March 19, 2020

Note: You are invited to join us for virtual Bible Study on the first chapter of Revelation at 11:00am today by going to http://www.facebook.com/fumctemple/videos .

Now for the good stuff.
This past Sunday, world renowned opera singer, Julie Davies, sang in our traditional worship services. To say her music was breathtaking is a tremendous understatement.

In the same worship services, our men’s chorus sang Mac Davis’ great hit, “Oh Lord, It’s Hard to be Humble.”

So we had both ends of the musical spectrum but that’s just how we roll.

The interesting thing in the second service happened when I asked everyone to raise their hands if they remembered Mac Davis. Of course, all the old people like me immediately knew who I was talking about. None of our young people did.

Then I looked up in the balcony and McKenna’s hand was in the air. Even though she’s a young college student, she knew exactly who I was talking about. She was sitting next to her brother, Zane, who didn’t have a clue who Mac Davis was. That was the moment I knew the sad truth.

It became very clear that Todd and Ali had been much more concerned about McKenna being a well-rounded person than they were for Zane. How else would McKenna have known how important Mac Davis was? It had to be her parents.

I don’t get it. Zane is the sort of person that anyone would want for a son. He deserves parents that love their son as much as they do their daughter. I am very disappointed in Todd and Ali but they are not the only ones.

Have you ever been disappointed by other people? Yesterday, on the evening news I saw huge crowds of people congregating on beaches and restaurants in Florida. There was no social distancing. All these people in such close proximity were doing the exact opposite of what we are being asked to do to keep everyone safe and retard the spread of the coronavirus that is incredibly dangerous to the most vulnerable members of our community.

I am also disappointed by those who have hoarded food, toilet paper, facemasks, and medical supplies so that others don’t have what they need.

The people that do these sorts of things have little or no regard for others. How disappointing.

But, I cannot look at these people with contempt because I know I disappoint God on a regular basis.

Whenever I choose my way over God’s, I know I disappoint the One who let his child die so that I may live. As the old proverb goes: “Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”

Paul said, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

The goal of those who follow Jesus Christ is to put God’s concerns before our own. When we do that, we draw closer to the One who has saved us. This is what makes God smile.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, help me be the person you created me to be. I pray you be with all of us as we experience the trials and tribulations associated with the coronavirus. Help me think past myself to what is best for everyone. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Make sure you do your part to keep everyone safe from this illness. It matters to God.

Also, just for the record, I think Todd and Ali did a much better job raising their children than I did raising mine. I wish they had given me some parenting tips. That’s another reason for me to be disappointed in them.

Of course, another reason McKenna would have known about Mac Davis is because she goes to school at Texas Tech. In Lubbock, one of the roads is named Mac Davis Lane.

Who knows, maybe Todd and Ali really do love both their children the same?

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins