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Ed Wrather
Ed Wrather (N/A – N/A) is an American preacher, pastor, and author known for his long ministry career and the widely circulated Burning Bush Devotional. Born in Oklahoma, details about his early life, including his parents and upbringing, are not widely documented, though his roots in the Sooner State shaped his down-to-earth preaching style. Before entering full-time ministry, he served as a Senior Probation and Parole Officer for over 20 years, during which he was ordained as a deacon and held various church leadership roles, preparing him for his later pastoral calling. Wrather’s preaching career began in 1990 when he became a pastor, serving congregations in Oklahoma, including Sweetwater First Baptist Church and, since March 2018, Fairview Baptist Church in Elk City. His sermons emphasize practical faith, prayer, and kingdom-building, reflecting his belief that “everyone can do something” for God’s work, as seen in messages like “Do What You Can Do.” Since 1998, he has written the Burning Bush Devotional, an email ministry reaching thousands globally, and authored books such as The New Pastor’s Training Manual and Biblical Help for Overcoming Substance Abuse. Married with a son, Clark, who pastors First Baptist Church of Yukon, Oklahoma, Wrather continues to minister, leaving a legacy of steadfast service and encouragement through the spoken and written word.
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Ed Wrather preaches about finding hope in the midst of tragedy by focusing on the Christian holiday of Easter, which symbolizes the hope we have in Jesus Christ and God's great love for humanity. He emphasizes that despite the corruption and bad things in the world, Jesus came to give us abundant life and eternal life through His suffering and death on the cross. Wrather reminds believers that just as God turned the terrible event of Jesus' crucifixion into the most wonderful thing through His resurrection, God can bring beauty out of the bad things that happen in our lives, ultimately showcasing His love and power.
Easter Is Coming!
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Philippians 3:7-10) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Where do we find hope when tragedy suddenly comes upon us? Do we blame God.or do we turn to God? When bad things happen to good people is God responsible? This has been a week of sudden tragedy coming upon unsuspecting and innocent people. There were several people killed and more injured as a man on trial for rape made his escape in Atlanta. In Wisconsin, seven people were killed at a church service and others injured with the shooter then killing himself. In the midst of tragedy, trials, and the difficulties that sometimes come upon us in this life there is a Christian holiday that gives hope. Easter is about the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. Easter is about God's great love for us human beings. Easter is about the difference between Hell and Heaven. Easter is about the greatest friend that we will ever have and the worst enemy that we could possibly have. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10b). Our enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). All of creation was corrupted when Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation of the enemy in the Garden of Evil. Since that time, bad and good things have happened on Planet Earth to all people. Just as God sends rain upon all people, the corruption of creation has resulted in bad things being possible for everyone that lives upon this planet. When bad things happen in our lives we should always remember that Jesus came that we might have the abundant life. We should remember that Jesus suffered and died on the cross so that we might have eternal life. We should remember that God through Jesus has experienced the very worst that life can do to anyone. Why was Jesus allowed to suffer such a cruel death on the cross? Because if anyone will seriously consider what Jesus went through for them they can have no doubt about God's love for them (Romans 5:8). When bad things happen to us we need to remember that it is not the end of the story if we are a child of God. Just as the death of the Jesus on the cross was not the end of the story. No, God had the last word about that terrible thing that happened on the cross. God turned that terrible thing into the most wonderful thing that has ever happened when Jesus defeated death by rising from the dead. When that bad thing happens to you remember that Easter is coming, some bright shining day you will know the rest of the story. Some day in eternity you will see how God took that terrible thing that happened to you and then brought the most beautiful and wonderful things out of the bad things that happened (Romans 8:28). While here on this earth we will as with the apostle Paul have the fellowship of the sufferings of Jesus (Philippians 3:7-10) but praise God! Easter is coming!
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Ed Wrather (N/A – N/A) is an American preacher, pastor, and author known for his long ministry career and the widely circulated Burning Bush Devotional. Born in Oklahoma, details about his early life, including his parents and upbringing, are not widely documented, though his roots in the Sooner State shaped his down-to-earth preaching style. Before entering full-time ministry, he served as a Senior Probation and Parole Officer for over 20 years, during which he was ordained as a deacon and held various church leadership roles, preparing him for his later pastoral calling. Wrather’s preaching career began in 1990 when he became a pastor, serving congregations in Oklahoma, including Sweetwater First Baptist Church and, since March 2018, Fairview Baptist Church in Elk City. His sermons emphasize practical faith, prayer, and kingdom-building, reflecting his belief that “everyone can do something” for God’s work, as seen in messages like “Do What You Can Do.” Since 1998, he has written the Burning Bush Devotional, an email ministry reaching thousands globally, and authored books such as The New Pastor’s Training Manual and Biblical Help for Overcoming Substance Abuse. Married with a son, Clark, who pastors First Baptist Church of Yukon, Oklahoma, Wrather continues to minister, leaving a legacy of steadfast service and encouragement through the spoken and written word.