Hello Midsouth Leaders and Friends,
“In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:1-3
Sounds like David has been reading contemporary news feeds. Here’s an update to help answer the psalmist’s question:
“How to Safely Reopen Your Church” is a helpful article from attorney Richard Hammer and the folks at Church Law and Tax. Even though the article title is inaccurate (the Church has always “been open,” even during a pandemic) we know what he means. Lots of helpful information in this article. Several Midsouth churches are already gathering back in your buildings. Don’t be shy about passing on what you’re learning.
The Global Leadership Summit Is August 6-7, 2020. Many of you have attended the GLS in the past, either on-site at the main event or at one of the 650 regional locations around the world. This year’s GLS will also be available online, Another great group of presenters is scheduled or this year’s GLS, including our Midsouth colleague Craig Groeschel from Life.Church. Click here for the link for more information and registration.
We have scheduled a weekly Midsouth Pastors’ ZOOM Meeting @ 11:00 am Tuesday morning. We will send out weekly ZOOM invitations by 8:00 am every Tuesday morning. Whoever is available to join the call is welcome. It was good and we agreed that ZOOMing weekly would be a helpful practice for Midsouth pastors during this season of disequilibrium and disorientation. See you next Tuesday @ 11:00 am.
As things seem to be changing by the hour, we want to be diligent in our communication and encouragement to you all. We may “over-communicate” just to keep in touch and be helpful. We will be especially reaching out to Midsouth pastors and staff teams to resource and encourage them.
In Matthew 16 Jesus declared “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The local ekklesia (aka “called out people,” aka “church”) is the epicenter of God’s redemptive work in his world. Much noise is made by governments, politicians and the media, but the local church is the center of God’s purpose and plan. What does it mean that this global health crisis emerged during Lent? What does the Lord want us to know?
As he was leading opening worship at our first-ever virtual Midsouth Annual Meeting, Josef Rasheed said that our ZOOM screen is the way God sees us…every person…at the same time…all together. I think about that metaphor every time our Midsouth pastors gather on Tuesday for our weekly ZOOM. I think about this when our Midsouth board gathers for our weekly prayer meeting (on ZOOM) to pray for Midsouth pastors & churches. It’s the same for dozens of online meetings and gatherings of the past few months. What has changed? What are we learning? If the foundations are being shaken why are we to do? We can’t be certain about the circumstances that prompted David to write Psalm 11, but we can draw strength from it, even in troubled times. God sees. God knows. God hates wickedness. God loves justice. He sees us…all the time. And the upright can see God. It’s better than ZOOM…
“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.”
Psalm 11:4-7
This is who we are. Thanks for your heroic leadership. It’s a privilege to serve with you…
“In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:1-3
Sounds like David has been reading contemporary news feeds. Here’s an update to help answer the psalmist’s question:
“How to Safely Reopen Your Church” is a helpful article from attorney Richard Hammer and the folks at Church Law and Tax. Even though the article title is inaccurate (the Church has always “been open,” even during a pandemic) we know what he means. Lots of helpful information in this article. Several Midsouth churches are already gathering back in your buildings. Don’t be shy about passing on what you’re learning.
The Global Leadership Summit Is August 6-7, 2020. Many of you have attended the GLS in the past, either on-site at the main event or at one of the 650 regional locations around the world. This year’s GLS will also be available online, Another great group of presenters is scheduled or this year’s GLS, including our Midsouth colleague Craig Groeschel from Life.Church. Click here for the link for more information and registration.
We have scheduled a weekly Midsouth Pastors’ ZOOM Meeting @ 11:00 am Tuesday morning. We will send out weekly ZOOM invitations by 8:00 am every Tuesday morning. Whoever is available to join the call is welcome. It was good and we agreed that ZOOMing weekly would be a helpful practice for Midsouth pastors during this season of disequilibrium and disorientation. See you next Tuesday @ 11:00 am.
As things seem to be changing by the hour, we want to be diligent in our communication and encouragement to you all. We may “over-communicate” just to keep in touch and be helpful. We will be especially reaching out to Midsouth pastors and staff teams to resource and encourage them.
In Matthew 16 Jesus declared “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The local ekklesia (aka “called out people,” aka “church”) is the epicenter of God’s redemptive work in his world. Much noise is made by governments, politicians and the media, but the local church is the center of God’s purpose and plan. What does it mean that this global health crisis emerged during Lent? What does the Lord want us to know?
As he was leading opening worship at our first-ever virtual Midsouth Annual Meeting, Josef Rasheed said that our ZOOM screen is the way God sees us…every person…at the same time…all together. I think about that metaphor every time our Midsouth pastors gather on Tuesday for our weekly ZOOM. I think about this when our Midsouth board gathers for our weekly prayer meeting (on ZOOM) to pray for Midsouth pastors & churches. It’s the same for dozens of online meetings and gatherings of the past few months. What has changed? What are we learning? If the foundations are being shaken why are we to do? We can’t be certain about the circumstances that prompted David to write Psalm 11, but we can draw strength from it, even in troubled times. God sees. God knows. God hates wickedness. God loves justice. He sees us…all the time. And the upright can see God. It’s better than ZOOM…
“The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.
The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.”
Psalm 11:4-7
This is who we are. Thanks for your heroic leadership. It’s a privilege to serve with you…