Triple C News - November 20, 2020
Hey, everyone!
Hope you’re having an awesome, “extraordinarily hopeful” day!
“Extraordinarily hopeful??”
Yes! We DO have reasons to be “extraordinarily hopeful”!!
A scientist said it!
He said on the radio the other day that we should be “extraordinarily hopeful” right now!
Wow! It’s probably been a while since you heard those two words in the same sentence!
The reason?
A vaccine that is 95% effective is almost here!
In fact, there will be more than one!
Dr Fauci said it should be available to all Americans by April!!
They’re even saying that the most vulnerable and older folks may be getting it next month!!
Do I see the finish-line out there in the distance?
BTW… when it’s ready, I’m getting it.
Some say they won’t, but I will!
In fact, I volunteered for the Pfizer trials ‘cause they were looking for folks to try it out on and I was ready to do anything to get this over with!
So I’ve already had two shots of something! Either the vaccine or a saltwater placebo. I have to fill out a medical check-in list every Thursday on an app that asks if I have any negative side-effects..
I haven’t had any at all!
But when they ask if I have any muscle achiness, I don’t count that!
I’ve had that for years! Especially after I mow!
Ever since I turned 63, that’s been the “new normal”!
I think they’ll tell us soon which we got!
BTW, it hurts a little so, when you get it so be ready!
I think getting the vaccine is an act of love! You’re helping to protect everyone!
And nothing matters more than love!
That’s why for now, we’re meeting outside at Elm Grove Park at 9:30…and it has been sooo fun!
I LOVE it!
Y’know, on Sundays, when we meet in the park, you have a wonderful opportunity to do two very important things at once!
First, you can praise Jesus!
Jesus wants this gift more than anything!
Peter says Jesus choose us specifically for this! “…In order that we might declare the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light!” (1 Peter 2.9)
In a world gripped by fear, sadness, anger, hurt and hate, when there are faithful lovers of Jesus praising and singing to Him, lifting up not only their voices but also their hearts to Him, angels watch and wonder!
He died and rose again to win your heart, awaken your love, and hear the sound of your praise!!
It’ll be nice weather-wise this Sunday, but it may get chilly or even cold soon!
That’s when your praise is turbo-charged! When it’s cold, it’ll be a sacrifice to praise Him!
In the Letter To the Hebrews, written for those who were risking jobs, friends, and their lives to praise Jesus, it says, “…let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise!” (13.9)
To give Him a warm heart and “see-your-breath” praise when your feet are cold somehow just means more!
David said, “I won’t give Him a sacrifice that costs me nothing!” (1 Chronicles 21.24)
On a normal New Years Eve, folks fill Times Square starting in the early morning hours to have a place “saved” at midnight!
On Inauguration Day, thousands fill the National Mall at dawn in mid-January!
And think about a mid-winter’s Green Bay Packers game!
The average temp in the later morning in Oak Ridge in December and January is in the mid 40’s.
We’re keeping our worship time to about 40 minutes.
Instead of “Praise In the Park”, we could call our worship time “40 in the 40’s!”
Praising with God’s people…nothing in your life matters more!
And secondly, the reason we are still meeting outside is that we are trying to do all we can to
praise safely without contributing to the spread of the Coronavirus in our community.
This virus is traveling faster than ever.
It is all over Oak Ridge right now.
You and I might feel safe but what if we were to catch it and pass it to someone who couldn’t resist it?
With these numbers climbing so much, it seems like at least for the near future, we need to keep steady on the path we’re on…
But that’s why praising in the park…
worshipping outside…
accomplishes two important things at once.
We praise our Savior AND love and care for…our town!
And NOTHING matters more than love!