"If the disciples had Twitter" 

Rev. Pat Megregian

I have to admit, I have been an early adapter when it comes to the "social networking" phenomena that is sweeping the world.  I remember in the "old days" when the first chat rooms appeared and I was asked by AT&T to be a monitor to one of their experimental chat rooms.  I had the power to boot someone off the chat room that wasn't behaving well. Now, there are few monitors and information and relationships abound without borders or constraints.  You can pretty much say anything to anyone on the Internet. 
 

We connect now in Blogs, Facebook, Websites, Chat rooms, UTube, and the latest is Twitter, a 140 character, micro-blogging, short sound bites that let people know what you are doing and thinking as you go through your day.  I am on Twitter, but I have to admit that I don't use it much.  I can't imagine anyone wanting to know what I do all day, or what I ate for lunch, or what I am thinking at any given moment.  I have a very few followers and I am sure they have given up on me.  I found that it is better that I keep my thoughts to myself until some time has passed to make sure I want to say whatever it is out loud much less broadcast it to the world.  I like face-to-face conversations, handshakes and hugs.  And yet, this is the future and I am learning how to embrace it.  In fact, I am in the process of setting up a Facebook page for the Presbytery.  I'll let you know when you can "friend" me.

This week, Lindy sent me a resource called, "If the disciples had Twitter". If you are technically savvy, the source is:

www.worshiphousemedia.com/mini-movies/23698/follow

This is a short video that "Twitters" the events of Jesus ministry all the way to the resurrection from the eyes of his followers.  I found it intriguing and certainly an example of the new micro-blogging media.  But more than its format, what I found intriguing was its message.  As we enter a new age for the church, we see it's decline in membership and resources, and very different from the way we have known it most our lifetimes. We mourn what has been a way of life for us and are leery of something new.

The concept of being a "follower" of Jesus takes on new meaning in today's reality.  If we are a follower of Jesus, we follow him through his early success as he preaches to the thousands, heals the sick, raises the dead, feeds the hungry, celebrates at weddings.  We follow him confronting hard issues of the day, preaching the truth to the status quo, routing out the moneychangers, turning away the rich man, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey in direct opposition to the Roman troops.  We follow him experiencing the loss of his closest friends, to his suffering on the cross.  And true to his promise, we follow him to his resurrection to new life.  Our way of being is following Jesus. We are following his example.

Easter morning is the glory day!  Easter morning for us followers is the day we see the promise of a new life, forgiven, cleansed and sanctified.  We are given a true Sabbath day to rest and glory in joy.  We believe in new life, life beyond death, joy after sorrow, triumph after adversity.  It is OUR day!  Thank you, Jesus!

As a follower of Jesus, Monday will come again.  I will face success and failure, adversity and triumph, betrayal and trust and yet, I will wake up every morning and know what it says on my Facebook page, "Every morning is an Easter morning".  Every morning I wake and know that I am a follower of Jesus Christ who has given me the promise of new life, every moment of every day.  Hmmm, perhaps I do have something to write on Twitter!  Jesus Christ, the Way, The Truth and the Life.  Happy Easter, everyone!