April 25 – “Resurrection Day Reports”

What a day. Aside from the obvious, still-imposing theological implications of Resurrection Day, we had quite an amazing experience down here on the West End of Galveston Island yesterday. Our annual sunrise service on the beach by Seaside was set to begin at 6:30. By 6:00 all was pretty much ready to go, and the preparatory prayer walk had begun. The final tune-ups by the praise team and last minute resets of the portable sound system's amplifiers were completed. Hosts began handing out songsheets and the small gifts we give to those who attend. This year's gift was a pin in the shape of a crown of thorns. They fit perfectly with our theme for the day, Jesus as King. The fifty or so chairs we brought down were soon filled. Others brought their own beach chairs and blankets. Many chose simply to stand. Some were there for the first time and wondered what to expect. A few claimed to have been to all seventeen. Most were counting the years they have experienced the event, but always in terms of the amazing displays of God's grace that we have seen through the years. "Remember the year that it rained all over Galveston County except right here in Jamaica Beach?" Or "How about the time the family of dolphins began playing in the water right over there?" Or, "Was it really only one time that it got rained out? But we did still have the service inside, right?" Or, "I remember the moon still in the sky when the sun came up." Or, "Will there be baptisms again this year?" Or, "It's pretty windy, but the weather is the best I've seen in years at one the services." Gradually the beachfront that had been dotted with a few people preparing for praise began to take on a different look. Cars were backing up on FM 3005 trying to make the turn onto the road leading to the beach. A bus pulled over and released its load of worshippers. More cars. Others walked from nearby beach homes. Word reached the ladies preparing the breakfast. We invite all the attenders to join us for breakfast after the service. They began to worry that we might not have enough food, but they decided to have faith. God has always come through in the past. By the time the service began we had run out of the 400 song sheets that had been printed. And still people were coming. Understand that this sunrise event has never been an intricately designed, professional quality production. We are a small church. We just set up a trailer so a few folks can stand on it, put up a portable sound system, and start singing. We used to use guitars and even recorded music, but the salt air took too great a toll. Now we literally just sing. Acapella. And everyone joins in. I mean everyone. Yesterday, every time the group broke into song we were joined by the screeching of seagulls flying over. Praise from the creation. Any sound lifted in praise is beautiful music to the Creator. I share a quick story or object lesson and tell how to become a Christian. We read the Easter story. And we have the first baptisms of the year in the Gulf of Mexico. Yesterday we had five people scheduled for baptisms, two teenagers and three adults. Then, as we were gathering to enter the water, a gentleman from Canada introduced himself to me and asked if he could be baptized. I talked to him about his relationship with Jesus, and invited him to join us. The six of us entered the water and the huge crowd gathered at the shore to watch. And just before I called the first one over to me, another lady exited the crowd and trudged out into the water toward us. She, too, wanted to be baptized. I talked to her as well, and our total then grew to seven. Perfect. I baptized a husband, and he helped me baptize his wife. One of the teenagers had been trying to arrange a time when all of his family could attend, but schedules could never come together. He finally notified them that this was the day. It was important that he do this, and he hoped they could be there, but it would happen. The other teen had reminded me every time she saw me for at least a month that she was ready. Her face glowed when she came out of the water. The Canadian threw his hands up into the air. And every time the crowd on the beach roared its approval with cheering and applause. I don't know how many of the hundreds joined us for breakfast, but it was a bunch. And the food? After the service it just seemed to multiply. People who attend just this one service every year brought along food to share. Others had some in their cars. I'm pretty sure God did some supernatural multiplying as well, because we had plenty left over to feed the 60 or 70 people who came later for the 10:00 communion service. We even left some for the students at Seaside Christian Academy to have some breakfast this morning. I didn't measure, but 12 baskets full was not out of the question. I met a couple who had just moved here from Tomball. They said they will be back next Sunday. They plan to make Seaside their church. And she wants to be baptized. I saw numerous families we haven't seen in quite awhile. The triplets who came when they were little guys were there. Grandmother said they were all ready to be baptized but since they hadn't notified us ahead of time, they didn't just walk out. She said they would call to set up a time. The first ever Easter Egg hunt was very successful. People brought so many eggs that the kids' baskets and bags were overflowing with goodies. And the 10:00 service was packed with people as well. And I actually had a guy tell me the joke about the guy whose mother-in-law died in Israel. It cost $50 for burial there, or $5000 to send her back to the states. He chose to send her back, because he had heard stories about this one guy they buried there who rose from the dead after three days. Ah, Resurrection Day humor. I know holiday services are the exception rather than the rule, but something about yesterday made me think that God just might be on the move out on the West End of the island. I think it's time for us to get in on this bit of advice: Philippians 3:13-14 says, "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Father, you had quite a day yesterday. Keep them coming, OK? Amen.