Today is the day Christians of all denominations join in saying ... HE IS RISEN

COLUMBUS -- The message of Easter is being spread today, not only at worship celebrations, but through the work of one Columbus man.

If you happen to run into Arnold Moe, chances are he will take the opportunity to hand you a poem he wrote simply titled “Easter.”

He wrote it six years ago after attending a worship service in Mesa, Ariz. He and his wife, Ramona, passed by a table with plastic eggs. They were encouraged to take one. Inside the eggs were a notes making suggestions of Easter toys or candy for children.

Moe awoke at 4 a.m. one morning shortly after that day and asked himself what exactly an Easter toy would be. Not able to answer that question, he started to think about what Easter really means, not the commercialization it has become.

He transferred his thoughts into words and constructed his poem. The poem speaks of the real message of Easter -- Jesus’ resurrection.

It is a message Moe said needs to be told and he gladly hands out copies of his poem to anyone he sees.

“I’m just delivering the message and letting the Holy Spirit take it from there,” Moe, 86, said.

Local pastors said Easter is the “centerpiece” of the Christian faith.

“We rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus. It gives us our purpose in life,” said the Rev. Joe Miksch, pastor at St. Isidore Catholic Church. “It’s the most important day of all. It’s much more important than Christmas. As St. Paul said, if Jesus had not risen, then his death would have been in vain.”

The Rev. Doug Zurek, associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church, said Easter is testament to Jesus’ teachings.

“It is proof positive that what Jesus claimed about himself is true. He rose from the dead. Because Jesus lives we are assured that we will live,” Zurek said.

The Rev. Tom Volker, associate pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, said even though Easter is officially celebrated once, it needs to be remembered throughout the year.

“Every Sunday is a celebration of Easter. Why do we get together? It’s because Jesus lives. Every Sunday is like a mini-Easter,” Volker said.

Moe has done his part to keep the message of Easter in people’s minds. His daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and the Rev. Tim White, said he has handed out his poem to hundreds and hundreds of people. He’ll hand it out while waiting in line, give it to fast-food workers and customers, and to people he meets on the street. The Whites also have taken copies of the poem with them on mission trips overseas.

There was only one instance of someone declining to take his poem, Moe said. But whether Christian or not, he said people need to be reminded of Christ’s’ sacrifice.

“It is a message we should be conscious of every day,” he said.

Moe has always had a strong faith. One experience that helped him grow in his faith occurred when he was 23 and serving in the U.S. Navy. The ship he was on with nearly 200 other crew members was stuck in a typhoon off of the Philippines for nine hours. The ship was tossed and turned and nearly tipped over. But Moe said he found solace in his faith. He took the time to say a silent prayer.

“I said, ‘Lord, here I am, 23-years-old, and if this is my time to die, I guess I’m ready,’” he said.

But what happened next showed him that Christ was watching over him and his shipmates.

“I couldn’t explain it, but it felt like someone poured warm oil over me and the ship took a roll after that and didn’t turn again,” he said.

It is impossible to tell the number of people who have read Moe’s poem, and he isn’t about to stop trying to spread the word. The message is too important.

"Easter"

Though I am not a poet, I'll be bold.

And tell again the greatest story ever told.

It's not about colored eggs and a chocolate bunny.

The thought of that strikes me as almost  funny.

It's about God's love for your and me.

When He sent His Son to Calvary.

There He suffered and died upon a tree.

His blood washed our guilt of sin away.

This Jeasus did for you and me,

What more can I say?

He was placed in a tomb where they thought He'd stay,

But God's Angel rolled the stone away.

He showed His power over death and sin,

On Easter when Jesus rose again.

For us, He'd opened Heaven's door

Where sin and death are known no more,

So we may freely enter in

And spend Eternity with Him.

Our joy in this we can share with others,

Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers.

We don't even have to wait

Until we reach that heavenly gate.

All we need is to beleive

To this wondrous gift receive.

This wondrous gift for you and me

Yes, even for all humanity.