Time On The Road……….by Donnie

Today is the 13th day of the 30 day ‘stay at home’ order.  I feel rather than focusing on all the negatives happening right now,  let us remember what today is.  It is the Lord’s Day, and it is Palm Sunday.  Some 2,000 years ago today,  Jesus began His last week on earth before He would be crucified on that Friday, Good Friday, then rise up from the dead on Sunday, Easter Sunday.   Most of us will have to celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday from our homes, online.  This isn’t the way most of us want to celebrate these Holy remembrances, but thankfully we have the technology, and for many of us, the means, to watch on our devices.  Imagine though if the apostle Paul could have preached using a Smartphone or Android from his prison cell.   What if Jesus had used a YouTube channel when He preached the Sermon On The Mount?   Perhaps God didn’t allow that type of technology then was, people wouldn’t remember, they may not have recorded the Word into something lasting.  The Word of God wasn’t recorded on anything fancy, it was written by many authors, inspired by God, thousands of years ago, and exist still today.  Maybe God is using the difficulties we are in right now to bring us closer to Him.  Maybe He has something He really wants us to hear right now.  Are you listening?  I hope I am.

 ⁸ Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. ⁹ The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting,

¹⁰ When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” ¹¹ And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:8-11 NASB

As I write this blog, I am watching the movie God’s Not Dead.  I am so thankful He is not.  Today is day 12 of the 30 day ‘stay at home order’.  It is early spring and yesterday winter decided to make an uninvited encore appearance.  To make matters worse, my company finally decided to obey the recommendations they had been given, and shut down all their stores.  However in doing so, it is without paying their employees, at all, after Friday April 3, 2020.  Additionally, they won’t allow employees to utilize their personal or vacation time.  This is requiring I’m sure, most all of their thousands of employees to file unemployment.  Hopefully this won’t be a terribly long furlough, as they call it.

This isn’t a time for being too anxious, though it may be difficult not to take that approach.  If God wasn’t in charge of the universe, then I would be terrified.  Things seem uncertain right now, but we know as believers, based on God’s word, victory is ours in Jesus.  Things will return to normal, hopefully soon.  People will go back to work again.  Kids will go back to their schools again.  Parks will reopen, sporting events will happen, concerts will resume.  We can hug each other and shake their hands again.  We can all go back to church again instead of online.  But until then, look around. Rabbits are still hopping.  Birds are still singing, dogs are still barking, the trees are budding, the grass is turning green.  The sun is still shinning, the moon is still beaming, and……… God is still in control!

⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 HCSB

It is now day 11 of the 30 day ‘stay at home’ order.  The company I work for continues to embarrass itself, and embarrass me for working there.  Maybe they aren’t embarrassed, but they should be.

I am no Patrick Henry, or Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., or JFK.  All these men once gave great speeches in regard to our freedoms, or helping our fellow Americans.  I am not that kind of gifted orator.  I have no wise patriotic advice that people will be quoting 100 years from now.  And people certainly will not be quoting wise theological advice from me.  I am no Billy Graham or C.S. Lewis either.  I am more like the apostle Paul, though I am forgiven, I fail the Lord often, and too often do the things I know I shouldn’t.

There is an old hymn I remember growing up by Wendell P. Loveless and Will Houghton called Lead Me To Some Soul Today.  The lyrics begin, Lead me to some soul today, oh teach me Lord just what to say.  Like many hymns growing up, and some of the modern contemporary Christian music I hear.  I may hear the song a million times, but not listen until years later.  This song could be a prime example.  I may not have the wisdom of some of our gifted theologians living today, or centuries ago.  But if I trust God to lead me to someone who needs to hear the message of Christ, I can be assured God will speak through me like He has for many others.

Trust….Something God wants us to have, and isn’t always easy for us to do.  God also wants us to have faith.  Faith is what we have in Christ alone to save us from hell.  Trust is what we have in God that He will see us through.  Maybe not the way we expect, or even wish, but He will be with us.

With these current stressful and uncertain times, we must have faith, knowing Christ will save us if we ask Him, and we must trust God to protect us.  Even in the best of times, without both, life has no meaning.

¹⁵ For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶ Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ¹⁷ So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Romans 7:15-20 ESV

We are on Day 10 of a 30 day ‘stay at home’ order. Wednesday, things started shaking up some more.

Sometimes you just have to accept that some things aren’t quite worthy of the pedestal you placed them on.  It is really pointless to go into much detail, other than to say the company I have worked for almost eight years , has seen fit to defy the law, and fine line their own definition of state statues.  In the past, they took a stand against a law that they thought was wrong, took it to the US Supreme Court, and won. I as a Christian, agreed with them.  I had thought then, that they were taking this action because they genuinely believed they were doing  something pleasing to the Lord, by protecting the unborn.  I hope that was indeed their intent, and not their financial bottom line they were worried about safe guarding.  If you had asked me two months ago, I would have told you this company is all about service, doing what is right for their employees, and what is pleasing to God.  Now, it seems the house of cards may have come crashing down.  And it may very well be a crash that all the pieces won’t be put back together.  If their reason for their recent actions was just to squeeze a few more pennies out of a candy peanut, then perhaps they deserve what may befall them.  I just hope and pray it isn’t going to take a lot of hard working, honest employees down with them.

My main worry is not necessarily for my company’s repudiation, that will be tarnished for a long time. That is their pill to swallow. My worry is when they claim they are acting as a Christian company, then act so recklessly irresponsible and not Christlike, and breaking the law, then those who are unsaved watching this unfold, will think all Christians are hypocrites, and be less likely to listen to a saving message about Christ. I pray that will not happen.

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Galations 6:7-8  NKJV

I have always been fascinated with squirrels.  However, they are not the brightest of God’s creatures, as witnessed by their love of playing a real life game of Frogger.  Unfortunately for the squirrel, there are no ties, and they too often become a furry pancake on the street.  At least the squirrel has an excuse, his brain is not as big and as functional as those of a human, he doesn’t know that car he darts around can kill him.

It is day 9 of the ‘stay at home’ order issued for the Kansas City metro.  Many people are being smart, and only going to the store for what they need.  People need groceries.  People need gasoline, people need medicine, they need to go do laundry if they don’t have a way to clean their clothes at home.  People need to go to the doctor, the dentist, or take their pet to the vet if he gets sick.  What people don’t need right now are home decor items, craft paint, bandannas.  I get that there are exceptions, and if so, many items that can be found at a specialty store can also be found at a store that truly has a legitimate reason for being open.  And it is OK to go out on a run, or a walk, hiking or a bike ride, alone. Or with people living in your household.  Too many people however have less brains then the squirrel, and think they need a bag of candy, or a cheap canvas at a craft store.  They couldn’t buy it at a craft store if said craft store wasn’t digging for loopholes in the law to remain open, risking the health of others.  Sooner or later, there is going to be a big Frogger like splat, if some businesses don’t start being more cooperative.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV 

The last several days have been beautiful outside, I have been able to log over 120 miles in the last 10 days.  Slowly, I am getting back to form.  I love the outdoors, especially on warm days.  So much to see, and so much to observe.  Nature is a great gift from God.  I believe the beauty of nature is proof to the existence of God.  Sadly, some people misunderstand this, and instead of worshiping the God who created nature, they worship nature.  As Christians, we need to live a life that shows the world the God who created nature, and not live a life like nature created a god.

It is now day eight of the 30 day ‘stay at home’ order….but, circumstances have arisen where a fine line has been drawn in the sand as to what a business can and cannot “legally” do.  The company I work for has tried to draw that ‘fine line”, and I am disappointed, shocked, and almost ashamed.  I would expect that kind of nonsense out of the kind of businesses, attorneys and politicians who failed scruples 101.  I had thought better of my workplace, until now.  I hope, I wish, I pray that that some kind of sense can be made out of their actions.  That maybe there is something where I don’t know the full story.  I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it is increasingly becoming more difficult.   My prayer continues for this horrible pandemic to end. My prayer also is for my family, my friends, my co-workers, and I consider many of my co-workers friends, and for all who are suffering.  Most important, my prayer is that those who don’t know Jesus shall find Him.  That they change from not trusting Jesus, to trusting Him as the only way to be saved.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

  2 Peter 3:9 ESV

In yesterday’s blog I mentioned the verses from the Gospel of John (chapter 21) where Jesus Himself cooked breakfast for His apostles, and how that would be the best breakfast served ever.  As I thought more on that, I wonder.  What would it be like if Jesus were here today in human flesh, here in 2020?  What if He showed up in your kitchen and started cooking breakfast for you?  Would He ask you how you like your eggs, or if you like your coffee black?  He’d know the answer anyway.  I wonder if He  would like coffee too?  He did after all create the coffee bean.  He must have known it made a refreshing drink that many people would enjoy.  Myself, I don’t drink coffee,  maybe I should.  Truth is, I don’t know if in this lifetime, if Jesus will ever appear to any of us in human flesh for a chat over breakfast.  That doesn’t mean He is not in your kitchen. He is always listening.  If you don’t yet know Him as your Savior, cry out to Him, He will save you.  (John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10)

This begins day seven of the 30 day ‘stay at home’ order.  Apparently my workplace is going to try and reopen today on a smaller scale with fewer employees. I haven’t yet been called in.  I guess someone, somewhere, decided we are an essential business.  We’re not.  Not sure how this is going to play out.  Some decision maker may be looking down the business end of a hefty fine.

Right now it seems difficult not to worry about the immediate future, what is going to happen, or how long we will be in this situation.  But we as Christians know worrying is not what God wants us to do, trusting Him is.  And we need to step up our ambassadorship for Christ, people are watching us.

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:26-27 ESV

This is day 6 of the 30 day ‘stay at home’ order.  So much has happened so quickly as this horrible COVID-19 continues to spread.  The country, it seems, for all intents and purposes, has come to a slow crawl.  Trying to make sense of this, and what to expect next is futile.  Prayer is key to holding our country, our world, and ourselves together.  And by the way, God wants us to talk to Him.  I’ve read a few stories about how other generations handled health crisis, one in particular, the words of Martin Luther in 1527 concerning the Bubonic plague.

““I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”

Today is Sunday, March 29, 2020.  This will be the third Sunday in a row I’ve been required to worship online.  This gives me some ideal what it must be like for my fellow believers who are unable to attend church on a regular basis.  Whether it be because of illness, or incarceration, deployment, or whatever it may be.  One thing to me is certain.  When it is determined it is safe to return, I think that day will be but a small taste of Heaven, when I can worship in person with my brothers and sisters in Christ once again.  As the hymn goes, ‘what a day of rejoicing that will be.’

It is early Sunday morning. 1:30AM to be more exact.  Soon it will be breakfast. Chick-fil-A is out of the question on a Sunday morning.  And I applaud their stance of being closed on Sunday, even if it is delicious.  I can think of one breakfast that would have Chick-fil-A beat, hands down.  It would be the best breakfast ever.  If I could have been on that beach when Jesus Himself was cooking breakfast.  No breakfast ever could come close.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

¹¹ Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

John 21:10-13 NKJV

We have reached day five of the 30 day ‘stay at home’ order for most of the Kansas City metro.  I always enjoy finding something I haven’t noticed, or paid much attention to before.  Today it was a windmill.  This interesting looking structure caught my eye around mile 9 or 10 of my 17+ mile walk today.  Looking at it, I think it is more of a weather vane.  But, since it sits in a small shopping center called Windmill Square, I guess we will call it a windmill.

I have always thought how nice it would be, if I could have extended paid time off,  and have all the time I wish to pursue my hobbies of walking, running and writing.  Well, here I am.  I am walking, I’m about to start my running up again, and I am writing.  And,  I am getting paid.  Sort of.  I say sort of, because it is my personal time and vacation I have to use, my company is not chipping in anything yet.  But, that is another issue.  It is not worth opening that can of worms.

This isn’t really a matter of me making lemonade out of  lemons.  I’m being asked to social distance the best I can, which I try to do. For now, I can enjoy doing what I like, and it doesn’t involve being around many people.  The social distance thing will change when organized races begin once more, hopefully then, we will be ahead of the curve.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

I can’t wait to start races again, hopefully that day will be soon.

It is now day four of the mandatory ‘stay at home’ order.  President Trump is about to sign the stimulus package into law, after Senators and Congress drug their feet getting something done.  I am just ready for normalcy, where we can all go back to work, and stimulate the economy with hard work and American know how.  I don’t think the country has been in this much turmoil in my memory since September 11, 2001.  The events that tragic day were evil to be sure, and Americans were frightened.  But we were also resilient, and we stood proud, and strong.  We will again, but we have to support each other, we have to help each other.  We must trust God above all, and pray.