Easter: What Can You Expect, by Gene Robinson

[realFedUp]

http://www.thewitness.org/article.php?id=859

What Can You Expect?
By V. Gene Robinson
Friday, March 18, 2005

snip-

The fact is, at least for me, the resurrection makes all the difference in how I live my life. The resurrection is how I can "be not afraid," but instead be a bold and active witness to the love of God.

When I was preparing for my consecration as the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, I was getting a lot of death threats. Preparations were being made for the consecration security, and I was asked for my blood type, so that preparations could be made for immediately beginning medical treatment on the way to the hospital, should something violent take place. I remember saying to our two grown daughters, who were worried and anxious about my well-being, "You know, there are worse things than death. Some people actually never live -- and that is the worst death of all. If something does happen, remember that the God who has loved me my whole life, will still be loving me, and I will have died doing something I believe in with my whole heart."

As I strapped on my bulletproof vest just before the service, I remember feeling blessedly calm about whatever might happen. Not because I am brave, but because God is good and because God has overcome death, so that I never have to be afraid again

That is the power of the resurrection. NOT in what happens AFTER death, but what the knowledge of our resurrection does for our lives and ministries BEFORE death. I am not worried nearly as much about life after death as about whether or not there is life before death! We are no longer prisoners to the power of the fear of death. We don't have to be worried about how all of this is going to turn out. We know the end of the story. God reigns. Death is vanquished. We are given life eternal in the company of a merciful and loving God and all the saints. Believing that, knowing that, can and does empower us for ministry in God's name.

continued

[RevCheesehead]

1. That was very moving.

Nothing like "up close and personal" to add to the picture.

[Maat]

2. Thanks for the post. I agree. That was very moving and ..

very powerful.

Brave man standing up for his principles - walking the walk; he has my admiration - bigtime.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. He was guest preacher at my church last summer

Wonderful preacher. I can see why the people of New Hampshire chose him as their bishop.

[elshiva]

4. Happy Easter! God Bless V. Gene Robinson and his family!

My uncle, a VT Episcopal priest, met him once and said he is great.
Please pray for resurrection in the Churches, that we may rise from these dead end issues like gay marriage, and support the living (the poor, the oppressed)!