June 17, 2020
Leadership Notes
During these long months of quarantine, I tried to come up with a social distancing joke. Couldn't even come close.
With that out of the way, on to other random thoughts:
* I know many of us are excited about the return to in-person worship. I hope we can all take a respectfully demure approach these first several weeks. If you're a hugger, hand-shaker, fist-bumper, or high-fiver, let's move carefully forward. Even if you think the whole Covid-19 threat has been over-hyped, out of concern for all people, let's tread gingerly here. Please don't misunderstand. My intention isn't to be bossy; I simply want to raise awareness about not rushing into things too soon.
* I also know that many of us are a wee bit hesitant to be in larger gatherings. I appreciate that concern. So, come the 21st, some will want to wear masks in worship. Some will want to limit contact with others. Some will want to enter and exit the building quietly and discreetly. We need to honor and respect those feelings. Heck, we need to honor and respect where each person is at right now. I don't think that's a bad thing.
Of course, we will continue to live stream our worship services. How good it is when God's people gather together for worship!
* An Idaho church has decided to remove Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a stained-glass window in its sanctuary. Apparently, when the church was built in 1960 the church decided to depict certain historic figures in their windows. The stained glass also features George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. When I read the story, my immediate thought was here's a church that might be confused about its mission or ministry. What's their purpose and message? What do they exist for? Are elaborate stained-glass windows overplayed?
* A pastor writes, "Two years ago a deputy sheriff who attends our church had to pull over on the 101 freeway and resuscitate a black female suffering from a drug complication. I tried to contact several news outlets, but no one wanted to run the story. The lesson here is to be very careful about where we get our information." (Shane Idleman)
I am by no means a fan of conspiracy theories. Someone once said they were hobgoblins sent to confuse people's minds. It seems to me that Idleman is wondering if the current media narrative is normative. Or is there more? Are things more complex than what we see in the window the media opens up to us?
* A mom told her five-year-old his shoes were on the wrong feet. After
a long pause, he replied, "I don't have any other feet." This kid is going places.
* Burgess Owens - Let's not forget that the "world is full of good people doing good things."
* If you haven't seen it yet, go to YouTube and watch "A Personal Experience with the Police" by Michael Jr. You'll be glad you did.
* Activism can't transform the heart…only the gospel of Jesus Christ can.
* Dustin Benge {Professor and Calvinist}:
Eve: "It was the serpent You made."
Adam: "It was the woman You made."
From the beginning, we've never wanted to take personal responsibility for our own sin.
* Chloe S. Valdary once said, "What if - just hear me out now - all of our heroes are flawed, and that's actually okay?"
* Thomas Chatterton Williams observes, "When, exactly, did the artistic/intellectual/media culture shift from 'I strongly disagree with your view' to 'you should not be able to work'"?
* Proverbs 29:8 - "Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath."
* Samuel Sey: "All over the world, the gospel is reconciling ethnic minorities. In Western nations, however, social justice ideology and critical theory is dividing professing Christians. The gospel unifies sinners in repentance before God. Worldly philosophies divide sinners against each other." {If you can't tell, I really like this guy.}
* Finally, from Corrie ten Boom: "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest."
One Way or Another, I'll See You Sunday!
With Much Love and Affection,
Richard
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