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Lakselvbukt Church in Norway |
It was preternaturally quiet in my neighborhood last night, even more so that it was at the beginning of the Wuhan Pandemic lock-down. The month of May is usually when people around here start intermittent testing of whatever fireworks they can obtain in the run-up to Independence Day.
Only the occasion far off explosion and a couple of helicopters broke the general silence.
Yesterday was interesting. My church has been live-streaming Sunday service almost from the beginning of the lock-down. Then, a couple of weeks ago, my pastor decided that enough was enough and planned to open for regular service, albeit under the guidelines prescribed by the CDC.
This was decided before all the back and forth about whether California churches should be allowed to resume operations.
Allowed.
A sharply divided Supreme Court late Friday turned aside a church's urgent plea that California's coronavirus lockdown orders are putting an unconstitutional burden on religious freedom.
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court's liberals in rejecting a San Diego church's request for relief from Gov. Gavin Newsom's most recent directive limiting churches to 25% of their normal maximum capacity, with an absolute maximum of 100 people at any service.Anyway, a week ago I had been thinking that there might be some push-back from local/state law enforcement when we again gathered together in the name of Jesus. I prayed about it, of course, and asked God that whatever happened, He would get the glory.
Immediately afterward the killing of George Floyd became news, spurring the subsequent national riots.
I haven’t checked to see which other California churches and other houses of worship conducted services this weekend, but ours did and there were more than 100 people there.
However, I’m going to guess that our local law enforcement entities might have had their hands too full to police up any worshipers of the deity of their choice. Coincidence? I don't believe in those.
We’ll see what happens next week.
In the meantime, there is protection to be had by any who ask. But there are conditions.
Stay well and secure in the knowledge that God will not be mocked by that which is Ceasar’s.
ReplyDeleteGod is in Complete Command and Control. He knows exactly what He is doing. He is behind the Wheel and is driving us home. But,the trip might be as smooth as glass or as bumpy as the Baja 500...so pay attention! God is Driving but be an alert passenger, brace yourself, and watch the road! It might save you from being tossed around like a ragdoll in the devils dryer. Put on the seat belt of Truth, grab onto the "oh shit" handles of Righteousness, brace your feet on the floorboards of Peace! Above all is the Rollbar of Faith! Receiving the Crashhelmet of Salvation and the Firesuit of the Spirit, and Praying at all times for the other passengers, that we all make it safely across the finish line (but I'll take the checkered flag going backwards at 180mph if that's what God thinks is best!
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