Laughter and Good Company

Today is Thursday a day many reference as Holy Thursday. It is the day before Good Friday, the day of Christ's crucifixion. What (theologically speaking) is a sullen point in the week, has most Christ-followers thinking about the incredible sacrifice the Christ made for those the Father loves. In the following 24 hours, the Savior of the world will be betrayed, sold out, denied, scorned, beaten, mocked, crucified, run-through with a spear, buried and left for dead (permanently). From a spiritual point of view, it is a day of reverent preparation for what could have been a very dark day for humanity. Yes, today may be Holy Thursday, but as the old preacher once said, "It's Friday, but Sunday's a comin'!"

There is inherent joy, hope and even laughter because of the resurrection of Jesus. The "old has gone, the new has come" and we have been brought "from death to life" all because Jesus Christ rose from the dead! This is the biggest event in the Christian calendar and we are right and proper for making a "big deal" out of it! Without Easter Sunday, the other Sundays of the year just wouldn't make much sense (other than maybe sleeping in, mowing lawns or playing golf)! But because Christ rose from the grave on this coming Sunday... everything changes!

For those who perhaps have never worked in a church or been around the planning of Easter, it is likely the most hectic time of the year for those in full-time (paid) ministry. Attendance is significantly higher at Easter services than at any other time of the year (save Christmas) and the stress to "do things right" can loom large for any church ministry team. Considering church attendance for some is restricted to this day and maybe Christmas, putting the best expression of the resurrection of Christ and of the community of faith before all in attendance is priority one!

This year, our church is moving from our usual 2 service format to 4 services! We are serving brunch for all those who attend, offering two enormous Easter Egg Hunts for our children and their friends and all of this in the middle of a huge remodeling of our current facility. Especially with so many variables and things to consider, it can be a long stint getting ready to celebrate Resurrection Sunday (though technically Christ-followers celebrate the resurrection every Sunday of the year).

Today, our third floor offices were "humming" with activity. Every minister and staff member were busy taking care of all their assigned responsibilities and concerns. Even decisions that had been made earlier in the week were being "undone" and "reordered" at the last minute to get things "just right." But amid all that chaos and possible stress, this week I have heard more laughter and joy from the team with whom I am blessed to serve that I hear during most weeks. It is almost as if, in the midst of our busiest week, we have even more joy. Could it be that tomorrow really is "Friday, but Sunday's a comin'?" Somehow, I think that has something to do with it.

I am privileged to work with an absolutely incredible (no exaggeration, here) group of people. Talented, creative, hard-working and fun loving, it is a sad thing that more people are not as blessed to work with the caliber of people with whom I am blessed to serve. At times I must confess, I even feel guilty because I know other ministers who "kill themselves" (almost literally) in churches much different from the one in which I serve. Why am I so blessed to work with these great people? I can't fully answer that, but I can tell you why our team is so great. It is because each person consciously lives resurrection!

At the most stressful and busiest time of the year, our team is focused on the fact that we "can do all things through Christ who gives us strength" and we live it out together, in authentic community of faith and service.

So we laugh and enjoy each other's good company during the most demanding week of the year, because Jesus Christ is ALIVE and well and it is only a matter of our Father's time before Christ will return and take us home to be with Him forever, where there will be no tears and joy will know no end. Praise be to God for the power of the resurrection of Christ!

Happy Easter to all who believe!