With the present difficulties, the nation has been focused on sickness and death. As we are writing this, the death toll from the Wuhan virus has crossed 10,000 in the US and is expected to go higher before things take a turn for the better. Where did this come from? The fall. Sin and the reality of death entered when our parents, Adam and Eve turned from thinking God had the best for them and listened instead and then acted on a lie from another.

Palm Sunday started the churches celebration of Resurrection Week. Jesus entered as the King of Peace and ended up on Saturday in the grave. Death seemed like it had won. Evil individuals and a violent government had killed the One His disciples thought was the Messiah, The Savior. The disciples had to wait for the First day to see how things really turned out. We, of course, know how things turned out. We can see the week in reality, that life conquers death. As we think about the week, let’s meditate on:

Jesus’ emptying himself

Jesus’ life and His teachings

Jesus’ determination to save His people

Jesus’ Resurrection week

Jesus’ resurrection

With Jesus, life conquers sin and death, and resurrection is real. We celebrate that all the time but especially this week.

James 4:13–14 (NIV)
¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

We can think of no illustration in our generation that has caused life disruption like the current virus. In history, of course, life disruption was the norm. The language confusion at Babel, The Exodus, (sometimes it is good disruption) The Exile, wars, the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and pestilence, like the Black Plague that killed up to half of Europe in the 14^th century and the Spanish Flu of 1918 to name just a few.

We don’t know what life will bring. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. When things look like they are going just fine, It can all change in a minute. It reminds us that life does not revolve around us, and we are not that big in the eternal perspective of things. Yet God sees us as eternally valuable to the point His Son died for us. It is difficult to walk in that reality. We are vapor, yet eternally valuable. We do it by knowing that God is sovereign, and we walk in His will.

James 4:15
¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

We went to the local Family Dollar the other day to get some canned chicken for our elderly dog. We were also running low on paper towels, although not TP since we got a family sized package right before all the fear set in. Guess what? We should not have used the petrol. No canned chicken when normally there would be multiple units on the shelves. No paper towels to be found where paper towels were packed in just weeks before.  What changed?  Fear set in. And the feeling that one needs to do something to control one’s world.

Matthew 10:28–31 (NASB)
²⁸ “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. ³⁰ “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Jesus does not back away from talking about fear. He looks around in a disease ridden world where medical treatment was mostly ineffective (with apologies to Dr. Luke). A world ruled by Imperial Rome, a violent militant dictatorship. A world in which they had little control. Yet Jesus tells His followers not to fear those who kill the body, whether Satan himself or an intermediary. But any fear should be reserved for God, who is responsible for our ultimate fate, the one who is really in control. He is the One who knows us and cares for us, the One who sees us as immensely valuable. Rest in that knowledge

In our younger years we did some backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains. One thing that stuck us before faith in Christ and after was that these mountains had been there a long time and they were going to last a while. They were stable. Even though the San Andreas fault would shift, the trembling moved through the coast range and across the Central valley, by the time it made it to the Sierras the trembling stopped and they were stable.

Psalm 125:1–2 (NIV)

¹ Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. ² As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

The Psalm is one of the Psalms of assents (Ps. 120-134). They were Psalms the faithful Hebrews sang as they traveled up to Jerusalem to worship, probably in association with the three required pilgrimages a year. They saw, walked on and experienced the stability of the mountain upon which Jerusalem and the Temple were built.  So the Psalmist uses that experience and image to encourage the people that the Lord is stable, trustworthy and abides forever, like Mt. Zion. The mountains also surround Jerusalem like the Lord protects us on all sides. Forever.

In this time of uncertainty, trust in the Lord. It is not just a platitude, God’s stability and love for us is real. In reality, the mountains we see now are temporary, this world is not all there is and there will be an eternal Mount Zion were we will reside with the Lord. In this world, God is stable, trust in Him

Just watched Irving Bible Church’s live-stream of their morning service. Good reminder to make the most of this time for the opportunity to go deeper in our life. For a time of self reflection, development relationships even in the distancing and in loving and serving others  in a time of danger like the Bishop of Carthage during a plague. (and Martin Luther)

We are all in the middle of a crisis apparently. The virus is deadly and we should be concerned. We should cooperate with our governmental officials (Rom 13:1-2) We should take proper precautions. We should love one another & help were needed.

God is there. He speaks of stress and anxiety and the fact that as Christians, we do not need to live in a state of anxiety. We live instead in a state of peace, knowing God is all sovereign, He loves us and He has the power to pull off what is best for us. Communication with Him is critical

Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95)
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Mark 13:7–8 (NASB95)

⁷ “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. ⁸ “For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

We are not sure if the present viral outbreak of 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease is pointing to the end times, but Jesus is telling us that difficult things will happen in our world and being frightened and hysterical is not a proper response. Yes, wash our hands but our trust is in Jesus. God repeatedly exhorts us to fear not for He is with us.

Sunday March 8^th 2020

Worship at 11:00am. Singing, sharing and Kings, Good and Bad
Prayer and Dischipleship at 9:30

Across the Web

Faithfulness
“Lois Evans’ faithfulness until death reminds Christians to ‘focus on Christ,’ says son” (Christian Post, 05/05)

The 2 Rs
“Yes, Christianity Is a Religion, Not Just a Relationship; The rituals and organization play necessary roles” (Relevant, 06/06)

Anti Child Abuse
“Alabama Senate passes ban on puberty blockers, hormones, surgeries used to gender-transition youth” (Christian Post, 03/06) This is a good thing

Because English is God’s Language

“Why German Evangelicals Are Praising God in English” (Christianity Astray, 02/17) Just like the King James version (just kidding)

Not about personal peace and affluence
“Why You Should Avoid the Gospel of Comfort; It’s a subtle killer of active faith” (Relevant,  10/3) see Francis Schaeffer, How Should we then Live, Episode IX

 Do Tell
“’Gender is socially constructed’ was just made up, professor admits” (Christian Post, 10/4) original article

Asked and answered
“Will Christians become outcasts at public universities?” (CP Voices 10/04)

Maybe we’ll go with the brother
“Botham Jean’s pastor says Amber Guyger’s conviction is proof that ‘God is in control’” (Christian Post, 10/2)
“Botham Jean’s brother forgives Amber Guyger, implores her to ‘give your life to Christ’” (CP, 10/3)
“Media Warns Excessive Forgiveness Could Set Back Outrage Narrative Hundreds Of Years” (Babylon Bee, 10/3)

70th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China is not a cause for celebration
“The People’s Republic of China Was Born in Chains; The Communist Party calls 1949 a liberation. But China was far freer beforehand” (Foreign Policy, 10/1) The country and system that has killed more people than any other in history. And they want to dominate the world

Why left-wing anti-Semitism is just as bad as white supremacy 

The rise of anti-Semitism again is distressing

Five years after Ebola; One small mission hospital in Liberia saved lives and paved the way for better healthcare in Africa

Not that small by Liberian standards, but a beacon of light to West Africa