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Today is a message about hope.

As exciting as it is to see our favorite stocks explode to the upside, or as gut-wrenching as it is to see our portfolios shrink during a severe resource sector bear market like we all experienced between 2011 and 2013, we should never let money or our stocks control our happiness or joy. And true happiness – lasting joy – can only be found in our view by knowing God and serving Him through His son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross over 2,000 years ago and rose from the dead three days later on this day (Easter Sunday).  The resurrection, The Greatest Victory of All, is the underpinning of the Christian faith.  That’s why we celebrate Easter.  It’s not about the Easter bunny or chocolates or Easter egg hunts or enjoying a day off work. It’s about what Jesus did at Calvary.  He suffered and died for us, out of His love and mercy for us, and actually conquered death.  That is so powerful and gives hope to us all.  Think about it.

Nothing is more important in our view than one’s relationship with God through Jesus. He is the creator of all things, including every mineral deposit on this earth, and He has also provided us, through His precious Word, all the guidance we need for our daily lives, even how we should approach the handling of money and investment matters.

This Easter weekend is a great opportunity for each of us to put some time aside and reflect on what Easter is really all about and why we celebrate it.  And draw closer to God in the process.

We wish all of our readers a very special and joyous Easter.

By Terry Dyer

Have you ever asked someone a question and then also asked, “Do you want the good news first or do you want the bad news first?”

I took my car into the garage one day to have the brakes done. When the technician called me with the quote he asked me that very question, “Do you want the good news or the bad news?” He told me that the brakes were only going to cost me $500 but in the next breath he told me that my ball joints needed replacement. The good news and the bad news. This Easter we look at both.

Let us look at the bad news first. We all have sinned and fallen short in the eyes of the Lord (Romans 3:23, New International Version) and since we have sinned we are destined to die “for the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We are all sinners and death is our payment for our sin.

When someone offers employment to an employee he offers him a set amount of money to work for him. Maybe twenty dollars an hour for every hour that employee works. It is a contract. It is also a contract when you break the law. If you are driving your car and you do not stop at a stop sign a police officer will write you a ticket and you will have to pay a set fine. It’s a penalty for not stopping at the stop sign. This is true in God’s world as well. When we sin we are destined for spiritual death. It is both the wage and the penalty. Sin is awarded death.

Some may ask what is spiritual death? Spiritual death is an eternal separation from God. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, we are told that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the book of Revelation we are told that death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. Spiritual death is a bad place to be in and we are told that we are all destined for this. The apostle Paul writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NIV). That is the bad news. We are all sinners and by the sin that we commit we are destined for Hell. It doesn’t get any worse.

But wait – there is still the Good News. Jesus came to the earth fully man and fully God. When Jesus willingly went to the cross He carried the sin of the world, past, present and future, so that those that believe in Him will be saved from an eternity of death, pain, anguish, and separation from God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:16-18, NIV).

Jesus paid the price for your sin, for my sin, and for the sin of the world. All you have to do is accept Him, put your faith in Him and allow Him to be Lord of your life. Turn away from the world, your old ways, and toward Jesus. It doesn’t matter what you have done with your life up until now. There is no sin too big for Jesus. All one needs to do is say with a heart of repentance, “I am sorry, Jesus, for what I have done. Today I ask you into my life. Come and make me whole. I turn toward you.”

This Easter I invite you to accept Jesus into your heart or to renew your commitment to Him. If you have never prayed to Jesus take a moment now and turn your heart to Him. If you already know Jesus but want him in your life in a greater way, then by all means pray for that too. Invite Him into your life in a bigger way.

From all of us here at BMR I would like to wish you a very Happy Easter. May your day be full of love and blessings. I thank you for your support of BMR as we strive to be of service to you. From my home to your home, Happy Easter.

Terry Dyer

Publisher/Owner, Langley, BC