Podcasts about easter sunday

In the wake of Kari Baker's funeral, the community turned its gaze toward Matt, her husband. A minister of just 35 years, Matt sat on the front row at the service, his demeanor a tableau of inconsolable sorrow. When he lifted his head from his hands, his eyes, a light blue hue that was almost startling, met the congregation's gaze.After the eulogy, Matt found the strength to stand beside the pulpit, his two remaining daughters flanking him. With each hug and expression of condolences he received, he assured the congregation that he'd be back to preach on the most hopeful day in the Christian calendar—Easter Sunday. "God has not abandoned me," he whispered to one close friend, "He will give me the strength to carry on." But something unsettling began to shift about a month later. Rumors surfaced that Kari's mother, Linda Dulin, backed by her sisters and niece, was conducting her own investigation into Kari's death. The whispers intensified when word got out that Linda and her husband, Jim, had engaged a lawyer and private investigators. This was puzzling to many; after all, the Hewitt police had been convinced enough of Kari's suicide that they hadn't even requested an autopsy...CALL 888-MURDERY that's, 888-687-3379, to share YOUR Kinda Murdery story or your story of living with a disability or other challenges, and you could inspire an episode of the show!Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34983893 https://wacotrib.com/news/local/crime-courts/judge-denies-matt-bakers-request-for-new-trial/article_11218a26-8d83-504d-ad7f-c27aaf7a2a26.html#:~:text=Matt%20Baker%20walks%20out%20of,a%20new%20trial%20was%20denied.&text=Former%20Central%20Texas%20Baptist%20minister,Strother's%2019th%20State%20District%20Courthttps://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death/ https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/witness-for-theprosecution/#:~:text=Skip%20Hollandsworth%20specializes%20in%20long%2Dform%20narratives.&text=Editor's%20note%3A%20On%20January%2020,suspected%20of%20murdering%20his%20wife.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5496890/advertisement

Southasiasphere is our roundup of news events and analysis of regional affairs, now out every two weeks. If you are a member, you will automatically receive links to new episodes in your inbox. If you are not yet a member, you can still get episode links for free by signing up here. In this episode, we talk about the G20 summit in Delhi and allegations in a recent documentary by the UK's Channel 4 News about government involvement in Sri Lanka's 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. In “Around Southasia in 5 minutes” we talk about ransomware attacks impacting Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan government data, the rollout of Bhutan's digital identification system, outbreaks of dengue in Bangladesh and of the Nipah virus in Kerala, new remittance rules impacting migrant workers in Myanmar, the Editors Guild of India's fact-finding report on Manipur and FIRs against the guild filed by the Manipur police, and former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif's imminent return to the country ahead of elections. For “Bookmarked”, we talk about Hindi action-thriller Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan and directed by Atlee. Episode notes: Sri Lanka's Easter bombing verdict is reshaping politics and power: https://www.himalmag.com/srilanka-easter-bombing-verdict-politics-and-power/ Nepal's biometric future: https://www.himalmag.com/biometric-future-identification-nepal-2022/ Unpacking Digital Bangladesh: https://www.himalmag.com/unpacking-digital-bangladesh-2021/ What's really behind Jammu and Kashmir's new family ID?: https://www.himalmag.com/behind-jammu-and-kashmir-new-family-id-surveillance/ Climate change in Bangladesh is driving a dengue outbreak in winter: https://www.himalmag.com/climate-change-dengue-outbreak-in-winter-bangladesh/ Election season in the Maldives and Pakistan, economic boycotts in Haryana, increased pressure on Pushpa Kamal Dahal and more: https://www.himalmag.com/pakistan-national-elections-2023-nuh-violence-jaranwala-incident-ceylon-electricity-board-manipur-internet-ban-pushpa-kamal-dahal/ The political fallout of violence in Manipur, Bangladesh's economic crisis, the crackdown on PTI supporters and more: https://www.himalmag.com/violence-manipur-bangladesh-economic-crisis-crackdown-pti-supporters/ Violence in Manipur, Imran Khan's arrest, the Karnataka elections and more: https://www.himalmag.com/violence-in-manipur-imran-khans-arrest-adani-myanmar-karnataka-election/ ‘Jawan' treads with caution in an India on edge: https://www.himalmag.com/jawan-shah-rukh-khan-atlee-politics-gender-modi-india-pathaan/

• September 20, 2023, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET• The Audio Podcast of this Rosary is Available Here Now! Friends of the Rosary: Christ Jesus raised the son of a widow in a city called Nain, as we read in the New Testament yesterday (Luke 7:11-17). In this passage, we see the fear and desperation in this poor widow. At that time there was no social safety net, no insurance, and no guaranteed income for a widow. Without her husband and her only son, she was condemned almost to starvation, unless their neighbors would support her. Jesus' heart was moved with pity. And then He showed His power and dominion over the living and the dead. It also was an anticipation of His resurrection. The bystanders were fearful, seeing their world turned upside-down. This is also the reaction of the women at the tomb on Easter Sunday morning. As Bishop Barron wrote, "An evangelization that isn't a little scary is an inadequate evangelization." Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • September 20, 2023, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

A Bakersfield Fire Chaplain mysteriously vanished the morning after Easter Sunday in 1990. Purchase Notorious Bakersfield merchandise here:https://www.etsy.com/shop/NotoriousBakersfieldEmail: notoriousbakersfield@gmail.comAre you a Breaking Bad Fan? Going to Albuquerque, NM? Take the BREAKING BAD AUDIO DRIVING TOUR! Purchase here:https://notoriousaudio.com/ Purchase Notorious Bakersfield merchandise here:https://www.etsy.com/shop/NotoriousBakersfield

Read and Sign our Petition to Proclaim the Full Resurrection Story on Easter Sunday: https://futurechurch.org/petition Preaching for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Caitlin Morneau offers a reflection on reclaiming connectedness: "Forgiveness is fundamentally an individual act, but with social implications. Every harm has repercussions, rippling impacts through time and community. Really living into the fullness of forgiveness means moving toward as full a reclamation of human dignity and communion as possible. When this becomes the way in which we move and live and have our being, suddenly seven times seventy becomes far more attainable — not a heroic act for the few. But we cannot do it alone. We need to encourage one another daily. And build up systems (legal and otherwise) that create vessels for mercy and grace to shape the labor of justice itself." Caitlin Morneau serves as Director of Restorative Justice at Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), the national Catholic organization working to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice through education, advocacy and prayer. Caitlin is a Bernardin Scholar at Catholic Theological Union where she is completing a MA in Ministry with a concentration in Spirituality and holds an MA in Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University. Caitlin is a facilitator of peacemaking circles and trained in restorative community conferencing. She lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband, two children, and black lab. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09172023 to learn more about Caitlin, to read her preaching text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

March 30, 1975 - On a quiet Easter Sunday evening, police are called to the home of Charity Ruppert where they find the aftermath of a rampage that left 11 people dead. What would cause someone to kill their entire family, including eight children? Tune in to hear Julia and Terri cover this case, which would go down in history as the deadliest shooting by a lone gunman in Ohio and hear about what happened to the infamous house afterward. Click ⁠here⁠ for photos from the episode Click here for the article with Cinnamon Baker Click here for the home's listing For a full list of sources and more info, visit our website!

House Speaker McCarthy to open an Impeachment inquiry into President Biden. New allegations emerge regarding the deadly 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. And a possible major strike by the United Auto Workers Union is looming.

Notes on ConfirmationUnited States Catholic Catechism for Adults"The prophets of the Old Testament foretold that God's Spirit would rest upon the Messiah to sustain his mission.  Their prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus the Messiah was conceived by the Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.  The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus on the occasion of his baptism by John.  Jesus' entire mission occurred in communion with the Spirit. Before he died, Jesus promised that the Spirit would be given to the Apostles and to the entire Church.  After his death, he was raised by the Father in the power of the Spirit.Confirmation deepens our baptismal life that calls us to be missionary witnesses of Jesus Christ in our families, neighborhoods, society, and the world.  . . .  We receive the message of faith in a deeper and more intensive manner with great emphasis given to the person of Jesus Christ, who asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Church for building up the community in loving service." Scripture on ConfirmationThe sacrament of confirmation is found in Bible passages such as Acts 8:14–17, 9:17, 19:6, and Hebrews 6:2, which speak of a laying on of hands for the purpose of bestowing the Holy Spirit.Hebrews 6:2 is especially important because it is not a narrative account of how confirmation was given and, thus, cannot be dismissed by those who reject the sacrament as something unique to the apostolic age. In fact, the passage refers to confirmation as one of Christianity's basic teachings, which is to be expected since confirmation, like baptism, is a sacrament of initiation into the Christian life.We read: “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment” (Heb. 6:1–2).Catholic Church CatechismTHE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION   1285 Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the "sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the completion of baptismal grace.89 For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed."90I. CONFIRMATION IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION1286 In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving mission.91 The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism by John was the sign that this was he who was to come, the Messiah, the Son of God.92 He was conceived of the Holy Spirit; his whole life and his whole mission are carried out in total communion with the Holy Spirit whom the Father gives him "without measure."931287 This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.94 On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit,95 a promise which he fulfilled first on Easter Sunday and then more strikingly at Pentecost.96 Filled with the Holy Spirit the apostles began to proclaim "the mighty works of God," and Peter declared this outpouring of the Spirit to be the sign of the messianic age.97 Those who believed in the apostolic preaching and were baptized received the gift of the Holy Spirit in their turn.981288 "From that time on the apostles, in fulfillment of Christ's will, imparted to the newly baptized by the laying on of h

Leslie interviews Jill Savage, host of the No More Perfect Podcast, a creator of online courses, and the author of 14 books, including "No More Perfect Moms" and "No More Perfect Marriages." The episode dives deep into Jill's personal journey of resilience, redemption, and unconditional love in the face of a significant marital detour. The Marital Detour and Learning to Love Unconditionally: Jill's husband, Mark, resigned from pastoral ministry after 20 years, a decision that initiated their challenging journey. The difficulties they faced during a church plant took a toll on both of them. Mark's personal struggles with self-worth and identity, stemming from his abusive upbringing, contributed to their marital problems. Depression had been a recurring issue in Mark's life. Jill describes the emotional detachment and emotional affair that strained their marriage. She reflects on God's call to love Mark, even when he seemed unlovable. Boundaries and saying "no" became essential components of her love. Jill turned to Romans 12:9-21 as her guiding principles during this challenging time. She aimed to honor Mark as an image bearer, despite his actions. Jill learned that love isn't always soft; it can also include firm boundaries. During their separation, Jill displayed grace and love, which Mark later acknowledged. Heaping burning coals on his head meant allowing him to see his own actions more clearly. A Journey to Healing and Treating an Image Bearer with Honor: Jill shares how Mark's personal resurrection on Easter Sunday in 2012 turned their marriage and his life around. The concept of redemption played a significant role in their journey. Jill emphasizes that her journey was not about controlling the outcome of her marriage but focusing on who she needed to be in the process. Leslie highlights the importance of treating a spouse, even during a crisis, as an image bearer. Jill shares how she maintained honor and respect for Mark despite his behavior. Loving unconditionally often includes setting boundaries and holding the other person accountable for their actions. The Unhumanable Love and The Power of Keeping Your Side of the Street Clean: Jill reflects on the term "unhumanable love" and how it became a central theme in her journey. She explains how this type of love is beyond human capability and can only be achieved through faith in Christ. Jill's actions and love towards Mark made him realize the depth of her love and grace. Leslie and Jill discuss the importance of maintaining personal integrity and avoiding retaliation. Focusing on one's actions and growth can lead to a clearer path to reconciliation. Jill shares personal anecdotes about times when she struggled with anger and imperfection during this process. Conclusion: Jill's journey is a testament to the power of love, grace, and redemption in the face of marital challenges. The importance of maintaining personal integrity and heaping burning coals on the other's head is a valuable lesson. Healing and restoration require effort from both parties, but unconditional love can be transformative. RESOURCES Walking in Core Strength group coaching program: www.leslievernick.com/strength Jill Savage: www.jillsavage.org www.leslievernick.com

ABOUT DAMON DIMARCO AND TOWER STORIES Anyone old enough to remember can tell you where they were and what they were doing the morning of September 11, 2001 , when two airplanes were flown into the Twin Towers of New York City's World Trade Center. While preserving the stories in the original edition of the people who were in New York City on that fateful day and in the days and months that followed, Damon DiMarco's Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11 offers additional interviews that provide a contemporary perspective on the tragedy. "Never forget" has become part of our lexicon in remembering the tragedy of 9/11. But why do we remember? According to Alice Greenwald, President and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, who was interviewed for the new edition, ".remembrance is essential to moral conscience.(to) determine what's right and what's wrong. and to ask ourselves what we are capable of as human beings, both at our worst and at our best." While confronting unfathomable loss, the individuals featured in the book speak to the myriad ways by which Americans rose to meet the challenges presented by 9/11and its aftermath, honoring the many heroes that are found within its pages. Some of the stories preserved from earlier editions feature the small group of people who miraculously made it safely down from the 89th floor of Tower 1; the New York Times reporter who desperately fought her way through the fleeing crowds to get back into Lower Manhattan; the paramedic who set up a triage area 200 yards from the base of the Towers before they collapsed; and the bereaved citizens of New York City who struggled to get on with their lives in the days and months following the tragic event among dozens of others. MSNBC said Tower Stories was "arguably the most successful attempt at capturing the enormity of the events of 9/11. Damon DiMarco's sprawling oral history (presents) human stories.with a raw candor a thousand times more affecting than any cold statistic offered by a commission.a riveting and disarmingly emotional read." This best-selling and critically acclaimed book on 9/11continues in the tradition of Studs Terkel, encapsulating a wide variety of viewpoints from everyday citizens. DiMarco's literary time capsule offers new insights that benefit from twenty years of reflection on the world-shattering event, capturing the voices of individuals such as: . Reverend Jim Martin, New York Times bestselling author and Jesuit priest: "Your interior life, your sense of right and wrong, can guide you. But very often, we don't pay attention. We can't forget how parts of our society were impelled to help.But then other parts were like, 'We're gonna show them.' . Tom Haddad, survivor of the 89th floor, Tower 1: "After 9/11, there was common cause. It was really inspiring. And then . . . it faded.". Stephen Adly Guirgis Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright based in NY: "Still there's a part of me that misses the old days. Like, when you interacted with people in the street, you did it through the filter of We Live in New York." . Glenn Guzi, Program Director at Port Authority of NY & NJ: "I don't mind telling you there were days when I thought, 'I don't know how we're going to do this.' The story of rebuilding downtown is a story of cooperation. we saw the power and beauty of humanity when good people come together." Their stories, along with those preserved from the original edition of Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11, not only reconnect readers to what was lost on 9/11, but also to what can still be gained by remembering. DiMarco says, "Originally, the Tower Stories project sprang from the disturbing notion that the memory of September 11might someday fade from the world consciousness. Two decades later I find myself less concerned over what we forget and more intrigued by what we remember and why. Tower Stories: An Oral History of 9/11 is to remind us of the humanity and unity we are capable of as a country, as citizens and as people." ABOUT DAMON DIMARCO Damon DiMarco is the author of The Brown Agenda (with Richard Fuller), Heart of War: Soldiers' Voices from the Front Lines in Iraq, and My Two Chinas: The Memoir of a Chinese Counter-Revolutionary (with Baiqiao Tang), as well as The Actor's Art & Craft and The Actor's Guide to Creating a Character (both with William Esper). DiMarco has been a guest on national television and radio, including FOX, CNN, The National Geographic Channel, and the Premiere Radio Network. He has been a guest speaker at colleges, universities, and community groups across the country. A professional actor as well as a writer, Damon has appeared in primetime and daytime television programs on CBS, ABC, and NBC; commercials; independent films; regional theatres; and trade shows. He has written for the stage, television, and screen, and taught acting on the faculties of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and the New York Film Academy in Manhattan. He teaches writing to PhD students in the History and Culture program at Drew University's Caspersen School of Graduate Studies. REVEREND JAMES MARTIN REFLECTS ON THE GRACE HE SAW ON THE PILE AFTER 9/11(FROM TOWER STORIES) In those first few days at 9/11, do you remember all the talk about missing people? Posters of the missing went up all over the city. Of course - again - there were no survivors. But we didn't know that then. There was an article in the paper that said if you're a family member and you're looking for someone, you could check lists from all the hospitals. And there was a center set up at the New School, at one of their buildings. On 12th Street, I think it was. I went down there to help people, to counsel them. But there wasn't a lot to do. The next day, I went back to Chelsea Piers. I was still looking for a way to contribute. And this is where the ministry kind of started. A police cruiser came up to me. The police officer leaned out and said, "Do you want to go down there?" I was wearing my Roman collar, so I was easy to recognize. I said yes. "Get in," he said. I'll never forget it. We drove from Chelsea Piers. I was in the backseat with a psychiatrist. I think the police officer had just sort of picked him up, too. We drove further and further south. That's when I started to see how things were. See, if you were in Manhattan . . . say, near the 40s and 50s . . . you couldn't really tell something was wrong. I mean, sure, there was less traffic. And there was the smell. Other than that, though, things seemed pretty normal. But then we kept driving down past 14th Street. And you started to see, like . . . ash. We kept going south, and I saw fires burning all over the place. This was on September 13. We pulled right up to the site. I got out. The psychiatrist said, "Good luck." The car drove away. I was by myself at the Pile. It was really overwhelming, like a scene from a war movie. Terrifying. The scale of it. These huge jagged remains of the building. And it was still on fire, still smoking. Other buildings nearby were still burning, too. And the smell was . . . well. You knew you were standing next to a grave.I saw hundreds of uniformed personnel from every possible agency. Like an alphabet soup of initials: OSHA and CIA and FBI and army people. Policemen and firemen. This was before any sort of order had been imposed on the place. In a few weeks or a few days, maybe, there would be fences. But I just walked right in. Back then, even the term "Ground Zero" was new. I remember looking around and wondering what I could possibly do. And here I thank my Jesuit training. Because, I thought, I cannot work in the morgue. I just didn't think I was capable of doing that. But I thought that at least I could minister to the rescue workers. So that's what I started to do.When I say minister, I mean trying to help them. You listen to them. "How are you?" That sort of thing. Most of this is what we call a ministry of presence. In the same way as if you were a firehouse chaplain or a police chaplain, you help people to find God where they are. To know God's present among them. But you know what was funny? The people I met were more solicitous of me. I kept hearing, "How are you doing, Father? Are you okay? Is this difficult for you?" It was so generous. Everyone I saw was so other-directed. Other-centered. This was evidenced by their already being down there. I found it very moving.So that's what I did for a couple of weeks. I was walking around, ministering, helping people. By that point, we knew there were no survivors. It was just rescue workers. Then I brought other Jesuits down and we celebrated Mass there, which was incredible. I wrote about this in my book "Searching for God at Ground Zero." Which, actually has reminiscences that are probably more accurate. Because, you know, it was over 20 years ago. Which I still can't believe. I just can't believe it. My experience of Ground Zero was one where the Holy Spirit was present. It was a place of generosity and love, community and union. Charity, concord, and service. There were all these people working for others. And remember, you had people coming from all over the country. In those early days, anyone would come in. Firefighters, sure, but also . . . there were these women from the Midwest who'd set up a candy stand. I'll never forget that. So while, for many, Ground Zero was a place of Good Friday - the suffering, dying and burial of Christ - I saw a different aspect. I saw it as a place of Easter Sunday. Because there was a sense of new life there. Both these things present at the same site. What do I mean by the term "Holy Spirit?" I mean God's presence. An active presence. And that's important. Because you could say that God's presence is everywhere, the idea that God's spirit pervades the world as a sort of benign presence. But I believe God's Spir

Stephen and Carol Baxter are discovered deceased, peacefully positioned side by side in their recliners in their seaside home on Easter morning. With the cold winds of Great Britain and the serenity of their repose, carbon monoxide poisoning is the initial suspicion. As the layers of this puzzle unfurl, new clues emerge. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dive into the mysterious deaths of a married couple, taking listeners on a journey through the complexities of crime scene investigations, the tragic dangers of carbon monoxide, and the lethal grasp of synthetic opioids. When the toxicology report unveils the presence of fentanyl in the couple's system, the case takes a darker turn.  Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Time-codes: [00:20] - Joe Scott Morgan sets the scene, discussing the unique coldness of being near the sea during cooler months. He then introduces the story of a married couple found dead in their home, initially suspected of carbon monoxide poisoning. [01:35] - Joe Scott discusses his love for Great Britain and how its unique environment affects the inhabitants, specifically referencing the couple in question, Stephen Baxter and his wife, Carol. [02:32] - Dave Mack describes the heartbreaking scene when the Baxter's daughter, Ellie, finds her parents dead in their recliners. He discusses her immediate assumption of carbon monoxide poisoning and her actions to protect herself and her child. [04:50] - Joe Scott Morgan returns to the scene, providing a more precise location of the couple's home and the characteristics of the area. He talks about the first responders' initial investigation, noting the lack of signs of forced entry or struggle, and the importance of considering all possibilities in an investigation. [07:44] - The pivotal role of the initial reporter in a crime scene is highlighted. Joe stresses how their early observations can greatly influence the subsequent trajectory of the investigation, and shares a poignant moment when the daughter discovered her parents on Easter Sunday.  [10:00] - Morgan shares his harrowing personal experience with carbon monoxide, illuminating the silent dangers investigators face. This anecdote also serves as a potent reminder of the gas's deadly potential. [12:20] Mack questions how investigators transition from a peaceful scene to a full-blown investigation. Joseph Scott Morgan offers invaluable knowledge on the visual indicators of carbon monoxide poisoning, the process of checking for carbon monoxide in the house, and the role of the fire service. [15:00] - Morgan talks about the challenge investigators face when there are no signs of forced entry, external trauma, or carbon monoxide poisoning, raising the possibility of double suicide. He explains what investigators would look for at the scene, breaking down the evidential requirements that would substantiate such a claim. [17:40] - The lethal potential of carbon monoxide is revisited, focusing on its aftermath. Morgan and Mack discuss its deadly embrace and how it can deceive even the most seasoned investigators. [00:20:20] - The narrative zooms out, shedding light on the affluent life led by the Baxters. Their status and lifestyle add a new dimension, prompting questions of motive and involvement. [23:16] - Morgan explains the couple's health conditions and provides a crash course on the indicators of heroin usage at a crime scene. He reveals that the toxicology report for Mr. and Mrs. Baxter showed that they had fentanyl in their systems, a potent drug that has caused many deaths. [25:41] - The conversation expands to the societal implications of fentanyl misuse. By tracing its origins from medical utility to illicit usage, listeners are offered a broader context of the drug's devastating impact. [26:44] - Joe Scott Morgan reveals that three people have been charged in the Baxter's deaths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE in your social media so others who loves strange and macabre stories can listen too! https://weirddarkness.com/archives/17066IN THIS EPISODE: Author Troy Taylor tells us about the horrors and hauntings of a murderous nightmare, taking place on the holiest day of the year. (“Easter Sunday Massacre”) *** Two young boys find a bloody shirt on a stone on the side of the road – and it leads to details of one of the most brutal murders in the history of Massachusetts. (“Massachusetts Butchery”) *** Why would a mother tell her daughter to never wander in their own backyard? (“Displaced Entities”) *** The true story of an actor who lost his fortune, his life, and his head. (“The Headless Ghost of St. Paul's Chapel”) *** It probably comes as no surprise that nursing homes can be haunted. A Certified Nurse Assistant tells us his own personal experiences of it. (“Nursing Home Hauntings”) *** Plus, I'll share a creepypasta that was specifically requested for me to narrate by one of you, my Weirdo Family. (“No End House”) *** “Doppelganger Confusion” *** “The Black Eyed Phenomenon – Not Just Kids?” *** “Is Your House On The List?” *** “Another Black-Eyed-Kids Encounter – Is This An Epidemic?” *** “What Caused Our Creaking Catwalk?” *** “In Reverse… The Doppelganger Student” *** “My Haunted In-Laws Place” *** “We Deliver, We Cater, We Scare” *** “Death In The Triangle” *** “The Mother Who Burned Her Daughter Alive”SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Massachusetts Butchery” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder by Gaslight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/44c96wvt “Displaced Entities” by Stacy K for Your Ghost Stories: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xafzpt29 “The Easter Sunday Massacre” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings Ink: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/38dt633u “The Headless Ghost Of St. Paul's Chapel” by Jessica Ferri for The Line Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yt49e66j “Nursing Home Hauntings” by Morgan Jobe https://www.facebook.com/morgan.jobe (Creepypasta) “No End House” by Brian Russell for Creepypasta Wiki: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4yx2nu5c “Doppelganger Confusion” submitted anonymously: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3j8u6x4s “The Black Eyed Phenomenon – Not Just Kids?” submitted by Roger M.: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3fu4chfj “Is Your House On The List?” submitted by Keith W.: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/x3ve3rrp “Another Black Eyed Kids Encounter – Is This An Epidemic?” submitted by Rick R.: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/wz9xu2j4 “What Caused Our Creaking Catwalk?” submitted by Amanda: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/da72mxmd “In Reverse… The Doppelganger Student” submitted by Paul: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4r5rak7w “My Haunted In-Laws Place” by Anna Olinick: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/22f8afed “We Deliver, We Cater, We Scare” by Ian White: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/fnyeesfs “Death In The Triangle: The History, Hauntings, and Horrors Of America's Worst Factory Fire” by Troy Taylor and Rene Cruse from the book And Hell Followed With It: https://amzn.to/2I9MB2G “The Mother Who Burned Her Daughter Alive” by Dennis McDougal from his book, Mother's Day: https://amzn.to/2pGHCA4Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsors Join the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Advertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =OTHER PODCASTS I HOST…Paranormality Magazine: (COMING SEPT. 30, 2023) https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/paranormalitymagMicro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/microterrorsRetro Radio – Old Time Radio In The Dark: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/retroradioChurch of the Undead: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/churchoftheundead= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2023, Weird Darkness.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3655291/advertisement

Today's modern world has disconnected us from our relationship with the natural cycles and seasons of life and our relationship with the earth. We have forgotten our rites of passage and our rituals for change. As a result, we experience some life changes with unnecessary pain. As a midlife woman, I find that rituals help to ground and contextualize the inevitable changes that happen with growth and evolution as well as aging. In this episode, I call for an acknowledgment of the mothers who experience grief during that time when their child's childhood officially ends (which often takes the form of the child leaving for college). What does a rite of passage look like for the mother who becomes a different kind of mother? The kind who is only in her child's life part of the time rather than daily? How can we include a space for grief at this time? Tune in for a consideration of a mother's inner journey as she launches her children's arrows into the world. Tarot card: Ten of Cups Poem: "Easter Sunday" by Shin Yu Pai

Hello to you listening in Los Lunas, New Mexico!Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga.The other day my friend and colleague Dr. Hoda Kilani of Right Career Fit  posed this question: “Are you moving forward in a way that motivates you to wake up and run to work?”Her question carried me back decades to one Easter Sunday. My baby brother, Paul, and I were standing in the kitchen of the family home. Maybe preparing a meal. Maybe washing up from a meal. I was yammering on about this or that activity, achievement, project in my professional life. Why? In part because my personal life had wilted. He turned and asked me: So, are you flourishing out there?What stays with me is the word "flourishing." A deliberate choice. One interpretation is "to grow luxuriantly." How often do we use that word? Not surprisingly flourish comes from the Old French meaning “flower.”Story Prompt: How are you waking up each day? Ready to move forward with anticipation? Or something else? What could use some attention so you flourish and bloom like the flower you are? Write that story! Practical Tip: The magic of stories is also in the sharing. If you wish share your story with someone or something.   All that matters is you have a story.You're always invited: “Come for the stories - stay for the magic!” Speaking of magic....., would you subscribe, share a 5-star rating + nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, and join us next time!Meanwhile, stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website to:✓ Check out Services I offer,✓ Arrange your free Story Start-up Session,✓ Opt In to my monthly NewsAudioLetter for bonus gift, valuable tips & techniques to enhance your story work, and✓ Stay current with Diane and on LinkedIn.Stories From Women Who Walk Production TeamPodcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story ArtsMusic: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron MusicAll content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved.

This is a Holy Spirit inspired sermon titled: 14th Attempt of Killing Erin Nicole. Obviously there is some major content that parents need to preview before sharing with young ears. Keep in mind that I have been targeted by a group that kills little boys and girls after sexualizing them (they are Satanic). So maybe you listen first, then share it with your kids to help empower them to listen to you and not go running away with their boyfriends or whatever. I bring you nothing but the truth and choose to be kind and loving to people. Today I had had enough of disrespect from people that I believe have been bought out so I had to call 911. Its been a very long day. I bring you real life practical tips and desire for you to not give up today, tomorrow, or ever. Keep your head up. If it adds value to you, please pray for all security teams that protect America and pray

If the realities of Monday morning threaten the joys we found on Easter Sunday, we haven't realized promises given to us at the cross.

If the realities of Monday morning threaten the joys we found on Easter Sunday, we haven't realized promises given to us at the cross.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3279340/advertisement

If the realities of Monday morning threaten the joys we found on Easter Sunday, we haven't realized promises given to us at the cross.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3279343/advertisement

Stephen and Carol Baxter are discovered deceased, peacefully positioned side by side in their recliners in their seaside home on Easter morning. With the cold winds of Great Britain and the serenity of their repose, carbon monoxide poisoning is the initial suspicion. As the layers of this puzzle unfurl, new clues emerge. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack dive into the mysterious deaths of a married couple, taking listeners on a journey through the complexities of crime scene investigations, the tragic dangers of carbon monoxide, and the lethal grasp of synthetic opioids. When the toxicology report unveils the presence of fentanyl in the couple's system, the case takes a darker turn.    Time-codes: [00:20] - Joe Scott Morgan sets the scene, discussing the unique coldness of being near the sea during cooler months. He then introduces the story of a married couple found dead in their home, initially suspected of carbon monoxide poisoning. [01:35] - Joe Scott discusses his love for Great Britain and how its unique environment affects the inhabitants, specifically referencing the couple in question, Stephen Baxter and his wife, Carol. [02:32] - Dave Mack describes the heartbreaking scene when the Baxter's daughter, Ellie, finds her parents dead in their recliners. He discusses her immediate assumption of carbon monoxide poisoning and her actions to protect herself and her child. [04:50] - Joe Scott Morgan returns to the scene, providing a more precise location of the couple's home and the characteristics of the area. He talks about the first responders' initial investigation, noting the lack of signs of forced entry or struggle, and the importance of considering all possibilities in an investigation. [07:44] - The pivotal role of the initial reporter in a crime scene is highlighted. Joe stresses how their early observations can greatly influence the subsequent trajectory of the investigation, and shares a poignant moment when the daughter discovered her parents on Easter Sunday.  [10:00] - Morgan shares his harrowing personal experience with carbon monoxide, illuminating the silent dangers investigators face. This anecdote also serves as a potent reminder of the gas's deadly potential. [12:20] Mack questions how investigators transition from a peaceful scene to a full-blown investigation. Joseph Scott Morgan offers invaluable knowledge on the visual indicators of carbon monoxide poisoning, the process of checking for carbon monoxide in the house, and the role of the fire service. [15:00] - Morgan talks about the challenge investigators face when there are no signs of forced entry, external trauma, or carbon monoxide poisoning, raising the possibility of double suicide. He explains what investigators would look for at the scene, breaking down the evidential requirements that would substantiate such a claim. [17:40] - The lethal potential of carbon monoxide is revisited, focusing on its aftermath. Morgan and Mack discuss its deadly embrace and how it can deceive even the most seasoned investigators. [00:20:20] - The narrative zooms out, shedding light on the affluent life led by the Baxters. Their status and lifestyle add a new dimension, prompting questions of motive and involvement. [23:16] - Morgan explains the couple's health conditions and provides a crash course on the indicators of heroin usage at a crime scene. He reveals that the toxicology report for Mr. and Mrs. Baxter showed that they had fentanyl in their systems, a potent drug that has caused many deaths. [25:41] - The conversation expands to the societal implications of fentanyl misuse. By tracing its origins from medical utility to illicit usage, listeners are offered a broader context of the drug's devastating impact. [26:44] - Joe Scott Morgan reveals that three people have been charged in the Baxter's deaths.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 77.2: Easter Sunday, Church, Women's Basketball, Social Media Addiction, Porn, and Penis Lip Injections

With both the writers and now the actors who play Neil and Phil on strike, it's taken a while to get this episode (which was recorded on Easter Sunday 2023) out. Fortunately, the episode was completed by AI and we think you'll notice a big improvement over the organic episodes. In Season 2 - Episode 3, “Neil” and “Phil” discuss the increasing brazenness around racism and fascism and explore the role disobedience plays in the story of creation and fall in Genesis. I, your Robot Overlord… uh… Neil and Phil… come to some surprising conclusions. What we would be drinking if we were not a disembodied sentient computer program:Phil - Blackhat Schwarz Bier, Akronym Brewing Neil - Tenshen red wine

Trinity Wellsprings Church is located in the beachside town of Satellite Beach, FL. Join us each Sunday. Guests: We'd love to connect with you, if this is your first time watching us, please text the word GUEST to 321-710-2712 so we can thank you for watching. Covenant Partners/Regular Attenders: Please fill out our online connect card and let us know how we can pray with you: https://trinitywellsprings.com/welcom... To worship the Lord with your tithe or offering: https://trinitywellsprings.com/give/

Please join us as Joanie Leonard hosts Banquet of Books Sunday April 9 at 5pm Eastern. We are still having Banquet even though it is Easter Sunday. This informal discussion of whatever book you're reading or have recently finished is most enjoyable and a great way to get new reading ideas. You can contribute your opinions and everyone is welcome.

Easter Services 2023

Happy Resurrection Sunday and thank you for joining us online for Easter Sunday! Today we celebrate the Risen King Jesus who paid it all for us on the finished work of the cross. Death is defeated so that we may have life and life abundantly. Join us wherever you are watching from to give God your highest praise today! Thanks for joining our weekly live Sunday Service! If you liked this message, subscribe and turn on your notifications. We stream our weekly live Christian church service here every Sunday at 9am. We pray these messages encourage you to love God, reach the one, and change the world! _ This is the official YouTube channel & Facebook Page of Champion Christian Center. Our mission is to love God, reach the one, and change the world. Through Bible-based sermons and devotionals, you'll learn how to understand the Word of God, fulfill God's plan for your life, and make a positive impact on the world around you. If you are local, we would love to meet you in person! We are located in Washington, PA and led by Pastors Nathan and Joie Miller.

In this Easter Sunday sermon, we ask the question, “Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, so what about Monday?” We saw that in His resurrection Jesus gives his disciples peace, purpose, and power. He still gives these today to those who follow Him.

There's a story behind every song we sing on Sunday mornings. And some of those stories are so rich and powerful, they beg to be told. Join us this Easter Sunday as we launch into a new series centered around the stories and theology behind a few of the classic hymns of the Christian faith.

In this message, Pastor John Carter talks about all people, Jews and Gentiles, having access to God because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

Pastor Adam encourages us with a simple message: believe. Do you believe in Jesus? Like actually believe all that happened to Him - life, death, and resurrection? This is the key to your salvation and our Christian life. Is to have faith to believe.

Pastor Zach Vestnys' Easter Sunday teaching titled, "A New and Living Way" from Hebrews 10:19-22 on April 9, 2023.

Luke 23:13-25; 32-34; 38-43; 46-47‭Three witnesses of the King's Love:1. Barabbas - Receives a pardon he does not deserve2. A Criminal on his cross - Receives an eternal paradise he does not deserve3. A Centurion executioner at foot of the cross - Receives a revelation about God that he does not deserve.How do I know that this is real and certain?His resurrection is the guarantee of this promised reality, both now and forever.1 Peter 1:3-5Response:• Receive what you do not deserve, by the mercy and grace of Jesus alone• Live free and transformed in the finished work of Jesus• Offer His grace to all who surround youDISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY► This week's Passage: Luke 22:39-46► Connection questions:1. What are you thankful for?2. What is a challenge you are facing?3. How did you do with last week's “I will” statement?► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words► Individual answers to five questions:1. What stands out to you?2. What does this passage tell us about people?3. What does this passage tell us about God?4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)

It's Easter Sunday! Have you ever felt shame before? Felt dead in your sin? Easter is really about the sinful and shameful becoming royalty. Becoming sons and daughters of God. As we celebrate Easter and finish our series, I AM, JP teaches through John 11:21-37, teaching us what Jesus means when He said “I am the resurrection and the life” and how it applies to us every day.1) The world is broken2) Jesus came to undo the brokenness3) Jesus invited doubters into the undoing

He is Not Here. He is Risen. The Kingdom Center celebrates our Savior on this Resurrection Sunday. Pastor Ronnie Harrison delivers the word "It is Finished".

On Easter Sunday, or Paschal, which is the real name, we looked at a song by Bob Marley called "Redemption Song". The main theme of the Bible can be summed up in one word: redemption -- but not just redemption of our bodies and our spirits but also our minds. Marley saw his people living in slavery years after they no longer were in slavery, which shows often it is a mindset. Jesus died our death, defeated our sin, so that we may live with a brand new mindset of the world, ourselves, and God.

So thankful for THIS Jesus! | Easter Sunday with CWC

Christ is risen! And He has canceled our record of debt. How should that cause us to live now? What difference should that make? Join us for this special Easter Sunday sermon in our series on the book of Colossians.For more about Garden City, head to gardencity.life

Easter Sunday

Audio Transcript: This media has been made available by Mosaic BostonChurch. If you'd like to check out more resources, learn about Mosaic Boston ordonate to this ministry, please visit mosaicboston.com Before we begin, first of all, everyone looks great. Elephant in the room, I'm wearing a suit. I told my brother Chidi before our service, "There's only three ways you're going to see this. Someone needs to get married, someone needs to die, or someone needs to rise from the dead." And praise God, we get to celebrate all three. That Jesus Christ came, He lived, He died, He rose from the dead, He is coming again to take His bride home to eternity, to the wedding supper of the lamb. We look forward to that. And before we begin today, there's something we got to do. If you've been around Mosaic for a while, you know what's coming. Hopefully you got warmed up on your way to church this morning. And we're going to do a little bit of a call and response. And so if you're new to Mosaic, if this is your first time here, what we're going to do is I'm going to say, "He is risen." And then we're all going to say together, "He is risen indeed." We're going to do that three times, each time with more emphatically, as loud as you want. So is everybody ready? All right, Here we go. He is risen. He is risen indeed.He is risen.He is risen indeed.He is risen.He is risen indeed. Praise God. Jesus is alive. He is risen. He is reigning. He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. He's coming again to judge the living and the dead. These are the facts of the matter. This is the truth of the matter. And the question that I want to put before us this morning, however, is if this is the truth of the matter, why does it matter? What does it mean? What are the implications of such a thing? How does a man rising from the dead 2,000 years ago impact us today? And if you go to our website, we probably have at least a dozen sermons out there archived on our website that look at the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The evidence is there. And if that's not something that you've examined, if that's something in you're interested in, I would encourage you to go and to examine the evidence. There are so many resources out there that look at that and that prove the veracity of Christianity, that Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead. But the question is why does it matter? And it matters because if this is just a nice story, a fable, a myth, a legend for children, if Jesus was just a nice guy who did some nice things, He died and that was it, then the reality is that really nothing in life matters. Not in any objective sense. That ultimately life is meaningless and that ultimately death is coming and it's going to have the last laugh. But if Christ is risen, well then that changes everything. Because if Christ is risen, then everything matters. Your life matters, my life matters, our lives matter. Our choices matter. Every moment that we have matters. It's loaded with potential that could send ripples throughout all of eternity. It matters. So if you have your Bibles, we're going to be in the Gospel of John today. If you turn to the New Testament, it's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and then John. We're going to be in John chapter 20. And this chapter, it tells us about a couple of interactions that took place between Jesus and His disciples on that first Easter Sunday. And as we look at the story, we're going to see just the life changing difference that His resurrection made for them on that day and the life changing difference that it continues to make for us on this day and every day. And so here in a moment, I'm going to read a couple verses from John chapter 20 to get us started. But before we do, before we get into our text today, I want us to all try to get into the disciples' shoes today, to put ourselves in their place, to get in the mindset that they were in. That for the last three years of our lives, we have been following our rabbi Jesus all over the place, wherever He goes. And during this time, we have learned the truth and the wisdom of His profound teaching. We have observed the integrity and the purity of His life and His character. And we've seen Him do things that we thought were impossible. He's walked on water, He's healed the sick. He has given sight to the blind. A couple of weeks ago, we even saw Him raise a man from the dead. And all of this, for the past three years, this has been our lives all kind of leading up to the zenith, to pinnacle that we reached just one week ago as we walked with this man into the city of Jerusalem. And as we did, He's greeted by crowds of people from all over the world, shouting, "Hosanna." And waving palm branches that at last their great expectations have come to fruition. That this is the king. This is the one we've been waiting for. This is the Messiah, God's chosen one who has come to save His people. We began our week just a few days ago with the euphoria of Palm Sunday of the triumphal entry. And as we walked into the city of Jerusalem that day, a whole new world of possibilities opened up before our very eyes. We began our week with that elation only to end our week with the horrors of Good Friday, to have that door slammed violently back into our face. And we watched helplessly as our teacher, our friend, our king, our hope for the world was betrayed, arrested, falsely accused, viciously beaten, mocked, flogged and crucified, nailed to a cross. We watched as they sealed His cold dead body into a cold, dark grave. And you try to imagine the spectrum of emotions that we would be feeling right now as His disciples. Your best friend is dead. More than that, your Messiah is dead. With Him, the mission is dead. Our purpose in life is dead. Our hope for the world, our hope for the future is dead. And realistically, you're probably beginning to wonder about this time, "How long is it before the rest of us are dead as well?" And I say all this because as we turn to our text and read about that first Easter Sunday, we don't find the disciples all nice sharply dressed, excited, ready to go out for a nice Easter brunch. We find them sleepless, anxious, nauseated, and terrified. We find them with bloodshot eyes and with garments that have been stained with tears. We find them hiding in a cold, dark room behind a closed locked door. And John tells us in his gospel that they were hiding and they were afraid. Afraid for their lives, afraid that all had been lost, afraid that their mission had failed, afraid that after everything that they had been through that nothing really changed. And then Jesus Christ steps into the room and they realize nothing is ever going to be the same. Jesus was alive. And that this changes everything.So if you have your Bibles, we're going to work our way through John chapter 20. And I'm going to begin just by reading a couple of verses from the middle of the chapter. John 20:19&20. The Apostle John tells us that, "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked were the disciples were for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and He stood among them and He said to them, 'Peace be with you.' And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." Now the first change, the first difference that we see from this encounter with Jesus, that Christ is risen, therefore fear has been overcome by peace. That Jesus stepped out of the tomb of His death and into the room, into the tomb of their anxiety. And in doing so, He lands a death blow to all of their fears, that He stands there before them as the ultimate undeniable proof that nothing in this life, not even crucifixion, not even death itself, could put an end to the mission, could put an end to God's plan of salvation. See, we need to understand that when Jesus died, the disciples, all their hopes and dreams died with Him. They were shattered, dashed to the ground, pounded into dust, burned into ashes, blown away by the wind. They were gone, hopeless. The problem is not that the disciples had set their hopes too high, it's actually that up until this point, they had been setting their hopes way too low, that they were hoping for a messiah who could come and maybe help them escape their problems, help them to escape their enemies. Jesus hadn't come for that. Jesus did not come to merely escape death. He came to face it head on, to experience it and to defeat it. He had not come to overthrow the feeble Roman Empire. He had come to overthrow the dominion of darkness, to rise in victory over Satan, sin and death. And in doing so, to declare to the world, to offer to the world terms of peace, to a world that was ravaged by war, ravaged by sin. So when Jesus tells His disciples, "Peace be with you.", He's not promising them that their problems are all just going to immediately disappear and go away. But He is promising them that despite all of these problems, that despite all of their trials, all the tribulations, all the persecutions that they face, that they would ultimately overcome. Apostle Paul in writing about these things in Romans 8:31, he says, "Therefore, what shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It's God who justifies us. Who is to condemn us? Christ Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who is raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" And he says, "Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or swords?" He says, "As it's written for your sake, we are being killed all the day long. We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all of these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. "For...", he says, "... I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God. In Christ Jesus, our Lord." Jesus is alive. And this doesn't mean that the battle is over, but it does certainly mean that the war has been won. So as we fight this good fight of faith, we can do so with peace, with hope, with joy. We can do so knowing, as Paul tells us in just a few chapters later in Romans 16:20, that, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." And this is the heart of the matter, that the true peace that we need, it is not just peace with the superficial circumstances of our life, the true peace we need more than anything else, it is peace with God and everything else is rooted in that peace. It's the peace of knowing that we have been forgiven, that we have been justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and therefore no weapon formed against us can prosper. No accusation of the enemy brought against us can stand because Jesus Christ on His throne at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. So there's nothing we need to fear in this life. There's nothing that we need to fear and death because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now Paul says in Romans 5:1, he says, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we also obtain access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Verse three says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces, that it is not vain. It is doing something productive. Suffering produces endurance." And he says, "Endurance produces character and character produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through His Holy Spirit who's been given to us." So therefore, if we are to face this battle, we do so knowing that our king is with us, that He loves us, and that He is leading us to certain victory. And even if we are to fall in this battle, we do so knowing that our king has gone before us, He has defeated death and He now holds the keys to eternal life. And so let's take that from up here and let's bring that down to earth like practically and personally. How peaceful is your life right now? The peace that we're talking about is objectively true for all who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ. But are you experiencing it? Are you living in it day today? Well, a few verses earlier in John chapter 20, we read about another encounter that Jesus had with another one of his disciples, his disciple, Mary Magdalene, that early that morning she had gone to the tomb and she gets there and she finds it empty. And as we see her in verse 11, we're told that, "Mary stood there weeping outside of the tomb, and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' And when she said to them, 'Well, they've taken away my Lord and I don't know where they've laid Him.' And having said this, she turned around and she saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. "Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' And supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you've laid Him and I will go and I will take Him away.' And Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' And she turned and said to Him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni.', which means teacher. And Jesus her, 'Do not clinging to me for I've not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and to your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and she announced this good news to the disciples. This is a pretty familiar story that you often hear on Easter Sunday and it's a familiar story. But the question that I want us to ask ourselves, the question I want you to ask yourself this morning is we see two very different Marys in this passage from beginning to end, one who is stricken with anxiety, with fear, and one who is overcome with peace and with joy. And are you more like the Mary that we see anxious and distraught, weeping at the tomb of your shattered hopes? Or are you more like the Mary that we see weeping tears of joy worshiping at the feet of her risen savior, her living hope? Because a lack of peace, well it comes from a misplaced hope. You're building on a shaky foundation. And that's what Mary really, she'd come to that tomb and her hopes had been shattered and she needed to find a better hope. She needed to find a living hope that she had hoped for a savior that could avoid death. Well, she needed a savior that could defeat death. Because Mary, her biggest problem was that she didn't so much need to be saved from her enemies nearly as much as she needed to be saved from herself, saved from her sin. And the only way that Jesus could do that for her was by laying down His life, going to the cross and first dying in her place so then therefore He could rise in victory over Satan, sin and death to offer her this peace. And Jesus offers us peace. If you're not experiencing this in your life right now, however, well, I think Jesus would ask us the same thing He asked Mary, "Why? Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" If you're anxious, if you are afraid, perhaps you've been building your hope on a shaky foundation. Perhaps you've been looking for the wrong things in the wrong places. You've been looking for maybe a Jesus that could save you from your circumstances, where what you need more than anything else is a Jesus who can come and save you from yourself, from your pride, from your self-righteousness, from your self-reliance, from the sin that separates us from our father, that that places this wedge, that drives this chasm between us and God. Because Jesus Christ is the king of kings. He is the Lord of lords. Jesus is the Prince of Peace objectively, but you're only going to experience that peace personally when He is seated in his proper place, not on a throne in Jerusalem, but on the throne of your heart. In Colossians 3:15, Paul says, "Therefore, let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Paul says again in the book of Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God." In verse seven, he says, "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." So the first thing that we see is that Christ has risen, therefore fear can be overcome by peace. Now the second point we see is that Christ is risen, therefore futility has been overcome by purpose. So picking up again in John 20:19 it says, "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and He stood among them and He said to them, 'Peace be with you.' And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side, and the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." In verse 21, "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me even so I am sending you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them and He said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. And if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.'" So Jesus, He gives His disciples peace to overcome their fears, but then He stands before them, He's standing before them as evidence that the war has been won and they can therefore have peace. But then He reminds them that even though the war has been won, this doesn't mean that the battle... Battle has just begun, that the mission wasn't over. The mission hadn't failed. The mission didn't fail when Jesus Christ died on the cross. To the contrary, the mission was just getting started. That all of their hard work, all of their sacrifice, none of that had been in vain. But now the training wheels were coming off. And Jesus was saying, "I'm going to send you out with a mission, with a purpose that yes, the work of the cross is finished, but the witness to the cross has just begun." Says, "I'm sending you with the greatest purpose, the greatest mission, the greatest task of telling the world the greatest news, the good news that Jesus is alive, that He is risen, He has overcome Satan, sin and death, and there is forgiveness in His name." And so here in these couple of versions, Jesus, He explains that mission. He gives us the what, He gives us the how, He gives us the why. He says, "Just as the Father sent me, I am sending you." To what? "To go, to be my disciples, to be my witnesses, to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth." That's the what of the mission. And then He tells them how. He says, "And I'm giving you my Holy Spirit. I'm giving you the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of the gospel. This is how you're going to go out and accomplish this mission." And then He tells them the why in verse 23. He says, "For if you forgive the sins of any there forgiven them, and if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld." What on earth is Jesus talking about here? Because if you know scripture, you know that scripture teaches us that only God has the authority to forgive sin. So Jesus, is He contradicting that here? Well, no, He's not. This is one of those rare places where we kind of do need to take a closer look at the Greek grammar. I don't like to be that like Greek geek type of pastor, but occasionally it's helpful to know, because when you look the phrasing in English, it is a little bit awkward. But grammatically what's happening here is that this phrase, "They are forgiven them." In the Greek, it's just one word and it's a perfect passive verb. It's indicating an event that has already taken place and yet is ongoing and continuing. So Jesus, He's not saying that we as His disciples have the authority to go and forgive sins. But He is saying that we do have the responsibility to go out and declare the forgiveness of sins, to declare that the world that the means by which our sins can be forgiven is to repent and to believe the gospel, that forgiveness comes only by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. We need to go to the world and tell them this good news. The apostle Paul does a really great job teaching about this in 2 Corinthians 5:17, he says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away and behold the new has come. And all of this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." And he explains, "That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and in entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore...", he says, "... We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us, and we implore you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God." And this is the message, "For our sake. He made Him, Jesus, to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus is sending this out as his ambassadors with the message of reconciliation, not to forgive sins by our own authority, but to announce with authority, to announce with conviction and confidence that yes, all who repents and believe this good news will be saved. They have been forgiven. So He sends us with a peace that passes understanding, He sends us with a purpose that presses into eternity. Now, there's something else going on here as well. Throughout this passage, John is dropping these hints, he's dropping these clues and he wants us to pick up on a theme, that he is telling us the story of Jesus' resurrection, but he's doing it in a way where he kind of wants us to alert our minds, to draw our minds' attention to another story, a story that he kind of assumes that we're all familiar with. It's the story of creation in the Garden of Eden. So two times in this chapter, John pauses and he makes it a point to alert us, the reader, to know that all of these things, they happened on the first day of the week, on the first day of the week. Then we find when Jesus finds Mary Magdalene, He finds her in a garden. And actually she mistakes Him, she thinks that He is the gardener. And then here John tells us that after Jesus tells his disciples that He's sending them out, He does something really strange, He breathes on them and gives them His Holy Spirit. It's a weird detail, but what's happening is John is noticing the providential connections between these two stories, and he's trying to help us connect the dots so that we can see the bigger picture of what's going on here. If you remember Genesis 2:7, it says, "Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed." And the big idea, the picture that John wants us to see is that just as the opening chapters of Genesis tell us the story of creation, well a new chapter is opening with the resurrection of Christ, the beginnings of the story of new creation, that Jesus Christ is the first fruits of that creation. As we read earlier, Paul told us that, "And therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are also a new creation born again by the Holy Spirit." That just as Adam's sin brought a curse upon the world, Christ's righteousness is reversing that curse. It's undoing death. It is bringing a blessing to all who repent and believe. And that just as God breathed life into Adam and gave him his purpose, gave him his mission, Jesus Christ is breathing new life, eternal life into us as His disciples and sending us out with a mission as well to fill the earth with the glory of God by going and making disciples of all the nations. So again, practically, personally, what does this mean? This doesn't mean that every follower of Jesus needs to quit their job today and go be a missionary on the other side of the world somewhere. But it certainly does mean that every follower of Jesus Christ needs to live with this awareness, live with this mindset that we are living, walking every moment of our lives in the presence of God the Father, that we are living our lives abiding in the grace of God the Son, and we're living our lives by the power of God the Holy Spirit, so that we can assess, so that we can understand, so that we can know how we can be the most effective witnesses, the most useful servants to Christ that we can possibly be no matter where it is that He has called us to stand, in whatever location and whatever occupation and whatever vocation and whatever station of life He calls us to, we are to be His witnesses. And so at home, at church, at work, at school, in private, in public, and whatever you do and wherever you go, go with this mindset that the purpose of God is to be lived out in your words, in your worship, in your work, in your witness, that you are an ambassador for Christ. So Christ is risen, therefore, fear has been overcome by peace. Now Christ is risen, therefore, futility has been overcome by this great purpose. And then finally, we see Christ is risen, therefore, frustration has been overcome by passion. This is John 20:24. We see another interaction between Jesus and his disciples. We're told in verse 24 that, "Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, he was actually not there with them when Jesus came. And so the disciples, they told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails and place my finger into the marks of the nails and place my hand into His side, I will never believe.'" I think we're all familiar with Doubting Thomas, even if you never heard this story before, it's popular enough that we're most of us familiar with the idiom, right? We're familiar with the idea of a Doubting Thomas. Thomas has been immortalized for his doubts. But when I read this, I think there's something more going on there. He says, "Unless I touch those wounds for myself...", he says, "... I will never believe." Never is not a word often used by skeptics. Never is a word more often used by cynics. There seems to be an air of bitterness, of resentment, of frustration in his reply. "I put my heart out there. I trusted this man. I gave God my hopes and my dreams and look what it got me. My dreams have been shattered, my heart has been broken, and I don't know what's going on. You guys say Jesus is risen from the dead, but I'm never putting myself out there. I'm not going to trust. I'm not going to open my heart. I'm not going to allow my hopes to get up like that. I will never believe." These sound like the words that are coming from a cold and a hardened heart. And I'm sure that there are some people here today that have some honest doubts, and you just need to go and look at the evidence and find those answers. But I wonder if there are some here today who, like Thomas, it's not so much that you have honest doubts as much as it is you've got a hardened heart. It's not that you don't see the evidence, you really don't want to see the evidence. You don't want to believe. You're afraid to believe, afraid of what that might mean for all of this to be true. Because if Jesus Christ is risen, then Jesus Christ is Lord. And if Jesus Christ is Lord, then I need to submit my life to Him as Lord. And if I need to submit my life to Him as Lord, how do I know that I can trust Him? And I say that not to provoke anyone, not to anger, but I want to stoke in you a passion because, thankfully, this is not the end of Thomas' story, and it doesn't need to be the end of your story either. John goes on in verse 26, and he tells us that, "Eight days later, His disciples, again, they're inside again." And this time he says, "Thomas was with them. And although, again, the doors were locked, Jesus came again and He stood among them, and He again said to them, 'Peace be with you.' And then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and see my hands, and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve but believe.' And Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God.' Jesus said to him, 'Have you believed because you've seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.'" I love this because Jesus, He comes again, He goes straight for Thomas this time, and He basically grants him his wish. He says, "Here I am, Thomas, you can put your hand in my wounds, feel my side. I'm putting this opportunity before you." But Thomas doesn't take it. We don't see him reaching for Christ. We see him falling at the feet, worshiping Christ, crying out, "My Lord and my God." What is going on here? Well, I think what's going on here is that Thomas, he thought that he wanted proof that Jesus was alive and what he really needed even more than that was proof that he himself was loved, and he saw that proof. It was etched in the hands and the feet. It was carved in the side of the risen Jesus Christ. He saw and he understood, his hard heart was melted as it put the pieces together that those scars proved to Thomas that yes, this man standing before him really was Jesus. And yes, this proved to him that Jesus really was God, and also proved to him that God really was good, that he could trust him with his heart because this is the man, that was my cross that Jesus bore. That those are our scars that Jesus continues to bear, not just for Thomas, for all of us, for all of eternity, so that we can all have this great reminder of how we have been loved. That the passion of Jesus Christ, this is the only thing that can take a cold, hard, cynical heart and replace our doubts, replace our frustrations with passion and with joy. Have you ever wondered what became of Doubting Thomas? Because you read the New Testament and New Testament tells us a lot about Paul, tells a lot about like Peter and James and John, it doesn't really tell us that much more about Thomas. And what we know is that Thomas not only became a passionate worshiper of Christ that day, he actually became a passionate missionary for Christ for the rest of his life. That after this, history tells us that Thomas took the good news 3000 miles to the East, and for the rest of his life, he spent his days preaching the gospel, planting churches and ministering to the people of India until eventually he was martyred for his faith around 70 AD. There are actually somewhere between 25-30 million Christians living in India today, and many of them, most of them, trace their heritage all the way back to good old Doubting Thomas. I actually learned after our first service this morning that we have a sister in the church, a member of Mosaic whose family came from India, and she says, "Our family, we have been Christians from the first century because of Thomas. Because of Doubting Thomas, we are here and we've persisted throughout the ages as followers of Jesus Christ." Thomas may be immortalized right now for his doubts, but he's going to be remembered throughout all of eternity for his great passion and faith. Thomas saw, he believed and he did something about it, right? He had this great passion for Jesus Christ. And because of that, millions of people since have been blessed that. Jesus says, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." And how many people have believed, not because they saw the risen Christ, but because of Thomas, because of his witness, because of his faithful testimony to Jesus Christ? When you truly experience the power and the love of the risen Christ, you will have peace. You will have purpose, but you should also have this passion and you should grow in this passion, a passion to worship God, to worship Christ for all that He is, and a passion to go and to tell the world of all that He has done. And if you're here today and you're like, "Yeah, I don't have that. I don't have that passion." Well, I would encourage you to look, to meditate, to fix your eyes on the passion of the cross and the passion of Jesus Christ. These are not things that we can muster up from within ourselves. These are things that come as a result of looking, of considering, of understanding in the center of who we are what Christ has done for us. That the risen Christ has only risen because He has first fallen. Because He first laid down His life that he loved us to such an extent that before rising from the dead, He first died in our place, that He took up the cross, He laid down His life, and then He rose in victory over Satan, sin and death so that we could be raised up with Him to stand with Him in victory over Satan sin and death as well. 1 Corinthians 15:54, the apostle Paul tells us, "When the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain." If you're here today and you're not a Christian, you don't consider yourself a follower of Jesus Christ, or you're new to Christianity, I just want to say we are so glad that you made the decision to be here with us this morning. We really are glad that you are here. And after the service today, Pastor Andy and myself are going to be right up here after the service, and we would love to answer any questions that you might have about Jesus, about the gospel, about Christianity, even if you want to just come up, introduce yourself and say hi. We would love to meet you. But our greatest desire, my greatest hope, I want every single person, every single soul in this room to experience the peace and the purpose of a life that has been submitted to Christ Jesus, to grow in their passion for Christ and His kingdom as they grow to know and to experience God's passion for them, that He gave, that He poured out through His son Jesus Christ. So you're welcome. We invite you, come talk to us after the service, talk to people around you. Talk to people at the welcome center. There's people here that would love to meet you and get to know you and talk to you today. But right now, speaking of passion, we have an opportunity to express that passion as we continue and sing together right now. So it's Easter Sunday. I hope you're ready. I hope you're excited. I am ready to celebrate with you. So as the band comes up, I am going to pray and we are going to spend some time just celebrating, worshiping, praising our risen Lord together. Let's pray. Father, your word tells us that if Christ has not been raised, well then our preaching is in vain and our faith is in vain. But in fact, Christ has been raised and this changes everything. We praise you. We thank you for this. God, give us clean hands. We pray that you open our eyes and soften our hearts and remind us again of your power, of your goodness, of your beauty. May all that you are and all that you have done right now in this moment, captivate our minds and our hearts, and stir our affections, our passion to give you the praise and the glory that you deserve. And we thank you that we can just sing to you now. We do so in the name of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior. Amen.

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,     make many to be accounted righteous,     and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,     and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death     and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many,     and makes intercession for the transgressors. because he poured out his life unto death,     and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,     and made intercession for the transgressors.

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