Good morning church. I hope that you had a productive week and that you can see how God was at work in your life. He is doing a lot of things in and through the people of our church. For that, I am grateful. I hope that you can join us on the video tomorrow. We will be having communion together once again. If everything stays on track, we will be having communion together in person at the end of June. That will be a truly special day.
When I woke up early this morning, I was saddened by the news. Images from around the country show protests and/or riots of varying sizes that occurred overnight. The National Guard has been deployed to several places. The United States Army is reported to be on standby. Police in riot gear trying to maintain some semblance of order. Protestors demanding justice for the killing of George Floyd. People are now getting shot. Buildings are being burning. Stores looted. Police cars and a police station burned. But those are not the images that bother me the most. Yes, all of those things are bad and we should pray that it stops soon. But what I can’t seem to get out of my mind is the picture of the officer with his knee on George Floyd’s neck. Obviously, we don’t know everything that took place leading up to that. However, to see him holding him like that for so long is quite disturbing. And nobody stopped him. With the video that was aired around the world, we are all witnesses to the very last moments of a man’s life. With what words do you describe such a thing? Unfortunate? Senseless? Tragic? Horrific? Disturbing? And I, being a white middle-class person, am having a hard time describing exactly how I feel about it. How much more so for those of color, those that have actually experienced prejudice and discrimination. Only the truly naive would so say that those things no longer exist in modern America. Sometimes it is blatant other times more subtle. Nevertheless, it is there. And now the angst has boiled over to anger. People are expressing their frustration in a myriad of ways. The majority of people will do so with civility, others not so much.
It is at times like this I am thankful that God has led us to have a multi-ethnic church. I am grateful for the community that He allows us to minister in. What our city and our nation needs is more examples of people united by the Lord Jesus Christ. There are all sorts of ideals, purposes and causes to unite around, but none is greater than the unity that can be found through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Church, please allow me to encourage you to press on in the ministry we have been given. Let’s do what we can in our community. And, let’s pray in earnest for the people of this great nation.
1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Love God. Love others. Impact our community. Change the world.
Pastor Larry
0 Comments