When people talk about March Madness nowadays, are they talking NCAA basketball or presidential candidates!? And sadly, those two will be more likely table conversation topics rather than Word and deed in the Christian journey for many; sports most likely since “religion and politics” are often avoided in public group conversations!

But, the people of God will still find ways to bear witness to our God, our Risen Savior. We will gather to worship, take the bread and cup, hear the Word proclaimed and go the rest of the week seeking to help and serve others. By the power of God we will speak and do our faith. By our own sinful limitations we will fail also!

But those experiences, good and not so good, are still under the loving embrace of our God whose costly grace brings forth “spiritual fruit” as well as “covers a multitude of sins!” So, the bottom line is we can rejoice and be glad: God is God and we are not!

That gets us back to March Madness, or better the wild and powerful story of Jesus’ Life, Death, and Resurrection; the madness of those who opposed the ministry of His love, mercy, and grace; the resistance and rebellion that ALL people go through in spite of the Good News! Madness indeed!

What I see happening,tho, in April is not so much “madness” but rather April Gladness! Our scripture this Sunday is exuberant with gladness! Something happened and now we see! We see and hear a more important conversation about life that sports and politics merely “hint at.” Yes, sports and politics have their place but only in light of the bigger picture, the much bigger Kingdom of God at work in the world now and someday to be complete!

This is something to take with us as comfort and strength as we go about being “April Ambassadors” for the Risen Lord! So, in a few days we can leave behind SOME of the March Madness e.g. NCAA basketball, move on with our American democracy, and still attend to being Ambassadors for Christ in April….and, of course, year round!!

April blessings all!

Pastor Barry