Dear friends and readers,
The Grinch has arrived. Not the Grinch who stole Christmas, No way, never happen. No, this Grinch is the one who has been trying (unsuccessfully) for over 30 years to steal Easter and replace it with Resurrection Day.
Who could this terrible Grinch possible be? Does he wear a mask like Zorro? A cape like Superman? a hood like Spiderman or is he "the Shadow? Heeheeheee....ONLY the Shadow knows for sure!
Of course if you are not at least 60 years old, chances are you have no clue who "the Shadow" was (is?). And it is very possible that you may not know or realize the difference between Easter and Resurrection Sunday.
The terrible Grinch has been teaching about this difference for so long that he (or who knows, maybe she), has become frustrated beyond tears. Actually the Grinch has been teaching this lesson to Christians exclusively year in and year out ad infinitum. Alas, to no avail.
I must cop out, I do know the Grinch personally and it is a man who is a pastor. This poor guy has developed a reputation as "SUPER GRINCH". Faster than a snail, able to leap short bunnies with a single bound. Also, tired out, flat busted broke and ruint! But amazingly he still has a modicum of hope. :-)
Of course there are Christians who do know the difference and do celebrate Resurrection Sunday rather than Easter. Also there are other pastors who teach the same message as the Grinch. On the other hand there are a great many pastors who may know the difference but are also excited to announce to their congregations "Folks, Next weekend is EASTER and we have a special program for your children complete with an Easter egg hunt, lots of candy and chocolate bunnies".
I happen to know that the Grinch really loves bunnies. Not chocolate bunnies but then this weirdo does not like chocolate at all. No he likes real bunnies, you know the kind that roam the ranges? Cute little furry critters with tiny round cotton tails, or even jack rabbits. They are cool. And he likes eggs, the kind that come from chickens, and he eats them frequently for breakfast. By the way, did you know that eggs cooked with coconut oil are absolutely delicious? Oh, sorry, I guess that's a bunny trail. (no pun intended...)
It seems that each and every year when the Grinch teaches the VAST difference between Easter and Resurrection Sunday, his congregation slumps in their seats, yawns and whispers during the service.
Pssst! But I will let you in on a secret! The Grinch has super human hearing.... he hears every word. But it hurts you know, to think people can't wait to get the "annual warning service" over with and go to lunch. I mean, here the poor guy is trying to teach something REALLY important and people are speaking behind their hands. "What's the matter with that guy, doesn't he care about the kiddies? I mean really, whats the harm of Easter eggs and stuff we look forward to as a family every year"? "He needs to get a life" "After all, it is a major holiday and congress must have known what they were doing"....
But the Grinch keeps on plodding along, hoping that one day his "peeps" will finally realize that Easter in every single form originated as a thoroughly pagan ritual. Story has it that the Roman Emperor Constantine changed up on the pagan dudes by trying to direct folks attention away from pagan worship towards Jesus but still called it Easter. Nice try Connie, all that happened was people got sucked further into Easter.
Now the Grinch fully realizes that all kinds folks on the Internet publish bunk to try and make Easter palatable by decrying the pagan connections to early Easter practices. Hey ~ who cares really if the origins of Easter go back to the pagan festival of EOSTRE who's symbol was a rabbit or hare. Or that the Mesopotamian Goddess of war, fertility and sex was ISHTAR (some believe the root of the word Easter) who had a gate (the Ishtar gate) named after her by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon? Or that Ishtar's temple worship was replete with prostitution? Or that the ancients believed and sometimes worshipped that eggs were signs of human fertility?
I know, I know, the Grinch just needs to chill out. After all, what can possible be the harm in teaching the kiddies in Sunday school that Easter and Resurrection Sunday are one and the same. I mean what a fun day, kids arguing over who has the most candy and fighting over the last egg under the bush. How much more fun could that be?
On the other hand? How important is Resurrection Sunday and how does it affect our walk as Christians? Did you know that without the Resurrection of Christ from the grave, our faith would be in vain? Christianity would be nothing but another religious empty shell. That we would have absolutely zero hope of Eternal life? Oh, well is that all?
Of course there were other resurrections in history---or so history buffs would like to tell us. After all was not the pagan goddess Ishtar hung naked on a stake and then subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld? Let's see, The Grinch seems to remember she was buds with the Egyptian god Horus, another god called Mithras (you think maybe that was because he was a myth)? Or lets not forget Dionysus who brought his mum Semele back to life.
Honestly the Grinch is worn out! He really thinks that Christians should eat eggs, candy and chocolate (yuck) when their hungry, not to celebrate holidays that really did spring from pagan practices.
The Grinch likes to quote from the Bible. You know that dusty old tome that lots of folks have somewhere on a shelf? Probably from Grandma's day. How old fashioned is that? I mean really.
How about Luke? Chapter 24:2-3 "And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus".
John 11:25-26 " Jesus said to her (Martha) I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Well, the Grinch asks that very same question every single year "Do you really believe it?" If so what are we teaching our children? What kind of example are were setting for the next generation of believers? Are we sending a mixed or even confusing message? Are there not other ways to have fun without planting potentially bad seed?
The Grinch and his wife have a handicapped son. On a particular road there is a humongous statue of Jesus. Someone once told the Grinch's son that the statue was Jesus. The Grinch's son is absolutely without guile and in his very simple way, he believes what he is told. The Grinch and the Grinch's wife told this well meaning person, "please don't tell him that statue is Jesus because the only thing he is capable of understanding is that Jesus dwells within his heart." Let's keep it that way please.
The Grinch fully knows and understands that for many Christians he is fighting an uphill battle.
But fight it he will.
The Grinch is a friend of mine so I sincerely hope you will go easy on him and consider this poor guy's plight.
Happy Resurrection Day!
Pastor Rance.
P.S. The Grinch has always pointed out that the day that is called “Resurrection Sunday" actually begins Saturday night at sundown. So the more appropriate term would be “Resurrection Day” BUT, technically, and Biblical speaking, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the Biblically appointed day of First Fruits.
The Grinch has arrived. Not the Grinch who stole Christmas, No way, never happen. No, this Grinch is the one who has been trying (unsuccessfully) for over 30 years to steal Easter and replace it with Resurrection Day.
Who could this terrible Grinch possible be? Does he wear a mask like Zorro? A cape like Superman? a hood like Spiderman or is he "the Shadow? Heeheeheee....ONLY the Shadow knows for sure!
Of course if you are not at least 60 years old, chances are you have no clue who "the Shadow" was (is?). And it is very possible that you may not know or realize the difference between Easter and Resurrection Sunday.
The terrible Grinch has been teaching about this difference for so long that he (or who knows, maybe she), has become frustrated beyond tears. Actually the Grinch has been teaching this lesson to Christians exclusively year in and year out ad infinitum. Alas, to no avail.
I must cop out, I do know the Grinch personally and it is a man who is a pastor. This poor guy has developed a reputation as "SUPER GRINCH". Faster than a snail, able to leap short bunnies with a single bound. Also, tired out, flat busted broke and ruint! But amazingly he still has a modicum of hope. :-)
Of course there are Christians who do know the difference and do celebrate Resurrection Sunday rather than Easter. Also there are other pastors who teach the same message as the Grinch. On the other hand there are a great many pastors who may know the difference but are also excited to announce to their congregations "Folks, Next weekend is EASTER and we have a special program for your children complete with an Easter egg hunt, lots of candy and chocolate bunnies".
I happen to know that the Grinch really loves bunnies. Not chocolate bunnies but then this weirdo does not like chocolate at all. No he likes real bunnies, you know the kind that roam the ranges? Cute little furry critters with tiny round cotton tails, or even jack rabbits. They are cool. And he likes eggs, the kind that come from chickens, and he eats them frequently for breakfast. By the way, did you know that eggs cooked with coconut oil are absolutely delicious? Oh, sorry, I guess that's a bunny trail. (no pun intended...)
It seems that each and every year when the Grinch teaches the VAST difference between Easter and Resurrection Sunday, his congregation slumps in their seats, yawns and whispers during the service.
Pssst! But I will let you in on a secret! The Grinch has super human hearing.... he hears every word. But it hurts you know, to think people can't wait to get the "annual warning service" over with and go to lunch. I mean, here the poor guy is trying to teach something REALLY important and people are speaking behind their hands. "What's the matter with that guy, doesn't he care about the kiddies? I mean really, whats the harm of Easter eggs and stuff we look forward to as a family every year"? "He needs to get a life" "After all, it is a major holiday and congress must have known what they were doing"....
But the Grinch keeps on plodding along, hoping that one day his "peeps" will finally realize that Easter in every single form originated as a thoroughly pagan ritual. Story has it that the Roman Emperor Constantine changed up on the pagan dudes by trying to direct folks attention away from pagan worship towards Jesus but still called it Easter. Nice try Connie, all that happened was people got sucked further into Easter.
Now the Grinch fully realizes that all kinds folks on the Internet publish bunk to try and make Easter palatable by decrying the pagan connections to early Easter practices. Hey ~ who cares really if the origins of Easter go back to the pagan festival of EOSTRE who's symbol was a rabbit or hare. Or that the Mesopotamian Goddess of war, fertility and sex was ISHTAR (some believe the root of the word Easter) who had a gate (the Ishtar gate) named after her by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon? Or that Ishtar's temple worship was replete with prostitution? Or that the ancients believed and sometimes worshipped that eggs were signs of human fertility?
I know, I know, the Grinch just needs to chill out. After all, what can possible be the harm in teaching the kiddies in Sunday school that Easter and Resurrection Sunday are one and the same. I mean what a fun day, kids arguing over who has the most candy and fighting over the last egg under the bush. How much more fun could that be?
On the other hand? How important is Resurrection Sunday and how does it affect our walk as Christians? Did you know that without the Resurrection of Christ from the grave, our faith would be in vain? Christianity would be nothing but another religious empty shell. That we would have absolutely zero hope of Eternal life? Oh, well is that all?
Of course there were other resurrections in history---or so history buffs would like to tell us. After all was not the pagan goddess Ishtar hung naked on a stake and then subsequently resurrected and ascended from the underworld? Let's see, The Grinch seems to remember she was buds with the Egyptian god Horus, another god called Mithras (you think maybe that was because he was a myth)? Or lets not forget Dionysus who brought his mum Semele back to life.
Honestly the Grinch is worn out! He really thinks that Christians should eat eggs, candy and chocolate (yuck) when their hungry, not to celebrate holidays that really did spring from pagan practices.
The Grinch likes to quote from the Bible. You know that dusty old tome that lots of folks have somewhere on a shelf? Probably from Grandma's day. How old fashioned is that? I mean really.
How about Luke? Chapter 24:2-3 "And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus".
John 11:25-26 " Jesus said to her (Martha) I am the Resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Well, the Grinch asks that very same question every single year "Do you really believe it?" If so what are we teaching our children? What kind of example are were setting for the next generation of believers? Are we sending a mixed or even confusing message? Are there not other ways to have fun without planting potentially bad seed?
The Grinch and his wife have a handicapped son. On a particular road there is a humongous statue of Jesus. Someone once told the Grinch's son that the statue was Jesus. The Grinch's son is absolutely without guile and in his very simple way, he believes what he is told. The Grinch and the Grinch's wife told this well meaning person, "please don't tell him that statue is Jesus because the only thing he is capable of understanding is that Jesus dwells within his heart." Let's keep it that way please.
The Grinch fully knows and understands that for many Christians he is fighting an uphill battle.
But fight it he will.
The Grinch is a friend of mine so I sincerely hope you will go easy on him and consider this poor guy's plight.
Happy Resurrection Day!
Pastor Rance.
P.S. The Grinch has always pointed out that the day that is called “Resurrection Sunday" actually begins Saturday night at sundown. So the more appropriate term would be “Resurrection Day” BUT, technically, and Biblical speaking, Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the Biblically appointed day of First Fruits.
