October 7, 2020
Leadership Notes
And now for something completely different…random thoughts:
How someone responds to news that the President tested positive for Covid-19 can be a window into the heart. People have said, posted, and reposted some iffy stuff!
As in-person worship continues to grow, we are making plans to accommodate more people in responsible ways. I've got a hunch we'll see increases continue through the holiday season. As always, we are careful, cautious, and unafraid.
Speaking of unafraid, someone quipped that the new ethos seems to be we need to be afraid of everything, all the time. And if you say you're not afraid, then you are a science-denier who is insensitive to the pain and suffering that is all around you. I like the old way: "We have nothing to fear but…"
One man writes:
There are a hundred reasons to be anxious and fearful today. But there are ten thousand reasons to be hopeful and grateful for what God is doing and has already done in Jesus Christ.
- Nate Pickowicz
Here's what Charles H. Spurgeon said about contentment:
Possibly you are dissatisfied because you cannot bring the contents of your pocket up to the height of your wishes; but if you bring your wishes down to the level of the contents of your pocket, you will be satisfied with what you now have.
Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." In other words, before eternity began, God predetermined He would make you. He even has work prepared specifically for you to do!
Teacher and pastor Dustin Benge said, "Salvation is not by works…salvation is not be reformation…salvation is not gained by morality…salvation is not achieved by decision…salvation is not church membership…salvation is not ordinances…Salvation is in Christ and Christ alone."
Alex Berenson, an author and former New York Times reporter, is a bit controversial in his take on the current state of our pandemic affairs. Here are a few of his observations:
* "For too long we have let this virus - and the media's hysteria around it - dominate us. We need to take back our lives, our schools, and our whole world."
* "We are six months on and we know if you believe the {World Health Organization} …the death rate is about 1 in 1000…And we have gone crazy and we have sacrificed our kids and we have sacrificed society…We have to stop being so afraid of this."
* "This country - we put people on the moon! We're the first manned flight in 1903. What has happened to us that this rather dismal virus has scared everyone to death? I do not understand it and we have to get out of this."
Is Berenson right? Is he wrong? Is he somewhere in the middle? Consider the pot generously stirred.
{Trigger Warning for Some Non-Partisan Observations}
If Biden wins the election, I'm simply going to get up and go to work the next day, and continue on with my life.
If Trump wins the election, I'm simply going to get up and go to work the next day, and continue on with my life.
Democrats survived 8 years of George W. Bush. Republicans survived 8
years of Barak H. Obama. Libertarians barely made it through all 16. We're going to be okay. God is sovereign.
From Oswald Chambers:
The clearest evidence that God's grace is at work in our hearts is when we do not get into panics…The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
Finally, this encouragement for God's elect:
You and I believed the gospel, not because we were wiser or more righteous than anyone else but because God graciously intervened, opening our hearts to hear His Word and believe.
- John MacArthur
Be of Good Cheer,
Richard
P.S. - Did you know that all varieties are hostas are edible? I tried a leaf and stem with a little ranch dressing yesterday, and it was delicious.