As I write this it is 9:00 am here in southern Indiana, and it is 5:00 pm in Jerusalem. As we travel back to the first "Good Friday", the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, to this moment in history, Jesus has been dead for about two hours or so. Joseph of Arimathea has by now received permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus down off of the cross and bury him. This duty has to be done quickly because the hour of the Sabbath is coming quickly and it is almost time for the Passover meal. So Joseph and others including the women who followed Jesus to Jerusalem quickly wrap the body in fine linen and place Jesus inside the tomb and the Roman guards have rolled the stone over the entrance and sealed it. They remain at the tomb and are in place to insure none of the followers of Jesus try to steal his body and proclaim he actually did rise from the dead.

In my own mind ---- the inside of that tomb just became the most holy place in the entire universe or any other universe. Inside that tomb Sin and Death have just waged war on God, the creator all that exists in any dimension. Armed only with hate and deceit, Sin and Satan have no chance in a battle against God and pure love. Inside that tomb Holy magic is happening and in just a few hours the universe will witness the power of that love as Jesus rises from the hold of death and walks out of the tomb with the declaration that death is no longer to be feared; --- it is now only a transition to eternal life. And that --- my friends --- is why this is a Good Friday!!

I don't have a lot of Backyard Buffet visitors this morning. It is overcast this morning and the air is still. The azaleas are looking beautiful this morning and the dogwood trees are blooming nicely. I find it truly appropriate that the dogwoods bloom at Easter. It is a good reminder of the season. It isn't quite time for the cardinals etc. to be here for their second round at the buffet; give them another fifteen to twenty minutes and they will all be here.

I went to the Maundy Thursday service at my home church last evening. It was a good service and I love taking communion. It was also good to receive a nice warm welcome from many old friends. As I suspected, the congregation was small. We'll have to go back some Sunday and see how it is. This Sunday however, Ms. Kate and I will go to St. Lucas and sing in the Cantata and then jump in the car and head to Julie and Jim's house for Easter dinner. I hear ham is on the menu and Jim is fixing it on the grill.

That's it for today. I pray your weekend will be filled with the Holy Spirit and peace and love will flow through you to all with whom you may come into contact. Have a blessed day.