FRUSTRATING

I am still trying to figure out where we’re at. Now, I am pretty good with maps and know where we are geographically. It would be at 42 27 38 and 83 14 13. For those that are familiar with the spacing of the numbers you know and understand the numbers are latitude and longitude respectively with degrees, minutes and seconds. If those numbers are then plugged into any coordinate program you can pull up online, it will give you South Lyon. If you want to go further down that rabbit hole, a solar calculator for today, Friday, May 15th, gives you an apparent sunrise of 6:45 am for today and 8:10 pm for the sunset at those coordinates. (Apparent because of the refractive nature of the earth.) And now I probably have some of you thinking I really am lost.

The lost I am referring to, is in figuring out where we are with the color coded phase chart that we have for the reopening of Michigan. On one hand it appears we are still in the section “Stay Home, Stay Safe” with remote working which puts us in Phase 2 or the red box. But then again Phase 3 or the orange box allows construction and real estate to start back up, which it has. Both of them have “no gatherings,” so coming back together is still out at the moment. When we get to Phase 4 or the yellow box, we are allowed to have small gatherings, though it doesn’t actually define small.

All of this can be a little frustrating at times. The restrictions placed on us and the staying at home can be very frustrating, especially for those who like to go and do. Believe it or not, it has been less than two months we have had to deal with all of this. What if you had to deal with this for three years? That would put us in the same timeframe where Jesus dealt with some frustrations of His own.

I remember first reading this verse that follows Luke’s account of Jesus being tempted. It is verse 13 of Luke chapter 4 and states, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until a more opportune time.” What!? Satan didn’t leave Jesus permanently?! No, for the three years of Jesus’ ministry Satan was always around looking for an opportunity to pounce on Jesus, to get Him to sin, to go against God. Three years Jesus had to deal with these temptations coming at Him. What these temptations were we don’t know, but most likely of the same nature that we read about in the first 12 verses of chapter 4.

So, we are continuing to deal with our current situation. The frustration of not knowing what phase we are in. Not knowing when we will be able to go back to work. Not knowing when we can have people over for dinner again. Not knowing when sports and other activities will resume. Not knowing when we will be back at the building for services, classes, the JOY Group or other activities. In all of the not knowing where we are, there is one thing we do know. We are children squarely located in the family of God. I John 2:12 “I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” Now, those are coordinates that can make us feel peacefully grounded wherever we are.

Happy where I am located,

Randy

A MOTHER'S DAY LIKE NO OTHER

Mother’s Day weekend is like no other. The Saturday and Sunday of that weekend are the two busiest days of the year for restaurants with an increase of around 60% in customers and revenues up for some by 70% over the average day for the rest of the year. Now this doesn’t apply to all places. Burger places along with pizza and burritos places don’t see the increase and some even experience a decrease in revenues. But you could kinda see that. “Hey mom”, or “sweetheart” where do you want to go eat for Mother’s Day? Not really expecting a “let’s go get a burrito”, to be the reply. So this weekend is a bonanza for restaurants.

This year will be a little different. Yes, you can still get the carry out from most of your favorite restaurants. They may even be running some specials to get you to get carry out from their place. But it won’t be quite the same. The food will come home in a cardboard or styrofoam container, carried in a plastic bag. Quite a let down from a nice plate brought to your table on a tray carried by a server. “Watch it, this may be hot”, won’t be heard. Nor will “I’m going to put some cheese on this, tell me when to stop”. Most likely won’t hear “do you need a refill” or “how about some dessert”. So the food could be the same, but the ambience will be quite different.

So if it’s going to be different, let’s make it different! Rent a hot air balloon. Oh, probably can’t do that, hard to do that whole social distance thingy in those small baskets. Maybe a horse drawn carriage? Those probably aren’t running either. Serenade her from the rooftop of your home. Ah, probably not a good thing for 90% of us. Plus there is the risk of having the police called, not for lack of social distancing, there would probably be plenty of that, but for disturbing the peace. Maybe bath the dog with her. Yea, don’t know where that one came from, but pretty sure we can toss that out. But we can make it special.

What about something a little, no way, out there. Sit her down, take her hands, or have the family circle up all holding hands and pray for mom! I told you it would be a little different than normal. Now I am not saying, for you guys that are thinking it, hey a cheap way out, I don’t have to pay for a meal. No, still enjoy the take out meal from her favorite restaurant. But what about adding something that says how important she is to you and your family. By praying with her and for her on this day we honor her. It would be a little different.

If we claim to be different, we need to be different. That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some of the amenities of the world we live in. But realize all these amenities, all of these restaurants will pass away, the spiritual is what will carry on. Let’s be His people in this world. Let’s be His people this weekend. Let’s be His people for mom. Guys, it is time to step up, and be different. Let’s make this a Mother’s Day like no other!

Praying with my children’s mother,

Randy

THEY WEREN'T WEARING A MASK!

I am pretty much a rule follower. When I go to the store I can’t go in the out door, and can’t go out the in door when I leave. Speed limits? I pretty much follow them, well maybe not heading into Detroit because I don’t want to get rear ended! If there are instructions on cooking, I read them and follow them. Driving into the church parking lot, it would be so easy to just turn left at the Exit Only sign, especially when I am just dropping something off or going to park in that area. But I just can’t. The sign says, thus the rule is, “Exit Only!”

I am trying my best to social distance at this time. I do drop off needed items at homes and go to the building to get the mail and work on some things. Am doing good at not going to the stores more than I need to? Actually I went two weeks without going to Sam’s, when I knew there may be a shortage of things and I should go every other day in case they had those scarce items. When I go out, I have gloves in my pocket if I need them and a Clorox wipe in my hand. I maintain six feet distance, ten if I need to talk to someone. So, I am doing my part.

When I did step into the store the other day, I put my mask on before I left the car. I am not a big fan of them, though I do have a couple of nice masks that were made for me, that I do appreciate. So, in I went with my mask, like a good, little, obedient, rule follower. This is the first time I had been back in this store, Meijer, since the “wear a mask” mandate came down. I saw all kinds of masks as I social distanced my way down the aisles. I also saw in my short time there, almost a dozen people without masks! What?! That is the rule you are to follow! I am not sure if I was appalled, jealous, or indignant. Probably a little of each.

When it comes to following Christ there seems to be a lot of rules. And as I said, I am pretty good at following them. Probably would have made a pretty good--no great-- Pharisee. But over the years it seems like all of the rules boil down to one, though it is phrased different ways. Think of others better than yourself. We have freedom, but we give it up to serve and care for others. The “Golden Rule.” It’s all about others. You are not to see your own good but the good of others. Submission to Christ, to others. THE rule: Eliminate self. Crucify self. Die to self. Any way you phrase it, the point is the same, you are dead! If we follow that one rule, the rest disappear.

Jesus gave us the example of emotionally, spiritually, and physically dying. If we claim to be a Christian, by definition a follower of Christ, we commit to die. Why would I not wear a mask if my concern was the effect I could have on others?

What effect does our not dying to self have on others? Greater than we may know. Take the time to put on the mask, maybe physically, especially metaphorically, when you are around others.

Wearing a mask,

Randy