Last week I went to the Holy Land.  I walked in some of the same places where Jesus walked.  I visited all the places everyone wants to see when going to Israel.  I had the opportunity to stand where traditions say Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  But, I want to be honest with you, I was expecting to have a great rush of feelings, but I didn't feel it.  We went by the site which has been commemorated to be the place where Jesus was born ... I didn't feel it.  We went to the place where people say Jesus was crucified ... I didn't feel it.  To walk into that Rotunda and see a marble slab that was used to cover the tomb of Christ ... I didn't feel it.  I was expecting to be weepy, full of feeling.  I didn't feel it.  I kept a daily journal, and every night before I went to sleep I wrote something about the events of the day.  I questioned myself, "Why don't I have the emotional experience I should be having in seeing all these things and places where Jesus walked and lived?"  And I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me as clearly as I am speaking to you now ... "He's not here!"  I feel as close to the Lord standing right here as I did retracing His steps in the Holy Land, and this song came into my mind.  He is not there because:

God sent His Son; they call Him Jesus.
He came to love, heal and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon;
An empty grave is there to prove
My Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know who holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy it gives,
But greater still that calm assurance
This child can face uncertain days
Because He lives.

I would like to share something with you -- before I left for the Holy Lands, I had some concerns about thing that might happen. (We all do that!)  What if the plane crashes?  What if we run into a bad person who wants to do us harm?  What is something happens to me and I don't come home?  What if ... Let's be honest.  We live in a day and age where nothing is certain.  We don't have to travel halfway around the world to meet demise.  Then I thought, "Why do I fret?  I have nothing to fear; I'm in the Master's hands.  If I live, it's okay and if I don't, I will be okay."  I am going to trust the Lord because He is trustworthy.  He has been a friend to me; He has been a friends to you, too; hasn't He?  Has He brought you through some tough times and tough hours?  I believe the God of the past is the God of the present.  I believe He is still God. Don't you love Him?  Ain't God good?  Yes, all the time He is a good God and He does not love me any more than He love you.  I do not want to burst your bubble, but He does not love you any more than He love me.  Now with the last verse of this song, if you want to praise God, you go ahead.  Let's forget about the name over the church door; this is the House of God and we need to turn loose and do what God would want us to do.  Give Him the praise He so freely deserves.

And then one day, I'll cross that River;
I'll fight Life's final war with pain,
And then as Death gives way to Victory,
I'll see the lights of Glory and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know who holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

Our prayer is:
Father, I am so glad we don't have to travel halfway around the world to experience your presence.  Father, You are not in the manger and You are not in the tomb; rather You are alive and with us right now.  I can fell You in our midst.  We praise You.  We love and honor You and thank You for everything good in our lives.  I pray we are harboring nothing in our hearts that will hinder You from becoming closer to us.  If there should be something in our lives that is keeping us from giving you the praise and glory You so richly deserve, by the power of the Holy Spirit reveal it to us so we can get rid of it.  We cannot let there be anything that keeps us from drawing closer to You.            And all the people said, "Amen!"

JR. Fields, Pastor
February 24, 2008