In Westchester County, New York, my church's attendance has just increased dramatically! Before you go turning us into the local police department, let me further explain that the increase has occurred online. There are now Sunday worship services, bible studies and other computer assisted events all the time. We had a regularly scheduled Women's Ministry Breakfast event recently. It was held via the Zoom App. Rather than miss the opportunity to join together, the church chose to feature a video and then open up for a discussion before and after the video was shown. Of course, I had to make my own breakfast and coffee rather than enjoy our church's usual tasty potluck potpourri.
I was sceptical at first about how this would all work. Make my own breakfast. How was that something to look forward to? How could we generate the warmth incumbent in such an event without the hugs, smiles and scents of cinnamon sugar wafting through the air? I just was not sure about this whole brave new world that our church was entering into. How could our Pastor preach in front of an empty church and connect with a virtual audience? And, what about my upcoming church knit class?
The book of Ecclesiastes shares with us the wisdom of understanding and accepting the seasonality of life. This of course made me question the point of continuing the knit class which I lead at church. This is clearly a season of trouble. Is it trite to think of crafting? Should I focus my energy elsewhere? How would I even effectively demonstrate and motivate online? Even as these thoughts crossed my mind, I equally considered the possibility that the limited interaction could be fun. It could be a reprieve from the heavy doses of serious issues facing each and every one of us all the time. Joy amid the sorry.
What I found to my surprise has been a plethora or needs being met. It is not perfect mind you, far from it. I wish more older members of our congregation could benefit from some of these online portals but many of them do not have the right equipment, are not connected to the internet or even comfortable with it. So, it is important to still reach out by telephone or by mail. We should all think about taking time to pray or read the Bible by phone with someone who needs a helping hand.
With all that being said, I am amazed to see Church viewership on Sunday rise to three, four or even five times its' normal viewership! What gives? Is it due to people searching for deeper spiritual truths during the coronavirus pandemic? I certainly hope so. Is it just that people are overbooked in general and now that we are on a pause they finally have time for the Lord? I 'm not sure. Frankly, I think it's a little of both.
Another thing that has crossed my mind is how an online portal is a safe way to explore the Christian message without a big commitment. Some people are afraid that a lot of gushing Christians are going to run up to them in church and try to lure them in. Still others are afraid of not knowing what to do during service and making an embarrassing mistake. Perhaps they might genuflect at the wrong time, or they don't know what to expect at communion. Afraid of meeting new people or a lot of personal questions like, are you saved? You don't have to worry about the collection plate online. Some of these anxieties hold people back from attending a church service and livestreaming a service might be appealing for some.
I do know that we need one another in a more intimate way than just seeing each other on FaceTime. I know that many people are struggling with depression and anxiety as we go through these life-changing events. But, I also know that, all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.- Romans 8:28 🙋🏻🌈✝️
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Monday, May 4, 2020
New York State of Mind
INTRO
New York has been besieged by a terrible enemy. An enemy that we can neither hear nor see but that we know is all around us. Stalking us as it were.* I started to think of where my life was before this terrible virus hit us. It is so dramatic to contemplate. I was just an ordinary person going about my ordinary business. Now, every encounter, all the most normal things of life have become distorted and painful. How precious is the ordinary life that most of us live and seldom appreciate. It has gone away in a flash. Romans 15:5- May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ had.
NEW YORK CITY
New York City used to be called the city that never sleeps. The vitality of culture, commerce and creativity was astounding. Now, the streets are empty. People huddling in their grave-sized studio apartments waiting for the go-ahead to start living again. People reduced to lining up like robots in supermarkets being told how to move and how fast to do it. They are harassed and given tickets for going to the park on a beautiful spring day. The economy of this state and nation were experiencing historic highs before all of this happened. Our jobless rates were never lower. Now we have parents of Columbia University and New York University students clamoring to get their money back and de-cry the sub-par education their children are receiving at these high-priced learning meccas. ZOOM may be the APP of the moment but you can't hug someone on it, and it surely can't replace traditions at institutes of higher learning for in-person pedagogy. How did we get from there to this? Will we ever have answers concerning how this virus emerged or caused such worldwide tragedy? Can we understand God's plan for us during this time? I think so. The truth seems to be seeping out here and there. Just listen closely and read your bible.
CASHLESS
There is financial disaster everywhere I look. Some people are just trying to spend as little money as possible because they are reeling from the financial crisis of losing their jobs. These folks are just trying to hold on until times get better. They are hoping that won't take too long. These folks have been protesting lately, desperate to go back to work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16- May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Then, there are the people who are afraid to go shopping and even afraid their cash is contaminated. They prefer to pay by credit. These are the same people who wanted to move towards being a cashless society before the Wuhan virus hit us. Revelation 13:17- So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is the name of the beast or the number of its' name. Folks the only way an Anti-Christ can control the world economy is if we go cashless. I would prefer to disinfect my cash or wash my hands rather than be a part of helping our world go towards this inevitable scenario.
VACCINES
Many in New York believe that vaccines will be our great savior. They are ready to accept universal protection from this virus even if it would mean a loss of privacy and freedom. However, an increasing number of people have doubts that it could be so easy to vanquish this hellish virus. Americans have been debating the merits of vaccines for quite some time. The numbers of those who are questioning their side effects has increased as have those wondering about the impartiality of the medical profession towards them. Science is supposed to be an impartial anaylsis of the situation isn't it? What of Big Pharma's undue influence on governments and the medical profession. These are perilous times no matter how you look at it. The decisions we make on all the above questions will impact our lives and our world greatly. It is important to debate these topics now. Look at the real statistics and not those politicized versions.
SENIORS
In an addendum to last week's blog post on Seniors and COVID, it must be noted that the allegations of mishandling New York's nursing homes have been proven to be true. The Governor of New York with a swipe of his pen forced nursing homes, who were not medically prepared, to take in senior citizens who had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Is there no where a recuperating elderly patient can be cared for in dignity, safely and with love? What about family? Did they get to have a say in deciding how their family would be cared for?
Leviticus 19:32 (ESV)- You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
The Governors' actions clearly show that he didn't want hospitals to take care of them. Perhaps he preferred to leave those beds open for younger more important patients. Patients who deserved to live. Why do I think that? Because of the gross elder negligence that has existed all over my state during this pandemic. Thousands of the elderly died when COVID-19 spread in nursing homes like wild fire!
Psalm 71:9 (ESV)- Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
This all occurred while a floating hospital was docked in New York City and the makeshift Javits Center hospital were available to receive patients. Of course the governors' approach introduced contagion to both well senior citizens and the staff of nursing homes. How could it not? What was the governor thinking? Thousands have died needlessly and his explaination was painfully insensitive. I mourn this loss.
Acts 20:33 (ESV)- In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
BAD NEIGHBORS
Neighbors are being reduced to spying upon neighbors or patheticly complaining about them on Facebook. Did my neighbor have a visitor? I thought I heard noise, was that a party? Why is that business open? In my area people were complaining about businesses who they did not even realize had been deemed essential services. It is a humbling situation to see grown men and women behaving as if they are children when the thin veneer of civilization is removed. Lord, help me to hold it together.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 (ESV)- For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
In Westchester County, people are either paranoid about social distancing or they don't give a hoot and they will go berserk if you ask them to move aside (think Chris Cuomo). Then there are the people who believe in positive thinking. Who doesn't? However, when it excludes the truth or causes us to ignore an action that we need to take, it borders on delusional. All of this points to the fact that the current NewYork State of mind is not good. People have basically went berserk. When a society no longer has godly values what would you expect?
Isaiah 26:3- You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
CONCLUSION: This is a crisis of historic and biblical proportions. It is important to have a support group to help you through this all. I would recommend a good church. You will probably have to attend that church via the internet for the time being. I am here for you too. You can always comment at the end of my blog post and I will answer you. Please read your bible everyday and develop a deeper idea of just what God is trying to say to you.
Matthew 24:13- But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
*hint: I am not just talking about COVID-19.
New York has been besieged by a terrible enemy. An enemy that we can neither hear nor see but that we know is all around us. Stalking us as it were.* I started to think of where my life was before this terrible virus hit us. It is so dramatic to contemplate. I was just an ordinary person going about my ordinary business. Now, every encounter, all the most normal things of life have become distorted and painful. How precious is the ordinary life that most of us live and seldom appreciate. It has gone away in a flash. Romans 15:5- May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ had.
NEW YORK CITY
New York City used to be called the city that never sleeps. The vitality of culture, commerce and creativity was astounding. Now, the streets are empty. People huddling in their grave-sized studio apartments waiting for the go-ahead to start living again. People reduced to lining up like robots in supermarkets being told how to move and how fast to do it. They are harassed and given tickets for going to the park on a beautiful spring day. The economy of this state and nation were experiencing historic highs before all of this happened. Our jobless rates were never lower. Now we have parents of Columbia University and New York University students clamoring to get their money back and de-cry the sub-par education their children are receiving at these high-priced learning meccas. ZOOM may be the APP of the moment but you can't hug someone on it, and it surely can't replace traditions at institutes of higher learning for in-person pedagogy. How did we get from there to this? Will we ever have answers concerning how this virus emerged or caused such worldwide tragedy? Can we understand God's plan for us during this time? I think so. The truth seems to be seeping out here and there. Just listen closely and read your bible.
CASHLESS
There is financial disaster everywhere I look. Some people are just trying to spend as little money as possible because they are reeling from the financial crisis of losing their jobs. These folks are just trying to hold on until times get better. They are hoping that won't take too long. These folks have been protesting lately, desperate to go back to work.
2 Thessalonians 2:16- May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Then, there are the people who are afraid to go shopping and even afraid their cash is contaminated. They prefer to pay by credit. These are the same people who wanted to move towards being a cashless society before the Wuhan virus hit us. Revelation 13:17- So that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is the name of the beast or the number of its' name. Folks the only way an Anti-Christ can control the world economy is if we go cashless. I would prefer to disinfect my cash or wash my hands rather than be a part of helping our world go towards this inevitable scenario.
VACCINES
Many in New York believe that vaccines will be our great savior. They are ready to accept universal protection from this virus even if it would mean a loss of privacy and freedom. However, an increasing number of people have doubts that it could be so easy to vanquish this hellish virus. Americans have been debating the merits of vaccines for quite some time. The numbers of those who are questioning their side effects has increased as have those wondering about the impartiality of the medical profession towards them. Science is supposed to be an impartial anaylsis of the situation isn't it? What of Big Pharma's undue influence on governments and the medical profession. These are perilous times no matter how you look at it. The decisions we make on all the above questions will impact our lives and our world greatly. It is important to debate these topics now. Look at the real statistics and not those politicized versions.
SENIORS
In an addendum to last week's blog post on Seniors and COVID, it must be noted that the allegations of mishandling New York's nursing homes have been proven to be true. The Governor of New York with a swipe of his pen forced nursing homes, who were not medically prepared, to take in senior citizens who had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Is there no where a recuperating elderly patient can be cared for in dignity, safely and with love? What about family? Did they get to have a say in deciding how their family would be cared for?
Leviticus 19:32 (ESV)- You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
The Governors' actions clearly show that he didn't want hospitals to take care of them. Perhaps he preferred to leave those beds open for younger more important patients. Patients who deserved to live. Why do I think that? Because of the gross elder negligence that has existed all over my state during this pandemic. Thousands of the elderly died when COVID-19 spread in nursing homes like wild fire!
Psalm 71:9 (ESV)- Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
This all occurred while a floating hospital was docked in New York City and the makeshift Javits Center hospital were available to receive patients. Of course the governors' approach introduced contagion to both well senior citizens and the staff of nursing homes. How could it not? What was the governor thinking? Thousands have died needlessly and his explaination was painfully insensitive. I mourn this loss.
Acts 20:33 (ESV)- In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
BAD NEIGHBORS
Neighbors are being reduced to spying upon neighbors or patheticly complaining about them on Facebook. Did my neighbor have a visitor? I thought I heard noise, was that a party? Why is that business open? In my area people were complaining about businesses who they did not even realize had been deemed essential services. It is a humbling situation to see grown men and women behaving as if they are children when the thin veneer of civilization is removed. Lord, help me to hold it together.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 (ESV)- For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
In Westchester County, people are either paranoid about social distancing or they don't give a hoot and they will go berserk if you ask them to move aside (think Chris Cuomo). Then there are the people who believe in positive thinking. Who doesn't? However, when it excludes the truth or causes us to ignore an action that we need to take, it borders on delusional. All of this points to the fact that the current NewYork State of mind is not good. People have basically went berserk. When a society no longer has godly values what would you expect?
Isaiah 26:3- You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
CONCLUSION: This is a crisis of historic and biblical proportions. It is important to have a support group to help you through this all. I would recommend a good church. You will probably have to attend that church via the internet for the time being. I am here for you too. You can always comment at the end of my blog post and I will answer you. Please read your bible everyday and develop a deeper idea of just what God is trying to say to you.
Matthew 24:13- But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
*hint: I am not just talking about COVID-19.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Seniors and COVID
Since this whole thing began I have had a number of thoughts on just how senior citizens are dealing with the effects of this crazy virus. There have been many news reports and podcasts sympathetic and full of advise toward those who are pregnant, children or workers. So much has been said about how to make the most of this terrible situation but, very little of it has been directed towards the elderly. Why is that?
I haven't felt the same love extended to those in the sixty-five plus age category as I have for other groups. Whereas there is positive support for the younger crowd to bolster their spirits and practical suggestions posited for how to do that, there seems to be a cold and calculated approach to those in the elder range.
What do elders think and feel when they hear all day long on the news how older people will die? They just are so old and have so much wrong with them that it is inevitablly fatal according to most reports. Yes, there are the feel good miracle stories of this or that ninety year old who has survived and has a positive message for us all. But, it seems a bit forced to me.
Most of the news coverage about the effects upon the elderly have fell flat as far as I am concerned. They lack real empathy and concern. Where are the senior exercise classes, thoughts for the day, or encouragement to learn a phrase a day in Portuguese or German? What about the elderly talking on camera about their daily experiences under this lockdown?
The answer is that we need to do better. As persons of faith we are called to respect the gift of life from conception to natural death. We need to come up with practical ways to express that. The elders of society were once thought to be a source of wisdom for our greater society. They were considered the bearers of wisdom and historical information. Now, we go to google for that!
In a time when we look up to and worship technology, that inevitably means that we relegate the elders to the trash bin of life, just like our old DVD players. The elders are invisible because they have not, by and large, embrassed the so-called advance of technology. They may not be using Apple Pay instead preferring good old paper currency. They may prefer the telephone and mail box to ZOOM, Facetime, or email. They often have older computers and don't wish to update them every other day.
No Tik-Tok, instagram, Pinterest, and suffice it to say they might not even be thinking of what essential Apps they need for the week to come! Shall I go on? You know that I will. Heaven forbid they might still have a dictionary to look up a word, want to pay by check, or prefer to see their children in-person rather than see them on a screen. This makes them invisible.
Our answer frequently is to get them a tablet, or an i-Phone. It might save their life we think. This blog post has been percolating in my mind during the past six weeks as I have dealt with the elders in my life. Oh yes and I forgot some of them still prefer percolated coffee over all the other top coffee contenders of our day!
How can we do better? The answer is to get off our high horse and stop thinking that we are smarter than they are or that technology has all the answers. What would you do if there was a power outage? If you are like my neighbor, you rush right over to see if I still have power or a generator capable of recharging her mobile phone.
I could see the stress and alarm she was suffering over the low energy bars indicated on her phone. Was there a, hi, how are you doing in there somewhere? You know the answer to that. What if there is one of those wars where an enemy knocks out the other countries internet? Are you breaking into a cold sweat just thinking about that? Be very afraid because, the elders might just be the only ones who know how to take over if that happens.
Some of my experiences with the elderly during this pandemic have been extraordinary. The first few calls that I received when the full scope of the Wuhan virus was known were from men and women who were past the age of eighty. The strength and spiritual maturity that they showed me was life-changing and helped fortify me for the days ahead. Their concern was real and their love heartfelt.
Hearing their collective experiences of previous wars, disease outbreaks and financial downturns put much of what we are currently experiencing into perspective. The biblical verses of comfort and godly thoughts they expressed far exceeded my awareness. Their leadership on this terrible pandemic rang so true that I couldn't help but be inspired.
The thing that didn't inspire me was the way that many of these elders had been left out of all the things offered on ZOOM or Facebook, including bible studies and church services. While others in my church can attend our Sunday school, women's bible study classes or even the church's annual meeting online some of the elderly are left with no spiritual services at all.
I thought about calling the church on their behalf. Yet, the church did not ask my opinion, nor did those effected request my assistance. Perhaps it is not what God has anointed me to do? What I decided to do instead was to reach out on my own in whatever ways that seem to make sense.
Reaching out to people requires you to care about and understand their lives. That means spending time with people in meaningful ways. During this lockdown I decided to try and maintain a regular schedule of calling to my senior friends. They gave me much, much more than what I was able to offer them. I investigated their phone and computer situations to see if there was any way my husband and I could talk them through the process of getting ZOOM or livestreaming the church service.
I even thought of loaning out extra tablets that I have to several people. But, I soon learned that they did not have the necessary internet service in place so that I could activate the devices. I also was able to ascertain that several elders did not have a computer capable of getting the audio portion of the livestreamed Sunday service.
I was dissapointed but, my husband suggested using both our mobile phones and his Bluetooth speaker to hook them in when we livestream midweek bible study and Sunday service. Happily it worked! Since they had no visuals, I told them to imagine they were listening to a radio broadcast of our Pastor. I couldn't help but feel that we need to try and find other ways to meet their needs. Not the way we want to do it (technologically) but in a way that would matter to them. I found a lot of them don't want to be forced to use the computer for everything.
I am thinking about sending homemade cards in the mail this week? I could make and drop off a cloth mask at their house. I could asked them if they are stocked up for food. I wish television stations would add some classes for seniors to their programming. Many would prefer to just put their television on. Can you think of anything to do? I respect my elders more than ever these days. As I talked on the telephone to them, I saw a rich inner resourcefulness, patience, virtue and a deep faithfulness to God. God bless them all and keep them safe.
.
I haven't felt the same love extended to those in the sixty-five plus age category as I have for other groups. Whereas there is positive support for the younger crowd to bolster their spirits and practical suggestions posited for how to do that, there seems to be a cold and calculated approach to those in the elder range.
What do elders think and feel when they hear all day long on the news how older people will die? They just are so old and have so much wrong with them that it is inevitablly fatal according to most reports. Yes, there are the feel good miracle stories of this or that ninety year old who has survived and has a positive message for us all. But, it seems a bit forced to me.
Most of the news coverage about the effects upon the elderly have fell flat as far as I am concerned. They lack real empathy and concern. Where are the senior exercise classes, thoughts for the day, or encouragement to learn a phrase a day in Portuguese or German? What about the elderly talking on camera about their daily experiences under this lockdown?
The answer is that we need to do better. As persons of faith we are called to respect the gift of life from conception to natural death. We need to come up with practical ways to express that. The elders of society were once thought to be a source of wisdom for our greater society. They were considered the bearers of wisdom and historical information. Now, we go to google for that!
In a time when we look up to and worship technology, that inevitably means that we relegate the elders to the trash bin of life, just like our old DVD players. The elders are invisible because they have not, by and large, embrassed the so-called advance of technology. They may not be using Apple Pay instead preferring good old paper currency. They may prefer the telephone and mail box to ZOOM, Facetime, or email. They often have older computers and don't wish to update them every other day.
No Tik-Tok, instagram, Pinterest, and suffice it to say they might not even be thinking of what essential Apps they need for the week to come! Shall I go on? You know that I will. Heaven forbid they might still have a dictionary to look up a word, want to pay by check, or prefer to see their children in-person rather than see them on a screen. This makes them invisible.
Our answer frequently is to get them a tablet, or an i-Phone. It might save their life we think. This blog post has been percolating in my mind during the past six weeks as I have dealt with the elders in my life. Oh yes and I forgot some of them still prefer percolated coffee over all the other top coffee contenders of our day!
How can we do better? The answer is to get off our high horse and stop thinking that we are smarter than they are or that technology has all the answers. What would you do if there was a power outage? If you are like my neighbor, you rush right over to see if I still have power or a generator capable of recharging her mobile phone.
I could see the stress and alarm she was suffering over the low energy bars indicated on her phone. Was there a, hi, how are you doing in there somewhere? You know the answer to that. What if there is one of those wars where an enemy knocks out the other countries internet? Are you breaking into a cold sweat just thinking about that? Be very afraid because, the elders might just be the only ones who know how to take over if that happens.
Some of my experiences with the elderly during this pandemic have been extraordinary. The first few calls that I received when the full scope of the Wuhan virus was known were from men and women who were past the age of eighty. The strength and spiritual maturity that they showed me was life-changing and helped fortify me for the days ahead. Their concern was real and their love heartfelt.
Hearing their collective experiences of previous wars, disease outbreaks and financial downturns put much of what we are currently experiencing into perspective. The biblical verses of comfort and godly thoughts they expressed far exceeded my awareness. Their leadership on this terrible pandemic rang so true that I couldn't help but be inspired.
The thing that didn't inspire me was the way that many of these elders had been left out of all the things offered on ZOOM or Facebook, including bible studies and church services. While others in my church can attend our Sunday school, women's bible study classes or even the church's annual meeting online some of the elderly are left with no spiritual services at all.
I thought about calling the church on their behalf. Yet, the church did not ask my opinion, nor did those effected request my assistance. Perhaps it is not what God has anointed me to do? What I decided to do instead was to reach out on my own in whatever ways that seem to make sense.
Reaching out to people requires you to care about and understand their lives. That means spending time with people in meaningful ways. During this lockdown I decided to try and maintain a regular schedule of calling to my senior friends. They gave me much, much more than what I was able to offer them. I investigated their phone and computer situations to see if there was any way my husband and I could talk them through the process of getting ZOOM or livestreaming the church service.
I even thought of loaning out extra tablets that I have to several people. But, I soon learned that they did not have the necessary internet service in place so that I could activate the devices. I also was able to ascertain that several elders did not have a computer capable of getting the audio portion of the livestreamed Sunday service.
I was dissapointed but, my husband suggested using both our mobile phones and his Bluetooth speaker to hook them in when we livestream midweek bible study and Sunday service. Happily it worked! Since they had no visuals, I told them to imagine they were listening to a radio broadcast of our Pastor. I couldn't help but feel that we need to try and find other ways to meet their needs. Not the way we want to do it (technologically) but in a way that would matter to them. I found a lot of them don't want to be forced to use the computer for everything.
I am thinking about sending homemade cards in the mail this week? I could make and drop off a cloth mask at their house. I could asked them if they are stocked up for food. I wish television stations would add some classes for seniors to their programming. Many would prefer to just put their television on. Can you think of anything to do? I respect my elders more than ever these days. As I talked on the telephone to them, I saw a rich inner resourcefulness, patience, virtue and a deep faithfulness to God. God bless them all and keep them safe.
.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Passover, COVID-19 & Resurrection
Here we are in the midst of the High Holy Days of the Judeo-Christian calendar. We commemorate and celebrate Passover and Easter at this time of the year. There is a natural connection between those holidays and the topic of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, there are so many threads tying these topics together I scarely know where to begin.
As I cook, clean and try to stay occupied with good goals during this COVID-19 lockdown I think about the meaning of it all. How did the virus start? How do you get it, transmit it and what are some of the effects of the disease? What are some of the best treatment options? What are the best ways to survive it? Could it really be so bad that it is necessary to shut down the entire world? Is there a mass hysteria overtaking our planet? What aren't they telling us? Finally, biblically speaking, do these events hold special prophetic significance? (Hint: if reading Confessions of a Westchester Christian Housewife has thought you anything, it is that all the questions matter.)
The story of the Passover in Exodus, takes place during a bleak time in the history of the Jewish people. They were enslaved in the land of Egypt. The promise that God had made to His chosen people, to make them a nation and a blessing to all mankind was about to begin. Moses was to tell the pharaoh of Egypt to release the Jewish people from the bonds of slavery and to allow them to leave the country.
In denying this request, the Pharaoh was thwarting the plans of God Almighty and this has and always will bring consequences. Judgement and punishment of wrong doing would begin with natural disasters befalling the land of Egypt. It is maddening as you read the story of Pharaohs' hardened heart. His pride would not allow him to stem the tide of devastation by accepting defeat and following God's decree to let His people go! Is there a lesson in that for us?
The devastation befalling Egypt took the form of natural disasters. The word used to describe this in Exodus is plague. We are seeing a lot of the same natural disasters written of in the story of Passover happening again today. Besides the virus that began in China which is currently plaguing the entire world, there is a huge plague unfolding in Africa right now. It is the plague of locusts. Those locusts will lead to crop failures. Death and destruction are breaking out as it did during the first Passover, and we have to ask ourselves, what are the lessons? What are the takeaways? What can we do spiritually?
The answer lies in Easter Sunday, in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We all need to be saved, and we all need to be saved by the blood of the lamb. That blood first saved every Jew as they hunkered down in their homes over three thousand years ago. Families huddled together knowing that a terrible devastation, that was worst than anything else that had happened, would arise. Without the blood of the lamb over the door of their household the Angel of Death would visit their home.
Never has this part of the story seemed so alive to me, as I now huddle in my own home, with Bible verses such as Exodus 12:13 scrawled on my dining room chalk board. (The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt -Exodus 12:13).
A question is asked at the traditional Passover dinner: why is this night different than all other nights? My question this year is: why is this night similar to that first Passover? We pray for deliverance from the events occuring all around us whether they be locusts, COVID-19 or financial ruin. We pray to be with the Lord should something befall us. We have a choice to make just like back then, do we follow God or Pharaoh? Exodus 15:26 illuminates an important point, that is of obedience and allegiance to God. Exodus 15:26 states, if you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.
As Jesus gathered His disciples on Holy Thursday, it would be the day that marked His last Passover meal. That night he commerated the first Passover but, this time, he made himself the lamb whose blood was shed. Events unfolding that night and in the days and weeks to follow would confirm that.
There are many challenges currently on all of our plates. Challenges personally, for our families, nation and the world. We are not in control of the vast majority of these events. What we can control, is the decision to choose Jesus and following God in whatever way that we are able to in our sphere of influence. That includes not acquiescing to changes which will undermind our basic freedoms. Those freedoms include freedom of assembly, speech, freedom to make our own medical decisions, run our families and being free to worship God.
Stay close to God. Happy Passover, and Easter.
As I cook, clean and try to stay occupied with good goals during this COVID-19 lockdown I think about the meaning of it all. How did the virus start? How do you get it, transmit it and what are some of the effects of the disease? What are some of the best treatment options? What are the best ways to survive it? Could it really be so bad that it is necessary to shut down the entire world? Is there a mass hysteria overtaking our planet? What aren't they telling us? Finally, biblically speaking, do these events hold special prophetic significance? (Hint: if reading Confessions of a Westchester Christian Housewife has thought you anything, it is that all the questions matter.)
The story of the Passover in Exodus, takes place during a bleak time in the history of the Jewish people. They were enslaved in the land of Egypt. The promise that God had made to His chosen people, to make them a nation and a blessing to all mankind was about to begin. Moses was to tell the pharaoh of Egypt to release the Jewish people from the bonds of slavery and to allow them to leave the country.
In denying this request, the Pharaoh was thwarting the plans of God Almighty and this has and always will bring consequences. Judgement and punishment of wrong doing would begin with natural disasters befalling the land of Egypt. It is maddening as you read the story of Pharaohs' hardened heart. His pride would not allow him to stem the tide of devastation by accepting defeat and following God's decree to let His people go! Is there a lesson in that for us?
The devastation befalling Egypt took the form of natural disasters. The word used to describe this in Exodus is plague. We are seeing a lot of the same natural disasters written of in the story of Passover happening again today. Besides the virus that began in China which is currently plaguing the entire world, there is a huge plague unfolding in Africa right now. It is the plague of locusts. Those locusts will lead to crop failures. Death and destruction are breaking out as it did during the first Passover, and we have to ask ourselves, what are the lessons? What are the takeaways? What can we do spiritually?
The answer lies in Easter Sunday, in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We all need to be saved, and we all need to be saved by the blood of the lamb. That blood first saved every Jew as they hunkered down in their homes over three thousand years ago. Families huddled together knowing that a terrible devastation, that was worst than anything else that had happened, would arise. Without the blood of the lamb over the door of their household the Angel of Death would visit their home.
Never has this part of the story seemed so alive to me, as I now huddle in my own home, with Bible verses such as Exodus 12:13 scrawled on my dining room chalk board. (The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt -Exodus 12:13).
A question is asked at the traditional Passover dinner: why is this night different than all other nights? My question this year is: why is this night similar to that first Passover? We pray for deliverance from the events occuring all around us whether they be locusts, COVID-19 or financial ruin. We pray to be with the Lord should something befall us. We have a choice to make just like back then, do we follow God or Pharaoh? Exodus 15:26 illuminates an important point, that is of obedience and allegiance to God. Exodus 15:26 states, if you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.
As Jesus gathered His disciples on Holy Thursday, it would be the day that marked His last Passover meal. That night he commerated the first Passover but, this time, he made himself the lamb whose blood was shed. Events unfolding that night and in the days and weeks to follow would confirm that.
There are many challenges currently on all of our plates. Challenges personally, for our families, nation and the world. We are not in control of the vast majority of these events. What we can control, is the decision to choose Jesus and following God in whatever way that we are able to in our sphere of influence. That includes not acquiescing to changes which will undermind our basic freedoms. Those freedoms include freedom of assembly, speech, freedom to make our own medical decisions, run our families and being free to worship God.
Stay close to God. Happy Passover, and Easter.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
On the Front Lines of a War
Right now we are all on the front lines of a war. Who was it who said that, "war is hell?" If you have read your bible you know exactly what that means. We were all living a very different life a very short time ago before events dramatically changed everything.
We were working, playing, and learning. We were going on vacations, business trips or getting ready for a wedding. Some women just received news of a miracle pregnancy, others just began their hospital treatment regime. What about all the businesses that just opened only to immediately close? The answer is that all of our lives have been interrupted.
People all over the world are gripped by fear and anxiety as they mull over the mind-numbing and heart stopping information on screens every second of every day about the COVID-19 virus. So much of the information seems confusing and conflicting. Most people I know don't know what to think.
There is a lot of insecurity now. What will be the financial outcome for my family, country and the world? Will we survive this or could we catch it and succumb to the disease? I met my husband while we both resided in New York City. We met through a mutual friend, named Sal*. Sal owns and manages an apartment building on the upper east side of Manhattan.
This used to be one of the most beautiful and desirable addresses in New York City. Not anymore. Not since NYC has become one of the epicenters of the Wuhan virus in the United States. In fact, since my last blog post, New York State has been declared a disaster area. This official designation allows for certain emergency help and monies to be released to the area.
Hospitals are being built in convention centers and other large venues to cope with the overflow of patients that officials expect will exponentially grow and fill them. Auto factories, and breweries are being converted into ventilator and hand sanitizer manufacturers. This sounds like I am right in the middle of World War II or the plague.
Sal asked me what I thought his chances of survival would be if he contracted the virus. That is heartbreaking to contemplate. I am praying everyday that nothing happens to him, my family or my church. I pray for my friends who have risk factors for catching the virus and I pray for all my readers.
What are we to do with all this as we deal day in and day out with this adversity? The answer is we were created for such a time as this. This is real life and our turn to shine. It is not a time to grab all the meat so that no one in line behind you can get any. It is not a time to run away from New York with no concern for anyone you might infect in the next state should you have the virus.
Now that we can't go to the shopping mall or eat at a restaurant, is it our time to contemplate the deeper meaning of life? Who are we, and why are we here? Is it just to serve our own selfish needs? Is there a God who created us and has imbued us with eternity and the desire to know Him?
If that is the case don't we have anything better to do than shake our asses, do drugs and listen to music which glorifies evil on a beach during our college spring break? What about binge watching Netflix? Should you really continue treating your parents badly, when you realize their lives may end suddenly? Doesn't it seem petty to be fighting and acting out with those that you are housebound with?
What should we do instead? Rise to meet the challenge. Call people and help them through this. Don't watch social media and news reports about this all day long. Get a morning and an evening update instead. Try to stay in as much as possible, use what supplies that you have in the cupboards and refrigerator before you go shopping. No sense increasing your chance of getting the virus since people are the main vector. You might realize you don't need to shop so much and you can be content with a little less than you thought you could.
Let go of things that you have no control over. Don't be so angry at the way things are being handled, do we really think we could do better than the officials managing the situation? Most of us harbor anger against something being done or not done in our community to combat the virus? Let us contemplate for a moment that there can be no perfect way of dealing with a killer virus. It will reek sickness, death, and financial destruction. What we are really angry at is, the truth about life. King Solomon describes the seasons of life very well in the Book of Ecclesiastes. There are times of joy and sorrow, life and death. We must accept that and make our peace with it.
Forgive people that you have been holding a grudge against, and read your bible. Pray too. This will be the fuel you need to see past and through the events unfolding. As you work through some of your thoughts and feelings and turn to God's comfort in the situation, you will fine yourself trying to work with the situation the best that you can.
I went out in my spring garden and gathered some fallen branches. They are all over the ground after the winter season. I fashioned a cross and used some twine to secure it in the middle. I then stuck some plastic flowers into the twine and I thought about the upcoming feast of the Resurrection.
* the name was changed to protect privacy.
We were working, playing, and learning. We were going on vacations, business trips or getting ready for a wedding. Some women just received news of a miracle pregnancy, others just began their hospital treatment regime. What about all the businesses that just opened only to immediately close? The answer is that all of our lives have been interrupted.
People all over the world are gripped by fear and anxiety as they mull over the mind-numbing and heart stopping information on screens every second of every day about the COVID-19 virus. So much of the information seems confusing and conflicting. Most people I know don't know what to think.
There is a lot of insecurity now. What will be the financial outcome for my family, country and the world? Will we survive this or could we catch it and succumb to the disease? I met my husband while we both resided in New York City. We met through a mutual friend, named Sal*. Sal owns and manages an apartment building on the upper east side of Manhattan.
This used to be one of the most beautiful and desirable addresses in New York City. Not anymore. Not since NYC has become one of the epicenters of the Wuhan virus in the United States. In fact, since my last blog post, New York State has been declared a disaster area. This official designation allows for certain emergency help and monies to be released to the area.
Hospitals are being built in convention centers and other large venues to cope with the overflow of patients that officials expect will exponentially grow and fill them. Auto factories, and breweries are being converted into ventilator and hand sanitizer manufacturers. This sounds like I am right in the middle of World War II or the plague.
Sal asked me what I thought his chances of survival would be if he contracted the virus. That is heartbreaking to contemplate. I am praying everyday that nothing happens to him, my family or my church. I pray for my friends who have risk factors for catching the virus and I pray for all my readers.
What are we to do with all this as we deal day in and day out with this adversity? The answer is we were created for such a time as this. This is real life and our turn to shine. It is not a time to grab all the meat so that no one in line behind you can get any. It is not a time to run away from New York with no concern for anyone you might infect in the next state should you have the virus.
Now that we can't go to the shopping mall or eat at a restaurant, is it our time to contemplate the deeper meaning of life? Who are we, and why are we here? Is it just to serve our own selfish needs? Is there a God who created us and has imbued us with eternity and the desire to know Him?
If that is the case don't we have anything better to do than shake our asses, do drugs and listen to music which glorifies evil on a beach during our college spring break? What about binge watching Netflix? Should you really continue treating your parents badly, when you realize their lives may end suddenly? Doesn't it seem petty to be fighting and acting out with those that you are housebound with?
What should we do instead? Rise to meet the challenge. Call people and help them through this. Don't watch social media and news reports about this all day long. Get a morning and an evening update instead. Try to stay in as much as possible, use what supplies that you have in the cupboards and refrigerator before you go shopping. No sense increasing your chance of getting the virus since people are the main vector. You might realize you don't need to shop so much and you can be content with a little less than you thought you could.
Let go of things that you have no control over. Don't be so angry at the way things are being handled, do we really think we could do better than the officials managing the situation? Most of us harbor anger against something being done or not done in our community to combat the virus? Let us contemplate for a moment that there can be no perfect way of dealing with a killer virus. It will reek sickness, death, and financial destruction. What we are really angry at is, the truth about life. King Solomon describes the seasons of life very well in the Book of Ecclesiastes. There are times of joy and sorrow, life and death. We must accept that and make our peace with it.
Forgive people that you have been holding a grudge against, and read your bible. Pray too. This will be the fuel you need to see past and through the events unfolding. As you work through some of your thoughts and feelings and turn to God's comfort in the situation, you will fine yourself trying to work with the situation the best that you can.
I went out in my spring garden and gathered some fallen branches. They are all over the ground after the winter season. I fashioned a cross and used some twine to secure it in the middle. I then stuck some plastic flowers into the twine and I thought about the upcoming feast of the Resurrection.
* the name was changed to protect privacy.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
It's Here !
Psalm 57:1- “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me. For my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I take refuge until destruction passes by.”
After my last blog post entitled THE VIRUS (January 31), there has been an exceleration of the worldwide transmission of THE VIRUS and, with that a myriad of consequences. The virus has been responsible for untold illness, pain, fear, brutality, death and economic turmoil.
Now, the coronavirus that just came out of Wuhan, China (also known as COVID-19) has arrived in Westchester County, New York. I knew it would arrive here sooner rather than later. Why? Because Westchester County is home to major movers and shakers. It is not uncommon for me to go to a local coffee shop and run into someone trying to coffee up after a quick trip to China for a business meeting.
China for a New Years' celebration? Sure! Should we go to Italy to enjoy a Carnival season and parade? Of course. Cruises here and cruises there. Cruises everywhere. These are the perks of having money. For many in Westchester County, the world is their oyster.
On any given day, Many are traveling to or from Westchester County from any number of exotic locations for business or pleasure (preferably both). People brag forever about that time they ate blowfish, or about sharing fried locusts while finalizing a business deal. Crunchy I hear, like Rice Krispies.
When you have people in your County all over the globe it is easy to see how this could be a conduit for bringing in any sort of contagion that is going around be it COVID-19, Ebola or anything else that you can think of. Add in taking a plane, after you are infected, and that further spreads the pathogens in the community.
Now all around me, I see the look of panic on people's faces and hear it in their voices. For people who are used to being in control, this is a nightmare. There are schools closing for deep cleaning because a parent was working at a hospital that received a patient who later turned out to test positive for COVID-19. There is a girl who attended a social event where a boy later received confirmation that he had THE VIRUS.
A middle school teacher tested positive for COVID-19 in Scarsdale and now all of the Scarsdale public schoolbs will be closed for two weeks to prevent the further spread of this virus. Deep cleansing in Mount Vernon schools and libraries have been executed. Many other schools and libraries in the vicinity are taking the same step as a precautionary measure. The Governor of New York has even locked down a one-mile square hot-zone in the city of New Rochelle, which is Westchesters' epicenter for corona. He has sent the national guard to assist in that situation. They will disenfect public spaces and deliver food to quarantined individuals.
Are you experiencing any of this where you live yet? It all seems surreal to me. Does it to you? Going to a supermarket for my normal bi-weekly shopping trips are anything but normal now. I drive to stores crowded with people and I can't even get my usual brands of toilet paper or disinfectant because people are panic buying. I know that I am blessed to get any at all and am grateful for that.
I must admit that this is all getting to me! That is until I went to church this past Sunday. I found myself in a sea of calm. People who were not panicking. People who were carrying on normal conversations. My favorite is the people in their 80's who are living life to the fullest. They are singing in the choir, ushering, and still playing tennis and taking exercise classes.
I must admit I don't have the quiet resilience that these folks have. I pray many times throughout the day for strength and calm. I am holding onto lifesaving scripture chapters and verses. For example, Exodus 12:13 which speaks of God's protection and the covering that the blood of the Lamb affords. I have placed this message on a chalk board in my dining room. I have also bookmarked Psalm 91 on my i-Phone so these words of God are always close-by. This chapter is a constant source of help to me. It quickly puts me back to where I should be and the mindset that I should have.
Exodus 12:13
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
After my last blog post entitled THE VIRUS (January 31), there has been an exceleration of the worldwide transmission of THE VIRUS and, with that a myriad of consequences. The virus has been responsible for untold illness, pain, fear, brutality, death and economic turmoil.
Now, the coronavirus that just came out of Wuhan, China (also known as COVID-19) has arrived in Westchester County, New York. I knew it would arrive here sooner rather than later. Why? Because Westchester County is home to major movers and shakers. It is not uncommon for me to go to a local coffee shop and run into someone trying to coffee up after a quick trip to China for a business meeting.
China for a New Years' celebration? Sure! Should we go to Italy to enjoy a Carnival season and parade? Of course. Cruises here and cruises there. Cruises everywhere. These are the perks of having money. For many in Westchester County, the world is their oyster.
On any given day, Many are traveling to or from Westchester County from any number of exotic locations for business or pleasure (preferably both). People brag forever about that time they ate blowfish, or about sharing fried locusts while finalizing a business deal. Crunchy I hear, like Rice Krispies.
When you have people in your County all over the globe it is easy to see how this could be a conduit for bringing in any sort of contagion that is going around be it COVID-19, Ebola or anything else that you can think of. Add in taking a plane, after you are infected, and that further spreads the pathogens in the community.
Now all around me, I see the look of panic on people's faces and hear it in their voices. For people who are used to being in control, this is a nightmare. There are schools closing for deep cleaning because a parent was working at a hospital that received a patient who later turned out to test positive for COVID-19. There is a girl who attended a social event where a boy later received confirmation that he had THE VIRUS.
A middle school teacher tested positive for COVID-19 in Scarsdale and now all of the Scarsdale public schoolbs will be closed for two weeks to prevent the further spread of this virus. Deep cleansing in Mount Vernon schools and libraries have been executed. Many other schools and libraries in the vicinity are taking the same step as a precautionary measure. The Governor of New York has even locked down a one-mile square hot-zone in the city of New Rochelle, which is Westchesters' epicenter for corona. He has sent the national guard to assist in that situation. They will disenfect public spaces and deliver food to quarantined individuals.
Are you experiencing any of this where you live yet? It all seems surreal to me. Does it to you? Going to a supermarket for my normal bi-weekly shopping trips are anything but normal now. I drive to stores crowded with people and I can't even get my usual brands of toilet paper or disinfectant because people are panic buying. I know that I am blessed to get any at all and am grateful for that.
I must admit that this is all getting to me! That is until I went to church this past Sunday. I found myself in a sea of calm. People who were not panicking. People who were carrying on normal conversations. My favorite is the people in their 80's who are living life to the fullest. They are singing in the choir, ushering, and still playing tennis and taking exercise classes.
I must admit I don't have the quiet resilience that these folks have. I pray many times throughout the day for strength and calm. I am holding onto lifesaving scripture chapters and verses. For example, Exodus 12:13 which speaks of God's protection and the covering that the blood of the Lamb affords. I have placed this message on a chalk board in my dining room. I have also bookmarked Psalm 91 on my i-Phone so these words of God are always close-by. This chapter is a constant source of help to me. It quickly puts me back to where I should be and the mindset that I should have.
Exodus 12:13
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Psalm 91- 1-16
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Letter To A Wife
An anonymous letter arrived at the home of my Christian friend Maria* late last summer. It was quite a shock to everyone. Have you ever heard of the expression, "let sleeping dogs lie?" I have never been a fan of that philosophy of life but, I must admit that since this letter has arrived, there have been times when I can't help but wonder why someone would send a letter outlining things that happened so very long ago. Things that have long passed and that you can't do anything about. What's the point of that?
I met Maria a while ago when my marriage was in trouble. Her marriage was in trouble too. I guess she didn't know how much trouble it was in at the time. Maria and I bonded over our love of the Lord and our determination to follow God even through the tough times of marital turmoil. She was a constant source of strength for me and she fought harder than anyone I have ever known to try and turn her own marriage around.
Unfortunately, she was not able to reach her husband João's* heart and rekindle that flame of love that they once had. The marriage ended in divorce as a result of her catching him in the act of adultery. The break-up of her long marriage was not easy for Maria. But, that was years ago. So why was she getting some anonymous letter in the mail now many years after the dissolution of her marriage?
The letter had a silly sounding, obviously made-up name and the phony address was of an armory in White Plains, New York. The letter addressed my friend by name. It contained a bombshell that none of us ever wanted to hear or expected. The letter stated that my friend's ex-husband João* had a very long-term affair. The writer of the letter seemed like a stalker or at least someone who has been in the background of my friend's life for a very long time.
The mysterious writer stated an affair started when my friend and her husband had a baby. They would drop that child off for daycare everyday and according to the writer of the letter, the woman was a close friend of the child's caretaker. She cruelly taunted my friend by stating everyone knew and was laughing at her.
When my friend got to this point, I was totally creeped out. Who says mean things like that? A sociopath? Another spurned lover of her husband perhaps? Thank God that at least the letter did not contain an explicit threat to my friend. However, I felt worried and protective of Maria and concerned for her safety. I am such a mother hen sometimes, but it was not without reason. The writer seemed to taunt her like a cat playing with a mouse.
The anonymous letter hinted that one of Maria's siblings had been aware of the affair, ouch and meow! She hinted that Maria's daughter took her father's side in the divorce, ouch and meow! They even had the nerve to advise my friend to tell her daughter about this affair to straighten things out. A cat will watch and wait for the right moment to pounce no matter how long it takes. You can see this cat seems to know everything about my friend's life up until the present even the fact that Maria's daughter doesn't know of her father's affair.
When Maria's marriage to her husband João broke up many years ago, she made a conscious decision not to put her daughter in the middle of it. She thought talking to her daughter about the adultery she had discovered might hurt her and create a wedge between her and her father. Furthermore, if João wanted to tell his grown daughter, it was his choice. At that time, I do remember a few of Maria's girlfriends wanted her to tell her daughter and let her know that while Maria was working hard to repair her marriage this is what her father was doing. Maria thought as a Christian that this would have been revengeful and wanted no part of it. Could one of her girlfriends have written this letter now?
Maria tried to investigate the veracity of this letter after she received it. She was able to contact her daughter's long ago babysitter. The woman reluctantly confirmed that João had an affair with her friend but, she claimed that she didn't know about it until her friend was dying. Poor Maria felt like she had been made a fool of. This story has more layers than an onion and it makes you cry too. Maria had some sleepless nights and crying spells but had decided to move on and to let it go.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. During the Thanksgiving holiday, the anonymous letter writer struck again! I was busy shopping and planning for my Thanksgiving meal when the caller I.D. on my phone revealed Maria's number. I knew it was something important because Maria never calls during her family holidays. Maria was quite distraught and didn't know what to do or how to proceed as she announced that more anonymous letters had been written. This time, two of Maria's sisters were the recipients.
I knew this wasn't over and I'm not sure when it will be. What does this deranged person really want? The timing of these newest letters shows you the destructive and cruel tendencies of this individual and what they are capable of. Maria was looking forward to time with her family, especially her grandchildren. This person was trying to destroy that tranquility and insinuate themselves into this holiday time.
As a Christian, it is essential to follow God's way even at times like this. When feelings and thoughts emerge it is important as the Bible puts it to, "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Jesus Christ"-2 Corinthians 10:5b. We have to seek God and His wisdom at such moments and resist the urge to follow our wrong-headed thinking. Maria and I began talking over the latest letters and tried to make sense of this whole crazy thing.
It was hard for a kind-hearted woman such as Maria to understand why someone would try to disrupt the special family time of a holiday. I sensed the writer wanted to humiliate my friend and ruin her enjoyment of it. This is so far from her mindset that it caused her a panic of sorts. I asked her if I could pray as I thought it was essential to go to Jesus with all of this in prayer. My friend and I did pray multiple times about this matter. The most touching prayer was for the phantom letter writer.
As we talked over all the newest revelations of the Thanksgiving letters, we naturally reached a point where she was ready to forgive and lift up the person who was hurting her at that moment. Jesus said this in Matthew 5:44 : "But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." There is a power when we can work through the issues of our life and then sincerely get to the point when we can trust God to give that perfect justice and release our problems to Him.
But, as I stated, this whole thing may not be over. This is the second time that we have prayed and forgiven this crazy letter writer. God gives perfect justice but, is this person done with their venomous assault? What was their purpose? Are they dangerous? Knowing the content of each letter I can tell you that I feel this person may have borderline personality disorder. Who did this? Here are the suspects: a borderline friend or former friend, another used and discarded and very angry ex-lover of João's, or an unhappy family member, even her ex-husband.
Each of these possibilities exist because of the way that sin can operate in people's life. The profile of this person would be someone who has an anger problem, is manipulative, and has bad communication skills. This individual would have exhibited poor problem-solving skills and be known to hold grudges. The person could be living a life of regret now and even may have turned to alcohol. What do you think readers?
* the names and a few details have been changed to protect identities.
I met Maria a while ago when my marriage was in trouble. Her marriage was in trouble too. I guess she didn't know how much trouble it was in at the time. Maria and I bonded over our love of the Lord and our determination to follow God even through the tough times of marital turmoil. She was a constant source of strength for me and she fought harder than anyone I have ever known to try and turn her own marriage around.
Unfortunately, she was not able to reach her husband João's* heart and rekindle that flame of love that they once had. The marriage ended in divorce as a result of her catching him in the act of adultery. The break-up of her long marriage was not easy for Maria. But, that was years ago. So why was she getting some anonymous letter in the mail now many years after the dissolution of her marriage?
The letter had a silly sounding, obviously made-up name and the phony address was of an armory in White Plains, New York. The letter addressed my friend by name. It contained a bombshell that none of us ever wanted to hear or expected. The letter stated that my friend's ex-husband João* had a very long-term affair. The writer of the letter seemed like a stalker or at least someone who has been in the background of my friend's life for a very long time.
The mysterious writer stated an affair started when my friend and her husband had a baby. They would drop that child off for daycare everyday and according to the writer of the letter, the woman was a close friend of the child's caretaker. She cruelly taunted my friend by stating everyone knew and was laughing at her.
When my friend got to this point, I was totally creeped out. Who says mean things like that? A sociopath? Another spurned lover of her husband perhaps? Thank God that at least the letter did not contain an explicit threat to my friend. However, I felt worried and protective of Maria and concerned for her safety. I am such a mother hen sometimes, but it was not without reason. The writer seemed to taunt her like a cat playing with a mouse.
The anonymous letter hinted that one of Maria's siblings had been aware of the affair, ouch and meow! She hinted that Maria's daughter took her father's side in the divorce, ouch and meow! They even had the nerve to advise my friend to tell her daughter about this affair to straighten things out. A cat will watch and wait for the right moment to pounce no matter how long it takes. You can see this cat seems to know everything about my friend's life up until the present even the fact that Maria's daughter doesn't know of her father's affair.
When Maria's marriage to her husband João broke up many years ago, she made a conscious decision not to put her daughter in the middle of it. She thought talking to her daughter about the adultery she had discovered might hurt her and create a wedge between her and her father. Furthermore, if João wanted to tell his grown daughter, it was his choice. At that time, I do remember a few of Maria's girlfriends wanted her to tell her daughter and let her know that while Maria was working hard to repair her marriage this is what her father was doing. Maria thought as a Christian that this would have been revengeful and wanted no part of it. Could one of her girlfriends have written this letter now?
Maria tried to investigate the veracity of this letter after she received it. She was able to contact her daughter's long ago babysitter. The woman reluctantly confirmed that João had an affair with her friend but, she claimed that she didn't know about it until her friend was dying. Poor Maria felt like she had been made a fool of. This story has more layers than an onion and it makes you cry too. Maria had some sleepless nights and crying spells but had decided to move on and to let it go.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. During the Thanksgiving holiday, the anonymous letter writer struck again! I was busy shopping and planning for my Thanksgiving meal when the caller I.D. on my phone revealed Maria's number. I knew it was something important because Maria never calls during her family holidays. Maria was quite distraught and didn't know what to do or how to proceed as she announced that more anonymous letters had been written. This time, two of Maria's sisters were the recipients.
I knew this wasn't over and I'm not sure when it will be. What does this deranged person really want? The timing of these newest letters shows you the destructive and cruel tendencies of this individual and what they are capable of. Maria was looking forward to time with her family, especially her grandchildren. This person was trying to destroy that tranquility and insinuate themselves into this holiday time.
As a Christian, it is essential to follow God's way even at times like this. When feelings and thoughts emerge it is important as the Bible puts it to, "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Jesus Christ"-2 Corinthians 10:5b. We have to seek God and His wisdom at such moments and resist the urge to follow our wrong-headed thinking. Maria and I began talking over the latest letters and tried to make sense of this whole crazy thing.
It was hard for a kind-hearted woman such as Maria to understand why someone would try to disrupt the special family time of a holiday. I sensed the writer wanted to humiliate my friend and ruin her enjoyment of it. This is so far from her mindset that it caused her a panic of sorts. I asked her if I could pray as I thought it was essential to go to Jesus with all of this in prayer. My friend and I did pray multiple times about this matter. The most touching prayer was for the phantom letter writer.
As we talked over all the newest revelations of the Thanksgiving letters, we naturally reached a point where she was ready to forgive and lift up the person who was hurting her at that moment. Jesus said this in Matthew 5:44 : "But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." There is a power when we can work through the issues of our life and then sincerely get to the point when we can trust God to give that perfect justice and release our problems to Him.
But, as I stated, this whole thing may not be over. This is the second time that we have prayed and forgiven this crazy letter writer. God gives perfect justice but, is this person done with their venomous assault? What was their purpose? Are they dangerous? Knowing the content of each letter I can tell you that I feel this person may have borderline personality disorder. Who did this? Here are the suspects: a borderline friend or former friend, another used and discarded and very angry ex-lover of João's, or an unhappy family member, even her ex-husband.
Each of these possibilities exist because of the way that sin can operate in people's life. The profile of this person would be someone who has an anger problem, is manipulative, and has bad communication skills. This individual would have exhibited poor problem-solving skills and be known to hold grudges. The person could be living a life of regret now and even may have turned to alcohol. What do you think readers?
* the names and a few details have been changed to protect identities.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Vandalism at The Church
Some churches within Westchester County, New York have recently been vandalized. These actions span the range of hooliganism from: breaking signs, stealing small church accoutrements, to the more serious and costly acts of breaking windows and toppling statues. This appears to be connected to the decisions to allow same-sex marriages by said churches.
Many of the vandalized churches recently and prominently showcased gay pride flags next to various Christian symbols in the front of their churches. The most recent vandalism, at post time, featured the name of an apostle, which the church is named after, next to a gay flag. The sign was cleft between that name and the flag. Symbolic? Perhaps.
The Pastor of the church had a very angry and seemingly unchristian attitude in response. This was in sharp contrast to other priests and ministers who in public statements were voicing words of forgiveness. In fact, the aforementioned Pastor seemed more like she was running for a political office, then running a church. She also seemed to have a tone of self-righteousness proclaiming that her church was preaching rightly on gay marriage. Either that, or it's a case of me thinks the Pastor doth protest too much!
I feel saddened at the destruction of property and costly damages that some churches will have to contend with. I wonder what a person or persons are feeling as they go through preparing to commit an act of vandalism. It seems so foreign to me. My parents instilled the notion of respect for the property of others. They did not want me to so much as run across a neighbors lawn, nor take an apple from someone's low hanging tree because "it is not your property."
Dog walking was supposed to be in the street according to my parents. They let me know that letting our dog urinate or defecate on someone's property was not right. Parents have an immense responsibility to teach and mentor their children on the topic of respect for property. For instance, I remember many teachable moments in my childhood where a newspaper contained a story of vandalism. My parents almost never missed an opportunity to point out the moral wrongs of these actions.
Next point: the perpetrators of these crimes were clearly making a statement about the current debates going on within the Church. Even at moments like this my parents worked their parental muscles when they pointed me in the direction of fair debate, and honorable political action such as voting for candidates who uphold biblical standards. If we don't like a church's position have we stood up for godly principles at that church? Do we need to attend another church? These are the ways to stand up for godliness, but not by vandalizing a church. The action that some took destroying an historic organ in a New Jersey Methodist church was not a correct response to the Methodist Churches' decision to split their denomination over LGBT marriage and ordination.
What does this all point to? It all points to moral war raging within our world. How should believers respond? The answer is by understanding the underlying principles of this war. This war is a spiritual battle between good and evil, between right and wrong. If we want to be on the side of good we must understand the principles of the spiritual warfare occurring in the world and respond accordingly. We must pray and live a life of faith in God even when the world is against us. We must read our bibles everyday and continue to reverence the gift of salvation that is Jesus Christ. Below is a primer on this topic, including what the problem is and how we are directed as Christians to face it. It is tempting to take things into our own hands but whenever I feel that way, I read this passage and remember Gods's direction to me on this matter.
Ephesians 6:11-18 says, Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devils's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power's of the worlds' darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, take up your full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayer for all the saints.
Many of the vandalized churches recently and prominently showcased gay pride flags next to various Christian symbols in the front of their churches. The most recent vandalism, at post time, featured the name of an apostle, which the church is named after, next to a gay flag. The sign was cleft between that name and the flag. Symbolic? Perhaps.
The Pastor of the church had a very angry and seemingly unchristian attitude in response. This was in sharp contrast to other priests and ministers who in public statements were voicing words of forgiveness. In fact, the aforementioned Pastor seemed more like she was running for a political office, then running a church. She also seemed to have a tone of self-righteousness proclaiming that her church was preaching rightly on gay marriage. Either that, or it's a case of me thinks the Pastor doth protest too much!
I feel saddened at the destruction of property and costly damages that some churches will have to contend with. I wonder what a person or persons are feeling as they go through preparing to commit an act of vandalism. It seems so foreign to me. My parents instilled the notion of respect for the property of others. They did not want me to so much as run across a neighbors lawn, nor take an apple from someone's low hanging tree because "it is not your property."
Dog walking was supposed to be in the street according to my parents. They let me know that letting our dog urinate or defecate on someone's property was not right. Parents have an immense responsibility to teach and mentor their children on the topic of respect for property. For instance, I remember many teachable moments in my childhood where a newspaper contained a story of vandalism. My parents almost never missed an opportunity to point out the moral wrongs of these actions.
Next point: the perpetrators of these crimes were clearly making a statement about the current debates going on within the Church. Even at moments like this my parents worked their parental muscles when they pointed me in the direction of fair debate, and honorable political action such as voting for candidates who uphold biblical standards. If we don't like a church's position have we stood up for godly principles at that church? Do we need to attend another church? These are the ways to stand up for godliness, but not by vandalizing a church. The action that some took destroying an historic organ in a New Jersey Methodist church was not a correct response to the Methodist Churches' decision to split their denomination over LGBT marriage and ordination.
What does this all point to? It all points to moral war raging within our world. How should believers respond? The answer is by understanding the underlying principles of this war. This war is a spiritual battle between good and evil, between right and wrong. If we want to be on the side of good we must understand the principles of the spiritual warfare occurring in the world and respond accordingly. We must pray and live a life of faith in God even when the world is against us. We must read our bibles everyday and continue to reverence the gift of salvation that is Jesus Christ. Below is a primer on this topic, including what the problem is and how we are directed as Christians to face it. It is tempting to take things into our own hands but whenever I feel that way, I read this passage and remember Gods's direction to me on this matter.
Ephesians 6:11-18 says, Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devils's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power's of the worlds' darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, take up your full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayer for all the saints.
Friday, January 31, 2020
The Virus
By now, wherever you are, you have heard of the novel coronavirus emerging from Wuhan, China. The virus hunter, Dr. Guan Yi who first helped identifiy the SARS virus of 2003, has pronounced the seriousness of this outbreak as only one who has seen it all can caution, he says that he is scared. The World Health Organization has officially gone on record declaring this to be a worldwide emergency.
As I write this post, I am aware of the number of people in China who are sick growing exponentially to 10,000 cases, and at least twenty countries reporting cases. That is the official tally. The actual number of cases may be much higher. Dr.Yi is right, this is scary isn't it? Oh Lord preserve and protect us!
This is reading like a story of the past, such as the Black Plague or the Flu Pandemic of 1918-1920. I remember reading all the stories of pandemics and epidemics as a child. I read how they began, how they progressed and the cold, hard statistics of death and devastation. We now know that the story of the Wuhan coronavirus will be recorded and preserved in history alongside these other events.
Whereas science and history record the cold, hard facts, it is the charge of religion, literature and poetry to describe the human and spiritual experiences of life. Turning to these stories as a child truly gave me the full context and human toll of pain, suffering, life, death and nobility. It told the story of saints who ran into danger while the rest of the people ran away from it, such as Fr. Damien who served the lepers of Molokai. Read the modern version of Fr. Damien in my blog post about Graham Staines (February 11, 2019).
What of the doctors who served the people dying of the Black Plague and who died doing that? Or the everyday men and women who served their families and communities amid hopeless circumstances and disease outbreaks? These are the heroes of the human story. People who were
serving not because they were ordered to but because they saw the higher purpose and nobility of it all. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.-John 15:13
The Bible tells us many stories of illness, and plague. It talks of service and love. How do we put that all together at a moment like this? What is the Christian response to such a disaster? The grim saga unfolding before us brings out all our instincts for survival. Our instincts to follow God are revealed in what we do next. Are we fighting at the market to get that last cabbage? Or, even though we know that we are sick, do we get on a bus or plane and risk infecting others? These are the normal things that we all feel compelled to do in our fight for survival. It is natural.
Without God’s Holy Spirit within our lives, we would not have the strength to face the sense of calling in those situations. We are called to be light* and salt* where we are planted by God. There could be food shortages but, what we all have can be shared to lightened the burden of hunger. We may want to travel to the best hospital to get treatment for our coronavirus but without traveling under medical supervision we risk other people’s lives. Love your neighbor as yourself.
The Bible tells us that we have an earthly existence and then an eternal existence. We all think we know how that will unfold. Some people tell me, my mother and father lived to be very old, and I will too. Others think themselves too important to die and reason that they should survive because of their great medical skills, artistic mastery or intellectual prowess.
When something like the coronavirus comes along it challenges all our suppositions as well as our spiritual fortitude. If you are reading this gripped with fear, I understand. You may wonder what the truth is about this virus, and may wonder if you are at risk. The media whips people up into a frenzy in the quest to get more viewership. The fact is you would do best to follow standard medical wisdom to reduce your chance of catching a communicable disease. Please wash your hands often under warm water and soap up for about 15 seconds. If you need to sneeze, be thoughtful of others by covering your nose and mouth and sneezing into a tissue, or sneezing into your elbow. Disinfect all surfaces often because the World Health Organization suggests the virus may live for a time on surfaces touched by infected individuals. It is time to bring these simple precautions to our schools, workplace, church, and other public settings. However, Do not fear. -Deuteronomy 31:6
For those in China, where every region now has recorded cases of this virus, the danger is upon them. We are not entitled to another breath of life, but God graciously has endowed us with it and will see us through any and all crisis if we ask Him into our life and make Him our Lord and Savior. As precious as it is, this life isn’t the last step in our journey. We must live our life with integrity and courage as we face uncertain circumstances knowing that when it is our time to die that because of the atoning death of Jesus Christ we can go to be with God. Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.-Psalm 23:4
* To be salt: Salt is a preservative. A believer needs to preserve the good in a world gone wrong.
To be light refers to bringing light to some dark situations.
As I write this post, I am aware of the number of people in China who are sick growing exponentially to 10,000 cases, and at least twenty countries reporting cases. That is the official tally. The actual number of cases may be much higher. Dr.Yi is right, this is scary isn't it? Oh Lord preserve and protect us!
This is reading like a story of the past, such as the Black Plague or the Flu Pandemic of 1918-1920. I remember reading all the stories of pandemics and epidemics as a child. I read how they began, how they progressed and the cold, hard statistics of death and devastation. We now know that the story of the Wuhan coronavirus will be recorded and preserved in history alongside these other events.
Whereas science and history record the cold, hard facts, it is the charge of religion, literature and poetry to describe the human and spiritual experiences of life. Turning to these stories as a child truly gave me the full context and human toll of pain, suffering, life, death and nobility. It told the story of saints who ran into danger while the rest of the people ran away from it, such as Fr. Damien who served the lepers of Molokai. Read the modern version of Fr. Damien in my blog post about Graham Staines (February 11, 2019).
What of the doctors who served the people dying of the Black Plague and who died doing that? Or the everyday men and women who served their families and communities amid hopeless circumstances and disease outbreaks? These are the heroes of the human story. People who were
serving not because they were ordered to but because they saw the higher purpose and nobility of it all. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.-John 15:13
The Bible tells us many stories of illness, and plague. It talks of service and love. How do we put that all together at a moment like this? What is the Christian response to such a disaster? The grim saga unfolding before us brings out all our instincts for survival. Our instincts to follow God are revealed in what we do next. Are we fighting at the market to get that last cabbage? Or, even though we know that we are sick, do we get on a bus or plane and risk infecting others? These are the normal things that we all feel compelled to do in our fight for survival. It is natural.
Without God’s Holy Spirit within our lives, we would not have the strength to face the sense of calling in those situations. We are called to be light* and salt* where we are planted by God. There could be food shortages but, what we all have can be shared to lightened the burden of hunger. We may want to travel to the best hospital to get treatment for our coronavirus but without traveling under medical supervision we risk other people’s lives. Love your neighbor as yourself.
The Bible tells us that we have an earthly existence and then an eternal existence. We all think we know how that will unfold. Some people tell me, my mother and father lived to be very old, and I will too. Others think themselves too important to die and reason that they should survive because of their great medical skills, artistic mastery or intellectual prowess.
When something like the coronavirus comes along it challenges all our suppositions as well as our spiritual fortitude. If you are reading this gripped with fear, I understand. You may wonder what the truth is about this virus, and may wonder if you are at risk. The media whips people up into a frenzy in the quest to get more viewership. The fact is you would do best to follow standard medical wisdom to reduce your chance of catching a communicable disease. Please wash your hands often under warm water and soap up for about 15 seconds. If you need to sneeze, be thoughtful of others by covering your nose and mouth and sneezing into a tissue, or sneezing into your elbow. Disinfect all surfaces often because the World Health Organization suggests the virus may live for a time on surfaces touched by infected individuals. It is time to bring these simple precautions to our schools, workplace, church, and other public settings. However, Do not fear. -Deuteronomy 31:6
For those in China, where every region now has recorded cases of this virus, the danger is upon them. We are not entitled to another breath of life, but God graciously has endowed us with it and will see us through any and all crisis if we ask Him into our life and make Him our Lord and Savior. As precious as it is, this life isn’t the last step in our journey. We must live our life with integrity and courage as we face uncertain circumstances knowing that when it is our time to die that because of the atoning death of Jesus Christ we can go to be with God. Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.-Psalm 23:4
* To be salt: Salt is a preservative. A believer needs to preserve the good in a world gone wrong.
To be light refers to bringing light to some dark situations.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Jealousy In The Church
I ran into someone I had not seen for awhile at a New Year's Day Party. I originally met this woman when I was on the Board of a certain non-profit in Westchester County, New York. It occurred to me at the time how she stood out as a genuinely kind and caring person. She was well-liked and well-respected by those around her.
So, it was quite a surprise to hear that she had recently gotten thrown out of a local church. When she mentioned this at a table crowded with atheists and new age believers, everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to Megan's* story. It was like throwing out some chum for sharks!
I must admit I was curious too. Megan is originally from the Midwest. People from the Midwest generally tend to be nicer than New Yorkers. I think New York just got voted the rudest state in the Union, didn't we? So, Megan is basically the nicest person in Westchester County. What could she have done to raise the ire of the elders or Pastor such that they would ask her to leave?
The story unfolded during the Christmas season. Wow, is it just me or do you already feel the irony of someone getting thrown out of a church at Christmastime. She must really have a side that I have never seen, right?
Here is the story. Megan was the concert master for her churchs' annual Christmas production of Handel's Messiah. Recently, a new choir director had been hired. He wanted to bring in his own orchestra and choir master at that point. Megan told us that, "she was fine with that." That is until some, perhaps well-meaning, members of the congregation told her that she should continue in this long-held position. Megan brooched the topic with the new choir director who acquiesced and agreed to allow her to continue her role in that capacity.
The problem is, that he didn't mean it. Instead, he was deeply insulted. He could not let it go. His ego could not stand it. Megan called it music politics. Sure, music politics at the New York Philharmonic but at a local church? Does this seem like godly behavior to you? Nor did any of the atheists and new age believers think much of the Christian world when they heard this story. They are right too.
After hearing the non-believing crowd tear the church to pieces, it was my turn to chime in and say what I thought. I started by telling Megan that I was sorry that this had happened to her. I continued to explain that, in any church there are a variety of people at varying levels of Christian maturity. We are all a work in progress that God is working on. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you are perfect just forgiven. Within a "body of Christ" we should be accountable to one another in a kind way. The Bible tells us if someone offends us to go and tell him alone. When we do this and solve the problem immediately we show the power of God in our life and the life of the church. Why couldn't they talk this out?
When are we Christians going to let Christ be the head of our Church? This story highlighted something that we all need to think about. How do we handle the so-called politics of positions at our local church? Are we drunk with the power of our volunteer or paid position? Are there factions in our churches? The effects of factions are damaging and can destroy a church. The Bible uncovers what often lies beneath our disagreements. (For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."-James 3:16.)
I find it incongruent to think of hearing the words from the book of Isaiah proclaiming the coming Messiah sung in a church and imaging the resentment and factional disputes that lie underneath it all. Yet, isn't that what the Bible tells us, all our deeds are as a filthy rag-Isaiah 64:6. That description well fits the effect of what this church did in their musical performance.
We are sinners. This manifests itself in all that we do. We need to understand this, confess our sins to God and ask Him to help us to be more holy. We ought to obey and follow what the Word of God instructs us to do when conflict arises. (To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”- John 8:31-32.) Spoiler Alert: the Word of God never advises fighting over who gets to play the lead role in Handel's Messiah.
I know Megan and her husband have started to attend another church but I invited her to visit my church as well. I am praying that she does not confuse this all too human conflict with who Jesus is and what He did for her, because Jesus was a man just like us in every way except sin. He is her Savior and Lord.
* the names are changed to protect people's identity.
So, it was quite a surprise to hear that she had recently gotten thrown out of a local church. When she mentioned this at a table crowded with atheists and new age believers, everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to Megan's* story. It was like throwing out some chum for sharks!
I must admit I was curious too. Megan is originally from the Midwest. People from the Midwest generally tend to be nicer than New Yorkers. I think New York just got voted the rudest state in the Union, didn't we? So, Megan is basically the nicest person in Westchester County. What could she have done to raise the ire of the elders or Pastor such that they would ask her to leave?
The story unfolded during the Christmas season. Wow, is it just me or do you already feel the irony of someone getting thrown out of a church at Christmastime. She must really have a side that I have never seen, right?
Here is the story. Megan was the concert master for her churchs' annual Christmas production of Handel's Messiah. Recently, a new choir director had been hired. He wanted to bring in his own orchestra and choir master at that point. Megan told us that, "she was fine with that." That is until some, perhaps well-meaning, members of the congregation told her that she should continue in this long-held position. Megan brooched the topic with the new choir director who acquiesced and agreed to allow her to continue her role in that capacity.
The problem is, that he didn't mean it. Instead, he was deeply insulted. He could not let it go. His ego could not stand it. Megan called it music politics. Sure, music politics at the New York Philharmonic but at a local church? Does this seem like godly behavior to you? Nor did any of the atheists and new age believers think much of the Christian world when they heard this story. They are right too.
After hearing the non-believing crowd tear the church to pieces, it was my turn to chime in and say what I thought. I started by telling Megan that I was sorry that this had happened to her. I continued to explain that, in any church there are a variety of people at varying levels of Christian maturity. We are all a work in progress that God is working on. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you are perfect just forgiven. Within a "body of Christ" we should be accountable to one another in a kind way. The Bible tells us if someone offends us to go and tell him alone. When we do this and solve the problem immediately we show the power of God in our life and the life of the church. Why couldn't they talk this out?
When are we Christians going to let Christ be the head of our Church? This story highlighted something that we all need to think about. How do we handle the so-called politics of positions at our local church? Are we drunk with the power of our volunteer or paid position? Are there factions in our churches? The effects of factions are damaging and can destroy a church. The Bible uncovers what often lies beneath our disagreements. (For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work."-James 3:16.)
I find it incongruent to think of hearing the words from the book of Isaiah proclaiming the coming Messiah sung in a church and imaging the resentment and factional disputes that lie underneath it all. Yet, isn't that what the Bible tells us, all our deeds are as a filthy rag-Isaiah 64:6. That description well fits the effect of what this church did in their musical performance.
We are sinners. This manifests itself in all that we do. We need to understand this, confess our sins to God and ask Him to help us to be more holy. We ought to obey and follow what the Word of God instructs us to do when conflict arises. (To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”- John 8:31-32.) Spoiler Alert: the Word of God never advises fighting over who gets to play the lead role in Handel's Messiah.
I know Megan and her husband have started to attend another church but I invited her to visit my church as well. I am praying that she does not confuse this all too human conflict with who Jesus is and what He did for her, because Jesus was a man just like us in every way except sin. He is her Savior and Lord.
* the names are changed to protect people's identity.
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