Can't Possibly Imagine This Going Bad for Christians One Day

 Ring Cameras

I mean, everyone on the left is so tolerant of opposing views. 

Silence

Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom. -Francis Bacon

Nothing strengthens authority so much as silence. -Leonardo da Vinci

We are so rarely in the presence of silence, by choice and by the reality of our world. We rob ourselves of the great depths of learning with music in our ears non-stop. Even at the check-out, the workers have an earbud in, hindering their interest in interacting with customers I think... keeping their mind entertained. We share something that isn't self absorbed when we share the same sounds.

Children and adults listen to all manner of things on their phone or tablet. TVs are on for "white noise" in many homes. The most dangerous I think though, is the earbud. It shuts us off from the world, and we struggle so much with self absorption. I'm not saying to never use them, but when alone in a room or outdoors, that's not necessarily the time. 

How is this changing us as a race, all this noise? 

I feel that children need quiet and time to get bored. Creativity blossoms in that environment. Our bodies and minds settle when we aren't being stimulated externally. It's not just diet that matters, but also personal lifestyle choices. 

Adults need to model how to be still and thoughtful, but we also need to be still and thoughtful. 

I find myself returning to not listening to music as much as I started to recently. Talk radio ceased when Rush died. There's something I feel is very important in quiet.

Teachable Spirit?

Those who have all the answers also have all the problems. 

Distracting Thoughts

As someone who has wasted time, too much time, thinking of something different from my reality, I've got a few thoughts to share. The fact of the matter is that those who use their time well, the vast majority of it that is, do not exert energy on what isn't reality. When life is hard, some personalities are more prone to want to escape by thinking of a new direction to take their life. They are the dreamers by nature.... folks who think of new ventures often. This can be a valuable trait in the right setting. Where it is a problem is when time is squandered away on these dreams, or different venues to go. 

When we're excelling at life, doing all we clearly have to do very well (which is our best), then we can be free to fritter away mental time and mental energy. Usually the energy lost in thinking of "anything other than what we should be focused on" is just lost. Wasted. 

Time management, prioritization, a solid work ethic, and being good stewards of our thoughts, time,  and talents go hand in hand. 

Do you work heartily as unto the Lord... that is a big instruction for Christians. 

Losing time on the internet, sleeping too much, researching things that turn into wasted time, day dreaming, or pursuing vain interests will make valuable time disappear. Are you pressed for time? Try taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Be thankful for the job at hand, and do your best with it. Keep your thoughts on the here and now. 

Brilliance Test

The phrase 'pecking order' is easily understood if you have chickens. The most aggressive chicken is not the top chicken but rather the second in line for the throne. 👑 The first is relaxed and knows it is the boss. There is nothing to prove or get worked up about when you are number one. You know what you know. The number two chicken really wants to be in the place of number one!! Watch them long enough and you will see it. 

I think it might be the same with people regarding their intelligence. 🐓

Amen

In thinking whether we trust God or not: 

I'd like to remind us that God saw what was happening with Babel and the building of the tower therein. He took action, clearly demonstrating He is God and we are not in control. We humans like to think we're in control. If we are very careful about X then Y will not happen. Some parents think they are in control of aspects of their children's lives which no mortal can actually control, for example. 

As we see more Christians get obsessed with the way medicine works, often for reasons not hard to comprehend, it is essential to always put our actions and the expectations of those actions in the pool of God's sovereignty. Our putting them in the pool does not change the reality He IS sovereign and in complete control. Rather, it changes our focus--our obsessing. It changes our telling people off regarding their health decisions. It changes our pride and self-assurance. It changes our anxiety over making sure it is all perfect. Bear in  mind, God chastens those He loves. 

Doing all we know to be right to avoid a certain circumstance, and then having that circumstance become our reality, changes us in ways nothing else can. When we are people with terrific conviction, drive, and discipline, we can make many things happen. It can be easy to forget it is God who enables success and brings results,  regardless of whether they are positive or negative. They are His to bring. 

So we buy organic meat and dairy and our child still starts puberty prematurely. 

We don't vaccinate and our child grows up to be infertile. 

We are careful in pregnancy and our child still gets life threatening allergies. 

We don't use traditional medicine and cancer still comes. 

We clean with natural products and uncontrollable rashes still turn up. 

We never used chemicals on our skin or went out in the sun,  and skin cancer still showed up.

How can this be?? We did all we knew to be right, faithfully, and yet, we suffer. 

Beloved, let us remember that God is sanctifying His children. It's not about creating the perfect scenario to then bring the perfect outcome. It's not about us having it ALL the way we've worked to have it. 

Don't you see? The issue is this: are we going to work hard to do what we believe is right, trusting Him if it turns out we're wrong, or trusting Him if it turns out we were right but it still went all wrong? Where is the grace and mercy if that isn't how it works? Because some do it ALL wrong and get the results we'd want. Right? The mother who smoked in pregnancy had a healthy baby. The mother who never went around second-hand smokers had a child who developed asthma early on. And we recognize that as grace and mercy with the smoker,  right? The issue isn't the ISSUE at all. It is where our trust is. God's grace and mercy are not dependent on anything we can muster or control. They are His gifts to give. Our job is to serve Him faithfully and work hard, always trusting the results to be part of His plan. Not our plan.

We're not to be fatalistic because God calls His children to righteousness and excellence. He expects us to trust Him and if we do not, He cares enough to make the trust happen. Even if the fallout of that process is something we must look at for the rest of our lives. 

God is good, all the time. 

They Said "Care" When They Meant "Murderous Help"

This map is nice for seeing where states stand after the overturning of Roe v Wade, something I never thought I'd witness. The title of the post is a riddle of sorts, solved when reading the description in the first link. 

Life Protection States

Here is a map showing the status of states in regard to the damaging and incorrect critical race theory. 

CRT Ban Status

Where does your state land on legalizing marijuana? 

Legal or Illegal, or Something In Betwixt?

When Plans Go Differently

You know when you are planning something and you have this vision of what it will look like? It could be something big like an outdoor wedding or a large funeral you are orchestrating. But it could also be just a small dinner with friends or a quick getaway. Regardless, there is either a general or very specific idea of what "it" is going to look like, and then for whatever reason, before said event, it becomes clear that things are going to go in a pretty different direction than you'd thought. It might be weeks before the event or moments prior that you have to change gears. There is rain when you counted on sun, there are people you thought would be attending that back out, or people end up bringing guests they weren't expecting themselves, or the caterers cancelled and there had to be a last-minute audible. 

What do you do in these situations? 

How do you act and feel? 

For events where weather is a true impacting force, it is best to not have your heart set on it being any one way. Make sure your backup plan is satisfactory and decide beforehand to accept whatever comes your way. Weather can be unpredictable so plan accordingly--that is, plan to be flexible!

When it is an event that involves other people, commit the event to the Lord and trust Him to bring who He wants to be there. Sometimes the keynote speaker has to miss, there is an unavoidable delay, or what one person wants differs from what you want. We have a choice to go with the flow or be uptight. Going with the flow is much easier. Plan as best you can, but if it gets all wacky, all you can do is roll with it. That is a good way to show grace to other people and a way to demonstrate the relationships are more important than our own perceived needs. 

A Great Leader vs. A Good One

 

There is a tremendous amount that could be said and a tremendous amount that has been said about what makes an excellent leader. There is actually a sermon series linked to on this blog entitled "Leaders Worth Following" by Pastor Darrin Wright, a leader who is very much worth following. 

Sometimes we find ourselves in a position to follow leaders who aren't exactly worth following, but it is our duty to do so. Sometimes we find ourselves in a position to follow a leader that isn't great, and maybe isn't even that good, and how we follow will speak of our character. 

If we are leaders, we should take a look and see if we like dealing with people like ourselves. As with answered prayer, we can mistake something as an indication we are doing a good job, when the reality is, we might not be doing a good job and that little litmus test we've used was faulty. God may answer our prayer, but it doesn't mean we have no sin or are 100% fine in all other areas. Likewise, people may follow us, but that doesn't mean we're excellent leaders. Just as everyone can't win in a competition, every leader isn't a great leader. 

This brings me to the point of this evening's post. A simple characteristic that differentiates a great leader from one who is merely good, is this: punctuality. 

Every full-time homemaker is managing her home, but each is not equal in the quality of her management. Every boss is doing something, but if he is not able to manage time well, start and end meetings on time, show up on time...he isn't a great leader. He isn't able to be counted on to show he values the time of others. He may have many great qualities as a boss, but in my book, he would not be a great leader if he can't tackle the simple task of being. on. time. 

Parents are setting their kids up for greater success if they will teach their children to value the time of others, be dependable, and be efficient spenders of their own time by showing them how it is done. Don't be late. Ever. Leave a cushion of time before you have to leave the house. Stop doing whatever you are doing before it is time to go sooner than you'd like, and don't always be rushing. Realize how long it takes to do all the things if nothing goes wrong, and add in 10 minutes. Arrive early so you aren't always harried. Every mother has a million things to do. Everyone is busy, but everyone is not late. It is a solvable dynamic. Solve it. Demonstrate excellence. Demonstrate putting others before yourself and be able to be counted on to show up, start on time, and end on time. This makes all the difference in homeschools that are able to start the school year on time, end on time, and have happy, well-rested children and moms.

The reality is, if a man can't manage his own family well (including being on time), why would we then rely on him to manage much bigger things that have to be on time? That would be stupid. Be faithful in the small things and then you have proven you can be faithful in the bigger things. Manage your personal finances well and then consider helping others manage theirs. Have your anger under control and then help others manage theirs. It is a known reality that if a person can't be faithful in something small, they probably won't be faithful in a similar arena on a grander scale.

If we want to be great leaders, we can start by being on time and managing our little domains effectively. The dividends will be better, and we will be on the path to being excellent leaders, not just good ones with some great qualities (or merely good ones with some good qualities).

There is no way to know how many relationships or job opportunities fall away because we are not people who run on time. It gets wearisome for people to deal with continual unreliability. Everyone is very busy and everyone else's time is valuable. We need to show we value the time of others and not waste their time by being late ourselves. We can and should do better if want to be great leaders. 

A Worthwhile Life

A life well-lived looks different for different people. I'm not sure everyone thinks about living their life well during the main years where a lot can take place. Most people think about it when the end of their life is in view, whether due to old age or health conditions that spring up. The older I get, the more I realize how sad it is when folks choose to live for themselves, consumed with what impacts them and their immediate family only. At the same time,  it is easier for me to accept that I'm not going to control or really change what anyone else is doing. So being older has helped me deal with the sadness others live with due to their own choices. 

Lower Expectations

There is probably a post on this blog about lowering expectations, but here is a recap. If you find yourself often disappointed with others or perhaps frustrated or hurt by them, it may be time to look inward. It is said that when we are bothered by others it is often because they are not respecting what we 'worship'. Do we idolize something we shouldn't and then when other's don't, it makes us mad? The issue there is with ourselves more than the other person. Likewise, when we are often bothered by another person, it may be we have too high of expectations. It would be nice to expect greatness from those who dwell in our midst, but the reality is, we don't meet others' expectations as they don't meet ours. When we have too high of a view of ourselves, we can have too high of a view of others. Expect little and be pleasantly surprised when that is exceeded--to put it another way. This truly helps relationships and aids our being more steady as people. We react to OUR expectations, not the actions of others. Being part of a godly church, this can be seen in the leadership, and it is a powerful tool. Just another reason we should be in church (though God saying it is more than enough).

Projecting Our Sin onto Others

Have you ever been treated in a manner that really does not reflect who you are or how you have acted? This can be tough to determine since a believer knows how wicked their own heart can be, yet, there are times when we know how someone is acting toward us is really more of a reflection of their own struggles and not our own. 

But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14

If you homeschool, perhaps people were unkind and unsupportive when you announced your plans to take responsibility for your children's education. Was this a reflection of people's beliefs in your ability, their lack of understanding about home education, or was it more an indicator of what they thought they could or couldn't manage themselves? We can't know another person's heart, but thinking in this way can help us give grace when we are being treated unjustly. Do what God has called you to do and let the results speak for themselves. It might take 20 years, but the fruit of a person's life doesn't lie. Sometimes even fellow believers do not see the need to keep kids out of the wicked public schools; leave it to the Lord. People carry different burdens and hurts, and pride isn't something believers are immune to. Let the Lord do the fighting. 

17Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their [k]appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. 20For our [l]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with [m]His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Phil 3:17-21

Another scenario--someone isn't honest with you about their own life and situation. You know in your heart you would be ready to show understanding and grace, yet the person just won't be forthright, likely because of their pride. What can you do, especially if you suspect the person is justifying their actions by wrongly accusing you of not being understanding? As a Christian, it is generally a wise idea to show love and grace as we're able and afforded opportunities and leaving the rest to God. Those not in Christ feel they have to put on a good front and give people an image of who they want to be; they often will not show vulnerability if they can't come out looking like the better person. A Christian brother or sister may not be spiritually mature in this area, so patience and grace, and perhaps a gentle word of correction are actions to consider. 

For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. Gal 5:17

Being a Christian means we will be misunderstood, falsely accused, and treated unequally from how we treat others. The lost will not repent toward us, they will not admit wrongly attributing qualities to us which they actually possess. It is part of the spiritual battle being waged around us. Satan wants to separate, have hurt feelings and people who are 'right' at whatever expense. Let people be wrong and love them through it. Let people fail to acknowledge their unfair expectations of you and love them anyway. We will never convince people of what they are incapable of seeing, and the lost cannot see with spiritual eyes because they are spiritually dead. The natural man is a man who can only see in the human dimension, he cannot see or understand the things of God. 

For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5

Shouldn't Science Drive Our Actions?

Here at ACL we love science. We are science focused in college rather than liberal arts focused. Being into science, we have to be critical thinkers. Part of thinking logically is evaluating the source of our information. 

We know there is so-called science that says unborn humans aren't viable until birth, or is it valuable? Those who ignore the truth that people are created in God's image scientifically ignore or dismiss the pain unborn babies feel and that only God has the authority to end life. Are these worldly scientists one and the same who say man-made global warming is destroying our planet, acting as though we've tracked temperatures for more than 100 years? Could these scientists be the same who say gender can be altered? Do they also believe human life was a cosmic accident, which devalues it and gives credence to controlling people they see as less valuable? Are these the same folks not openly sharing the skyrocketing suicide rates that are the direct result of the way they've spun the dangers of the COVID virus? What is worse, risking contracting a virus with a one percent death rate or scaring someone in to taking their life, which carries a 100 percent death rate? Finally, could these scientists be the same who say people shouldn't trust a vaccine that is 95 percent effective, leaving out the fact one has to be exposed to an infected person which is increasingly rare--infected with a virus that has a 99 percent survival rate?

The sort of so-called scientists mentioned above fail to do something critical to right thinking. They have not weighed their ideas against what the only definitive source of truth says-the Scriptures. God is very pro-truth. He is the author of real science. God is love.

You know what ruler in history gave no heed to God's truth and used propaganda and fear to control people?  There were a few, but the one which comes to my mind is Adolf Hitler. A mastermind at separating people, instilling fear, moving goal posts, and closely watching tactics that effectively brought about his goals so he could continue to twist the screws of control.

Keep an eye on the mainstream media and the Democrats. When they get a few more huge wins in controlling/ destroying our country, they will change the rhetoric they've spun about COVID, which moved people from going out a bit in October to now being more fearful even though vast numbers of Americans have been vaccinated and have continued to demonstrate the high survive rate of the virus. There is a right response to viruses and anything that is a risk to our well being. There are also overly dramatic responses to potential and real threats.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood in this world but the spiritual forces of darkness in our midst. Be reasonably careful based on your age, but be careful who you are trusting for information. It is very easy to be unreasonably cautious and paranoid if the ungodly mainstream media is your source of truth.

Without the Media, Would There Be a Pandemic?

One of my friends said the other day that she doesn't think there would be a pandemic without the media, there would be a virus. 

I like a pithy saying laced with good thoughts. I realize, of course, that there are specific criteria to mark something as a pandemic.

My Mary Kay Director Stepping Down

For 23 years I've been a Mary Kay Consultant. I joined the company when I was in college after going to a little facial at my closest friend, Ruth's, house. Her director was there and us two--a small group. Ruth's mom had used Mary Kay for years. Her pink compact required water to make the eye color work. Mary Kay was the first skin care I'd really used and it worked well for me;  something I later learned would be uncommon. 

During my time with Mary Kay, and not long in to it, my director from Ruth's house retired and moved to Florida. Her director, a woman named Chan, became my first-line director, so to speak. Financially I don't think Chan ever benefitted from my efforts, but she always included me in her contests and newsletters. When I attended meetings, they were in my state of KY with some great adopted directors. Chan was in Maryland. I didn't do much in person with her, and I never went to Seminar...for a long time I wasn't into prizes or things, though now I hold as very special my Mary Kay pin with a little fancy overlay.

Lately I've been feeling a bit sad as my middle daughter is nearing graduation. Maybe it is coming off covid, which we thought we had last month but turns out, we've had it this month. Being quarantined during December was more fun and easier! This month my oldest is away at school and we're busy praying for college finances to be provided...the looming thought of sending off my sweet middle girl has been at the forefront of my mind. 

How does this tie in to Mary Kay? The passing of time, things that have been constants...Chan has been a constant. She's prayed for me along with the rest of her team. I've prayed for her, and that connects you to a person. She's someone who has always expressed love and kindness. She's real and doesn't pretend to believe something she doesn't. We are both republicans, and that connects people in today's messed up political climate. 

Chan called tonight. She is retiring from being a Director after 30 years. This news has me very sad. It is easy to expect people to always be around, always doing what they've always done. The last few days I've prayed about my future with Mary Kay...I'll be going to work for my son's senior year to help pay for college. My middle daughter can't use Mary Kay due to some strange chemical allergies. Even though I do a small business of just a few thousand dollars a year, Mary Kay has been a continual part of my married years and with that, Chan. Like things we think we appreciate, they take on a new meaning when they are no longer. I hate goodbyes and endings. 

I hope to remember and embody Chan's continual encouragement and positive attitude. She's had some rough waters and never acted down in the dumps with us. She was professional and loving--that is not the easiest combination. She has shown me that you never know who can use some constant love and recognition. It doesn't take much to pour a little something good in to someone else. It just takes some thoughtfulness. 

Thank you for all you've given me, Chan. I'm thankful we'll both be with the Lord one day and I hope we recognize each other. ♥

2021 Premier Post

Fretting about the good opinion of other people can paralyze a believer's productivity. Why do we care if the lost, or babes in Christ, or even friends or family see things as we see them? Usually this stems from a fear of man. It involves wrong priorities, and serving the wrong master. If possible, we should live at peace with all men, but sometimes that is easier said than done. If we find ourselves in conflict often, we should find out if we've created a dynamic where people can't approach us to reconcile. Have we proven ourselves to be critical and judgmental, selfish or self-absorbed? If we are 'never really at fault', or if we're only at fault 'because of other people's initial wrongdoing', well....we best expect to find ourselves alienated from others.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24

Too often people seek bonding with others on gossip or easy, red-meat issues. "This person is controlled by such and such, I'll get them to like me by bringing that up". Sadly, we can fuel the weaknesses in others by playing that game. We can avoid engaging our own minds on tough issues when we do this.

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Ps 118:6

Something else we can too easily do, which undermines our right thinking, is focus on the ONE person who ________ (made a judgmental comment,  kept quiet showing their dissatisfaction, didn't attend, didn't say thank you). Why don't we discipline ourselves to look at the blessings? Recall who WAS there, dwell on who WAS understanding, or think of how all your fellow believers treated you. 💕

Perhaps 2021 should be the year to dwell on what God thinks of what we do, and leave other people's opinions to themselves. 

Colossians 3

Not Carnality but Christ

1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Character of the New Man

12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

"Wretched" TV/Radio

Don't Be That Guy by Wretched

Todd Friel has a pretty incredible way of communicating things we need to think about.

In so many areas we all think 'we aren't that guy' or that we are the 'exception'..... 

But if we're all the exception, then who is he talking about? 

Emotionalism? How Much is Too Much?

Emotionalism, there are those who think the more the better. Getting in touch with our feelings is all the rage.

I disagree, and say emotionalism often leads people to not respond wisely, but rather it can lure them into what feels old, familiar, and thus, comfortable. Sadly people who are like this often cannot be trusted as much as someone who will look objectively at a situation while feeling the realities. Emotions have to be balanced with wisdom and logic. We can respond with kindness and grace to situations which stir our heart strings, but we need to be shrewd as well, understanding that feelings come and go.

False religions rely largely on emotionalism. It is a tool the Devil uses to warp the outlook and response of people who easily fall prey to it. This is why families/mothers often 'play the guilt card'. Manipulation takes many forms, and within false religions, you can count on it being a regular attendee. 

I love true Christianity. No games, no mental gymnastics to make pieces fit. The love, mercy and justice of God Almighty there for those who humbly accept the blood payment of Jesus Christ.

Do not be lukewarm, either be all in with Christ and truth, or realize, you are all out. There is no middle ground or walking the line.

Sociology of COVID-19: Masks, Social Distancing...My Observations

Since the pandemic began and the subsequent quarantine, I've found it an intriguing study of different human behaviors. My guess is that many among us could write about this subject. These are simply my own perceptions and observations.

Initially when the news broke out about the pandemic, I think most of us were concerned. There was good reason to be. We didn't fully know what the seriousness was of the COVID-19 virus and a multitude of facts were slow in coming and often changed. For days we all watched to learn what the symptoms were--did there have to be a fever? was pink eye a symptom? what about the coughing...dry or wet? What? Fever ISN'T necessary?! Are you serious? It was tough to differentiate the flu, allergies, a cold, or this mysterious and frightening virus that was sometimes reported to have been responsible for large family groups dying.

It was a subject easy to talk about because everyone was on the same page. But then something started to change. The liberal news seemed to be taking an angle that differed a little from lesser known news outlets. People began to question if the lockdown was needed. People began attacking others who had different opinions openly, verbally, on Facebook and Nextdoor.com about the wearing of masks.

The wearing of masks has been a fascinating evolution. In the beginning I remember seeing people wearing them and at that time reports said they did not help. It rather made me uncomfortable seeing people wearing them... Was I missing something??

Then masks were reported to help and we were implored to wear them. It has been said that if you care about your fellow man, don the mask! So we all got them and I wore one. The weeks passed and by this time we were about 6 weeks in to the pandemic. Things started to feel different when out in society. In conversations, friends would do a bit of a feel out to see where I stood. There were those that fell in to the camp of believing everything as it was reported by the mainstream media, and I was seeing a group that clearly questioned that outlet and brought up points to consider such as the fact they knew no one who'd contracted COVID-19. Masks became a hotly debated topic from time to time. I continued wearing one incase it helped and for the mental state of those who are panicked about getting COVID-19. The nastiness of people who think they must be worn really became clear though. I'm sadly amazed at how fearful people are and how quick they are to turn on their fellow man for having a different opinion on something. People on Stafford Talk, who say to wear a mask if you care, would then say those who don't wear them shouldn't get medical treatment. Wow! That's love!?

As far as no one knowing anyone who truly tested positive for COVID-19, most people believe it is a real virus. I certainly do. We have all heard stories about people dying from it or being very sick, but our hospitals have been rather empty and nurses aren't all working. People have started to not wear masks, or they'll start with a mask and when one person takes theirs off, others follow suit. It seems like more people I interact with are wearing them for the comfort of others who truly feel better if everyone is wearing them. The reason for this is that people are questioning how locked down we still are and this lockdown went in the first place. Bad choices or choices that seem born out of a desire to control, make people question motives. I was in MD recently and learned people have dubbed their Governor, "Lockdown Larry". That is not because they don't think the virus is real, but they question his motives and methods.

It has continued to be interesting to me to hear people at a higher risk than me want to hug or comment on the mask being a negative because we're continually breathing our own oxygen depleted air. 

So now we have a new social question, "Are you hugging?" We have to be bold to say, "Not really." if we aren't comfortable. This virus is real, but we need to remember humanity is suffering in ways far worse than from a virus. The elderly are dealing with loneliness and some are struggling with depression for the first time in their lives. Living forever isn't going to happen for any one of us, and I'm seeing that me taking a personal risk is far more important in the grand scheme of things during this pandemic. Our own personal safety can't always rule the day if we are followers of Christ.

A terrific evangelist preached our evening service tonight, and the gist of his message was that we cannot live in fear as Christians. We ought to take wise precautions, but to live in fear is not something ever right for a follower of Christ. I agree.

We need to take the time to see those around us, those people God has put in our circle of influence, and reach out to them as best we can.

Who We Are Comes Out in Difficulty

It isn't an original thought to point out that crises and difficult times are useful in that they reveal who we are in a way that can't be hidden. Some people will say that who they are during times of pressure isn't who they 'really' are, but God says that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked...Hard times make it more difficult for us to mask who we are inside. Politeness can be in short supply if we are scared or angry. 

This applies to who we are as far as faith as well. 

There are those who want nothing to do with the Lord in their day to day, and when the chips are down, they rely on themselves and/or others like they usually do. If they struggle with depression, anxiety or anger typically, they'll keep dealing with those things, possibly in greater amounts. 

Then there are those who claim to love God but do not demonstrate the obedience He says marks someone who actually loves Him (Jn 14:15). They may pray more or mention God more during tragedy, but they do not change fundamentally. There won't be any lasting mark of the Lord and living a life for Him when the hard time has passed. 

Finally, there are those who love God and demonstrate it. Challenging times come along, and they are still demonstrating a love for God and His people. Their level of serving others is the same, their commitment to God's truth is the same. They'll be the same when the event is all over. 

It all reminds me of the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. Which seed are you? 

No matter how many opportunities God sends, how many people witness, there are those who simply will not turn to God in faith, worshiping regularly in places where the Word of God is preached and taught. All we can do is pray for them and keep doing what we're supposed to.