Random Thoughts
Every once in a while I have to write what’s on my mind, even when it might be multi-layered, a little discombobulated, and look like well-worn rabbit trails.
Not every thought needs to develop into a full-blown, well-sourced article. Not every thought needs to be completely thought through before sharing. Sometimes we need to get our thoughts out of our heads and onto paper (or a screen) in order give our brains some stretching room.
Therefore, consider this more like a spring-time yard sale, only the random objects spread across tables and blankets on the driveway are free for the taking. If you like it, it’s yours!
Bibles
For the record, my mother is dying of cancer. I don’t want to talk about it. All I want to say is that she wanted a new Bible, one she could read without a magnifying glass, and I ordered her one. She was so excited she sounded like Christmas had come.
But aside from getting her Bible in Giant Print, I ordered it in the New Living Translation. That’s worth mentioning because my mother had always been more of a KJV-only type. However, she wanted a new Bible that she could more easily read through large portions in one sitting, as I had recently advised people in our congregation to do.
Even though she probably has no more than a year, at best, she still wanted a new Bible to read. Just think about that for a while.
Government Overreach
I don’t subscribe to most conspiracy theories, at least the ones having to do with little green men, Area 51, and the Kennedy assassination. However, if you were to ask me about Area 52, I could tell you about a secret military base (underground) in Arkansas that is powered off the grid by tectonic plates that create energy through the science of “crowd farming,” and that those plates are found in the tiles of 24-hour Walmarts spread around the state of Arkansas. Oh, and I could point out that there are 52 state parks under 52 million square miles, 52 Super Walmarts in Arkansas, and that Arkansas is the global headquarters of Walmart.
But I won’t. That would be craaaazy! You never heard anything from me. Understand?
On the other hand, it is foolhardy to assume the actions of our government are always in our best interests. Like Ronald Reagan once said, the scariest words in the English language are when the government says, “I only want to help you.” That’s why I think if the Bereans were “more noble” for searching the Scriptures instead of taking Paul’s teachings at face value, we should be noble and search the Constitution and Bill of Rights whenever government says they want to keep us safe.
Hopeful
Lastly, may I just say that I am hopeful? Yes, I’m hopeful that what we are seeing in the world is the beginning of another Great Awakening. The slumbering, comfortable Western Church has been slapped back into reality with the forced closures of it’s sanctuaries and parking lots. We have been forced to take “church” outside of the “four walls of normalcy” and out to where ministry can be done.
One thing is for sure, church will never go back to the way it was: it will be different.
The Recovering Legalist 
So sorry to hear about your mom.
Thanks. We just found out a couple of weeks ago.
Quick question: Has the board of your church met or talked about preparedness for the church. Is their a chemical you will use, and people to use it. And do you have hand sanitizer dispensers purchased. Will the offering be taken up in a different way instead of sharing the plate. Does your heating system/the furnace return air have a 4″ filter that can handle the restriction of a hepa filter a merv 13.
Are you aware that urine of infected people contains the Corona. Do you have a new bathroom prodigal.
—
Does your denomination have a News letter to communicate a plan so that services can start.
—
And will you divide your service making it two services so that the early service will be for elderly and the later for the youth, Or another way to put more space between people.
Will you ask people to take their temperature before they come to church. (not their spiritual temperature. You want the hot ones to come. LoL)
Just figured I would ask.
We have not yet met, but we will. Those types of things will be discussed. Thanks for being concerned.
If you do not have sanitizer dispensers you might want to move on that one. it could take time to get it. And some people will stop coming to church if they feel danger.
Which brings me to another point. Post return, you might loose a few. Is there plans in the works to re-engage people. One Idea that I had was to have an outside service with a BBQ that has no touch service. Bring your own condiments and plates for your touch free burger. Free to the community as well. Bring lawn chairs! And no touching. And advertise people cant come if they have cooties. BYOC to our touch-less BBQ. We are the church that wont shake your hand!
Those are really good ideas!
I try to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Some see the storm in my brain as a negative things. I see brain storms as positive. LoL.
Just had another brain storm. Take out an add in the paper offering to help with funeral arrangements for Your family member or members who have recently died who did not have a church to call home. That in this difficult time, we would like to extend a hand of help. No costs to use our facilities for a funeral. And we can provide the space for you to prepare a reception.
And when they call, you can give the limitations and how much help you and a few people in your church can provide. (its a bit of work for you, and its an outreach, and its an act of love the community will not forget.)
That’s a good idea, but where we are it might not defer much of the cost. The funeral home will charge the same regardless where the services are performed.
Yes, I figured that. The last customer I had with a death in the family just used the Funeral home, but wow, it is not the same. Not to compete, but a kind act like that in a time of crisis even if it saves them nothing. Even mentioning that in the article might cause some people with past church ties to return.
It might not work, but I thought it might be a way to put out your shingle in a compassionate way.
1 John 3:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.