What are You Wearing for Easter?

Today my sisters and I made a trip to the store to find Easter outfits for my mom and Yaviel, who as of then did not have anything to wear.  Our shop was successful and we returned home with very nice outfits for both of them.  Later on, while ironing the boy's shirts and our dresses, my mom made the comment "Well, I guess it's time for my annual depression on how hardly anyone seems to get dressed up for Easter."
She went on to say that someone we knew had asked her why we were getting new outfits, after all "it's not a fashion show."

I want to say that, they are right.  It's not a fashion show.  And if you buy a new outfit or get dressed up on Easter just to make a fashion statement, then you sure have your priorities mixed up.

But what is wrong about putting in a little extra effort to get dressed up for Easter?  Easter is the holiest day of the year; it is the day that Our Lord rose after having sacrificed everything to save us, the day He conquered over death once and for all, the day He gave us the promise and the hope of Heaven with Him for eternity after we die.  And yet people show up to Mass in their blue jeans and t-shirts or outfits that they would wear just every day.  Somehow, those same people would get dressed up for a wedding and spend money without hesitating for a new outfit.  Christ did so much for us, how is it we can't even muster up the effort to dress up for Him?

To me that is just flat out ungrateful.  Now I understand that everyone can't go and buy a new outfit for Easter, due to limited funds and all that.  Not everyone in my family was able to get a new outfit this year, and we even bought a few from the thrift store.  But we are making the effort to get dressed up more than we usually do.  We aren't just wearing our everyday clothes.

I am not trying to make my family sound all high and mighty or holier than thou, but quite frankly I don't care who you are, or what your situation in life is, everyone has the means to get a little fancier than their normal fare.  So you don't have enough money to buy a new outfit.  Pick out the nicest outfit you have and dress it up with a cute hairstyle and beautiful jewelry, maybe even a little make-up.  Guy, take the time to iron your shirts.  If you do have the money for a new outfit - you can find great things at thrift stores for only a few dollars - than make the effort to get one.

Isn't dressing up a whole lot easier than suffering through the Crucifixion and rising from the dead?  Isn't God worth it?  Doesn't He deserve it?

So what are you wearing for Easter?

One Voice that Changed the Lives of Millions

About a week ago, my family and i watched the film "Amazing Grace", and tonight i watched it again. I'd heard about it from friends of mine, and after hearing about it enough times i actually went and got it from the library, where it so conveniently happened to be sitting on the shelf during one trip where i was told to "go find a movie for us to watch tonight". I can't believe i hadn't taken the initiative to get it before.

"Amazing Grace" was truly, amazing. There was a preview for the movie before the movie (where all the rest of the previews are) and while waiting for my mom to come we watched the preview and i fell in love with "Amazing Grace" right then and there. I loved it even more after i actually watched the film.

"Amazing Grace" is the story of William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament for 45 years and a tireless advocate of abolition, better education, the poor and countless other social reforms. The movie mentions 'Wilber's' other causes, but focuses on his goal of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire. In fact, the release was planned to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Parliamentary Bill banning the slave trade.

My mother was wondering why, given the amazing accomplishments that Wilberforce achieved, we had never heard a bit about him before, but a biography on Wilberforce that i just finished reading gives a good analogy. It's a bit like when there is a dreadful disease, the book said. It consumes the populace, destroying the nation, but then a wonderful cure is invented that so totally wipes out the disease that people no longer remember there was a disease, or even a cure for it.

I was and am very inspired by the story of William Wilberforce. He worked tirelessly and doggedly for the end of slavery, even to the point of ruining his health. never giving up, supported by a slow growing group of like-minded people and in the end was able to rid the Empire of slavery.

Of course, after watching "Amazing Grace", i naturally thought of the parallels between slavery and abortion. Abortion is a more silent issue than slavery in the US was, but in England during Wilberforce's time slavery was a 'silent issue' as well. Slaves had previously been emancipated in England, so most people had no idea what slavery was really like. Slaves were in the West Indies, far across the Atlantic Ocean and far removed from public knowledge. The average Englishman had no concept of the cruilties and the horrors of slavery. They were told that the Africans were far better off as slaves, much like we are told that women are far better off without "unplanned pregnancies".

It gives me hope; if one man in Parliment could bring a "silent issue" to the attention of the government and the public, eventually winning over opposition and ridding the empire of a 'peculiar insitution'... could we be rid of abortion by having at least one or two politicians dedicated to the pro-life cause in our government?

With amazing grace, i think we could.

Number 5!

Yes! Do Hard Things, which started out down in the upper 600 - even dropping down on the list - made #5 on Amazon bestseller charts yesterday and #1 under Christianity! Congrat's to everyone! Thanks to all who bought a copy! Now let's celebrate!
Here's the
+ Final Sales Rankings + from The Rebelution:

Bestsellers: #5

Hot New Releases: #2

Movers and Shakers: #5

Religion and Spirituality: #3

Christianity: #1

Christian Living: #1

Youth Ministry: #1

Parents & Families: #1