Leadership Notes

May 12, 2021

{"If You're Grouchy and You Know It" - Oscar's Remix #2}

I saw this sign the other day:

I'M NOT AGING LIKE WINE…I'M AGING LIKE MILK - GETTIN'

SOUR & CHUNKY

Certain days, that could describe me. Have you ever been there?

* This year, fringe people referred to Mother's Day as "Birthing Person's Day." Perhaps next month we'll celebrate "Lawnmowing Person's Day."

* A political leader/elected official was outside with her husband, and they kissed. With masks on. And they've both been vaccinated. The virtue signaling is almost pathological.

* Why are some people surprised that other people would rather collect generous pandemic unemployment benefits than work? A little Calvinism goes a long way to understand human nature.

* I understand that this doesn't apply to all unemployed people, and there are many challenging and heart-breaking situations out there. Please don't be angry with me for pointing out the obvious flaws in human nature.

* In California alone, it is estimated that over $40 billion in Covid-related benefits have been fraudulently obtained. As we saw from Joshua Humphries last Sunday, "The goodness of God towards the believer is on the basis of His Son, for nothing good dwells in you." More Biblical truth influencing Reformed thinking. Big government always relies too heavily on a misinformed estimation of human nature.

* Which leads to this gem from a commentator over at MSNBC - "Jobs Numbers Show U.S. Needs to Spend an Additional $4 Trillion."

* Meanwhile, Biden administration Director of HHS, when asked why, if everyone in an office is vaccinated, they need to wear masks, said, "We still want you to be as safe as possible." Have we entered the realm of pathological stupidity?

* Should we "follow the science" if it is faked and/or garbage science? That's what happened with CDC guidelines for wearing masks outside. Real risk of outdoor transmission of Covid-19 is far less than the 10% originally reported.

* Speaking of which, why did the CDC include input from one of the nation's largest teacher's union on when schools should reopen? More "sciencing"?

* Here's the positive Covid-news amidst my crankiness - if you have been vaccinated, there is a 96% chance that you won't get the disease. And 0% chance you could transmit it even if you got it.

* I think that's one of the reasons we had 90 people in worship last Sunday. People are growing confident and comfortable. Or as I've been saying for the past 12+months, reasonable, responsible, and unafraid.

* Why are some people still pretending that Covid-19 spreads on surfaces?

* Did you see that picture of the President and Jill Biden with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter? Nobody had a mask on, yet when they went outside, the President put a mask on. Bizarre…

* Speaking of bizarre sightings, did you see the new CIA promotional video? And no, I am not making this up. In it, a Latina agent describes herself as a "woman of color, mom, a cisgender millennial who has been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, who is also intersectional." As we're so good at labeling different eras in human history - Dark Ages, Bronze Age, Middle Ages - one wonders if future anthropologists might label the era we're living through as the "Dumb Ages"?

Wow, that's a lot of crankiness. Lest I cross that Rubicon of negativity, time to head on over to the brighter side:

* English Hymn Writer Isaac Watts said, "The power of singing was given to us chiefly for this, that our warmest affections might break out into melody."

* John Calvin said, "There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice."

* Elizabeth@ElizaEll writes, "While these are sad/troubling days as we observe the down grade of the visible church, these are also exciting times. God is indeed purifying His church. While it is painful to watch, it is building and spiritually growing the true church. For this, we are eternally grateful."

* "Prayer does not change God's will. It submits to it." - Steven Lawson

* As Darrell B. Harrison reminds us, "In Acts 16:30, the Philippian jailer asked the Apostle Paul, 'What must I do to be saved?' He did not ask Paul, 'What must I do to be a good person?' The gospel is not moralism. The gospel is faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins {2 Corinthians 5:20-21; 1 John 2:2}."

And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:

"A man who says, 'I was wrong,' really says, in effect, 'I am a little wiser today than I was yesterday.'"

With Much Love and Affection {and trying to age more like a fine wine},

Richard