Easter Dinner with Family & Institute Students

Posted on April 13, 2009
Filed Under Personal |


I hope your Easter was as delightful as ours. The morning worship service was a great blessing—the singing, the fellowship, the message, the orchestra and choir, and the moving “Halleluiah Chorus” at the end.

Our family gathered together at our house and we were blessed to have seven of our Institute students join us. They were from Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia, Indiana and Alaska.

This Easter was special for another reason. We got to celebrate Christmas as well! It snowed all day—a wet and heavy snow. It gave me a chance to get my truck out and do what trucks are made to do…I pulled my daughter and her family out of a snow bank and I pulled a car load of Institute girls out of a snow bank—well, maybe not a big snow bank…but they were stuck and needed rescue. It made me feel like a Knight in shiny black armor!

The snow also pushed our treasure hunt indoors. I usually make up a little game on Easter consisting of a string of hidden clues that lead to other hidden clues. Along the way, each clue also contains a secondary message that points to a particular word in a referenced Bible verse. The last clue uncovers a hidden crossword puzzle and when the Bible words they deciphered are placed properly in the puzzle, it leads them to a cache of chocolate eggs and chocolate bunnies and…well, mostly chocolate things.

I enjoy watching them ponder the clues and then run upstairs or downstairs, outside (not this year) and inside. Anyway, the girls were pretty sharp and the hunt didn’t last as long as it usually does, but I think everyone had fun. My youngest grandson enjoyed the part where you open the treasure chest most of all.

By the way, one of the clues was “Twenty-six men”. Another was “Hidden in the reeds”. My favorite is the first one: “Call Ernie Gruntfest”.

I pray your Easter was not only an enjoyable one, but that it was also a day of rejoicing—a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. It confirms that He is who He said He was. It confirms that His words are true. It confirms that He is the Christ…the prophesied Messiah. He is God Himself—the only one who could pay the ransom for a lost humanity.

It is the Grand Day of Christianity.

Thank you Sarah, Michelle, Becca, Candace, Callie Grace, Keilah and Marissa. You are so special!

(By the way, applications for the Fall semester need to be in soon! See you in class!)

Comments

4 Responses to “Easter Dinner with Family & Institute Students”

  1. Randy on April 14th, 2009 12:39 pm

    Hello Dr. Tackett,

    Thank you for sharing your Easter with us. Your Easter game sounds intriguing. Is it possible for you to post an example that we could potentially mimic? My children would love such a challenge (also the hidden treasure at the end :-)

  2. Jocelyne on April 15th, 2009 2:49 pm

    I second that request… how to do the Easter Egg Hunt game… thank you!

  3. F & D on April 17th, 2009 7:33 pm

    Dear Dr. Tackett
    A big THANK YOU to you & your wife for hosting our daughter in your home for Easter dinner! She has so enjoyed this time at the Institute & we are so grateful to you & the staff of Focus on the Family.
    We host a Truth Project group in our home, and help with a tiny church group as well. We are so blessed!!
    Thank you again!!
    Love in Christ, Frank & Donita

  4. Gene on April 24th, 2009 2:14 pm

    Dear Dr. Tackett,
    I want to thank you for your recommendation of “The Life of Abraham Lincoln” by I.N. Arnold. It was a blessing to read about this truly great President who served the Lord in very difficult times. I encourage others to read this book.
    Thank you too for the Truth Project. We are currently showing this to our 9-12 graders at our church. It has been a joy to watch the lights turn on for these young men and women. This is the third time for me to see it and I learn something new every time. Blessings to you for sharing the truth!
    Thanks again.
    Gene

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