palms.

It’s a day of celebration, with our Palm Sunday dinner after worship.

We need food.

We passed a sign-up sheet last week. If you did not see it, you can still bring something. (I think a lot of people did not see the list and the sign-up looked insufficient. If you want to know what is needed, call Linda Parker: 817 296 0064.)

Palm Sunday is a great Sunday.

And we need kids to carry the palms!

Breakfast

None this week.

We have lunch after.

Holy Week Services

The two Holy Week services are important.

I hope they are important to you.

Mary will lead the Maundy Thursday service. It may be a little different. It may not. Depending on what Mary decides. Let us gather on the anniversary of the Last Supper our Lord had with the disciples.

It was important for him.

Let it be for us.

Good Friday this year WILL be different. It will feature a life-sized reproduction of the image on the Shroud (of Turin). It will assist us as we follow Jesus in the last hours of his life.

This is one of the most important services of the year. I hope it is important to you.

See you Sunday. Palm Sunday.

What joy!—What love awaits us in the coming week of worship!

Remember plastic eggs and candy for the kids.

Remember kids for the palm processional and for the Easter egg hunt on Easter.

God bless—MB

Mary’s Corner

Hello dear Church. And hello to all our wonderful friends and our extended family. It was so good to be back at church on Sunday. I needed the love and the joy of your singing, the sound of your voices, and the hugs I got. Thank you for allowing me space in this adventure. And thank you for your support and your love throughout this whole thing. I am overwhelmed and my family is overwhelmed by your love and support. This is what the Church looks like. This is what Jesus meant when he said to us to gather together. I love you and I will see you on Sunday.

Kids’ News

We had a wonderful lesson on Sunday—Praying in The Garden. Our Bible story begins after Jesus and the disciples shared the Last Supper. Jesus knew his death was coming soon. He didn’t want to die and was probably sad and anxious. He prayed that God would present him with a solution so he wouldn’t have to die, but he also knew it was up to God. After fervently praying, Jesus was visited by an angel. The angel set his mind at peace, and Jesus knew what he had to do.

In this story, Jesus provides us with a model for prayer, taking his sadness and his fear and turning it over to God—as we are taught to do. Jesus asks for what he wants but ultimately prays for God’s will to be done. This is what we are expected to do. Everyone needs to know that no matter what is happening, we can go to God, just like Jesus did. It might not change the outcome, but it will bring comfort to know that God goes with us and is present amid our fear and sadness.

We need to remind all of you that we will have an Easter egg hunt before church on Easter Sunday. Get to church early that day. Have Mom and Dad get you to church by 9:45! And ask Grandma or Grandpa! We have some real goodies this year! Lots more than just candy, I noticed the bunny already left a really big golden egg with big bucks inside!! The bunny says there are lots of toys inside. Talk to Mom about this egg hunt. We also have a movie during church complete with popcorn and juice.

See you there! Blessings….