Monday rolls around again. How many Mondays have there been since this pandemic started? Five, six, seventy? It seems like it is many more than it is. That is what happens when you don't have regular things to hang your hat upon. One day seems like the rest. There is not much to make a difference between one day or the next.
The word on this day is that things are going to begin to slowly open up again. Restaurants might begin to open but they will need to have certain protocols in place. There is good news for women! Hair salons might begin to open up again. Yes, you will have to wear a mask to get your hair done, but think about it this way, at least you can get your hair cut before it gets too long. For those of you that have hair that has really gotten long, perhaps you could donate to Locks of Love. Are they taking donations at this time? Or has that closed down because of this virus as well? I don't have the answer for this question.
I am looking forward to the day when we are told that we can begin to gather together for worship on the weekend again. If they say we could start to having gatherings of 50 or less, we could have both Saturday and Sunday worship. We would move the Saturday worship from the chapel to the sanctuary, which would give us the ability to socially distance. Think about it, worshiping together! WooHoo! That will be the day. I am so excited to think about being able to lead worship in person rather than live streamed. It is so tough not having you in in the church building for worship. Nothing takes the place of actually being together for worship.
There are things that cause me to shake my head. This naming of things as essential and non-essential. Church are non-essential. Adult porn places are essential. What, you ask? As Penny and I were out and about this last weekend, we were driving down an interstate. We drove by several of those places of filth and the parking lots were full. Yes, they were open. That means that porn places were essential but churches aren't. Teaching about Christ is non-essential. Watching porn movies is essential That shows you what is wrong in our world. Marijuana dispenseries were still open because it was essential for people to have their drugs for recreational purposes. Really? Smoking pot is essential but worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ is not? Are we nuts?
And the answer is, yes. OK, maybe not nuts, but we are sinful people. This world is sinful. It desires what is sinful and wants nothing to do with that which is good, right and beneficial. To proclaim Christ is not acceptable but to objectify women is all right. To gather to receive the Sacrament is unacceptable but to abort/kill babies is held up as wonderful. This shows one thing. It shows what we need a Savior.
We need Jesus because we are sinners. We need Jesus because this world is fallen. We need Jesus because we desire that which is sinful and destructive. We need Jesus. Period. We need Him. He took our sins upon His shoulders as He went to the cross. He went to the grave for us. He rose victorious for us. He overcame sin, death and the devil for us.
That is why we need to continue to proclaim Christ in this fallen world. We need churches. We need the opportunity to hear the Word and receive the Sacrament. Yes, we hear the Word via live stream which is a blessing. But it does not take the place of actually worshiping together. We remember what the writer to the Hebrews said: And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-24 ESV) As we see the end approaching, as we see all that is going on, we need to be getting together to uplift and encourage each other, to be fed from Word and Sacrament.
Yes, we need Jesus. We need this Savior. We need to be together in worship. We see that with all the issues in this world, all the sin, all the despicable behaviors of people, and it reminds us how much we need a Savior.
Rambling, that is what I find myself doing.
That's a great idea. Carol
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