Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Great Isolation Practices:



*Consider that those in nursing homes, older folks and others perpetually living
in isolation know the struggles of loneliness, isolation & the inability to get out & about &
live like they once did. Reach out to them and brighten their day.
*Make the most of this opportunity to read the Word, meditate & pray.
*Practice kindness and “others” mindedness with those with whom you are sequestered.
*Bless the Missionaries!!! Email or write them. Pray for their needs and opportunities.
*Engage in home church, Sunday school, worship & Bible study.
*Watch positive, uplifting media.
*Read materials that will develop you as a person.
*Finish some of those projects you always wished you had time for.
*Consider this time as a reprieve ordered by the Lord & redeem the time.
*Learn that character is not only evidenced in isolation, but it is developed there as well.  

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Welcome to Dystopia


Welcome to Dystopia – Population 7,530,000,000

Romans 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 

Imagine a world with no sports! NASCAR venues are empty, no opening day of Major league baseball, no soccer stadiums reverberating with the sing song chants of the patrons. The sports reports are void of content.

Imagine a world in which the stock markets are in a nose dive, where people are watching their life savings being flushed into oblivion.

Imagine a world where there are no church gatherings. Where assembling to praise God, pray and preach the word is forbidden. Where leaders are proclaiming that Easter is cancelled.

Imagine a world where weddings and funerals are conducted in private, where no more than 10 people can rejoice or grieve together.

Imagine a world where court rooms are empty, festivals are cancelled, surgeries are postponed, where nursing homes and hospitals receive no visitors.

Imagine a world where all schools and universities are closed, playgrounds don’t echo with the shrieks of children on the slides and swings. Where graduation ceremonies and celebrations are cancelled.

Imagine a world where fear has universally gripped the hearts of humankind. Where main streets are deserted, malls are empty, airports are deserted and people must keep a distance of 6’ from others. Where handshakes are no longer a common form of greeting.

Imagine a world where dining in a restaurant is forbidden, families are locked down together in their homes, where the trending vernacular is “social distancing,” “self-quarantine,” “asymptomatic,” “travel ban,”  “pandemic,” “CDC,” “WHO,” “virus,” “sanitizer,” “we don’t know,” “jobless claims,” “task force briefing,” “outbreak,” “epicenter,” “hot zone,” “face masks,” “testing,” “shortages,” “toilet paper,” “research,” “working from home,” “isolation,” “wash your hands” and “don’t touch your face!”

Imagine a world where there is massive unemployment, colossal uncertainty and complete confusion.
 
Imagine a world where Mayor Pete, Sen. Warren, Bernie, Joe, Beto, Tulsi, get zero mention in the media.

This is dystopia, a fallen, sin-sick world. The planet is groaning and travailing. And to think, this is only the shadow of things to come. It is a dry run for tribulation like the world has never seen.

This is a world in need of the Gospel, aka, the Good News. Jesus died for fallen humanity, was buried and rose again in triumph over sin, hell and the grave.

Jesus is the only hope. He has always been, is now and will always be the answer. He is exclusively the Way, the Truth and the Life. Trust Him while the invitation remains open. Paradise awaits those who believe.