The Big Idea Of Easter

I don't know how I did it, but I picked it up, walked all the way to that fourth story window. And I go, "Guys", there were some girls there too. I said, "Don't say anything, okay?" Because, you know girls talk. I said, "Just watch me." You know, I was showing off and all that, so I said, "I'm going to throw this water four stories down on somebody." Some of the girls are like, "No, don't Ed." "Ah, be quiet." I saw this religious guy, carrying the big Pulpit Bible under his arm, had a big bow tie on, hair slick back, just walking. I'm like this guy is just yearning to be hit, so three cracks, I let the water go. And I remember it like it was yesterday watching that water cascade four stories down, it hit him like a tidal wave. It was my first baptism. The guy's bow tie was wilted, and he starts cussing at us. "Who's up there?", yelling. We're like backing off, so he couldn't see us.

I said, "We’ve got to get out of here." I said, "Don't say a word. Don't say a word." We found the staircase and we're calmly walking down the stairs. And we see this guy hauling up the stairs. You can hear his feet sloshing with the water. I mean, he's just totally drenched. He sees me, and he goes "Ed do you know someone threw water down on the four story? Do you know who it could be?" I said, "Sir, I have no idea. That's so terrible. If I have any ideas, I'll let you know." I'm thinking, okay, I've gotten away with it. I've gotten away with this genius idea. Church is getting ready to start, so I'm making my way into church and dad's assistant comes up to me. I'm thinking that's odd. She goes "Ed, your dad wants to see you in his office right now." "What?" Because dad never talks to anyone before he preaches. "Are you sure?" "Yes." I walk into dad's big office, sit down. There he is across the desk. He said, "Son, did you throw water from the fourth story on Mr. Whatever?"

I said "Yes, sir." He said, "Great. That's a great idea. That guy's negative, and he's a cheap skate, and I hope he leaves the church. Great job son." I had to have outside stimulus for ideas.

God is inspired by love. And the Bible's says in Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT) “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!” God's idea for your life is ideal. But the enemy always has his repeal to God's amazing ideal. We have the opportunity to select God's ideas or not, so God's idea is inspirational. That's the first part of God's big idea.

Friday night, we were at Klyde Warren Park and the park told us we had between 9 to 11,000 people in attendance for our Good Friday service. It was an amazing time of worship, and fun, and community. Well, I hit the stage and I began to talk for about 20 minutes. And while I'm speaking, I hear people on bullhorns, just yelling at me. And I found out after I spoke, these igmo's, that's a good word. I can think of others that would describe them better, so here I am talking about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. And they're just bombarding me with all of these words, and phrases, and things of that nature.