Hey PPN Family,

As a kid I used to love going to the Easter Show (our equivalent of the Royal Adelaide Show in Auckland, New Zealand) with my family, because of the food and the fun games where you could win prizes.

I have never been good with the rides, so I was always more of a Ferris Wheel type guy than a roller coaster one. I remember going on a ride called the Super Loop when I was around 10 years old that just went around and around in a big circle. I was sitting next to this guy who was full on yelling and laughing during the whole ride while I was just hunched over in my seat moaning and groaning because it felt like my stomach was about to fly out of my mouth.

So for me, the Easter show was always about the hotdogs on a stick (dagwood dogs) hot chips with tomato sauce, toffee apples, candy floss (fairy floss), caramel popcorn (is anyone feeling hungry? ?) and of course, the grand fireworks at the end of the night.

As we enjoy the Show Day tomorow, I am reminded of the greatest show on earth that will take place at the end of time. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV) Paul describes what will take place when Jesus comes to take us home to heaven, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Jesus died and rose again so that everyone who believes in Him will receive eternal life as a free gift from God (John 3:16). Because of His sacrifice, the second coming of Jesus will be the greatest show day in the history of humanity. There will be angels and fireworks and loved ones coming back to life, and we will all be going on the ride of our lives as we fly up into the air to meet Jesus. I really hope that we will all be there on that day. And also that my stomach won’t turn upside down this time around.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai