From Pastor Brian:

I hope this finds you doing well considering the circumstances (aka a global pandemic and social distancing).

I spent the first half of this week sick (99% sure it wasn't COVID-19), but the Lord has restored me to health and I wanted to touch base with everyone.

Here's some wisdom for your day: Time is like toilet paper-- you can't buy it (somewhere only Stucky is laughing). But it's true, time is the greatest thing you have and no matter how much money you have, you simply can't buy more. This week finds some of you extremely busy while others are wondering what to do with nothing but time.

If you are in the second category, here are a few ideas...

Connect With People
Use Zoom, MarcoPolo, Facebook Messenger or this really cool device called a phone- it has a feature that allows you to listen and talk to just about anyone in real time! :) I challenge you to call someone in the covenant community whom you don't know well (or even someone you do) and just ask how they're doing and how you can pray for them. Then pray for them- either with them right then or later. Call family members you never talk to, old friends you intended to keep up with, your neighbor, brainstorm a little.

Nourish Instead of Numb
Do not numb yourself with entertainment. That's not to say you can't enjoy a TV show or finally watch all three extended versions of The Lord of the Rings (Hough house plans to do this one!), but don't fill in the gaps in your schedule right now with only entertainment. Instead, use this time to nurture your soul with what it really needs: more and slower time in prayer (try writing your prayers; pray for President Trump and Governor Kelly and leaders everywhere trying to make wise decisions with limited information). Reading of the Scriptures; if you're doing our year long reading plan you're in Numbers or Deuteronomy, read ahead and make some margin for later, but don't rush. Also read something in that stack of Christian books that seems to endlessly grow taller due to lack of time to read.

Here's a random "I'm locked in my house" Rabbit Trail of books: Laura and I are currently reading together The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, it's not the most theological book, but it goes very deep in the practical and we've really appreciated.
I'm also reading:
On The Road with Saint Augustine by James Smith (beautifully written)
The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges (amazing book).
Memoirs of An Ordinary Pastor by Don Carson (eh, it's ok. Joe, that's an American "eh," not a Canadian "Ehh?" despite it being about a Canadian pastor)

And at night when my brain is shutting down I'm reading a novel titled Beyond the Broken Bay (it's about a family in Manila during WWII, so far it's good)

Laura is reading Devoted by Tim Chalies.
Raising Grateful Kids in An Entitled World by Kristen Welch
and something about laugher that she keeps reading me funny stories from. if you want to know more you'll have to call her 785-341-4069 (see what I did there??).

Now back on track...

Be Present
As much as we should be connecting with others, we should also be mindful to connect with those very near us. Sit down and play a game or cards with your child(ren) or spouse or whoever is blessed enough to be locked away with you.

For The Love, Avoid The News
I don't mean all the news, but in times like this we seem to want to know everything and so we go to the news constantly (and remember media corporations are CORPORATIONS- they exist for profit and bad news sells). Too often we listen to people share terrifying news on social media, we watch the panic and our hearts melt with anxiety. Listen, you are not Creator, you are the creature, you were not created to be omniscient, you cannot carry the weight and pain and worries of the world. So stop. Don't. Focus on those you know and those people down the street you could know if you weren't carrying the weight of the whole world.

Serve Others

If you're not in lock down and can safely run an errand for a neighbor (particularly elderly) offer to do just that.
Pray for those you're concerned about, for their safety, but even more that God might work through this for their salvation. The Gospel shines in the darkest of times.
If you've got a stack of 500 rolls of toilet paper you might offer a bit to those who don't have any left.
Financially, consider those you know who are hourly workers and won't be getting a paycheck as things currently stand- give what you can to someone you know in need.

A Bit of Encouragement
One thing that has not been changed by this virus in any country around the globe is the death toll: it remains at 100%. All will die eventually from something so we can't live well if we're living in fear of death. Even more so, those who trust in Jesus have no reason to fear death.

I know, some of you are thinking, "It's not death I fear, it's the economy." Listen, I don’t believe we’re gonna end up in poverty as a Americans, but it would be ok if we did. What a great time this is to practice living more simply in case God ever puts us in a position where we must. Our hope is not in the economy or long life, our hope is in the Lord who laid down his life for us on the cross thus securing salvation for His children. So moment by moment, remember the Lord your God.

Let's love God well and love all our neighbors well during this time.

Below are some resources I highly recommend...

These are from Donald Whitney

1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

11. What’s the most important decision you need to make this year?

12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what’s one way you could simplify in that area?

13. What’s the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year?

14. What habit would you most like to establish this year?

15. Who is the person you most want to encourage this year?

16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it?

17. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year?

18. What’s one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year?

19. What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year?

21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?

22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?

23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year?

24. What’s the most important trip you want to take this year?

25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year?

26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year?

27. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year?

28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it?

29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it?

30. What’s the most important new item you want to buy this year?

31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

These are some additional Questions to think about

What books had the greatest influence on you this past year?
What was the best place you traveled to in 2018?
What did you waste the most time on and how’d you best spend your time best this year?
Who are you most thankful to God for putting in your life?
Have you learned anything significant either through teaching or experience this year?
What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year?
What goals seem silly, but are still goals this year?
In what area of your life do you most need to make change or to grow in and how will you pursue it this year?
In what area of life do you need more of God's wisdom?