Greetings!
I’m in the recovery stage of Type A Flu. Yesterday (Thursday) was the worst day, but I’m feeling much MUCH better today. Tamiflu is my friend!
Thanks for reading this week’s DHD! I’ll mention more about having the flu and other experiences of the week, along with a current worldwide pandemic—you might’ve heard about it!
- ‘Christ must reorient you’
My devotional reading today was extremely applicable for the current situation in the world. This year I’m using “Experiencing God Day-By-Day” by Henry and Richard Blackaby for my daily quiet time.
For March 13, the devotion is titled “Christ must reorient you.” Here’s some of the passage I wrote in my daily recording and prayer time:
“If you are in a situation or lifestyle where you are perfectly capable of handling everything, you have stopped growing in your understanding of God” (Whoa! This seems too personal, but let’s continue.)
“God’s desire is to take you from where you are to where He wants you to be. You will always be one step of obedience away from the next truth God wants you to learn about Him… Perhaps you need to trust God to a degree you never have before.”
Maybe I am too comfortable in my lifestyle. Maybe this level of comfort hinders my faith and trust in God. Maybe this comfort causes me to focus on other things instead of God. The Blackabys continue with mentioning the examples of Jesus calling fishermen to be His disciples (Mark 1:19-20) as well as using Abraham as an example.
“The fishermen could not remain in their fishing boats and become apostles of Jesus Christ. Abraham was 75 years old when God gave him his major life assignment. These men had to disrupt their comfortable routine in order to reach new heights in their relationship with their Lord” (emphasis mine).
“Disrupt their comfortable routine”—that’s a heavy phrase. Here’s the concluding challenge by the Blackabys:
“Are you prepared for Christ to reveal Himself to you in dimensions that will change your life? Are you willing to abandon that which makes you comfortable?”
Obviously, I think the timing of this devotion is fascinating. God knows what He’s doing!
- Coronavirus reactions
Do you think what has happened this week has been a disruption for many people’s comfortable routines?
I realize there are many who have contracted this horrible disease, and I do not write this to make light of what these people are experiencing, especially those who have lost their lives to the Coronavirus. And I know many more are susceptible. May God provide much healing and care, as His perfect will is revealed.
But for those who are confused, frustrated, panicked and in dismay because of the national and international reaction, allow me to suggest how to apply this “uncomfortable disruption” of life.
Have you personally asked God how this experience applies to you? Consider this an opportunity to do some soul searching. Maybe this experience is God’s way of getting your attention.
I’ll give a personal experience in my next point, but if your life’s schedule has gone through some immediate and drastic changes, due to the coronavirus pandemic, what may God be telling you or wanting you to do?
Perhaps, like the fishermen Jesus called, God wants you to make a career change in order to be more involved in Kingdom work. Perhaps you could relate to Abraham. You are in a later life stage, when you think you’re slowing down, but God is not done with you and has a great plan for you.
These are serious times with major changes happening, but don’t allow the drastic times to continue without seeking God for how these times are to apply to you.
- My experience of the week
As many of you know, I am the official scorekeeper for the home games of the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Wednesday, a cough I developed started to get worse, and I started to feel a little achy. So I went to the Urgent Care and was diagnosed with Type A Flu. This means I could not work the Thunder game that evening.
Many of you know what happened that night. The Thunder were supposed to play the Utah Jazz, but instead, the game was called due to a player being diagnosed with the Coronavirus. My wife believes God ordained me to get the flu. I’ll admit, I’ll take Type A Flu over the Coronavirus.
But this also means my work schedule has made some major changes. Because the NBA has postponed the season, I won’t be working another basketball game for at least a month. It’s just a side job, so I’m not going to go through major financial challenges. However, I do feel for those whose livelihood depend on working Thunder games (ushers, concession workers, etc.).
I also realize how much sports is a part of my life and many other lives. Now that has been put on hold. It’s hard to imagine no sporting events, at any level, happening for the next month. Who would have thought this could ever happen?
Going back to my “uncomfortable disruption” analogy, I am using this time to seek God more. I don’t see a career change or making a major move, but I do believe God wants more of my attention, and whatever time I would’ve spent watching ball games could be used to focus more on Him.
- Mohler on Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality
Because I was so wordy in the first three topics, I’ll be brief in the final three.
First, it was brought to my attention that someone believed Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, is an advocate of Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality. Let me dispel this rumor by referring to Mohler’s podcast The Briefing, June 14, 2019:
“Ideas, as we know, do have consequences, and one of the most lamentable consequences, but the main consequence of critical race theory and intersectionality is identity politics, and identity politics can only rightly be described, as antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have to see identity politics as disastrous for the culture and nothing less than devastating for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- SBC and nondenominational churches
Check out Ryan Burge’s piece, “Nondenominational Churches are Basically Southern Baptists (With a Few Caveats)”
He makes some fascinating conclusions, most of which were already presumed. This article feeds my aspirations to see more “Nondenoms” become Southern Baptists, especially since views and observances are similar, and become involved with cooperative mission work, seeing even greater results in advancing the Gospel together.
- Fill out your Census!
Look what I got in the mail today!
Yes, friends it’s that time of year when we are to fill out our reports to the United States Census Bureau. This is important, and it will help many people in your area, so do your part! And besides, it’s the law!
