weary warrior

We wont be doing anything tonight, but I am going to try to record some type of message for Sunday and (hopefully) be able to upload it to youtube and then send the link to everyone. I dont know what else to do.

We got a "stay home" order from the govenor just today here in Washington. If it were an attack on christianity directed at the church, that would be one thing, but its not. We'll obey the law. I dont know what we will do as an alternative, I might do a recorded Bible study and post it on youtube or something. I dont know.

I agree with your approach. Below is a copy-and-paste of the posting I just put on our church facebook page.
"We are continuing to have our regular scheduled services during this trying time, as our numbers are well below the threshold recommended. However, we will be not be meeting after the service for our weekly church-wide Sunday dinner until further notice.
All of life is a balance. And we get in trouble when we get out of balance in one direction or another. God is not a God of fear, and those who live a life of faith need to fear nothing. We believe that God will lead us through the storms that we must face, and around the storms he does not intend for us.
However, this does not excuse heedless recklessness. We are commanded all the way back in Exodus, in the 10 commandments, to not tempt God. One of Satan's temptations of Christ in the New Testament was just that, to do something physically foolish and expect the Father to rescue him. Jesus' response was to quote that commandment "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God".
So we, as Christians, must follow this path in life. We do not live a life dictated by fear, but nor do continue in arrogant, religious foolishness to stubbornly continue on a path that is unwise, and tempts the Lord our God.
Be secure, be sane and love God."

I agree with this assessment 100%. There's no room on either side for dogmatic trouble making. 

Indeed.
1.  We have a Biblical record of what Eve said that God said.
AND
2.  We have NO Biblical indicator that Eve got it wrong.
(There is no Biblical rebuke of what Eve said about what God said, and there is no Biblical indication that Eve committed any sin in making the claim that she did.)

I agree with your approach. Below is a copy-and-paste of the posting I just put on our church facebook page.
"We are continuing to have our regular scheduled services during this trying time, as our numbers are well below the threshold recommended. However, we will be not be meeting after the service for our weekly church-wide Sunday dinner until further notice.
All of life is a balance. And we get in trouble when we get out of balance in one direction or another. God is not a God of fear, and those who live a life of faith need to fear nothing. We believe that God will lead us through the storms that we must face, and around the storms he does not intend for us.
However, this does not excuse heedless recklessness. We are commanded all the way back in Exodus, in the 10 commandments, to not tempt God. One of Satan's temptations of Christ in the New Testament was just that, to do something physically foolish and expect the Father to rescue him. Jesus' response was to quote that commandment "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God".
So we, as Christians, must follow this path in life. We do not live a life dictated by fear, but nor do continue in arrogant, religious foolishness to stubbornly continue on a path that is unwise, and tempts the Lord our God.
Be secure, be sane and love God."

I agree with your approach. Below is a copy-and-paste of the posting I just put on our church facebook page.
"We are continuing to have our regular scheduled services during this trying time, as our numbers are well below the threshold recommended. However, we will be not be meeting after the service for our weekly church-wide Sunday dinner until further notice.
All of life is a balance. And we get in trouble when we get out of balance in one direction or another. God is not a God of fear, and those who live a life of faith need to fear nothing. We believe that God will lead us through the storms that we must face, and around the storms he does not intend for us.
However, this does not excuse heedless recklessness. We are commanded all the way back in Exodus, in the 10 commandments, to not tempt God. One of Satan's temptations of Christ in the New Testament was just that, to do something physically foolish and expect the Father to rescue him. Jesus' response was to quote that commandment "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God".
So we, as Christians, must follow this path in life. We do not live a life dictated by fear, but nor do continue in arrogant, religious foolishness to stubbornly continue on a path that is unwise, and tempts the Lord our God.
Be secure, be sane and love God."

Yeah, I used a 19th century solution to fix that problem when I came on as pastor in December. I removed the church computer from my office, shut down the cluttered, unused church website, and turned the email address over to the church secretary/treasurer to keep up with. We have no wi-fi at the church or my house, beyond the data on my mobile phone. Its certainly not the solution for everyone, but its works for this old cowboy. ?

We have decided to pause the weekly Sunday dinner for a while, but will continue services. At least while we can.

Okay, so when I posted the articles concerning David Cloud, the Australian church, and the issue of the timing of the rapture, I did not intend for it to go where it did, though out of experience, I should have seen that happening. 
My intention was just to put forth whether the timing of the rapture should be considered a fundamental of the faith, and a matter of separation and heresy. Yes, it was a disagreement with David Cloud's position, but it was not meant in any ways to disparage him and his ministry, a ministry that I have used often, and do to this day. But yes, it was a disagreement.
That said, I wish to apologize to those who saw my comments as being disparaging to him, or to them, and also apologize for allowing myself to run back into the argument over the particulars; such wasn't my intention, and those whom I have offended or angered, I apologize-there are some subjects that I know, from my own feelings about them, that I ought to leave unsaid, especially as a moderator.  So consider the subject closed and done. If anyone wishes to speak more in detail on it, or has further argument with me, please let me know privately and we can do it as brethren in Christ. 
Again, I am sorry for the unintended contention I began.

I too live in WA. My wife has been working part-time in the school as a teacher's aid, and that ends today for a while. There has been no evidence of the panic reported in other areas here in SE Washington, for which I am greatful.
Our church is growing, but still very small. We had 18 in attendance yesterday. We will not be canceling services at this time, but will fully support and encourage those who are deciding to stay home for a time. We actually had a visitor, an elderly man in a wheelchair. I preached on not letting fear run your life, but balancing that with being wise and not tempting God.

I too live in WA. My wife has been working part-time in the school as a teacher's aid, and that ends today for a while. There has been no evidence of the panic reported in other areas here in SE Washington, for which I am greatful.
Our church is growing, but still very small. We had 18 in attendance yesterday. We will not be canceling services at this time, but will fully support and encourage those who are deciding to stay home for a time. We actually had a visitor, an elderly man in a wheelchair. I preached on not letting fear run your life, but balancing that with being wise and not tempting God.

Yes, the epicenter is King County (good metaphor...King County is the cause of most of our political problems here in the state LOL), with Spokane being the next largest problem. Even with that, considering the numbers who are listed as having the virus, it is a negligible number in comparison to the flu. The flu has also killed more people than this has. However, the flu is so common that government would have a hard time mandating the closure of things and thus bottoming out the economy. Well, other than toilet paper manufacturers. LOL
I'm glad you had 18 yesterday. And a visitor to boot! We had 5 in Sunday School and 7 in the main service, 5 last night. Some of our members (as I mentioned my mom) have self-quarantined due to colds. One member lives with his sister, brother-in-law, and niece (plus other family members). His BIL and niece both have major health issues that are actually terminial, so they are quarantined by doctor's order. They are also members of our church. Anyway, this member now has a cold and so is staying home - and virtually stuck in his room, because his niece is convinced he has covid (which has entirely different symptoms from what he has) and is afraid she will contract it. Understandable, because if she gets it, it will kill her most likely. However, that is a picture of what the media hype has done to people. Created a fear within them that makes them afraid of their own family. Small wonder that the majority of people have no issues with government mandated closures and limits on gatherings.
My husband is preaching on the different aspect of Christ this month. Yesterday he spoke  on Christ as Creator. He also was able to emphasize that we oughtn't let fear run our lives. I'm thankful for pastors who can actually comfort their people in this way!
 
~~~~~~~
Don't get me wrong - I don't want anybody sick. But I am tired of the hype. More people - VASTLY more - have survived the virus than have died from it. 

I too live in WA. My wife has been working part-time in the school as a teacher's aid, and that ends today for a while. There has been no evidence of the panic reported in other areas here in SE Washington, for which I am greatful.
Our church is growing, but still very small. We had 18 in attendance yesterday. We will not be canceling services at this time, but will fully support and encourage those who are deciding to stay home for a time. We actually had a visitor, an elderly man in a wheelchair. I preached on not letting fear run your life, but balancing that with being wise and not tempting God.

What I dont understand is the treating of the issue as heresy. Yes, I believe that the post-trib rapture view is incorrect, but does every difference of opinion over doctrine have to be treated as actual heresy? When we do this, it weakens the charge against actual, serious heresy, like denying the divinity of Christ, the resurection or or the second coming. No one is denying anythig, just disagreeing on the timing of it all.
Is wisdom not, in part, learning to pick our battles?

Nothing more than usual-expect people to wash their hands, stay home if sick. But in a community of 800, 40 miles from town one way, 60 miles the other way, not too concerned about it here. Take your vitamins, keep clean, stay home if sick and stop letting the spirit of fear rule-is God's hand shortened, that it cannot save from the Corona virus?

Yeah, I used a 19th century solution to fix that problem when I came on as pastor in December. I removed the church computer from my office, shut down the cluttered, unused church website, and turned the email address over to the church secretary/treasurer to keep up with. We have no wi-fi at the church or my house, beyond the data on my mobile phone. Its certainly not the solution for everyone, but its works for this old cowboy. ?

What I dont understand is the treating of the issue as heresy. Yes, I believe that the post-trib rapture view is incorrect, but does every difference of opinion over doctrine have to be treated as actual heresy? When we do this, it weakens the charge against actual, serious heresy, like denying the divinity of Christ, the resurection or or the second coming. No one is denying anythig, just disagreeing on the timing of it all.
Is wisdom not, in part, learning to pick our battles?

What I dont understand is the treating of the issue as heresy. Yes, I believe that the post-trib rapture view is incorrect, but does every difference of opinion over doctrine have to be treated as actual heresy? When we do this, it weakens the charge against actual, serious heresy, like denying the divinity of Christ, the resurection or or the second coming. No one is denying anythig, just disagreeing on the timing of it all.
Is wisdom not, in part, learning to pick our battles?

Had a pretty good service yesterday. Numbers were down a little, only had 13 present. But good freedom to preach.
One of my regulars is a 70 year old cowboy who was raised a catholic. He's rougher than a cob, but really supports us, listens intently to every sermon and keeps coming back. Every single Sunday.
We went out to his place to work some horses yesterday afternoon, and he told my son Will to flag a colt in the round pen while he and I went and visited in patio chairs against the barn. It turns out he had more questions that had been bugging him. Questions about the validity of cofessionals, rasaries and praying using written catholic prayers. He's seeing the difference between the simple grace and liberty of the gospel as I preach it, and the bondage he grew up with.
He not a practicing catholic,  hasnt been anything but a rough ol' sinner for many, many years. But until now, that was all he knew of God.
Seeds dont spring up and bear fruit overnight. They need to be nutured, watered and waited patiently for until God gives the increase.

Had a pretty good service yesterday. Numbers were down a little, only had 13 present. But good freedom to preach.
One of my regulars is a 70 year old cowboy who was raised a catholic. He's rougher than a cob, but really supports us, listens intently to every sermon and keeps coming back. Every single Sunday.
We went out to his place to work some horses yesterday afternoon, and he told my son Will to flag a colt in the round pen while he and I went and visited in patio chairs against the barn. It turns out he had more questions that had been bugging him. Questions about the validity of cofessionals, rasaries and praying using written catholic prayers. He's seeing the difference between the simple grace and liberty of the gospel as I preach it, and the bondage he grew up with.
He not a practicing catholic,  hasnt been anything but a rough ol' sinner for many, many years. But until now, that was all he knew of God.
Seeds dont spring up and bear fruit overnight. They need to be nutured, watered and waited patiently for until God gives the increase.

Had a pretty good service yesterday. Numbers were down a little, only had 13 present. But good freedom to preach.
One of my regulars is a 70 year old cowboy who was raised a catholic. He's rougher than a cob, but really supports us, listens intently to every sermon and keeps coming back. Every single Sunday.
We went out to his place to work some horses yesterday afternoon, and he told my son Will to flag a colt in the round pen while he and I went and visited in patio chairs against the barn. It turns out he had more questions that had been bugging him. Questions about the validity of cofessionals, rasaries and praying using written catholic prayers. He's seeing the difference between the simple grace and liberty of the gospel as I preach it, and the bondage he grew up with.
He not a practicing catholic,  hasnt been anything but a rough ol' sinner for many, many years. But until now, that was all he knew of God.
Seeds dont spring up and bear fruit overnight. They need to be nutured, watered and waited patiently for until God gives the increase.

Had a pretty good service yesterday. Numbers were down a little, only had 13 present. But good freedom to preach.
One of my regulars is a 70 year old cowboy who was raised a catholic. He's rougher than a cob, but really supports us, listens intently to every sermon and keeps coming back. Every single Sunday.
We went out to his place to work some horses yesterday afternoon, and he told my son Will to flag a colt in the round pen while he and I went and visited in patio chairs against the barn. It turns out he had more questions that had been bugging him. Questions about the validity of cofessionals, rasaries and praying using written catholic prayers. He's seeing the difference between the simple grace and liberty of the gospel as I preach it, and the bondage he grew up with.
He not a practicing catholic,  hasnt been anything but a rough ol' sinner for many, many years. But until now, that was all he knew of God.
Seeds dont spring up and bear fruit overnight. They need to be nutured, watered and waited patiently for until God gives the increase.

His original post on this thread will be a year old tomorrow, and was basically already dead with no responses until yesterday. It does seem a little pointless to revive it for the sole purpose of just killing it again. It's dead, let it be dead, and let the dead bury their dead.
Where there is no fuel, the fire goeth out.

His original post on this thread will be a year old tomorrow, and was basically already dead with no responses until yesterday. It does seem a little pointless to revive it for the sole purpose of just killing it again. It's dead, let it be dead, and let the dead bury their dead.
Where there is no fuel, the fire goeth out.