There was, however, one rule that was often exercised that you will never find in any official rule book. It was the "do over." (None of us were golfers yet, so we hadn’t learned about mulligans.) A "do over" was used when a participant unintentionally made a mistake and felt they could legitimately blame it on something else. One would, for instance, kick at a ball and miss, then call out, "Do over!" and claim that he had slipped on a wet spot on the pavement or was distracted by a mosquito or some such excuse. Then, depending on the friendliness or competitiveness of the group - the "do over" might or might not be granted (and an argument might or might not ensue).

To be granted a "do over" was a tremendous privilege. It meant that whatever mistake was made and whatever negative consequence that resulted was wiped out. It was as if the error had never occurred.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had "do overs" in real life?

In fact, we do. Easter is God’s gift of a "do over" for his children.

None of us are able to play the game of life according to God’s rules all of the time. We all err, make mistakes, slip up, sin. But, by the death and resurrection of Jesus, God grants us a "do over." God forgives our sin and allows us to continue playing the game as if our errors had never occurred.

In the resurrection God makes all things new, over and over again, for us. He grants us a "do over" so that we can put the past behind us, with all its errors, mistakes, slip ups, and sins. No longer do we need to worry about the past, but can live in the present as a child of God and trust in a future in God’s kingdom.

Rejoice in God’s Easter gift of a "do over." Put the past behind you and live as a child of the resurrection.

In Christ,

Pastor Knowles