Blessed Easter and April Fool’s Day

My columns are often accused of being anti-church and anti-religion by some of my more vitriolic correspondents. Too many churches and their penitents behave as though they are in a cult. My pro-choice beliefs anger the pro-life crowd but their opinions don’t matter to me.

I would love to know what type of reception they could expect when they cross over to the other side.

Prayer and forgiveness are not like a do-over in a game. Life is not a dry-erase board where it is permissible to sin like crazy Monday through Saturday and then be magically or divinely wiped out and forgiven on Sunday ready to crank up the old sin machine again on Monday.

I am not a person who can claim to know what God is or what is waiting for us after this life has been used up. The thought of a God figure with an oversized volume with the names of those who will be allowed inside the pearly gates is just silly. That version is man’s attempt to visualize interacting with the Supreme Being in a way our feeble minds can comprehend.

The Sunday services will bring many of the part-time church members back to the place where they can find nourishment for their souls.

I do believe, most of the white-suit wearing televangelists are frauds and worse than the sleaziest slumlords. The truth of these counterfeit holy men ultimately becomes public knowledge and they are shunned by their congregations.

The pastors, preachers and other clergy who benefit their communities should be admired and celebrated.

On the National Day of Prayer on May 3 at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, the believers and churches in Madera will gather to ask the almighty to save this sinful nation from itself. Contact the Chamber of Commerce for details and to be a part of it.

This year, Easter falls on April Fool’s Day. The punch lines the comedians can write when a serious holy day coincides with a day of pranks and practical jokes are numerous.

Easter like Christmas has become a commercial and financial boon to the retail industry with the clothing, candy, toys, and grocery providers benefitting from the celebration without much consideration of the true meanings of the holiday. Dressing in pastel colors seems to be the standard Easter uniform. Can we please pay more attention to the message from the pulpit and less regard for spring fashion show in the other pews.

Faith in the Almighty is one of those intangible items that can’t be seen or held in the hands. Conviction there is a God and that he sent his son to die for mankind’s sins comes from inside a person’s mind and heart. Zealots who commit heinous acts in the name of God are liars and fools. They are the ones who should die for the sin of hubris.

Families should gather on holy days and share in their good fortunes. Time with those we love is something that money can’t buy. Missed opportunities to share the day with parents, siblings and others bound to us by our bloodlines are fleeting. Once they have passed, there is no way to get them back.

Spending one more Easter with my grandma, parents and cousins who have gone on to their final reward would be worth more to me than gold.

The news stories about families that get together for the holidays and then spend their time squabbling and attempting to reexamine old hurts and redress old grievances and past mistreatment are never in short supply. At family get-togethers, old wounds should not be dragged out and reviewed. So many people don’t understand this and that is why there are usually quite a few domestic disturbances on the police blotter in the aftermath of a holiday.

Hunt for eggs, dress in pastel colors and have a big Easter dinner with family.

Have a great weekend.

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Readers may contact Tami Jo Nix by emailing tamijonix@gmail.com or following @TamiJoNix on Twitter.