beginnings

a good friend once told me that I should start a blog. I didnt really know what to think about blogging, because all of my writing took place in my journal with pencil and paper. plus, blogging has of late, been the thing to do - and I have resisted long enough. it can function for many reasons - spiritual reflections - personal schpeel - and of course other various rants and raves. this I hope can be a healthy fusion of the two first reasons. I fear that if I started a purely spiritual blog that my inconsistent heart would shine through and my fervor would fade. well, I take that back. this can be a Christ centered blog becuase I am indeed human and therefore broken, sinful and fleeting - what a better place for the healing hand of christ. who cares if I am down trodden, stressed or broken hearted? this is my life. i have a sweet bride and we live life with christ. this means tears, joys, highs, lows. this little blog can capture those moments. so without any further explanation - its time to write.

An introduction to Easter.

this year I have found myself very aware of the depth behind easter. the same good friend who suggested that I start a blog gave me a little booklet called "a gospel primer," and it functions as a guide, well, a lesson on how to preach the gospel to yourself - daily. while reading through, the real gravity of the gospel started to weigh heavily on me. not just salvation and the atonement of sin - but a life lived for the glory of another - a perfect one being the atonement for the imperfect - the daily war waged between flesh and spirit. to me, that is where I see the easter message this year - moreover, the gospel.I can make this thing rather long, but I can sum up my thoughts pretty quickly. the more I have been focusing on the gospel in my life - through the help of friends, gods word, and simply being married, things started to change. I started feeling like myself. the things that I did that hindered gods work and other things in my life started to go away. but again, the daily war between flesh and spirit wages much harder when we lay our lives against the gospel. these changes inside my heart triggered a real awareness of what Christ did for me. the whole thing is real. easter is more than eggs, and chocolate bunnies - its about transformation and learning - and pressing into the unseen. so I can leave you with that thought. tell me what easter means to you. I will be excited to hear what you think.with hope, clay