Happy Easter

By Diane Forrest

Easter is one of those quiet holidays that kinda sneak in on you.  People normally don’t shop for Easter gifts or play Easter music for weeks on end. Not many Easter cards hit the post office, and since its not a Federal holiday, and it is always on Sunday, many people don't have the day off work either. 

Nonetheless, Easter is a very important time of remembrance and rejoicing.  While Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, Easter celebrates the resurrection.

Growing up, most of my thoughts were about getting a new dress, white shoes, and spending the night wearing these hard plastic rollers in my hair, and not being able to sleep a wink!  My brother and I would get up and search the den for eggs, he always found the most, and then we would go to church in our brand new clothes.  My Easter bunny didn’t bring toys, but he always came with socks and underwear and occasionally a cross necklace or earrings.

For many people the Easter season signifies the rebirth and renewal of springtime.  Plants and trees begin to bloom, animal babies are born, and time to plant tomatoes, and pollen is everywhere.  The cold winter months are over, and spring has sprung.  Even though the ground hog predicted an early spring this year, there is still snow on the ground everywhere.

This Sunday I will get up, put on my new Easter outfit, go to church, then to my parent's home to eat the traditional ham, potato salad, deviled egg dinner, then come home to take a nice Sunday nap.  But I will spend most of the day thinking about Jesus's resurrection and the fact that he lives, and he lives in me.

What are some of your family's Easter traditions?  Write them in the comment section below, we would love to know how you celebrate the holiday, all of us at KISBYTO wish you a very Happy Easter!

Good Friday

(Google Image) 

By Diane Forrest

Growing up as a Southern Baptist, I don't recall celebrating Good Friday.  To me, Good Friday was good, because we got the day off from school, and any day out of school was a good day!  The real reason for celebrating Good Friday is this is the day that Jesus was put to death on the cross.  Now, how can that possibly be called good?  Well that act is not what is good about Good Friday.  As I came to learn, it is called Good Friday, because of the results of His death.  As I Peter 3:18 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."

(Google Image) 

It is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Easter Friday.  Today is also the beginning of the Jewish Passover.  It is celebrated by the Catholic religion by a day of fasting.  The only sacraments celebrated during this time are Baptism (for those in danger of death), Penance, and Anointing of the Sick.  During this period crosses, candlesticks, and altar cloths are removed from the altar which remains completely bare. It is also customary to empty the holy water fonts in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. Traditionally, no bells are rung on Good Friday or Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil.

Many Christian churches celebrate Good Friday with a subdued service, usually in the evening, in which Christ’s death is remembered with solemn hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, a message centered on Christ suffering for our sakes, and observance of the Lord's Supper. Whether or not Christians choose to “celebrate” Good Friday, the events of that day should be ever on our minds because the death of Christ on the cross is the paramount event of the Christian faith.

(Google Image) 

It seems to me that every Good Friday has always been a dark and rainy day.  It reminds me of the terrible events and pain that was felt by those in attendance.  If you have seen the movie The Passion, one can only imagine the heartbreak those people endured.  So today, on Good Friday, remember that the goodness comes from the promise of eternity in Heaven.

Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer

Happy Good Friday folks!  Here’s another email a friend forwarded to me this morning and I believe is especially important on this special day.  I hope you enjoy it.

It's Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter,

 That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived





BY A 15 year old SCHOOL KID who got an A+ for this entry

Since the Pledge of Allegiance and The Lord's Prayer are not allowed in most Public schools anymore because the word 'God' is mentioned.

A kid in Arizona wrote the attached NEW School prayer:

"New Pledge of Allegiance"

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all.

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles..

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen

Well done young man, well done indeed!

These are the correct words folks!

The Lord's Prayer