Singing Owl wrote: Lingering effects of a cold have me watching more television than usual. There appears to be a resurgence of the old daytime staple–the quiz show. Except they are on during prime time, and a great many of them offer the chance of winning one million dollars.

I think it started with Regis Philbin and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” but now we have a half dozen or so.

My husband and I started musing (after watching “Deal or No Deal”) about what we could do with a million dollars. I thought I’d just bring that discussion into the Friday Five this week. It’s simple. What are five things you would want to do with a million dollar deposit in your bank account?

1. Pay off parents’ homes.

2. Invest.

3. Buy larger place where we can take one room, put in floor to ceiling bookcases with the ladders that slide along the bookcases. 🙂

4. Buy books! We’ll have room for them.

5. Travel, travel, and travel.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

The NIH chapel this morning was beautiful. Sitting among people who were so sick, and yet so filled hope, this was an Easter where the resurrection, its power and hope were center stage, believed and proclaimed in full faith. I didn’t preach this morning, but I wanted to post one of my favorite Easter hymns: “Christ the Lord Is Risen, Today” by Charles Wesley.

“Christ, the Lord, is risen today,” Sons of men and angels say! Raise your joys and triumphs high: Sing, ye heavens; thou earth, reply.

Love’s redeeming work is done; Fought the fight, the battle won: Lo! the sun’s eclipse is o’er, Lo! he sets in blood no more!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Christ hath burst the gates of hell: Death in vain forbids his rise, Christ hath opened Paradise.

Lives again our glorious King! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Once he died our souls to save; Where’s thy victory, boasting grave

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Following our exalted Head: Made like him, like him we rise, Ours the cross, the grave, the skies.

King of glory! Soul of bliss! Everlasting life is this, Thee to know, thy power to prove, Thus to sing, and thus to love.

I wanted to let everyone know that I am still in Washington D. C., but I should be coming home Tuesday. Things are going well, and I’ve done some sightseeing. I’ve been to the National Cathedral, the Smithsonian’s Museum of Air and Space, and the Mall. I plan to go back to the Smithsonian tomorrow to walk through the Natural History Museum and take pictures of the monuments. As always, if you want more details, please feel free to email me.

Mother Laura rightly said: Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is here already? It’s hard to get used to the new, earlier onset. My family has been getting up and out a little late and a little sleepy in the mornings.

And can you believe that in two days it will be Palm Sunday for Western Christians? Our Lent is almost over, while our Orthodox sisters and brothers, whose liturgical year follows the older Julian calendar, are just starting theirs. Nicholas did a recent book report on George Washington, and we were surprised to find out that our first President’s birthday was originally Feb. 11, since he was born just before the change to the Gregorian calendar. Apparently the change almost caused rioting, as some indignant people were sure that they were being cheated out of eleven days of their lives!

To help you adjust–and enjoy the process–here’s a Friday Five about time and transitions….

1. If you could travel to any historical time period, which would it be, and why?

I’d like to hop, skip, and jump through time to meet some of my heros: Brigid of Kildare, Elizabeth I, Hildegard Von Bingen, Teresa of Avila, Florence Nightingale, and Emily Dickinson.

2. What futuristic/science fiction development would you most like to see?

Teleportation. I’m getting ready to fly to D.C. I’d much rather have my molecules scrambed here and reassembled there. Not to mention I wouldn’t have to put up with TSA.

3. Which do you enjoy more: remembering the past, or dreaming for the future?

Dreaming for the future. But I have to watch it or all I do is dream. Action must be taken to make those dreams come true.

4. What do you find most memorable about this year’s Lent?

This is the first year I’ve been a senior pastor and having to get used to preaching every week. The really bumming part is due to family illness, I will bein D.C. the next two weeks, so I won’t preach for Palm Sunday or Easter! I’ve preached on Palm Sunday before, but this would have been my first Easter. I’ll have to wait until next year. (If you would like details to the family illness to pray for us, please email me at shawna (at) shawnaatteberry (dot) com.)

5. How will you spend your time during this upcoming Holy Week? What part do you look forward to most?

I will be in D.C. The two things I want see while I’m there are the Smithsonian and the National Cathedral. I will see if there is a church close to where I’m staying to observe Holy Week.

I have answered all comments left in the last week. Thank you for your patience and prayers. I am starting to feel better. I just need to get use to the fact that I have a limited amount of energy, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. And I need to continue to use the energy I do have wisely. I have set a goal to post twice a week, so I plan to be posting on a regular basis and answering comments in a more timely fashion.

Shawna