Corona Virus Shutdown Week #2

Bobservations Column

By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

I walked into a local Grocery store the other day, and the line at the check out wasn’t even discernable. Everyone was keeping such distances from one another that it was impossible to tell who was in line, and who wasn’t. It turned out that there were only four people were ahead of me in line, and I was 50 feet away from the cashier! An elderly woman was looking for the end of the line… We never did see her again!

Social Distancing is working in the USA. The Corona Virus’ “European Model” is now too out-dated to be believable. We should understand that “model studies” provide us with worst-case scenarios. All it takes is one tweak in the statistics and the results change drastically. The European Model of Corona/COVID-19 never took into consideration any actions undertaken by many governments, Social Distancing being among them.

Following up on last week’s Bobservations, the neighborhoods are still quiet during morning and evening rush hours, and with businesses and non-essential work sites closed down, the numbers of walkers in the neighborhood continues to blossom. Yesterday (Sunday) my wife and I were on the way home from church (Church is closed, yes, but our recording equipment is there for uploading to the web.). On our way home, it was in the high 60 degree range. Passing along the Erie Canal through a nearby Hamlet, we counted 58 people walking along the canal’s towpath, and numerous dogs walking with their owners; and this was within a distance of about a single mile. Couples and families are together on a Sunday morning, rather than divided by activities for the kids, or video games from the couch. I wonder how many of those families would otherwise be in church together if it weren’t for the closures of most churches during this time. I suddenly began to really miss the congregation, and immediately prayed for their safety and protection, for however they were spending their day.

Jesus taught us to "pray without ceasing." There’s plenty to pray about these days, from individuals, to families, friends, neighborhoods towns and cities. But we cannot forget about interceding for those facing their demise from the usual death rates. Heart attacks, strokes, accidents, and the diseases that we’re used to dealing with and praying about. I began to pray for my former co-workers who are First Responders, and everyone in “essential” job positions. Think about the explosion of delivery drivers, and your mailman. From gas station attendants to the guy that advised you well at Home Depot or your favorite Hardware Store.

Maybe you don’t know anyone with the Corona Virus, but there are plenty of people to pray for, and things to pray about. If you can’t think of anything, then you’re not thinking broadly enough. COVID-19 may be the current “noisesome pestilence,” but we still need to be interceding for others who do not live under the wings of our mighty God. Psalm 91 is just as important today as it was in King David’s day.

Pray for any who might read this!

The Tribes United

Bobservations Column

By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

There is always something that divides the human race. Skin color, ethnicity, nationality, politics, religion, urban/suburban/rural, economics, smokers/non-smokers, and now even a virus is cause for separation and isolation. Just a month ago we would have considered it Elder Abuse to put Nursing Homes, and Assisted Living Facilities in lock-down, and only see loved ones through a window. Schools, businesses, malls, and churches are all closed. Everything and everyone is now a potential health threat if closer than six feet.

Based on the opinions and judgments of our State and National Leaders, our Main Streets and gathering places are all but empty. Only those holding positions deemed essential are out working and serving others.

In the Bible, leprosy was a disease that only God could cure. Lepers were given wide berth on the streets as they publicly cried out “Unclean, unclean” from behind face coverings. In the case of a possibly cured individual, they had to go show themselves to a priest, and scriptures revealed the criteria for declaring a leper to have been healed. And if healed, it was considered to be an act of God. Today we know about blood-borne pathogens and the need to protect ourselves from them.

But leprosy was also considered to be analogous with sin; God had and still has the only cure for it: the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Disease and death are in the world because of sin. It corrupted the first couple in Genesis 3, and the entire rest of the Bible is about God’s desire to cleanse us from all sin, and restore fellowship with us. Disease and death can separate us from each other, but sin separates us from God. Come to Christ and restore fellowship with mankind’s Creator. His love is an everlasting love, and it is unconditional.

Corona Virus Shutdown Week #1

Bobservations Column

By Pastor Bob Lawrenz

My wife Norine read a Facebook submission to me last evening that gave me a chuckle and a heartbreak at the same time. The posting was a picture of a career Mom scraping a bumper sticker off the back of her car. “MY CHILD IS AN HONOR STUDENT AT (whatever) SCHOOL" would no longer be proclaimed in traffic!

Apparently the first week of schooling her children at home was not going well, and the Mom was frustrated with her Honor Student’s progress. Stepping into the shoes of another can give us a real appreciation for what they do! Little Johnny or Sara’s school teacher must be a miracle worker!

With schools and so many businesses closed during this time, we are all doing things that we take for granted that others do regularly:

Why is there so much laundry to do!?
You have laundry? That must mean you have the means to clean your clothes, like a washing machine! Not to mention, you have clothes to wear during the week! Count your blessings.

With everyone home this week, the vacuuming and cleaning probably has to be done more frequently. A vacuum, you say? Count your blessings.

The kids have been playing out in the yard and dragging the outside dirt inside? You said something about having a “yard?” Count your blessings.

Soon the lawns will have to be cut. Hmmmm. And you have a lawn mower? Count your blessings.

Continual planning for three meals at home, running to the store, cooking, setting a table….
You say you have a future to plan for? Food shopping? Cooking? And that table to set again?
Count your blessings: A roof over your head? Multiple rooms under that roof? A kitchen with a stove, sink, maybe a dishwasher, a table to sit at, a bed to sleep in (with sheets and blankets, I'll bet!). And all the little jobs to keep things operating and running smoothly to keep your blessings in good working order! The blessings in our lives require maintenance. And in maintaining them we familiarize ourselves with them, and continually learn new facets of the blessings.

And let’s not forget perhaps the greatest of our blessings: we have spouses and/or families and loved ones for whom we do all these things, and share the spaces under our roofs.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS (and maintain them!) !

Proverbs 18:22 – “He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor from the Lord.”

Psalm 127:4-5 -- “Lo, children are a heritage of the Lord: and the the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, …"

The media reminds us all the "We are in this together."

Count OUR blessings!