GREENSide Update
  • reflecting a bit
    • Easter 2019: Four ‘D’ Words of The Passion Week
    • Spring 2019: ‘Kingdom of God’ Reflections a Week After
    • Early Winter 2018: Taking a Closer Look at The Advents
    • Late summer 2018: Impressions from the Incapacitated
    • Summer 2018... Confronting Fears
    • Happy New Year 2018 Wishes
    • Christmas 2017 - Reconstructing the Christmas Story
    • Fall 2017... Returning, Rest, Quietness & Trust
    • Summer 2017... Reflecting Pools Matter
    • Spring 2017... The Singularity of God's Kingdom Purposes
    • Winter 4th qtr. 2016... One Foot, Two Feet, Three
    • Fall 2016... Personal Confessions of Mistaken Political Thinking
    • Summer, 2016... Waiting and Listening
    • Resurrection Sunday, 2016
    • Winter 1st qtr, 2016... The Marrakesh Declaration
    • Christmas 2015 Greeting
    • End of Year, 2015... Are We To Care?
    • Spring 2015... What are you and I doing about it?
    • New Year's Day 2015... New Mercies Never End!
    • Christmas/New Year 2014/15... Holiday, Holiday, What have you done?
    • Fall 2014... On Kingdoms... Past, Present and Ethereal
    • Spring 2014... Didascalicon: Man, God and Greatness
    • Christmas 2013... Even in the Air and Space
    • Winter 2013/14... Callings
    • Christmas 2012... 'Jumping Beans' in old age
    • Spring 2012... New Beginnings
    • Fall 2011... People of Promise
  • a look behind
    • Spring 2019: ...Off the Starting Blocks
    • Early Winter 2018: Sabbatical Results and First Furlough Leg
    • Summer 2018... "Come and See"
    • Summer 2017... Making Full Circle
    • Spring 2017... Completing Pre-furlough Commitments
    • Fall 2016, JJ's New California Home!
    • Summer 2016... Accomplishing Significant Milestones
    • End of year, 2015: Building God's Kingdom Among the Middle East Unengaged Muslims
    • Summer 2015... Building Deeply in Small Ways
    • Christmas 2013 photos
    • Winter 2013/14... Up and Running!
    • Winter 2012... 'Global Impact 29', first steps
    • Fall 2011... A great school; A promising alliance
  • a look ahead
    • Spring 2019: Finishing Touches to a Special Furlough
    • Early Winter 2018: Expanding to New Beginnings
    • Summer 2018... Winding Around the Country
    • Summer 2017... Three Decades and Counting
    • Spring 2017... My Upcoming Two Greatest Decades
    • Winter 4th qtr. 2016... Our Upcoming Furlough, Part Two
    • Summer 2016... Our Upcoming Furlough, Part One
    • Early Winter 2016
    • Summer 2015... Looking to Remember the Middle East
    • Winter 2013/14... The West heads East
    • Winter 2012... Coming out, going deeper
    • Fall 2011... Getting and Giving 'Perspectives'
  • prayer
    • Spring 2019
    • Early Winter 2018
    • Late summer 2018
    • Summer 2018
    • Fall 2017
    • Spring, 2017
    • Winter 4th qtr. 2016
    • Fall, 2016
    • End of year, 2015
    • Summer 2015
    • Why pray?
    • Winter 2013/14
    • Winter 2012
    • Fall 2011
  • finances
    • Spring 2019
    • Early Winter 2018
    • Summer 2018
    • Winter 4th qtr. 2016... Year-end giving
    • Fall, 2016
    • End of year, 2015
    • Summer 2015
    • Winter 2013/14
    • Winter 2012
    • Fall 2011
  • get involved
  • fun
  • more contemplation
  • in case you missed it
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                                                                            Spring 2012
about... New Beginnings
Is there really a 'resurrection of the dead'? An interesting question indeed, and one we feel is worthy of some contemplative reflection at this time during these holidays. What do YOU believe? We actually think the stakes to be quite high in how one responds to the question.  Why?  Here are our reasons:

First, we've all got a particular date with death, some of us sooner than others, and wouldn't it be thrilling to know we might live again!  A 'New Beginning' indeed!
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Jesus 'in the clouds'... His ascension shortly after His resurrection

A contemplative piece you might not want to miss this holiday,
if even a bit dated.
It's a
GREENSide favorite
Second, if there is a 'resurrection of the dead' then there's truly a reality that's beyond the ordinary; a supernatural reality that lends itself toward an exciting & hopeful future from the daily 'dog-eat-dog' grind that's leaving so many in modern society utterly depleted, battered and abused, strained, weary and despairing of life.  Isn't there a need for a hope in something better? 

And finally, and quite possibly the most important of all... there's been at least one man in history who staked everything he had, and knew, on his one belief in the 'resurrection of the dead', a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.  His name was Paul of Tarsus, known by many as the Great Apostle (i.e. one sent with a message) to the Gentiles (i.e. all non-Jewish peoples).  Paul was continually treated harshly, as well as tried and convicted on numerous occasions for his belief in the 'resurrection of the dead' (cf. Acts of the Apostles in The BIBLE, chapters 17,23 & 24).  His conclusion was that this single belief in the 'resurrection of the dead' as genuinely attained and confirmed by Jesus of Nazareth (in his mind the One true Messiah for all mankind, in part supported by his resurrection from the dead) had to be one of the essential beliefs for any follower of Jesus.  On one occasion he stated it this way, 
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead,
how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 
 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God,
for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.
But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 
 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
 
   Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians 15:12-18
For Paul a belief in the certainty of a 'resurrection of the dead' was one of the essential beliefs that separated those with a future of abundant life from those with nothing but eternal death.  Frightening for some; exciting prospect for others. 
Another contemporary, the Apostle Peter also concurred, with an added flair,
...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also — 
not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,...
Peter's 1st epistle, 3:21
Are you looking for a New Beginning this Easter holiday?  You might want to consider giving some serious thought to what you believe about new beginnings. 
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First name: KR
Last name: G
Personal account #: 004527
Project account #: 024527
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