Is anyone else having a challenge of doing things scriptural, verses what the secular world says. As in scripture says to put others before me whereas the secular world says put me first. I know what is right, just wondering if others may struggle with this. And how do we mourn the loss of ourselves without sinking into depression? How do we have joy in the midst of our trials and tribulations? It seems that as time passes my patience doesn't hurt as much, (must be experience), but still everyday I start wearing down where my patience begins to hurt a little and I am struggling not to let it be seen. I spend a lot of time in prayer and in the word, that is the only way I have the strength to do this, putting myself aside. But as a faulty human being, I am still in a struggle and seek like minded individuals who understand. May God bless all those who are loving their loved ones to the best of their ability.
I am passionately upset about these pastors and church members who are putting themselves and others at risk of catching this virus plus harming society's view of churches everywhere by having public worship services.
Churches were closed in 1918 during a major health crisis.
I feel the same. I live in a ‘hot spot’ and police are warning pastors not to have church services. They are putting people themselves and others at risks.
I suppose some people feel they don’t have to listen to the law. It’s ridiculous because nobody is exempt from the law.
People can watch online services. Before structures were built there were home services. So we can pray at home, ‘alone’ but together in spirit.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/pastor-of-tampa-church-that-held-2-large-sunday-services-arrested-jailed/ar-BB11VzzL?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/louisiana-church-defies-covid-19-order-holds-sunday-services/ar-BB11SYNG?ocid=msedgdhp
The LA "church" has 37 buses which circulate in 5 parishes to pick up and return parishioners.
Personally, I think the LA guy isn't a truly religious person, but one of those guys who needs a large following for his large ego. I'm surprised he's not a televangelist - he could get a lot more attention on tv.
The Catholic parish my cousins attend have already sometime ago made alternate arrangements so that people don't have to go out but can still worship.
I'm not a religious person, but I think those who make arrangements for congregations to continue worship are more legitimate and more truly religious than those who challenge governmental orders during a crisis.
A Pentecostal church about an hour away from New Orleans, in a Baton Rouge suburb has continually disobeyed our governor’s orders not to have services. The story is all over our local news. Our governor is fed up with his behavior.
He was warned and didn’t listen. He got arrested. He’s fanatical. This pastor thinks he’s above the law. He thinks the law is taking away his right to pray. Ridiculous! No one is taking away his right. He needs to do his services online like other churches are doing. He can still pray all he wants to, just not with a large group of people like he’s been doing. He even picks up people with buses.
My church has been doing services online. The archbishop has ruled in our state that none of our Catholic Churches will have services at our churches. We are obeying the laws. We have the choice to watch the Mass on television or stream online.
Many different denominations or non denominational churches are doing online services. No one has to risks spreading this virus to go to church. Pray at home!
I learned today that there is an old Jewish tradition which says in case of the need of saving a life, religious rituals may be broken. Sounds like that is not what the Jewish people did in the story about the good Samaritan.
Anyhow, as far as I know, the Pentecostal Denominations, United Methodist and others in my state have been advised to stay home and have stayed home. It seems that it is the extreme independents who are out breaking the law.
I think that pastors could figure out a way of leading their parishioners in celebrating Holy Communion. If every church member either got some grape juice or wine plus some bread, they could follow their pastor through the Communion service online and then each person can partake in the safety of their own home. For those who can't get out for groceries, someone could get that for them if they wanted it.
This is likely too radical an idea. Anyhow, Jesus is present with us by the Holy Spirit in the sanctuary and at home when we gather in his name. Something to think about, but no one will listen to me.
Stay safe!
Of course we are listening to you. Here is an online comment to describe what you just said:
How does pikuach nefesh influence Jews today?
Pikuach Nefesh is one of the most important obligations of the Jewish mitzvot . Pikuach Nefesh means that saving a human life should take priority over everything, even if this means breaking some of the laws set out in the Torah . ... For example, on a Saturday, Jews are expected to rest and not carry out any work at all.
Didn't Jesus break all the Jewish laws and save all of us by His work on the cross, and by His resurrection? Ummmm.
I don’t know. I think other pastors view this guy as nuts! His attitude is sort of arrogant. It’s also rather silly because his whole argument is, he doesn’t want others to tell him that he can’t pray.
No one is telling him that he can’t pray. We don’t want him spreading the virus any further in our state. We are already a hot spot. He is upsetting people in our state. My daughter lives in Baton Rouge. That’s where her university is, LSU.
He needs to stop taking this as a personal attack and comply with our statewide regulations.
We can all pray at home. Sure, it’s nice to gather in church but we are the church. The people are the church. The structure is a building.
Of course, a church is a house of worship and I respect that but if it endangers others to worship in one building together, then we should watch our services on television or online. It’s not complicated. He is taking a simple issue totally out of context. It’s crazy!
This pastor is stubborn. I think he would be like this no matter what faith he was. Other Pentecostal churches are listening to the stay at home orders.
He sees it as he is defending his right to gather and pray. Fine, in ordinary times. These are not ordinary times. Things are nowhere near normal at this time.
We need to work together. It’s so important to work together rather than fight with each other. Makes me sad.
He is fighting with the governor and our police department. The police have a tough enough job right now. They don’t need his foolishness to contend with, nor does our governor.
She told me that she was glad that she took it at an off time. Later on, so many students were doing exams online that the system crashed! They couldn’t finish their tests.
All of those students had to schedule their exams over again, being their 3rd attempt at taking their exam!
They had already been postponed once, from ordinary tests in the classroom to online studies, now systems crashing and rescheduling again! Geeeez!
Since she took her exam at an off hour the system wasn’t overloaded and she was able to finish it. She got an A!
In spite of all this mayhem, my daughter is focusing on finishing up her last semester of school in order to graduate!
Please pray for all the students at my daughter’s school, LSU and all other schools. Thank you 💗.
Think again about the parable of the Good Samaritan. The two Jewish people who walked past the injured man did not practice that Jewish principle that I mentioned and you went into more detail about. That cultural context makes the story even more powerful!
She’s one of these kids that stresses out about her grades. I think she would have too much anxiety if she waited until the last minute so she feels better taking her exams at an off time. She isn’t done. She has three more exams to take.
It’s kind of funny that the students crashed the system with everyone waiting until the last minute and crashing the system. Must be a pain for the professors teaching this way too. They don’t have any other choice. They’ll adapt.
I am glad that she bought her new phone and Mac because kids really need to have functional technology today. My kid is awful with phones.
I don’t know what she does but she has gone through so many phones! My phones last a long time. I have the Otter case on mine, not some ‘cutesy’ case.
So I told her that if she needed anymore new phones she had to buy it herself with the money from her job. How does she keep breaking her phone?
Yep, weird stuff does happen. Crazy.
Was the traveller/injured man a Samaritan, or Jewish?
12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out:
“Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’
The King of Israel!”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
Believers, Have a blessed and peaceful Palm Sunday!
He came in peace, riding on a donkey's colt.
God is love
God is peace
Where are you? Are you well? Did you stay home from work yet?
I have just been really tired trying to balance my days. I just don't want to come here and be a downer. I miss you all and I will be here more this weekend, as I have a 3 day weekend, Thank the Lord. I am just not able to stay up as late as i use to, due to my schedule change.
How are you and Dh?
How is everyone?
"I Will Not Fear"
The Lord is on my side,
I will not fear;
Above the surging tide,
His voice I hear;
He shelters me from every foe,
He guards my steps where'er I go,
And so I trust Him, for I know--
That He is near.
His arm of love enfolds me
When I call;
In kindness He upholds me,
Lest I fall.
His mercy shines upon my way,
His grace renews my strength each day,
And so my heart shall ever say:
"He is my all."
~By Albert Simpson Reitz
“...If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31
My hubs is able to be home from work, and has decided to cooperate with the stay at home orders since his church went online Sundays. It is strange to me that others are sad and missing church staying home; but I was blessed to be able to watch his church service alongside of him from home. Together. It has been a long time.
God is good, all the time!