Here are some of the good reads found online recently.
Can You Do ALL Things? The meaning behind a commonly misapplied Bible verse.
Church, Don’t Let the Coronavirus Divide You. “For example, someone might find it personally difficult—even maddening—to have to wear a mask during church and stay six feet away from everyone at all times. You might think these precautions are a needless overreaction. But here’s the thing: even if it turns out you’re right, can you not sacrifice your ideal for a season, out of love for others who believe the precautions are necessary?. . . We could all use a bit more humility, and the church should lead the way.”
What will be left when the dust settles? “How will you have handled these weeks? The question is interesting because the Christian response goes in two directions at once. If you’re wise, you won’t be shaken by what has happened; but neither will you remain unchanged.”
Gathering Again Is a Serious Choice. “If churches meet and a second (maybe even more severe) wave of infections can be traced back to church services, we will not only have a PR problem but also face the potential of regulation and persecution. We do not want to be the church in the news for being the source of a major outbreak.”
Samaritan’s Purse Cleared Both Familiar and Unique Hurdles in New York, HT to Challies. “The head of the Central Park field hospital shares staff’s experience working amid protests and the peak of the coronavirus outbreak”
Imagination Is for Moms, Too, HT to Story Warren. “If I think of his behavior as a problem to be solved or a task to be completed and checked off my to-do list, then I’m just working towards behavior modification. But if I remember that somewhere in his struggle—no matter how much sin is concealing it—there is a glimpse of God, in whose image my son was created, then I begin to think of ways to draw out that dim reflection.”
Of Oceans, Thimbles, and Talking to Your Kids about Death, HT to Challies. “If it is the time God has chosen for you to die, you can drown in a thimble; if it’s not, then you can survive for days in the open ocean.”
Facing Writing Non-Productivity Without Guilt. This is applicable to all of life, not just writing. “Endless motion produces scattered thoughts and culminates in scattered dreams. Let this forced isolation become an inward pilgrimage of quiet introspection, where memories and life lived are reflected with a depth that comes from hearing God speak.”
Styrofoam Printing. HT to Story Warren. Looking for something new to do with the kids? This article about printing with Styrofoam was posted for Easter but could be adapted.
Finally, I have not one, but two videos today! I’ve seen many coronavirus song parodies, but I like this one to the tune of Nessun Dorma the best. Plus this guy has a gorgeous voice.
What I like most about this one is how pleased the dad is with how his plan worked out. And the mom’s face when she doubts it will.
Happy Saturday!
Stray Thoughts 
Excellent article on not letting coronavirus divide churches. Thanks for sharing that.
And I love the article about the SP hospital in Central Park. Hearing about the protests, especially from the governor, boggled my mind. People dying all over, and they are protesting someone trying to help. SP’s hospital has never been protested anywhere else in the world. Crazy. Just because the workers had to sign a statement of faith, that is not a requirement for the people they are helping. They help everyone. I loved how Tenpenny responded, with grace: “But it’s their right to do that … it’s easy to stand back and criticize and make comments. It’s easier than getting out and helping … ” And… “People that are driven by their faith—it’s not just what the world believes it is, which is we’re just out there to condemn people, no,” said Tenpenny. “Our faith is the reason we do this, but we’re called to do it with quality, and to do it just as well as anybody else, Christian or non-Christian—to provide the same level of care.”” He was spot on.
And the quote from the Gathering Again is a serious choice article is sobering. Here in Alberta we can only meet if it’s 50 people or less and social distancing must be maintained. Family groups who live in the same house can sit together without the social distance and NO SINGING is allowed and no children’s ministry and no food or beverages. At the beginning of the pandemic a church group met for prayer and a birthday. And even though they did everything right and followed the guidelines and recommendations of that time, out of the 44 who attended, 21 got sick and 2 died so people and churches around here are being very cautious!
Thanks for all these good reads week. I need to stop commenting now. LOL.