OZ behind the curtain

I was thinking back to when I was a young boy at Easter, looking forward to waking up early and hunting down that basket filled with candy eggs that the Easter bunny strategically hid the night before. Only to find out years later that the Easter bunny was really my parents all along. Just like Santa and the tooth fairy, they all left me with the very same feeling, just like when Dorothy found out it was OZ behind the curtain in the "Wizard of OZ". When I finally wrapped my little brain around this grand illusion, I kind of lost the magic of being a kid. Super hero's just didn't have the same appeal, you kind of got this feeling like I am going to have to do this life on my own, no super hero's to step in and save the day. The only character that sacrificed anything for a holiday was the turkey at Thanksgiving (at least I could respect that). Growing up I had no idea that Jesus rose from the grave on Easter and I thought all Fridays were "Good Fridays". I can remember so vividly how precious those days were to me when I truly understood at what cost they came and that it was done on my behalf. I know many of the people around us each day have that same feeling of having to do life on their own, not knowing that "good Friday" and Easter is their gift from God, waiting to be discovered. We are fortunate to have a senior pastor that puts a high priority on reaching out to people who are doing life on their own, alone without hope. We are in the Rose Garden for Easter, the risk has already been taken, all that is left is opportunity! If we are faithful with prayer and invitation (purple cards), it will be an "Only God" Easter. Thanks for making Living Hope a great church to be a part of!!!! Have a great week! Jon Andersen