I keep thinking that Easter is later than usual this year. In fact, I couldn’t remember it being this late before, but when I googled it up there was more information about the topic than most people want to know. For one thing, April 21^st is a more popular date than I thought. Since 1900, we’ve had an April 21^st Easter in the years 1935, 1946, and 1957. In the same span of years, Easter has fallen only one time on April 25^th , which is the latest Easter date possible on the Gregorian calendar.

That’s just a snippet of the Easter dates information readily available dating from the 1500’s through the 2000’s. What I didn’t find, though, is an answer to why it nearly always turns cold on Easter weekend. This mainly affects Easter Sunrise services, gardens, and new spring outfi ts bought for the occasion and then worn under winter coats.

We will be holding an Easter Sunrise service at 7:00. A.M. on April 21^st . Our Associational Missionary, Tim Green has been invited to be with us this year. We hope you will wear your Easter outfit and winter coat and come join us for the services. Then stay to enjoy a fellowship breakfast with us as well

Speaking of dates, our youth directors, Alex and Yashni announced their engagement today. They have set June 1^st of this year as their wedding date. Congratulations, Yashni and Alex! We are very happy for you.

Also, Coby Johnson spoke during the morning services about his upcoming mission trip to Belize later this year. The group he is going with will hold Vacation Bible School at either one or two villages and will present dramas to illustrate the gospel message. Please be in prayer for the mission group and the people they will be visiting in Belize.

Rev. Brown’s sermon titled “Bad Boys and the God who Loves Them” was from Genesis 32:22-32. The Bible reveals who God is and also, through the stories of people whose lives are recorded there, it reveals who we are.

Moses was a murderer on the run, and Jonah was a rebel on the run when God turned their lives around. Paul met Jesus when he was a on his way to Damascus to hunt down Christians and have them killed. And Jonah, whose name meant “Supplanter,” was a conman.

God, whose power created a universe, can heal and transform lives of even the worst of us because, even more than all that, God is Love. When we take time each day to spend time alone in the presence of God in prayer, worship, and learning from His Word, our lives can be renewed and transformed.

In this scripture passage, Jonah believes he is wrestling with a man, but by the time the struggle is over he realizes he has been wrestling with God. We, too, may think we are struggling with problems that have to do with people, but when we see that we are actually struggling with God, the issue takes on a completely different aspect. In fact, it can change lives.

In thinking about the bad boys and girls of the Bible, it is important that we not let a mistake or a label attached to us or someone else determine how we see ourselves and one another. When you were saved, God gave you a new identity, and you became a child of the King. We are freed from the old labels to live life in a new way!