t is the time of the year when our thoughts turn to things of the Cross-, and things of the Resurrection. For the past few weeks at Hillside we have focused on some of Jesus' last words of instruction and encouragement to His disciples. This past week we looked once again at the scene just before His arrest and trial. Jesus went to pray in Gethsemane, as he often did. The disciples who followed with Him were overcome with emotion and fatigue and fell asleep. While the Savior wrestled with eternal concerns to the point of sweating drops of blood the others fell victim to their humanity and personal needs. They did not have Jesus' spiritual depth, or His understanding of the critical times they were in. They were not as spiritual as He was.

Jesus tried more than once to help them move to the next level of behavior and thinking by reminding them to pray that they might not fall into temptation. He wanted them to see that there are much higher priorities than physical need. The realm of the spiritual lives we live must become stronger than our physical ones for us to truly be followers of Christ. The Bible is rich with illustrations of this vital Christian truth. Even the best and highest of ideals lived out in the purely physical is totally inadequate without the transforming power and purity of God's Holy Spirit at work in us. We see hints of this need when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus early in His ministry. Jesus told him he had to be born again. He had to be reborn as a spiritual being. Our best efforts without being transformed by Christ are merely just that. The truly best things are that way because they are wholly His, changed from physical to spiritual by His transforming power. All things become new in Him.

Our men will gather again this Saturday morning for another breakfast fellowship at 7:30am. Any men or boys interested in good food and an enjoyable time together are invited to come. There is no charge.

We are anticipating our annual all-church breakfast and Sonrise service the morning of the 20th at 7:30am. Everyone is always enriched by the service and the time spent in Christian fellowship. It is such a joy to share in remembering what God did through Christ the morning He raised Him from death. The empty tomb stands in such stark contrast to the empty cross. One is the symbol of death, the other the symbol of new life by the power of God. It is a wonderful privilege to serve a God who loves so much.