Christmas is an easy celebration for believers and pre-believers alike. But celebration of Jesus' resurrection is different. Easter is pivotal, powerful and demands a decision. Jesus, who was both God and man, came for the very reason we celebrate the season of Easter. He came specifically to die, be buried, and return living from the dead so that he could make a way for us back to the father. His resurrection is the foundational key to our very faith.

Today when people are confronted with Jesus' resurrection, they have the same two choices that were presented to the people who lived on that first Easter Sunday—believe that Jesus rose from the dead, or deny the truth, ignore it, or try to explain it away.

I am thankful to have the opportunity to spread the joy of the resurrection and the great hope of just what his resurrection means to you and me. Only he could give you and me the gift of eternal salvation and new life. I am so thankful he chose to follow through with God's plan to redeem us. Aren't you?

The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed. "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. Matthew 28:5-7 MSG