After Jesus’ death and burial, when he rose from the dead on the first day of the week, everything changed. It was the turning point in human history and a strategic event in the revelation of God’s salvation.

All four gospels make clear that Jesus rose from the dead.

What’s your name? Say it, in your mind. Say it in a whisper. Say it. How many times has it passed your lips? How many times have you answered the question: What is your name? How many times have you heard it spoken, have you turned to look? Was it said with anger, with love, as command, as demand, as question, as plea?

God exists whether we believe it or not. He has something to say about us, whether we ask him or not.

Amos has set a stage. The Judge has entered. Court is in session. Amos reads out the charges against Israel’s enemies, their “countless crimes.” They have mercilessly plundered, killed and sold “my people” into slavery.

Not all that glitters is gold. We may have noble origins, steeped faith, renown and reputation. We may have a name, but does it mean anything?

Ignorance is no excuse in law. Yet greater knowledge demands greater responsibility, higher standards. “They should know better.” Judah was the largest tribe, home to the Temple and guardian of the Law of Moses.

Why did he not warn us the banks would fail and the stock market crash? Why did he not warn us that we would not be able to finish the war we started?

Which crash, which war? That’s the point: there is nothing new under the sun. Greed begets poverty and violence begets violence.

If God does not do anything without telling us first, why do disasters engulf us?

The CEV’s “fat cows” may be in step with modern idiom, but it lacks the class of “The cows of Bashan” (4:1 NIV) The poetry of the putdown. The lush plains of Bashan yield the fatted calf. The imagery of waddling udders and cow bells satirizes the wives of the wealthy, indulgent, drunken, selfish, servant-beating women of Israel.

The final contribution recorded in Israel’s book of worship is a joyful, all-encompassing call to praise. We are commanded to bring voice, instruments and dance to join in the holy melody of heaven and earth.

The psalmist declares that we are to praise God in all places, at all times, in all ways.