Easter is now over. We as Christians rally each year to bare witness of our faith in Jesus Christ. Movies are made, extra church services are arranged, and churches are filled with record setting attendances. Easter is a wonderful time of year. Would it not be grand if someday Jesus would return and his return would be on Easter? I have hard many sarcastic remarks offered by some regarding the great crowds on Easter Sunday. Christians wondering out loud why fellow Christians do not bother to attend church on a more regular basis, but only two or three times a year.

I have chosen to have a different take on that. I am simply glad they are there. If you attend a local church and a word spoken or a song sung touched your heart, then I am going to ask you to respond to God's call. He is talking to you. It is not your emotions of the season making you feel this way. It is God calling to you. Don't be satisfied at being a spectator in the Kingdom of God. Get involved. Support the church of your choice. Sing in the choir, be bold go on a mission trip, offer a meditation or teach a Sunday school class. Most of all, be there and be a part of the family of God. That church needs you and believe

or not you need that church.

It reminds me of a story in the Bible. Two men were leaving Jerusalem after the events of Holy week. They were on the road back home to Emmaus. They were discussing the crucifixion and resurrection of the Christ. Aman whom they did not recognize came along beside them. The men spoke together the entire route. The two men invited the stranger to eat with them upon arriving home. The stranger touched their hearts with his explanation of Holy week and the life of Christ. When the men realized this was not a stranger, but Jesus who was with them, He disappeared.

My point is I am asking you to realize that we are all on a road home. Jesus walks beside us daily and desires to speak to us though the voice of the Holy Spirit. Please listen to this voice. Grow in the Grace of God. Desire the fellowship and learning provided by fellow Christians. Get involved in your local church and make a difference. We are all on the road and recognize Jesus.

Dan Butcher is pastor at Crossroads Community Christian Church.