From This Side of Thirty: 14 Things That Suck & 1 That Doesn't

5. Opening up your entire home to family and friends only to realize at the end of the night you left a stack of clean clothes on top of your dresser…with your clean, leopard print, undies on top. Cherry on top? Nope…Undies on top.

6. The Target bathroom. Ew. I’m pretty sure the sign on the door reads, “Last checked June 8, 2013.”

7. Giving your fat clothes away. That person losing weight. You gaining weight, again. That person giving you back your fat clothes. Yeah. That sucks.

8. Eve ate the apple.

9. The people who cheered, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt 21:9) changed the nature of their shouts in a matter of days…only DAYS later they are yelling, “Crucify him!” then louder, “Crucify him!” (Matt 27:22-23)

10. People who witnessed Jesus’ miracles, listened to his message and the stories he told, the same people who were recipients of his physical, earthly love, they rejected and ultimately killed Him.

11. In the aftermath of his death his faithful followers questioned his every word. They questioned all of the promises Jesus had assured during his ministry. Was He really who He said he was? Well now He’s dead. All hope is lost. Sucks.

12. You know what else sucks? Me whining about dirty rooms with indoor plumbing in the same building that probably has enough food to feed my town for a week. I’m complaining about mosquitoes that don’t carry malaria. I’m groaning about gaining weight which basically means abusing an excess of food. Welcome to America. I have kids. Healthy, growing smart children who aren’t stricken with illness and aren’t desperate for their next meal and I’m testy.

13. The world, all of humanity, the ones He lived and died for… turning their back on the Son of God. Then…and now.

14. Things that suck the most…Being outcast, not taken seriously, made fun of, and interrogated. Dealing with humiliation and rejection. Being grouped with criminals. Being falsely accused. Having every shred of human dignity ripped from your grasp. Then having nails puncture your flesh over and over until you are hoisted upright. Feeling the gaping wounds ripping and tearing as you endure someone else’s consequences. Taking on the ultimate torture and physical cruelty causing unimaginable agony and despair for people who laughed in your bloody anguished face.

The Good News-(this really doesn’t suck)

In a hopeless world we find hope. In a broken world we are new. In a place filled with grief and sadness and hurt we are comforted, made joyful and healed. The One who endured our penalties for sin changes everything. In Christ we are new, clean, healed, joyful and perfected. We are forgiven, redeemed. Nothing is as it was before. He overcame death so we can overcome life. HE IS RISEN Y’ALL! Happy Easter…FROM THIS SIDE OF THIRTY.