The same tired old story?

A new level of excitement has entered into our home.  My oldest daughter is beginning to like the movies I like.  This is great for a number of reasons.  First, I don't have to watch movies about talking dogs as often as I used to.  These movies are like fingernails on the chalkboard for me.  It also gives me the chance to share with her some of my favorite movies from when I was her age.  We have been able to watch Goonies, Ghostbusters and even Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.  Her latest favorite is Spider-Man and she can't wait to watch Spider-Man 2.  As soon as she said this I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me.  As good as the first Spider-Man was the next one wasn't and the third one was completely horrible.  What a letdown.  I fear I still may have not forgiven Hollywood for releasing such a horrible film, especially when the first one had such promise.  Instead of sticking to the same, no-fail model they went way overboard and the movie flopped.

Why is it when we have heard a story over and over again or tell a story over and over again we have to embellish it?  The original fish weighed about 30 pounds but some how over the years it became a 100 pound whopper.  The home run didn't just travel 300 feet but over the years it got a strong gust of wind and went about 550.  How about with the Easter story.  Is it the same old story or has it grown tired?  Is it powerful enough or do we feel the need to enhance it just a bit?

There are some stories that are timeless.  Stories that don't need any extra Hollywood flair but continue to amaze us year after year.  I hope this is how the Easter story works for you.  Whether you are drawn to Matthew, Mark, Luke or John I hope this story continues to knock you off your feet.  The story of the ultimate underdog facing the greatest foe.  An ultimate victory but a victory that doesn't lead to arrogance or praise but a victory that is shared with everyone.  A story filled with characters that we can relate to.  Characters filled with fear, sadness, doubt and grief but ultimately characters who live in an unexplainable joy.

I invite you to be a part of this story.  I want to share it with you and I want you to share it with others.  We celebrate it on Sunday but we also live it everyday.  A story so powerful it has no parallel.  A story of incredible love from an incredible creator.  It's God's story but it is also your story.  It is your story because it was done for you.  Now go and live that story every day.  We live in the resurrection.

See you in church,

Chris