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Coronavirus and April 1

4/1/2020

The coronavirus Covid-19 stats for today from John Hopkins University has US at the top of the list for confirmed cases at 213,372 and that is not an April Fool’s prank. CNN reports 4,669 deaths from the coronavirus in the US. That means two out of every one hundred confirmed cases dies.

When I first began hearing about this virus, I believed that the media was making it much larger than it was. Comparisons to regular flu virus cases and past viruses showed the coronavirus third to the smallest historically.

Aside from my questions, COVID-19 has impacted our nation and our world in ways that has surpassed almost anything else. While considering the number of changes from how we normally do life, my thoughts went to other countries. War torn countries. Countries like Syria.

Pictures of empty streets and shelled buildings from five years of war are gripping. When their pandemic is over, they cannot just return to work, school or anything near normal for months, maybe even years.

We are not certain when lifted restrictions allow us to return to our workplaces, schools, and churches. I am thankful that we have something worthwhile to return to and I believe we will be better people because of this virus.

Matthew 5:1-10 (NIV)
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2 and He began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Happy New Year 2019!

1/1/2019

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2019 has come and we have 365 days to make it a wonderful or wimpy year. I expect to have some victories this year that make me feel successful. I have seen enough years go by to know that there will be disappointments, discouragement and defeats that will be experinced during the year. My hope is that those tests become a testimony of God's goodness in spite of myself or others.

Are you looking forward to this year's adventures or are you dreading this year's events?

God does not promise that the year will close without any hardships. God does promise that if we stay lovingly trusting Him, He will work for our good.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.

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Dr Pat

4/24/2018

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Greatest April Fool's in History

3/29/2018

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As a child, April Fool’s Day almost eclipsed Christmas as my favorite day of the entire year. April 1 felt like I could lie legitimately for twenty-four hours without getting in trouble if I shouted, “April Fool’s!” when my lie was discovered.

This year, April Fool’s Day is on Easter Sunday or it may be that Easter Sunday is on April Fool’s Day. Easter is a floating holiday not fixed on a set date. Easter can land on any date between March 22 and April 25 on our Gregorian calendar. Some of you think of Easter bunnies, egg hunts and chocolate on this holiday. A few of you debate the Quartodeciman controversy every Easter.

For a long time, I have been thinking about Easter celebrated on the first of April. Some plan to make the most of it and tell the children to search for Easter eggs they did not hide.

Easter celebrates the greatest April Fool’s prank in history: Jesus rising from the dead after three days in the tomb. Suppose you were to make up a story or a legend that would shape history. You probably would not base it on a hero born of a virgin. It would not make sense to have the hero healing and doing miracles like giving sight to a man born blind, healing a paralyzed man so he could walk, and even raising dead people to life. Nor would you have the hero living a perfect, sinless life. A novel that had children clamoring after a hero, crowds declaring him their king upon his arrival to their spiritual city and many of the same people shouting for their hero crucified before the week is over is a very confusing story.

The Bible and non-biblical sources record exactly this story. The conflict of Good and Evil was between Jesus and satan. Satan thought he had won when Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” and died.

The greatest April Fool’s joke in history occurred when Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to over five hundred people over forty days. People saw Jesus, touched Him, ate with Him, talked to Him and embraced Him. Jesus conquered sin and death with His resurrection.

Maybe before the next Easter/April Fools collide on the same day, we will experience the next world- changing event by Jesus: His physical return to earth.

Two angels spoke these words to the followers who saw Jesus ascending to heaven:
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 (NIV)

This April Fool’s Day, find out if the Quartodeciman controversy is an April Fool’s joke and join one of the many Easter services held in your community. Discover how the greatest April Fool’s prank in history can change your life.

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Can Pastors Have Friends?

3/6/2018

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The topic at our local ministerial meeting was, "Can pastors have friends?" An eight inch snowfall hindered all but six of us who made it. Three of us had over twenty years of serving in the same church. We spoke of the challenges of friendships in the church and in the community. Doing things with a person or couple in your church has made others feel left out or second rate. There are privicy issues and personal issues that limit disclosure to friends in the community.

I have good friendships in the church I serve. I am closer with some more than others due to shared interests. I am authentic to our elders. Once, I shared my failings and struggles and felt this was make or break. They will ask me to step down or forgive and provide accountability. Their support was overwhelming and forged our friendship deeper.

I feel privileged to have a college in the community whom I have met weekly with for over nineteen years. There are things in our lives and churches that we have talked and prayed about. He has saved me from many mistakes.

I have friends that are outside of ministry and some that are not followers of Jesus yet. My closets friends are those who share a fully devoted life following Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 18:24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Do you have friendships in your life that support you, pray for you and encourage you?

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Mom is Forgetting Things

3/2/2018

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I Was Caught in a School Lock-Down

3/1/2018

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My wife and I were notified that we needed to leave the school. We were in the school weight room before 6am when we heard there was a threat and the school wold be locked-down. Announcements were made over the intercom and we left. Our daughter was talking to officials because students had come to her with a copy of the threat over social media.

School was cancelled, the school was thoroughly searched, various agencies were brought in for support, and leads were investigated. Today, the schools were opened and all is well, sort of.

It was finals week with many projects and exams that were unable to be completed due to the closure. Spring break begins tomorrow, but teachers may need to come in over the break to administer tests and grade students.

All is well regarding the safety and security of students. Other school in Minnesota and across the nation have experienced copy-cat threats. The recent shooting that killed seventeen students and faculty in Florida has schools on high alert.

Solutions to keep school shootings from ever happening again fail to address the sin stain in humanity. Jesus is the only true solution. Jesus is the only One who can change a persons heart, attitude and motives from evil to pure.

I am grateful that our school has one main entrance that is locked when school is in session. We have a resource officer and security cameras.

Jesus is the only solution to bring peace and confidence to students, parents and staff that all will be well.

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

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Billy Graham's New Address - Heaven

2/28/2018

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Billy Graham was buried today. Reverend Graham had told people that if they hear of his death, they should not believe the report. He went on to say that when he dies, it will merely be a change of address. Since Graham's passing away from this life, he has been living and enjoying the very presence of God that he has preached about for decades.

was in eight grade when I attended one of his crusades in Minnesota held at Midway stadium in 1973. His message was very basic. You are lost without Jesus Christ. Billy Graham said this about his preaching, "During all my years as an evangelist, my message has always been the Gospel of Christ. It is not a Western religion, nor is it a message of one culture or political system . . . it is a message of life and hope for all the world."

When Reverend Graham gave the invitation for people to repent of their sins and receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, people flocked to the front of the stage. Billy used his spiritual gift of evangelism to the fullest.

"I haven't written my own epitaph, and I'm not sure I should. Whatever it is, I hope it will be simple, and that it will point people not to me, but to the One I served." Billy Graham

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