I’ve seen Brandon Tatum on Twitter, and watched his interview with Dave Rubin. He is the kind of fellow I like just from reading his bio line: a Texan from Fort Worth, a football player and police officer, and a man who knows Christ as his Lord and Savior. This entire conversation with Dennis Prager is worth an hour, but I have it queued at the 28 minute mark. Listen for at least two minutes. I believe it will be worth your time.
These two articles are worth your time to read:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/04/coronavirus-response-sweden-avoids-isolation-economic-ruin/
You’re looking for something to do anyway, right? Since you’re sheltering in place and all. 😜 Even if you’re an “essential” worker, I encourage you to take time to read them over. 😉 Here are my two cents, and that’s about all the following is worth.
Making decisions rooted in fear and/or ignorance never works out well. That’s true in every situation and on every level. This continued national shutdown will not be positive, not in the short or long term, not positive for our health or our economy, not to mention the extremely negative precedent that is being set.
Now, before you start to say, “But all the experts agree…” just know that all the experts don’t agree. Besides that, how is anyone an “expert” on a novel Coronavirus? And one more thing, many “experts” and not a few media talking heads were only a few months ago preaching how the greatest threat to humanity’s existence and flourishing was climate change. Remember Greta Thunberg?
Yes, COVID-19 is serious, and should be treated as such. Yes, that does mean certain parts of the population should be quarantined and extra precautions practiced by all of the population, but shutting the whole nation down just isn’t a good idea. The longer this gets extended the more that becomes obvious.
Still, let’s make the most of it. Let’s trust in what we do know. God is in control. He is infinitely wise and He is love. Live accordingly. Proclaim that always, and trust Him with the rest.
I want to be a good citizen, not just of the USA but mostly of glory, where my primary citizenship is. I want to protect life, especially the most vulnerable. I want to be wise and lead my church and others accordingly. I’m just not convinced that an indefinite lockdown, and the precedent this has set, is at all wise or helpful.
Proverbs 18:22, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the LORD.”
The good wife, the one who indicates God’s favor on a man, is the wife who is virtuous and prudent (Proverbs 12:4 and 19:14 respectively, with 31:10-31 for good measure). Dianna Gilbert is such a wife, and she is a living, daily reminder of God’s good favor on me.
Today marks our 26th anniversary. I love Dianna more today than I did on our wedding day. Now, you could never have convinced that young soldier, standing at the front of the church in his uniform, watching his beautiful bride escorted down the aisle by her father, that he would ever love her more than he did at that moment. But you could hardly convince that young man of anything 😏 .
How could I love my wife more now than I did then? Believe me, I loved her with all my heart back on November 30, 1991, but we love each other more now because we know more about love, and one another, today than we did then. I love Dianna more now because we’ve walked together, lived together, cried together, laughed together, hurt together, healed together, risked together, been rewarded together. And the more and the longer we do all those things – life – together, the deeper the roots grow and the stronger the love becomes. We have diligently worked, and by God’s grace continue to work, on our marriage and we are delighted that “the roots are deep, the covenant solid, the love is sweet. Life is hard and God is good.”
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Proverbs 16:20, “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”
Smart management of an issue will lead to success. That is self-evident, but always consider the source. We are reading God’s Word, not a self-help manual or a better business guide. Proverbs teaches us that wisdom comes from God, specifically from the scriptures. That is the ground from which we mine true and everlasting wisdom. Only by trusting God’s Word and what it says about our need for salvation and our manner of living, seeing this world and all in it through a biblical lens, and responding accordingly will we find good both in this life and the one to come. Trust in the Lord like that, and happiness will find you.
Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Everyone loves a winner, including believers. Our problem is when we confuse what God means by conqueror with what the world means. Take Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as examples (Daniel 1-6). They were more than conquerors who cooperated in a pagan culture without compromising their Biblical principles or corrupting their Biblical consciences. Spiritual victory does not mean we win every battle. It does mean that we fight every battle with the confidence that the war has been won. Adversity teaches lessons we cannot learn another way. God does not place trials in our lives to overwhelm us, but to teach us that His grace is sufficient. Trust God and be a joyful overcomer!
1 Peter 3:10-11, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
We all want to enjoy life. Today’s passage explains how. (1) Keep your tongue from evil. Choose your words carefully and with construction rather than destruction in mind. (2) Turn away from evil. Don’t do evil and that often requires removing yourself from wicked environments (and people). Trust God for the strength and wisdom to do that. (3) Do good. Just avoiding evil isn’t enough. We must also do good. Repentance requires turning from sin and turning to Jesus. (4) Pursue peace. What good is wanting peace if we don’t pursue peace? Focus on these four principles one at a time. Trust God for a breakthrough with each one. They are key to loving life and living good
I do not know where the following originated, but it’s worth repeating. Even better, it’s worth following!
The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Christ is its subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is given to you in life, will be open in the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy precepts. It tells of grace and mercy for the believer, and justice and wrath for those who do not believe.
Psalm 125:1, “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.”
This truth may be summarized in one word: confidence! Do not confuse this confidence with some self-confidence, self-esteem pabulum from the day time talk shows or book store self-help aisles. The confident self which sings this psalm is not confident in one’s self but confident in the Savior and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. To place our confidence anywhere else is to initiate devastating disappointment for ourselves and others. Assurance is only great when its object is trustworthy. When we are assured of anything by the Eternal One, then we can trust that His assurances are just as eternal as He is. Just as King Jesus’ throne is established forever, so are those whose trust is in Him eternally secured.
1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
What do we do when we are unappreciated, unwanted, unloved, and rejected by those to whom we have sought to minister? Before we “do” anything we must ask ourselves, “What is my motivation?” If we are ministering so that we will be appreciated, wanted, loved, and well-received then our motivations are wrong, but when we are others’ servants for Jesus’ sake (2 Corinthians 4:5) then what we do when we suffer loss at the hands of others is trust God with their judgment. We do not retaliate but seek reconciliation. We give them love in the face of their hostility. This is hard to do, but it is right to do. Trust God.
Grace from Above“Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.” Psalm 84:6
This teaches us that the comfort obtained by one may often prove helpful to another, just as the springs would be enjoyed by the company who came after. When we read some book that is really helpful and encouraging, we recognize that the author has gone ahead of us and discovered these refreshing springs for us as well as for himself. Many books have been like wells drilled by a pilgrim for himself but have proved quite as useful to others. We notice this especially in the Psalms-for example, 42:11: “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?” Travelers have been delighted to see the footprint of man on a barren shore, and we love to see the marks of pilgrims while passing through the vale of tears.
The pilgrims dig the well, but, strangely, it fills from the top instead of the bottom. We use the means, but the blessing does not spring from the means. We dig a well, but heaven fills it with rain. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the Lord. The means are connected with the end, but they do not produce it themselves. Consider here how the rain covers the ground with pools, so that they become useful as reservoirs. The endeavor is not wasted, but still it does not supersede divine help.
Grace may be compared to rain for its purity, for its refreshing and energizing influence, for its coming from above, and for the sovereignty with which it is given or withheld. May our readers have showers of blessing, and may the springs be filled with water! What are the means and ordinances without the smile of heaven! They are like clouds without rain and pools without water. God of love, open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing!
The Coffee House 