CHRISTMAS OR EASTER?

When it comes to special holidays is it Christmas or Easter? You guessed it, Christmas is tops as far as spending goes with about $942 billion US dollars spent in 2022. That is a lot to spend on a birthday of a little baby that few saw or knew about in the beginning.

But what about Easter? That should be a big one full of easter eggs, new clothes, cholate and much more. But Easter does not do so well in the market place. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend only $24 billion dollars on Easter. Do the math. That means Christmas gets 39.25 times more money spent on it that on Easter.

But in reality which event is more important? Obviously both are important in God’s grand plan of salvation. Clearly Easter should be the big one. Why? Because of what Christ Himself did by going to the cross and suffering a humiliating death to pay for the sins of all who repent of their sins and put their faith in Christ alone as their Savior.

What took place on Christmas was known by only Joseph, Mary, a few shepherds and later the Magi. It was a hidden event in many ways for a long time. It is interesting that only the gospels Matthew and Luke give the story of the birth of Christ. But all four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give the account of the death and resurrection of Christ. This tells us the resurrection is far more important to the whole story and the purpose of Christ coming.

But what took place on Easter was the public humiliation of God Himself on the cross where He shed his blood literally in our place. What willing humiliation that was. Yet many people turn away from that incredible gift that paid for our sins. Then….the big one that follows that humiliation was THE RESURRECTION on Sunday morning. That was the miracle of all miracles. All the miracles Christ did in his short ministry pointed toward that very special one. It is the proof He was God in the flesh and had come to save those who turn to Him.

“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God….For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:11-12, 14

Have a blessed Easter.

Pastor Mark

EASTER EVENTS AT DISCOVERY

Good Friday Service, 6:30 PM - Come with hearts prepared for a time of reflection on the suffering of Christ and Communion. Can’t come? then watch online at www.discoverybaptist.org. Click the Livestream button.

All-Church Sunday Brunch, 9:45 AM – Everyone welcome! Please bring 1-2 hot or cold dishes (enough to feed your family plus a few guests). Drop them off at the kitchen, and remember to pick them up afterward. When we conclude the brunch at 11:00 AM, all hands welcome with the clean up as we quickly reset the gym for overflow seating. 

Resurrection Sunday, 8:45 AM and 11:15 AM – We can hardly wait to celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death this Sunday! We anticipate FULL SERVICES. If you attend the first service and brunch fellowship, please consider departing by 11:00 AM to make room for 11:15 service attendees. Please also park carefully so we can utilize all spaces. Street parking welcome on our side of the street, but do not park on the Harbor Covenant Church side. 

Can’t come? Then watch online at www.discoverybaptist.org. Click the Livestream button.

WAR ON CHURCHES

Some have asked me if Ukrainian president Zelensky is forcing all churches in Ukraine to get out of the country. This was prompted by a comment by Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson. What Zelensky said was only regarding “Russian” Orthodox Churches in Ukraine because they were suspected of supporting Russia. On the other hand there are “Ukrainian” Orthodox Church in Ukraine. That is because Ukraine is actually where the Orthodox church initially began about a millennia ago. The Russian Orthodox in Russia actually came from Ukraine initially. See above one of the massive orthodox churches we visited in Kiev.

Recently my son Caleb in Ukraine wrote. ”Earlier this month one Russian missile made it through our air defenses and struck a Russian Orthodox Monastery on the Southern end of town. This seemed very ironic to many, as the Russian Orthodox churches are controlled by Moscow and are generally suspected to support Russian aggression in Ukraine!” Now you know the rest of the story.

But there is also good news about churches in the midst of this war. One of our missionaries there said, “The Gospel is preached everywhere: from chaplains on the front lines to pastors at the bread lines, donated aid allows churches to share more than just physical bread.” The gospel continues to out in the midst of war and confusion. See Acts 5:18-20 to see how God does His work of getting the gospel out and growing churches even in the midst of massive opposition.

Keep Ukraine in your prayers. Our son and family will be here early May. We also hope to be seeing some of our Ukrainian national partners in our church the end of May.

Pastor Mark

ONE YEAR WAR?

Recently I was awakened in the night by the mournful wail of a siren followed by a voice saying, “Attention! Air raid alert! Proceed to nearest shelter. Don’t be careless. Your over confidence is your weakness!”

I turned on the light and shut off the air raid app in my phone. Thanks to technology the alert was in real time from Ukraine and about incoming Russian missles or drones. They were aimed to kill at a city in Ukraine.

We thank God this new “alert” technology allows Ukrainians to take cover. Some of my kids and grandkids live in those cities (Odessa and Kiev). Alerts are part of life there…and now here also. This is what war is like half a world away. When an alert goes off at home we are reminded to pray about the war in Ukraine.

Friday, Feb. 24th 2023 is the anniversary of Russia's “Special Military Operation.” Even the soldiers and their generals didn’t realize it was war. Ukraine fired back—surprise! In that first week many Russian soldiers were killed according to Ukrainian military estimates. A year later the war goes on with massive numbers of causalities on both sides.

This war actually began Feb. 20th 2014 when Russia came across the eastern boarder of Ukraine to claim that territory. Later I visited that area with my son Caleb and son-in-law Mike. It was an experience I won’t forget. The Ukrainian forces at the time had begun to strengthen their small military after years of peace since the collapse of the USSR. But now things had changed. We traveled by train as far as it went; it was not safe to get any closer to the enemy line.

While in Druzhkivka we met many pastors and did an outreach to a Ukrainian military base. A chaplain led us to the compound as military trucks loaded with soldiers were coming and going to the front lines.

The commander was gracious to allow us to sing Christian songs and testify in a service. I told of my salvation and my Coast Guard years in the Bering Sea following Soviet ships. The soldiers liked that since it meant we were on their side. As a result they wanted a picture taken with us. It was great to encourage them then. This war zone soon became a “hot war” in Feb. 2022. But today is 2023 and a whole year of hot war has gone by with no end in sight. Recently I read about 200,000 troops on each side have lost their lives (Russian or Ukrainian). Pray for Ukraine. Pray for the spread of the gospel during this war..

Pastor Mark