• Dang, what a fun weekend.
• Got to officiate a wedding for Sean Wilcoxson and Marissa Anderson — two youngins who have been part of our church for a long time.
• Sean works on our staff as the director of digital engagement, and I’ve known his family for more than a decade.
• I remember taking Sean to McDonald’s when he was in middle school to interview him about getting baptized, so it was wild to also get to officiate his wedding.
• It was a sweet party, and my whole family went and had a great time.
• Went to Costco on Saturday and saw that we’re in another toilet paper shortage (or so it seemed).
• If there’s anything that I’ve learned in the last 12 months, though, it’s that when you only see a little TP left, you buy it!
• Maybe it has something to do with the Suez Canal being backed up and the whole world’s shipping plans being jacked?
• Yesterday at church was another fun week.
• It was another great turnout and so fun to see people come back for the first time in a long time.
• Every week it seems that a few more people come back.
• We also served coffee yesterday for the first time in a year — and I heard reports of a few folks experiencing that with high positive emotion.
• I had a blast preaching yesterday through John 9.
• Probably a highlight from the day was the joke that got inserted at the 11:00am service by a few wily folks from our worship team.
• I started the sermon with a conversation about what Jesus would have looked like and how it’s likely different than what art work has led us to believe.
• Then I showed an artist’s rendition based on skull evidence from first century Israel.
• Well, at 11:00am, some folks inserted a new photo that was the “artist’s representation of what Jesus looked like”
• Watch it here to see what happened.
• I think it was the most explosive laugh that I’ve ever heard at Redemption Gateway.
• I was totally shocked when I saw Kronwald’s picture pop up, but I played it cool and acted like it was my joke — I actually wish it had been my joke!
• But now I’m coming clean for all the world to know that it was really Nikki Reeves idea — well played, Nikki!
• The rest of Sunday was pretty chill.
• Went and got my car washed in the afternoon — got a new car in December and have been taking it every week to vacuum out and keep clean since I’ve never, ever had a clean car until now.
• Then took that clean car to pick up Molly’s parents at the airport.
• They’re visiting from Ohio and will be here for a few weeks, including over Easter, which hasn’t happened before.
• It should be a pretty special week.
• Today we’re heading to a spring training game, then this week will be a good deal of prepping for the Easter weekend.
• I’m so looking forward to this weekend’s services.
• I think Good Friday in the dark courtyard will be really cool, and I’m hoping that Easter has a really great party-like feel.
• And I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m pretty glad to only be preaching two Easter services — hopefully I’ll still feel human afterward.
• Seth made a comment yesterday that I think will stick with me this week and beyond.
• He said, “We exist as a church because we believe Easter happened.”
• That’s right.
• Jesus rose from the dead, and history will never be the same.
• We have a hope, a future, and the confidence of God’s love.
• So walk in the love and hope this week.
• And if you’re looking for a terrific way to push yourself this week, check out Seth’s “Bible Readings and Home Workouts for Holy Week.”
• All of life is all for Jesus!