As Christians, we are not exempt from the heartache of trouble, the anguish of suffering, or the sorrows of death. Such burdens are a routine part of life for fallen man because we yet await the deliverance from the bondage of corruption (Rom. 8). But until then, we are faced with the struggles of these valleys. As we walk through these valleys, keeping a spiritual perspective and a right spirit will not be easy. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”— Ps. 23:4. We are promised the presence of God and His staff of protection. It is the comforting presence of the Lord, our Shepherd, that
As the president and the governors of the fifty states set the agenda for reopening everything, our churches must figure out how they are going to handle the transition time. Because of the ongoing uncertainties and what we hear from our Capitol, what cities do may vary from one day to the next. Reopening now could cause a surge in the corona outbreak and result in a spike of deaths. But a failure to reopen is not without fatal consequences either. I’m already hearing reports of increased deaths by drug overdoses, suicide and a variety of other causes. After all, the liquor stores have been open throughout this ordeal; and with people idle at home, you know the Devil is having a field day. T
The month of April is one that we will not forget. It has brought disease and death, defeat and deceits, as well as disappointment and discouragement. A lot of folks are also disillusioned with just about everything and everybody. But now the announcements are already being made about the gradual reopening of the country. That has its risks, its downside; but so does the continued shutdown. We cannot play the proverbial ostrich and bury our heads in the sand. Yesterday ended at midnight, today won’t last forever and tomorrow is on the near horizon. You cannot relive yesterday, but you can grab today by the horns. What you do or don’t do today may have a measurable impact on how good or how b
