Rebecca

Without locking down the country and allowing businesses and schools to remain open, healthy people allowed to freely go about their daily lives (only the sick or travelers arriving from abroad or those who came into contact with the infected are quarantined), this is the result as of today: 6 straight days without a new case, 31 days without a domestically transmitted case. Of the 440 total confirmed cases, 375 have recovered, 7 deaths, the rest are still in hospital. This from a country less than 100 miles from China and a population of over 23 million. https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202005130008?fbclid=IwAR0P4swXfbP-QVSAdhoA87hcOf_Bil3mNx5drxAnoqtzMTzaZz2ApirnGtg

More springtime photos.

Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and fruit is starting to grow on the trees. Genesis 8:22 -" While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Avocado flowers, fruit is starting to appear. The flowers from this tree are hard to get decent pictures of because the colors are so vibrant, my phone wouldn't focus properly for a really long time!

The news has always been filled with doom and gloom, but due to the events of the past few months, the doom and gloom seems to have inundated every aspect of life. Recently I have read articles explaining that some people are so unable to cope with enforced isolation that they have taken their own lives. The articles warn that similar cases will increase before this current epidemic has been brought under control and life returns to normal. Unfortunately many churches/pastors have embraced this doom and gloom mentality, their only focus seems to be on what has been lost due to the church doors being shut. They seem to be spinning in circles, unable to help themselves, their congregations, or their community. This ought not to be. Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Jesus said that we Christians are a light to the world. This should be at all times, not just the good when the church doors are open, but every day of the week. Especially in times like this when confusion has taken hold of everyone. Peoples lives have been shaken upside down and many are without hope. Now, more than ever, our communities need to see the light of Jesus. They need hope and encouragement. In today's Sunday school lesson, we read from Romans chapter twelve. In this chapter, Paul lists several things Christians should be doing, and it was a great reminder to me that Christians today need to be reading this chapter and pray about what they can do to be a help to others. Romans 12 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. So, based on Romans 12, what can YOU do today, tomorrow, the next day.... to be a help and a blessing to: your family, your church, your community? I'd like this thread to be filled with positive ways we can be a light to the world, whether we are stuck in our houses or whether we are still able to move around and interact with people. You can list anything that you're doing personally, or what your church family is doing, or your community is doing. Here are some positive things I've seen people doing: how-to videos on how to use youtube how-to videos on how to make masks recording themselves singing uplifting songs and posting to social media sites making boxed lunches/delivering groceries or other supplies for those unable to leave their homes singing for the community on front lawns or from balconies This is just a short list of things I've seen today. If I dig through the various social media sites I'm a part of, I could find many more. But, I just wanted to encourage everyone here to think of ways you can be light to the world. And if you're one of those needing help, please ask. We may not be able to personally help, but we may be able to reach out in other ways. Please remember you are not alone and are loved.

He could also print out his sermon notes in the form of a Bible study, and mail that to them as well, it doesn't need to be long, just a page would be okay.

I'm curious as to who said they aren't "allowed" to hold services. As far as I can see, the NJ dept of health is only recommending the cancellations of gatherings of 250 people or more, not requiring the cancellation, churches aren't even on the list of things to avoid, although it's implied for larger churches. And if the church has live streaming, as larger churches commonly do, there's no need to "not be allowed" to hold services, people can watch from home. Seriously, in light of how much people are either panicking or outright denying there even is an epidemic, staying home seems to be the better plan. https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200312a.shtml I doubt that. They're just trying to stop an epidemic from spreading, and the best way to do that is to limit social gatherings, of all kinds. Major sporting events are being cancelled as well and you should hear the uproar over that, people love their sport ball. People are balking at being regulated, I don't see much of people quietly letting it happen. Will some governments try to take advantage of the epidemic? Probably. But it really is also common sense to stay away from large gatherings when contagious sickness (of any kind) is going around, but people in these days don't appear to have the common sense to self regulate themselves. This panic over tissue paper is a perfect example. People panic and don't think. The government steps in to regulate or try to control the panic and people panic more because they believe their liberties are being taken away. So the circle of panic continues. What to do? Trust God. Pray for wisdom. Use the common sense He gave us. Try not to spread articles that lead to panic - misinformation is rampant on social media sites being spread by the media, regular people, and Christians alike, so be careful about what you're reading, try to find the source of something that concerns you. Stay informed about what's actually happening in your area, don't give in to gossip. II Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Here in Taiwan, when the virus first reared its head in China, the government of Taiwan was quick to recognize the threat. There was a bit of panic in the country at first, but the government was swift to bring it to a halt. They did so by enacting certain measures against panic buying and the spread of mis-information. They have daily public informational meetings to keep the citizens informed, certain things like masks and hand sanitizer are regulated (to prevent panic buying and price gouging), hospitals and clinics are not closed but have increased precautions, schools closed just until they were all completely sanitized then reopened with precautions such as everyone entering must have temperature taken, etc. So far people have settled down and there is no panic, just practical common sense in the face of a world-wide epidemic. The church I attend has hand sanitizer at the entrance and everyone must use it, but we don't require anyone to wear a mask (as other churches are requiring), hand shaking wasn't really common to begin with and now it's stopped completely, and just overall common sense is applied: if you're sick, stay home (regardless of type/severity of sickness, low immunity puts them at risk for other issues as well, this should be common sense whether or not there's an epidemic going on).

Just to let everyone know, Ronda passed away last month. She was a faithful servant of God to the very last, defending the faith with her whole heart. If ever I am in the same situation, I pray I am able to face it with the same grace and peace that she did.

I've tried the salt on fruit thing, and remain unimpressed.

Yep. Southern food can get a bit ...inventive. They are known as "koolickles"

Pickles and koolaid do not belong together. Surf and turf do not belong together.

Hermit crabs are an interesting critter. They use the empty shells of other critters for their protection since they don't grow their own shells. Usually when they outgrow the shell they are in they have to go in search of an empty shell large enough to fit them, and if another Hermit crab is nearby that also needs to upgrade they will wait in line to take the hand-me-down shell. I thought I was witnessing that when I saw these three Hermit crabs surrounding a larger shell. However, it turns out that there was a fourth crab inside the large shell! Two crabs were trying to evict the one in the large shell while the smallest was just waiting for the winner to leave its shell so it could take it over. I wasn't able to stay to the end of the fight to see the outcome, unfortunately.

I will concede that ketchup does go on hotdogs. Will you accept mayo on pizza?

I like breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs, bacon, and diced tomatoes. I do have to say though, that ketchup, although derived from said tomatoes, belongs on fries and hamburgers, not eggs.