I have a Twitter account, but I do not tweet. I am a passive observer of the content and will likely remain that way. That's because things get really heated on Twitter and I don't have the time or energy for that. I was mildly amused that people on Twitter are, as of these last weeks of Lent, getting riled up about the resurrection. (Here is where you might fairly ask, what corner of Twitter did you creep into?) It is fascinating to see how old debates gain new fervor on social media.

The debate is around whether or not the resurrection happened as reported. That is, did Jesus really rise in body from the grave? Some say, probably not, given that such things do not actually happen in history. Of more importance, these folks say, is the message of the resurrection: that Jesus inspired us to rise up and do as he did. We are the risen body of Jesus. Say that on Twitter and you will get a response like this: IF THE RESURRECTION DID NOT HAPPEN THEN CHRISTIANITY IS A SHAM or IF JESUS WAS NOT REALLY RAISED FROM THE DEAD THEN I DON'T HAVE TO CARE FOR THE POOR! (That second response is very close to a real tweet from last week.) The debate is alive and well.

Interestingly enough, the Gospel of Matthew tells us that when the eleven disciples saw the risen Jesus some doubted. According to Matthew, Jesus is not bothered by this doubt at all. He seemed less concerned with what people should believe and more concerned with the impact of believing. I am one who happens to believe that Jesus was raised, largely because the disciples went through hell for preaching it. It's hard for me to understand why they would risk their lives for preaching, "God raised Jesus". But it is also really hard for me to believe in the resurrection when I don't see the church actually being the body of Jesus--doing the things now that he did then. These debates seem to always avoid the real question of faith: do we believe what Jesus told his disciples, that we can do greater than he did? But I can't really see that being hashed out in a thread of tweets.

I pray, as we hear the good news of Sunday, that we will find good reason to rise and do as Jesus did...and much more.

Peace,

PRAYERS OF HEALING AND SUPPORT for Dot Forloines, who is recovering from a heart attack; Asthon Borsella, heart surgery; Charlotte Davie, praises for improving health; Donna Williams, recovering from surgery; Courtney Dudley Thomas, recovering from a stroke; Tiffany Thompson, starting a new round of cancer treatments; Debbie Saylor's Family: Richard Jasper, Wayne Rennex and Alison Buffington; Courtney, Deborah Dingle’s niece, in the hospital suffering from brain cancer; Debbie Arey’s sister suffering from life-long chemo; Cameron Jackson, Ylonda Fauntleroy’s cousin, dealing with a difficult situation; Anna Scofield; Michelle Schoonmaker's aunt and friend of Ylonda Fauntleroy, Floretta Watkins-Barbee, and Michelle's great aunt and Ylonda's aunt, Bernice Taylor; Debbie Bell; the people of Ukraine; Lou Kareha's relatives Aubriella and Michael Steele, B. Wicker, sister-in-law's brother, James Karanasky, cousin, Thomas Kochis, and friend, Nando Smacci; Henry Hoffman; Jackie Lucus; Michelle Schoonmaker; Cindi Schafer; Mike and Denise Bartgis' son-in-law; Kelly Burnett; Jon Nelson's mother, Joanne Nelson; Louise Sharrocks; Kathy Miller's brother-in-law, Jeff Miller, and sister, Beth Krauth; Lourdes Cordero's sister, Diane Cordero, brother Jose, granddaughter, and friends, Fred and Arelene Jones; Deb Saylor's niece, Courtney Jaberi, and sister Christine; Alvin Dennis; Laura Willoughby's father, Norman; Diane Johnson's friend, Tom; Kelly Burnett's nephew, Justin; Christy Hipchen’s nephew and grandmother, Ann Chubon; the Sealing Family; Karen Arnold's brother, Tim; Josh Arnold; the family of Mike Esparza; a sister struggling with mental illness; Debbie Arey; Steve Debus' father, Bill Debus; Paul Doughty's mother, Ruth Doughty; James Franklin's sister-in-law, Kelli Franklin; Amy Tardiff’s Aunt Fran; Richard and Carol Jasper; Laura Batten-Carbaugh; Nicole Chidlow's son, Jai; Michelle Schoonmaker's friend's and their children, Kai S., Liam F. and Ezra R.; Frank Stillwell; Mary Caolo; David Johns; Carrie Dodson's friend Pam; Angela Goska; Belinda Edwards; Karen Stokes; Betty Small; a friend of Bob Fuller; the Unger family; Debbie and Bruce Arey's niece, Sarah, and daughter, Allison, and Debbie’s sister, Denise; Calvin Latham; Brianna Lapp; Ann Hirschy's relative Isaiah, aunt Cindy, and brother; Diane Makar; Adell Gaurin; Carol Saylor; Ray Bussey's mother, Doris; Liz Olson; Margaret Floyd; Vaughn Brown; Patty and Steve Plander; Arlyce Lohr; Krista Klohr; Dick Paronto; Cheryl Walcutt’s sister Judy and mother; Amy Hagemann’s sister, Susan Pratt; Mary Benson’s sister; Amy Carskadon Lifsey’s father-in-law, Bill Lifsey Sr.; Karen Dodson’s cousin, Miles, and Miles’ family; Helen Wilkens' mother, Jane Reinert; Judy Cooper’s daughter, Jessica Quigley; a member of the Tardiff family; Lewis Shorter and Lewis Shorter’s niece, Jennifer Schwandt-Gayle; Dot Forloine’s granddaughter Melisa Tucker Saatthoff, and her great-grandson Luke; Linda Taylor’s mother, Izola; Amy Goldberg’s grandmother, Ruth Cooper; Christy Yeager’s mother, Linda Jordan; Linda Jordan’s niece, Bonnie; Diane Johnson's Uncle Ed, Aunt Janet, and cousin Richard; Shelley Franklin's father; Laurie Barrow’s nephew, Gunther Kurtz; Sabonna Keeney’s mother; Bernabe and Griselda Solano, and Griselda's sister, Irma; Laura Doughty’s brother-in-law, Carl Hahn; Cheryl and Doug Walcutt’s grandchild, Gray Adacutt; Erika Sealing's grandmother, Margaret Schade; and Rob Yeager’s friends, Greta Daughtrey and Peter Brown.

LOVE AND PRAYERS OF CONGREGATION go out to Hisle and McEntyre upon the death of Pat McEntyre, Brooke Hisle's father.