Looking Ahead

A few weeks ago my wife Cherie, my daughter Zoe and myself had the chance to spend about a week in the desert. We roadtripped to Surprise, AZ to watch a couple of Royals’ spring training games. While we were there we had the chance to hang out with my brother and his family, eat some In-N-Out burgers, visit the largest Restoration Movement Church in America and just enjoy being on vacation. While we looked forward to getting some sunshine and having lived in Yuma, AZ for six years we knew spring temperatures in the desert can soar, we maybe weren’t prepared for record high temperatures during our stay!

On the hottest day of our visit, my wife and daughter asked me, “Hey, do you want to go on a hike?” They pretty much knew my answer before they asked the question, but still, they looked perplexed when they received my “not really” response. It’s a quick, short hike, they insisted. “It’ll be fun!” They claimed. Any husband and father who has been on a family vacation knows how this conversation ends. It ended with me on a hike. I have to admit their description of this particular hike was more than accurate. I’m not really sure it is fair to describe our walk on the path up a hill as a hike, but it was further than my chair to the refrigerator, so I’m sticking with hike. Anyway, we drove from our hotel to a park and set off on this little trail so that we could ascend to the “hole in the rock.” Even with the record temperatures, the rest of Phoenix decided that day was the day to see the famous hole in the rock. We were not the only folks on the trail. As I trudged up the trail, I was passed by more than a few people, and I even passed a few folks all on their way to see a hole in a rock. Once we made it to the top of the hill, we were able to make our way “into” the hole, and you know what? It was pretty cool. The view was excellent, the exercise was beneficial, and the company was awesome.

Waiting my turn to enter the hole, I couldn’t help but think about another race to view an empty spot in a rock. Both Luke and John tell about this race in their description of that first Easter Sunday. In both Gospels, women are the first to see the empty tomb. These women rush from the tomb at the urging of an angel to tell Peter and the other disciples what they saw. When they do Peter (in both Gospels) and John in his own account take off to see if what the women told them was accurate. I love John’s Gospel because he is sure to let us know that he won the race, kind of. You see, when John made it to the tomb, he froze staring inside the empty grave. It wasn’t until Peter came huffing and puffing behind that he went into the tomb. John followed Peter into the hole in the rock and believed.

Sunday is Easter. No matter the temperature in your life, make every effort to get yourself and those you care about to worship. Come investigate the empty tomb for yourself. Easter changes everything! Wallula’s worship services are this Sunday at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 am. I can’t wait to see you!

- Lance

At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed.

- John 20:3-8