I Corinthians 15: 3-8 I passed on to you right from the first what had been told to me, that CHRIST died for our sins just as the Scriptures said HE would, and that HE was buried, and that three days afterwards HE arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold. HE was seen by Peter and later by the rest of “the Twelve.” After that HE was seen by more than five hundred Christian brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now. Then James saw him and later all the apostles. Last of all I saw him too, long after the others, as though I had been born almost too late for this.
[Living Bible Translation]
Summary
Many Christian celebrated Easter or Resurrection Sunday with great enthusiasm. Many have wonderful weekend celebrations and church services and then some check Easter Sunday off their mental or physical calendars until next year.
Although many in the United States just celebrate Easter Sunday, there are some countries (like Canada and Australia and others) where “Easter Monday” is an official holiday. People in countries that celebrate Easter Monday sometimes have egg races, games, parades or other outside Spring activities.
In the United States we do not recognize Easter Monday as an official federal holiday, but the White House usually has an Easter Monday “Egg Roll.” The 2017 White House Egg Roll took place this past Monday. This was the 139th Egg Roll held at the White House.
In some states schools are closed on the Monday after Easter and Easter Monday is considered a school holiday. Easter Monday become the last day of celebration and serves as the official end of the students’ “Spring school break.” Some countries, like Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, extend their students’ school holiday break to “Easter Tuesday.”
Some Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter Friday or “Bright Friday,” which falls on the Friday after Easter.
However, 1 Corinthians 15: 3-8, is a wonderful reminder that it’s not over. In other words, the Resurrection celebration does not end on Resurrection Sunday, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday or Easter Friday. After JESUS arose, there was a lot of activity and cause for celebration for a long time.
According to the Apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, not only was scripture fulfilled by JESUS doing exactly what HE said HE would do when HE arose from the grave, but afterwards JESUS did a lot more. Afterwards JESUS touched the lives of a lot of people----Mary Magdalene (John 20:11); Peter (John 21: 15-19); Cleopas and friend on a walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-31); Thomas (John 20:26-29) and many, many others. Paul, describing himself as the least worthy of all the apostles,” adds in 1 Corinthians 15:8 that he saw JESUS too. [See Paul’s encounter with JESUS Acts 9:5]. After JESUS arose, the book of Acts also records the acts of the apostles and the growth of the early church.
Perhaps every living Christian today can say that after JESUS arose, he or she had an encounter with JESUS too. And, that it’s still not over.
Fitness For Life
Most fitness gyms are crowded in January. As part of their New Year’s resolution many people buy gym memberships or buy new workout clothes. These items are often unused by May or June. It would be nice if a person could just be fit for the month of January or just a few months and then stop until next year, but that is not how fitness works. Fitness is a lifelong endeavor. It’s not over after one day, one year or even a decade.
Even when a person is in peak athletic form, he or she still needs to exercise to stay fit. Even if a person “is not in shape,” has had medical issues, he or she still needs to try to stay as fit as possible. The reality is that no two bodies are the same and each individual body changes over time. So a fitness routine that works for one person may not work for another. Or, a fitness routine that worked in your 20’s may not work in your 60’s or 70’s or 80’s.
There are a number of reasons why exercise is important according to Colette Bouchez in “Fitness For A Lifetime”:
- A woman loses about 5 to 7 pounds of muscle every decade and that loss begins as early as her 20’s, so strength training (e.g. weight lifting) is important way to try to compensate for that loss.
- If you spend a lot of time in high heels or you are concerned about your knees, you may want to strengthen your thigh muscles or quadriceps (e.g. riding a stationary bike).
- Women in their 50’s often start to lose muscle tone and bone density (e.g. weight bearing exercises and resistance workouts can help with these losses)
- Men and women in their 60’s and beyond should try to engage in exercises that help them to live a “functional life,” so they can engage in every day life activities, like carrying groceries, getting in and out their car, working in a garden, , picking up a grandchild, etc. This may mean working on improving balance, lifting, squatting, improving and increasing flexibility and cardio endurance and mobility. In other words, you want to be able to move as much as possible and enjoy life. Stretching exercises, tai chi, pilates, weight lifting, treadmill and bike exercises, swimming and other cardio conditioning exercise can be helpful.
See, “Fitness For A Lifetime: How much exercise- and what kind- do you need for lifelong fitness,” by Colette Bouchez, www.webmd.com.
Celebrate Continuously!
People still need hope. People are still looking for renewal. People still need to see JESUS.
People still need to know that JESUS still performs miracles and HE still changes lives.
So remember, it’s not over. Continue the celebration. Continue the ministry of JESUS and let others see CHRIST in you!
Strive for greater physical and spiritually fitness---every day.
And, BE BLESSED!
