07042020 – Mark 12. 13-17 “The Fourth of July”
Hopefully and prayerfully THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER 4th of July celebration “quite like this one…”
Parades, floats, marching bands, public fireworks display and large family reunions and cook-outs are “typically” some of the “more POPULAR WAYS” we- mark the nation’s INDEPENDENCE from Britain in 1776.
But “THIS year in 2020 IS” the “ODD DUCK out.” Like it or NOT, we are still in the MIDST of a “pandemic.” And it appears, it AINT FINISHED WITH US YET!
This is … LIKE “NO OTHER 4th of July in our lifetime!”
Even CAESAR is “not quite sure” WHAT to make of this one! And is left scratching his head IN DISBELIEF and WONDER.
This year – our celebrations of INDEPENDENCE include:
Virtual Family Gatherings…
Virtual Fire Works…
Virtual Meetings…
Virtual Parades…
Virtual Floats…
Virtual Symphony’s…
Virtual Worship…
Virtual Medical Appointments…
Virtual EVENTS of all sorts THAT are “sweeping our nation.”
It is like our “whole world” has gone “VIRTUAL” (at least, for the time being!)
In many places’ things are closing up INRESPONSE to “what seems to be” a-growing-spreading-pandemic-AGAIN!
But people are SORELY divided.
Just WHOM do you listen to? WHEREIN lies the truth. WHOM do you believe? Just WHERE do you get your NEWS from? And what role does SCIENCE play in all of the above?
Sadly, our nation is anything but united. Our people are RISING UP! For-and-against…this and that…and SIDES are being taken…and lines are being drawn in the sands of time.
And sometimes over seemingly LITTLE things, WHICH FOR MANY – are in reality, BIG THINGS.
Do you wear a MASK, or do you NOT wear a mask? Are you still QUARANTINING? Are you hunkering down and for how long? Are you awaiting – the long sought after – and perhaps-ever-elusive-antibiotic? Are you doing SOCIAL DISTANCING…or NOT? Where do you stand on OUR HISTORY and on our historical relics…you know, like our STATUARY…?
What about the Confederate flag?
What about the Black Lives matter movement? What about the Blue Live movement? What about the ALL-LIVES movement? Uncle Ben’s Converted Rice, Aunt Jemima Pancake mixes and syrup…the Cleveland Indians, the Washington Redskins and Columbus, Ohio.
What exactly is the difference between PEACEFUL protest and VIOLENCE and CIVIL disobedience and UNREST? What about Christopher Columbus and the INDIGENOUS people of the America’s?
People are DIVIDED. They are TORN. They are SPLINTERED.
Last night was the FIRST firework display at Mount Rushmore in more than a DECADE. The people flocked, with masks and WITHOUT. Social distancing THROWN to the wind. Did you know environmentalists are in an UPROAR about regional wildfires, as a direct result? Pray there are none!
Or, that the SIOUX NATION says that the MONUMENT to former US Presidents was built on “land SACRED to the Sioux tribe?”
And “one of the quirkier Independence Day Traditions” – NATHAN’S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST went AHEAD today on ESPN as per usual…as planned…as scheduled with millions of people TUNING IN…to watch people STUFF hot dogs down their throats! It is a year unlike any other…I tell you.
Tonight, more than 10,000 fireworks will be set off in Washington DC as a part of A “Salute to America event.”
I am sure there were DIVISIVE ISSUES in Jesus’ day and time, as well. As a matter of fact, I KNOW there were.
Jesus refused to be caught up in taking sides. So, he brilliantly said, render to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what belongs to God.
Pray for our republic. Pray for our people. We can and should be doing better… Amen. A year like none other…