BEING TOGETHER IS HEALING

Dear friends,
        With our current “social distancing” and “safer at home” rules, some will think staying apart is better than being together. But this is not true. It might help for awhile, until the dangers of disease are lessened, but lengthy required separation is far more destructive in the long run than helpful.
        Once while up in the mountains I decided to make a small cook fire. Dry sticks of wood lit easily with a match, but the fire wasn’t hot enough for cooking. I assumed more air around the sticks would make the fire hotter so I separated the sticks a little. Some did burn quicker but they gave off little heat. Only when I moved the sticks next to each other did they burn hot enough to cook food.
        The heat of one supports the heat of the other. You and I need to be with others more than we think. Alone, we can do some things well, making a few sparks or a small flames here or there. But only together can we become useful heat. If we stay separate from each other too long, our own flame may go out.
        Our Christian faith is not self-sustaining. Sundays alone require many more Sundays together  to keep faith strong. “Virtual worship” is a brief solution, but actual Christian fellowship helps body and soul. A body in bed for weeks will fall with a first step because legs have grown weak. Worship strengthens body and soul.
        It’s time for us to get back together again, to start meeting and gaining strength from God and from each other. Being apart is helpful only only a short time. We human beings are social creatures. We grow stronger together.
        If a short time of separation is needed for your health, don’t leave God out. Virtual worship is helpful, but if that isn’t possible for you, read from your Bible daily and pray. God’s Word blesses us with His presence, comfort and love.
        Jesus took only short times away from the crowds, because His faith grew stronger when He was with others. The faith of one Christian supports the faith of the other. This is why God’s Word urges, “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

A united flame makes a better fire.

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com

WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD!

        In my nearly 30 years of writing WEEKLY MESSAGE, I have tried, fairly successfully, to avoid ranting on an issue. Today I nearly succumbed to doing that with one of my least favorite COVID19 rules, that of government entities closing public worship in churches. Regardless of what rules and regs mayors or governors may write, churches may not required to close. 

        Regardless of the 14th Amendment’s directive for public safety, the 1st Amendment protects our individual rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. End of discussion! But taking this further is an argument that no one would win. 

        Instead, today I want to quote for you the words of an ancient song, the “Te Deum Laudamus”. This magnificent hymn of praise deserves to be sung more than it is. Read it, hum along if you know the melody (“Jupiter” by Gustav Holst), and be blessed!

WE PRAISE YOU, O GOD

1. We praise You and acknowledge You, O God, to be the Lord,
The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored.
To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing,
The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring:
“O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth!”

2. The band of the apostles in glory sing Your praise;
The fellowship of prophets their deathless voices raise.
The martyrs of Your kingdom, a great and noble throng,
Sing with the holy Church throughout all the world this song:
“O all-majestic Father, Your true and only Son,
And Holy Spirit, Comforter—forever Three in One!”

3. You, Christ, are King of glory, the everlasting Son,
Yet You, with boundless love, sought to rescue ev’ryone:
You laid aside Your glory, were born of virgin’s womb,
Were crucified for us and were placed into a tomb;
Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve—
You opened heaven’s kingdom to all who would believe.

4. You sit in splendid glory, enthroned at God’s right hand,
Upholding earth and heaven by forces You command.
We know that You will come as our Judge that final day,
So help Your servants You have redeemed by blood, we pray;
May we with saints be numbered where praises never end,
In glory everlasting. Amen, O Lord, amen!

(CPH, by Stephen Starke and Gustav Holst)

Thanks for listening (and singing)!

Rev. Bob Tasler, www.bobtasler.com