What Are We Doing This Month?
I have been enjoying some quiet hours this last while, as we have are adjusting to our self-imposed “quarantine”. Hubby and I are finding our “quiet spots” in an effort to divert our attention from worrisome and sometimes depressing news that tries to invade all of our waking hours. It seems that the more we hear, the more questions we have. Which of the announcements and reported as facts do we believe? Where do we go to find a reliable source of information? Even for those of us who have a spiritual awareness are confronted with many questions within ourselves, and from those around us. What do we do now?
Last Sunday was the final day of Lent, and the places of worship where Palm Sunday would be celebrated were ordered to be closed. Were the services shown on TV, with the pastor, priest or other spiritual leader and the cameramen the only people present in a huge auditorium, authentic and meaningful or just a waste of time? For many, Easter has become more and more a celebration of chocolate bunnies, colored eggs, and family dinners.
Our TV has been one more hours than usual and there are lots of links exchanged between friends on social media, sharing personal stories, cartoons, and unusual photographs. There seemed to be a lack of interest in spiritual expression in recent years, but since our countries have been hit with the pandemic, there are more public statements from a wide variety of “recognizable” and public people, sharing their strong faith in the God of all Creation. They testify to the true meaning of Easter, the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, who became a moral man and gave His life for us, so that we can be forgiven of our sins, and know that we will have everlasting life. Some names are no surprise, like Franklin Graham, Ben Carson, and Mike Huckabee. Others that I’ve watched recently, on YouTube and Twitter, as well as TV, were Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Tim Tebow, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bono, Kirk Cameron, and Justin Bieber. It seems that many people are looking for something beyond themselves to give meaning in their life. The Holy Scriptures are so easily available in our countries, but how many actually read them now? The answers are there for all of us.
I’ll end with an excerpt from a letter that we received last week from a friend who works in China.
“A government official serving in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak first struck, was attempted to find protective face masks for himself and his family, but with no success. One of the local house church pastors in Wuhan was walking the streets in his village, praying for opportunities to share the masks that an International Ministry had provided, as well as the Gospel. Every mask given to a pastor in China is another opportunity to share Christ.
The fearless pastor spotted a government official on the street and said, “Sir, I have something important to share with you, as well as this gift.” He handed him a new mask. “I see you don’t have one and walk the streets unprotected.”
The official was dumbfounded. “I tried buying some for my family but couldn’t. I know my boss has many, yet he didn’t give me one! I am at risk every day while I work. How much is this mask?”
“Free! Have you ever heard the Name of Jesus?” asked the pastor.
“No, but it doesn’t sound Chinese. This man Jesus, did he donate the mask?”
The pastor smiled warmly and said, “If you have ten minutes, I can tell you the story of Jesus.”
“No one has dared to come out of their homes except for you. It’s boring to stand on the streets alone, and you seem like a nice guy. Please tell me about Jesus.”
The pastor spent 30 minutes with the government official and brought him to Christ! He is a member of the Communist and cannot tell others he is a believer, but he has joined the Bible studies conducted over the WeChat app. He is listening to sermons whenever he can. The house church in his area continues to follow up with him and is excited to report he is becoming a firm believer and follower of Christ.”
We don’t often hear stories like this in our media.
Last Sunday was the final day of Lent, and the places of worship where Palm Sunday would be celebrated were ordered to be closed. Were the services shown on TV, with the pastor, priest or other spiritual leader and the cameramen the only people present in a huge auditorium, authentic and meaningful or just a waste of time? For many, Easter has become more and more a celebration of chocolate bunnies, colored eggs, and family dinners.
Our TV has been one more hours than usual and there are lots of links exchanged between friends on social media, sharing personal stories, cartoons, and unusual photographs. There seemed to be a lack of interest in spiritual expression in recent years, but since our countries have been hit with the pandemic, there are more public statements from a wide variety of “recognizable” and public people, sharing their strong faith in the God of all Creation. They testify to the true meaning of Easter, the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, who became a moral man and gave His life for us, so that we can be forgiven of our sins, and know that we will have everlasting life. Some names are no surprise, like Franklin Graham, Ben Carson, and Mike Huckabee. Others that I’ve watched recently, on YouTube and Twitter, as well as TV, were Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry, Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Tim Tebow, Kathie Lee Gifford, Bono, Kirk Cameron, and Justin Bieber. It seems that many people are looking for something beyond themselves to give meaning in their life. The Holy Scriptures are so easily available in our countries, but how many actually read them now? The answers are there for all of us.
I’ll end with an excerpt from a letter that we received last week from a friend who works in China.
“A government official serving in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak first struck, was attempted to find protective face masks for himself and his family, but with no success. One of the local house church pastors in Wuhan was walking the streets in his village, praying for opportunities to share the masks that an International Ministry had provided, as well as the Gospel. Every mask given to a pastor in China is another opportunity to share Christ.
The fearless pastor spotted a government official on the street and said, “Sir, I have something important to share with you, as well as this gift.” He handed him a new mask. “I see you don’t have one and walk the streets unprotected.”
The official was dumbfounded. “I tried buying some for my family but couldn’t. I know my boss has many, yet he didn’t give me one! I am at risk every day while I work. How much is this mask?”
“Free! Have you ever heard the Name of Jesus?” asked the pastor.
“No, but it doesn’t sound Chinese. This man Jesus, did he donate the mask?”
The pastor smiled warmly and said, “If you have ten minutes, I can tell you the story of Jesus.”
“No one has dared to come out of their homes except for you. It’s boring to stand on the streets alone, and you seem like a nice guy. Please tell me about Jesus.”
The pastor spent 30 minutes with the government official and brought him to Christ! He is a member of the Communist and cannot tell others he is a believer, but he has joined the Bible studies conducted over the WeChat app. He is listening to sermons whenever he can. The house church in his area continues to follow up with him and is excited to report he is becoming a firm believer and follower of Christ.”
We don’t often hear stories like this in our media.
Fear is a marvelous motivator
to mature a person’s thinking regarding the essentials of life.
to mature a person’s thinking regarding the essentials of life.
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