Happy Easter!

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:17

It is interesting spending holidays in another country and learning how they celebrate. First, as Ian noted, Easter is kind of like Scotland's Thanksgiving. It is the busiest travel weekend of the year, and the Friday before happens to be the busiest shopping day of the year. Odd! Also, it seems that whether Christian or not, you "celebrate" the holiday somehow. In talking with people at my work, I discovered there were many a "punishments" that went on in their houses on Good Friday. Things like no TV, no playing with friends, making wreaths to lay at Jesus' cross and more...and all this happened in homes where they weren't raised going to church!?! Then there is the egg rolling tradition. Decorate hard boiled eggs (sounds familiar!) then have contests rolling them down hills (and mountains in some cases!). In talking to some friends today, we discovered this tradition came about as the rolling egg symboling the rock from the tomb being rolled away...and this is taught to the kids in school!!! Also, there is Easter Monday here, which I don't get at all. It really seems just like an excuse to get an extra day off work. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the most interesting part of all...pretty much every professional business around gets a four day weekend to celebrate the holiday. This DEFINITELY doesn't happen in America! Then there are the hot cross buns that only make an appearance for Easter. They are basically sweetened rolls with a marzipan "x" (or cross) on them. Interesting...this really is the only response I can come up with!

One thing that resonates in my mind through all this is America practices less religion than other countries. I don't mean we percentage wise have less believers in Jesus or anything like that, but we tend to shy away from old school religious practices. Why is this? (And I definitely don't consider it a bad thing when I ask this question.) Is it because we are a country founded on religious freedom? After all, the colonists were trying to flee from the people I am talking about above! Or is it because of Christianity not being allowed to be taught in schools? I just find it very interesting how much unchurched, un"religious" people know over here about the most important holiday for Christ followers. I mean come on, easter egg hunts have only made their way over here in the past few years!

But to end all this madness, I would like to say Happy Easter! No matter how you or I celebrate Easter, the bottom line is I am certainly glad God sent His only son to die for me! It is an act I will never forget.