I pushed pause on John 5 last night. We had a family event that took all of my time. I will pick up John 5 after Friday.
This evening my family and I will attend a Christmas Eve service at the church we are currently attending. This morning I met, as I do every week, online with a pastor in another country. Christmas is not a holiday in his country. So his church will celebrate Christmas on Sunday. Problem is his home will not hold all of the people that want to come. So he is looking for a place 50 people can congregate that is secure.
Our church had a service last night, and two tonight. We are not really concerned about security other than making sure we can get people in and out of the parking lot safely. The likelihood of arrest is, at the moment, non-existent. We have loudspeakers facing the parking lot broadcasting the service for those who may be arriving late.
I have been in meetings with my pastor friend where we made sure to close the windows when we sang or prayed. My trips there have been to help equip people in his churches to continue to grow when he is arrested.
As you celebrate with your family tonight, if you are able to attend services with your community, please remember those who do so under the shadow of arrest and incarceration for their faith in Christ.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
Our church had a service last night, and two tonight. We are not really concerned about security other than making sure we can get people in and out of the parking lot safely. The likelihood of arrest is, at the moment, non-existent. We have loudspeakers facing the parking lot broadcasting the service for those who may be arriving late.
I have been in meetings with my pastor friend where we made sure to close the windows when we sang or prayed. My trips there have been to help equip people in his churches to continue to grow when he is arrested.
As you celebrate with your family tonight, if you are able to attend services with your community, please remember those who do so under the shadow of arrest and incarceration for their faith in Christ.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
We squawk and fuss in America as we watch some of the freedoms to express our faith slowly erode in present day America. But, as you remind us Mike, in so many places in our world today identifying in a clear way with Christ is painting a target on one's back.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mike. We should thank the Lord - and take advantage
of - the privileges we have as sincere believers in America. And we should be preparing ourselves, children and grandchildren for days which the Bible indicates, may be ahead when if the Lord tarries when we will not have such freedom or security.
Revelation 12 indicates to me (I know there are many differences of opinion) that as the world appeared quiet on that night 2000 plus years ago in Bethlehem in Judea there was a fierce war angelic war taking place behind the curtain of star-lit skies and softly bleating sheep.
We do not live in friendly territory, despite any appearances or past experience. The number of the martyrs recorded in heaven will increase while we celebrate in the relative peace and security throughout most of America.