A pastor friend was telling me about a discussion among fellow pastors about COVID-19. Specifically, in military terms, what was degraded, what was disrupted, what was destroyed? For example, the Sunday gathering has certainly been disrupted. Has it been destroyed? Will we ever go back to “the way it was”?

Some people think that meetings have been degraded. I have not found that to be the case. Some of the best meetings I’ve had, ever, have been by Zoom or FaceTime, maybe because we’ve not been distracted.

Which brings me to today’s blog. Can we think about how COVID-19 adjustments have actually enhanced our ministry? I’ve already written about post-worship-service conversations in our church that wouldn’t have happened with “business as usual.”

And last week I heard from my Navigator friend Randy Raysbrook telling about a summer program originally scheduled for Colorado Springs. Please listen in on this encouraging story:

Every year we invite select university students from all of the world to come to Colorado Springs to learn how to study the Bible deeply, share their faith naturally, and love authentically. We give them practical tools so they can pass on to others what they have learned. That way the kingdom flows like a river into families, tribes, neighborhoods, and nations. After much planning, just before the students were to arrive in Colorado Springs, the COVID virus beat them here and the program had to be closed down.

But people prayed, God worked, and creative minds used their imaginations…In no time at all, a new program was created that was even better than the original one. We are just now finishing up our first week of the summer with 52 people from 20 countries, representing 25 ethnicities in 11 time zones. Using new technologies we are all interconnected 24 hours a day and can talk, send photos, discuss our Bible studies, and pray together. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to see a Nepalese business major have the opportunity to chat with someone in Norway. A woman from Cameroon living in Russia can share what she is learning about practicing the presence of God with an American staff in Iowa…The nature of the program draws young men and women who are hungry learners with servants’ hearts. Most of these students will remain in their own countries to become salt and light to the next generation…

Many thought the COVID virus would be nothing but a problem. Our problem became God’s opportunity. We just wanted you to know He is alive and well. – Randy and Marilyn Raysbrook, June 2020 (emphasis mine)

Adapting our approach and succeeding despite obstacles is not new. Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote:

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (Philippians 1.12 – 14, NIV)

I wrote yesterday about the good-natured ribbing some sports fans give each other about their respective teams. We’re from different “tribes;” we recognize that and kid about it sometimes, but we get along. We’d like to think it’s like that about race or ethnicity differences. We see differences, but deep down, we know we’re all the same, or at least we’re not defined by those differences. But some people do define others by their differences.

I found Waking Up White by Debby Irving to be an eye-opener on so many levels. If you are among those with doubts about “white privilege” and “systemic racism,” I recommend you read the book. As my friend and former pastor Dr. John Ed Mathison of Montgomery, Alabama, wrote recently, we need to listen, learn, and love.

One story from the book sticks with me. It’s about “True Colors,” a segment from ABC’s Primetime, 1991. Here’s what Debby wrote:

I recommend you watch the segment for yourself. It’s only 17 minutes. And then, as John Ed wrote, listen, learn, love.

To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. (Proverbs 18.13, NIV)

The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. (Proverbs 20.23, NIV)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21.3, NIV)

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13.34, 35, NIV)

I just had an interesting exchange with Josh of Officers Christian Fellowship who is responsible for posting some videos I shot to replace my speaking engagement at Spring Canyon which was canceled for COVID-19. To illustrate teamwork, I usually show a video of the final play in Clemson’s victory over Alabama in January 2017. It’s reduced to a slide for the video presentation.

Our email conversation went like this:

• Josh: I just saw your slides, Bob…specifically the Clemson image. I’m afraid I cannot allow this to be posted, especially when it was a blatant illegal pick-play that won the game for Clemson.
• Bob: As I told the last guy who said that, “If it had been an illegal pick play, surely it would have been called!” Are you an Alabama guy or an Ohio State guy? 😊
• Josh: Roll Tide Roll. [He’s an Alabama guy!]
• Bob: I have degrees from Clemson AND Auburn. War Eagle!
• Josh: Oh my goodness. I’m afraid those videos won’t be posted until next year sometime!
• Josh: All joking aside… Do you have a short bio and maybe a photo I can include when I post your video to the OCF website?

All in good fun. Even though we’re members of different tribes (universities and teams we root for), we recognize our oneness in Christ and commitment to the same mission. We also recognize, as do most sports fans, that who we root for defines little else about us. Our talents, our character, our work ethic, etc. Perhaps our approach to race and ethnicity should be similar.

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7.9, 10, NIV)

We had a lovely Father’s Day yesterday, including with visits with two sons and two grandchildren. June gave me a fabulous book: Really Important Stuff My Dog Has Taught Me by Cynthia L. Copeland. This one caught my eye:

The picture and explanation reminded me of a conversation I had with a good friend, a missionary with another organization, who was asking prayer for stamina for themselves and a set of new missionaries as they went through 5+ intense days of orientation via Zoom.

Always willing to help (and stick my nose into other people’s business!), I suggested that maybe they were cramming the days too full. My friend wrote back with a list of the stuff they had to cover and how important it all was.

In the language of this blog, I responded that I agreed with the dog. It doesn’t matter how important everything is, if it’s delivered in a way that people feel like they are “drinking water from a fire hydrant,” the net takeaway will be zero.

If we want to be effective, do less.

I’ve sat through those meetings (and conducted a few myself!), meetings with hour after hour of briefing after briefing. I’ve preached 30-minute sermons that had 45 – 60 minutes of content. I told my friend that I could “cover” all the salient points of Calculus I in 5 days, but that doesn’t mean that any of the participants would learn any of it.

By contrast, Jesus largely moved and taught at a leisurely pace. He told stories. He had margin in his life to interact with the people he met “as he passed by” (see John 9 and Luke 19.1 – 10, for example). Real teaching takes patience and time.

May God give us the grace to be “more productive by doing a little less.”

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength… (Isaiah 30.15, NIV)

[Jesus said,] “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11.28 – 30, MSG)

A friend of mine used to say, tongue-in-cheek of course:

Fatherhood: big bucks, lots of respect!

I know that not all our readers are fathers, and there are some among us who may not have all that many fond memories of our fathers. It’s a tough job that many of us worked hard at, if not always effectively. God bless the fathers in your lives.

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18.19, ESV)

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6.6, 7, ESV)

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4.5, 6, ESV – last words of the Old Testament)

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. (Matthew 6.9, NKJV)

I shared a couple of weeks ago that a black friend said that we need to live out the gospel every single day with everyone we meet. 

It occurred to me recently why that’s true.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1.16, NKJV)

The gospel brings salvation.

Salvation: Rescue, deliverance, the state of not being in grave danger and so being safe. -NIV Word Study Dictionary

Isn’t that what people are demonstrating for? At least one of the things they’re demonstrating for? “The state of not being in grave danger…” And that’s salvation, a product of the gospel, about which the Apostle Paul is clear: it’s for everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike.

We all need this salvation, and we all need to live out this gospel.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith… There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3.26 – 28, NIV)

It’s a holiday I’ve learned about relatively recently, well after we moved to Colorado in 1984. And it’s my custom to publish early on special days. With all that’s going on in our country now, I don’t want to ignore this. I pray today’s remembrances are peaceful and constructive.

You can read more of the history at https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm. Breakpoint also had an excellent post on why Juneteenth is important for us all. John Stonestreet wrote:

But it’s a day all Americans should commemorate. Juneteenth was the culmination of the efforts of men and women across race and social standing to put an end to a particularly shameful practice on our shores.

Freedom was an important part of Jesus’ mission.

[Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4.16 – 19, NIV)

This is too good not to share.

I’ve written before about Frank and Sally Dennis, still active at age 90. Sally just went to be with Jesus in April. This is a post I received from Frank in mid-June, reproduced as he wrote it, including the emphases:

Sunday afternoon, quiet, lovely day with sunshine and flowers, scan the Gazette and sit. I decided to fold my T-shirts so they will fit in the drawer.

And as I sat folding T-shirts I began to laugh.  What a sloppy job! I almost might as well wad them up and shove them in the drawer (but they won’t all fit then).

And then I began to cry.  The only thing Sally could do was fold laundry.  And she did it like the factory. Neat and smooth.  And that was the only thing she could do around the house. Because she needed two hands on the walker she couldn’t cook, clean, garden or the many other easy things for most people. And she was so proud of the neat T-shirts and I would praise her.  And I began to cry.  Sobbing.  How sad that was all she could do.  How sad she was happy to be able to do something for me even if it was just to fold T-shirts.

But it wasn’t all she could do!  She cheered me up. She smiled. She cuddled and held my hand when we watched Hallmark movies. She would go to sleep in my arms in bed. She was my joy and love.

And then I told myself:  She is happy with Jesus, her parents, her brothers, the many friends and I am happy,  healthy (for my age) with a nice house, beautiful view, flowers, birds feeding at the west window, many friends. opportunities to speak for Jesus, books to read, TV to watch…  Just a little lonely and missing that smile.

The human brain, the mind and the emotions, are very complex and difficult to understand and control.  But the will is what we can control and I stand before God to give account of what I do with that will.  Am I  yielding it to my Master Jesus.? “Lord, what would you have me to do?” 

He says “Offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving!” 

Right! I’ll do it.  Lord, I am so thankful for the 66 years we had together, for the 5 children, the 11 grandchildren that all love me and for the 11 great-grandchildren I can love and pray for, for the years in Taiwan and the innumerable friends and patients there and ……….” and I am fine.  

Thank you Lord Jesus.  I can rejoice! (With just a few dips in the road).

Frank Dennis, an old child of the King

Thanks for the example, Frank. May we all finish as well.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4.13, NLT)

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High. (Psalm 50.14, ESV)

Seth Godin had a short post on June 14. Here it is in its entirety:

I tried to recharge the lithium battery that works with my drill. After twenty minutes, the charger said the battery had failed. Fortunately, I have a second battery. I put that into the charger and it also showed a failure. Neither battery had failed. The charger had.

He called the blog “Measuring Systems,” and I suppose that’s one application. Sort of like my microwave that didn’t have an error message for when it wasn’t working.

But the real problem in both cases is the system that’s supposed to provide power either for recharging a battery or for heating food wasn’t working.

And that reminds me of some pastors who complain of dead congregations. “The people don’t respond to my preaching or to our services. They’re dead.” Maybe the people are fine but the preaching and the services are dead! (To be sure, either is a possibility.)

[Jesus said, ] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7.24 – 29, ESV)

As churches, including ours, talk about how they will “regather,” (our church says we’ve never closed so we shouldn’t talk about “reopening”), we should be asking ourselves what we can retain from the experiences of the past few months.

For example, our church uses Zoom, as I’ve said before, and we are broken up randomly into “rooms” afterward for sharing. A few weeks ago, one of the couples in our group shared a concern they had with an adopted grandson who was having serious adjustment issues. Another person in the room, now 70 years old, urged them to hang in there with him. He said, “That was me. I had those same adjustment issues. I was 50 years old before I fully realized how much my adoptive parents loved me.”

It was a very significant conversation that I guarantee would NOT have happened during our church’s fellowship time under “normal” circumstances. (It’s highly unlikely those two couples would have talked with each other, and if they did, they certainly wouldn’t have gotten into that depth with all the other people around.)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God… (Romans 8.28, NLT)

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. (Philippians 1.12, NLT)