Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
The Resurrection of God : A Modern Easter Vision

The Resurrection of God : A Modern Easter Vision

Last updated on: April 8, 2023 at 10:19 pm by Jeff Hood

0 Comments

The Resurrection of God : A Modern Easter Vision 2023-04-08T22:19:31-06:00 Jeff Hood

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Betsy Azemnizov / Unsplash.

On a particularly powerful day, I was sitting in a dead church, and I started to become deeply troubled in my spirit. I couldn’t figure out why. After some moments of prayer, I heard the voice of God, “I am not there; come outside. I have risen.” Light from the heavens touched my soul. Slowly, I was pulled outside. The deadness of the church faded away. The streets came into focus. God was on every corner. Light exploded from every heart. My soul knew what this was…the resurrection.

Deeply confused, I asked God, “How can this be?” God did not hesitate, “Remember the time that I went to church?” Dead institutionalism came into focus. I saw God filled with rage. Leaders constantly demanded money. Buildings were more important than the people. Infighting led to abuse. Nobody seemed to come out of the space alive. Pain killed all inkling for God. “I couldn’t just walk away.” God exploded. No table was left unturned. No abuse was left unpunished. No leader was allowed to remain in the room. God cleaned the place clean out. “The people ran from death to life.” Their pain turned into power. In the streets people danced to celebrate their newfound freedom…their resurrection.

In the chaos, God gave me a tattoo. While experiencing the pain of leaving death behind, God put ink on my heart. I couldn’t figure out what it was. “You will like it.” Eventually, the process became relaxing. I knew we were getting close to completion. The finished product was sealed for all of eternity. Light glowed from every mark. Looking down, I slowly read the words, “I am the resurrection.” In that moment, I realized that the resurrection was in me/us…and I/us in it.

Before I knew it, I was back on the street that I’d left. Light was near. I knew that it always would be. Color was everywhere.

The realm of God is resurrected in such streets. Get out of your dead churches and experience it.

Catholic

Politics and Religion

fresh writings

Thoughts

death and resurrection

easter 2023

resurrection

Previous Post

April 4, 2023

The Storm…or The Day My Little Rock Blew Away

Next Post

April 22, 2023 Lindsey Barnett: On the Murder of Her Grandparents, Questioning the Judicial Process & the Fight for Her Children

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"'God’s Sheep on the Sidewalk' is immensely thought-provoking and conscience-stirring. Thanks. "The people out there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

God’s Sheep: The Ones Who Sleep ..."

"Greetings, Jeff, and bless you for your relentlessly regular fierce posts and your profound commitments ..."

DCF

Between: On the Person and Character ..."

"God as the Between, thoughts:As a child we were taught, in the blue or green ..."

madalyn baumstark

Between: On the Person and Character ..."

"Sometimes we make it harder than it is. Not saying things don't bring us to ..."

Patrick Dennis

Get Behind Me, Satan: A Death ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Danny & Jeff fresh writings latest poetics north texas fellowship of reconciliation Sermon theology from death row Thoughts Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Tamar" mean in Hebrew?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Palm tree My delight The Lord is my refuge Daughter of the King