Uninstall 2020. How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus. Update.

We need to uninstall 2020 and then try re-installing it.

The current version has a nasty virus !

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How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus  March 26, 2020

“COVID-19 is impacting our lives, and it can be a challenge to explain it to children. Here are some tips to help parents talk to their kids about the crisis.

First it was about five. Then it was 15. Then 25. Then 35. Then 50.

These were the number of daily confirmed cases of those infected with COVID-19 in Ohio (where we live). It was at around the “15” mark that Ohio decided to close its schools for three weeks. (This has occurred in other states as well.)

If parents were trying to shield their children from the unending 24-hour news cycle documenting the spread and danger of the virus, the closings of schools made that very difficult. Then when theaters, restaurants and places with gatherings of 50 people or more (or now even 10 or more) closed (including even churches canceling their services), it became impossible.

The questions from little minds poured in, and continue to pour in, and will continue to pour in. My 3-year-old caught me watching a press conference from Ohio’s governor and asked: “What’s a pandemic?”

After stuttering a little bit, I said, “Some people are sick.”

What a cop-out, right? So, we asked several of our friends what to say to our kids about the coronavirus, especially in light of our belief in a loving God who protects His people.

Some helpful themes came up, and hopefully they will be of help to your family as well.

1. Explain that God is still in charge of what ultimately happens in the world.

Jeremiah 32:27 is a helpful scripture to use to teach children about God’s ability to do anything: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

When our children see clear examples of suffering, we don’t want to give them the impression that God has somehow missed it and forgot to do anything. The reason God allows suffering is a question that mature adults have struggled with for centuries, so imagine the questions a young mind will have about why our loving God would allow things like COVID-19.

Here are some helpful things our friends, with children up to school-age, shared with us:

• “We think it’s important for little ones to know that, sometimes, God allows bad things to happen—and even though they can be scary, God is more powerful than the scary things. They need to know that God loves them and promises to watch over them, and that they can tell God about their fears, because He listens and cares. Even though He’s working on a big plan for the whole world, He still loves to hear from them.”
• “Without a doubt, our family’s reliance upon our Sovereign God was (and remains) foundational to our daily stability during major changes. Prayer and Bible reading tethered us to God’s plan, purpose and promises. Yet we were mindful not ‘to preach.’ Sometime the best approach was reading God’s Word and allowing our boys to consider and process His truth in their time.”

You may find our booklet Why Does God Allow Evil and Suffering? a helpful resource to use when explaining this issue to your children.

2. Help your children understand that when we are afraid, God is always there to help us.

Isaiah 41:10 is a great scripture to share with them on this topic: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Kids might also get the impression that the only way God helps people is by not allowing anything bad to ever happen. We have to explain that God doesn’t shield us from every bad thing—after all, some of the bad things that happen are because of bad decisions we make. But He does promise to help us through those things.

Some thoughts parents shared along these lines were:

• “I think the most important thing to remember is that children imitate their parents. If we are overreacting (in any situation), it causes them stress and teaches them to handle it poorly. If we remain calm and behave as normally as possible, they do not become as alarmed.”
• “Reading a well-chosen book can provide a welcome break from uncertainty. Our children need the opportunity to turn their attention away from unsettling situations. When our children see that Mom and Dad are not consumed by circumstances, it provides an unspoken comfort and peace.”
  “Singing hymns not only provides an opportunity for praise—but equally important, an opportunity to reinforce God’s truth and faithfulness. Singing together truly does create unique bonds of hope and joy within a family. Despite the calls for ‘social distancing,’ nothing conveys love and security like physical touch. Rubbing a back, hugging and holding a hand is worth the risk within the confines of our family home.
  “‘For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you”’” (Isaiah 41:13).

3. Teach your children that there’s a difference between “fearing not” and tempting God.

Luke 4:12 and Deuteronomy 6:16 remind us: “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.”

It is critical, especially at this time, to help our kids understand that we don’t have to fear, but that doesn’t mean we do whatever we want. There’s a big difference between having faith in God’s protection and demanding His protection by tempting Him through foolish actions.

We should encourage behavior that shows love to others and that doesn’t take something lightly that is actually very serious and deadly. We should teach our children the importance of wisdom and discretion and how that balances with faith in God. We teach them to ask for God’s protection, but to do all they can to avoid getting sick themselves.

Other parents mentioned these ideas as well:

• “We already talk about hand washing, keeping germs to ourselves, and eating healthy all the time in our family. That doesn’t seem strange to them. The extreme isolation has been the most difficult and what we’ve needed to talk about most. Sometimes people make decisions that we don’t understand, but it’s a good opportunity to uphold the decision to our kids because it comes from a position of authority.”
• “We put emphasis on the fact that us being quarantined is about showing love to our neighbor. That all people are our neighbors, and we are to help protect and look after one another. One way we can do that is by staying home so we don’t spread germs.”

Our article “Teaching Your Children to Honor the Elderly” can be a helpful resource for parents.

4. Help your children grasp that loving and obeying God shouldn’t depend on the circumstances.

In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus tells us: “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

The two greatest commandments are not dependent on whether COVID-19 is ravaging the globe. They are universal. God wants little minds to continue trusting in Him, obeying Him, learning about Him and showing love to others.

We can emphasize to them that a time like this is full of opportunities to practice these laws. We can even show them good examples of people showing love and concern for others.

Another thought from a parent was:

• “We’ve reminded our children to remember all the blessings and joyful things that have come out of this event (Daddy being home more, extra family time together as things/activities are canceled). We have made clear that God is allowing this to happen, and He is still in control and watching over His people. We’ve asked them to diligently pray daily about the situation, that God would resolve it, make it less dangerous and that we can return to church as soon as possible according to His will.”

Another parent also mentioned keeping the same routines and expectations that would normally occur, such as holding church services at home in a respectful and special way and keeping the Sabbath holy.

How we talk to our kids is just as important as what we say. Speaking in a calm manner, and not sharing every single gruesome detail, is important.

Helping children understand a situation like this can be challenging. But, with God’s help, parents and children can face, and grow from, any challenge.” From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-coronavirus/?

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Update

The infection number has soared to 2 in my county. The pastor from the church in Anderson still came to conduct our Bible study on Sunday afternoon, even though everything was locked down.  But he has a key to the Community Room, so 3 of us gathered, six feet apart, to learn more about Ephesians.

Being at home more and watching CNN and Westerns, I was amazed that those old western General Stores carried so many false eyelashes, mascara and blue eye shadow for the women of the old West ! 

Fire Ants invaded my biggest pot of aloe vera plant and started eating it.  I ‘seasoned’ the pot with Diatomaceous Earth to get rid of the ants before I could operate on it.  So my neighbor and I ventured out to our little Walmart, she wanted a few things and I needed sand and pebbles to mix with the new potting soil.  Everybody there was very polite and kept away from each other, but I find that people in small towns are more polite and considerate somehow.

My census was filled out and mailed, have you done yours?

My yearly health assessment was done remotely, and everybody is mostly staying in their apartments, except for those who have to walk their dogs.   On Friday morning, my neighbor and I still got together, six feet apart, to study the church’s Bible study for that week, even though we knew that we wouldn’t be going to church the next day.

Loving Your Neighbor. Suddenly! Trust in the Lord. Myth Busters. Update.

Ok! Ok! I know you are sick of it, but here are a few thoughts, some might be a comfort to you:

Loving Your Neighbor in the Age of Coronavirus

“Coronavirus is currently changing daily life for everyone. To younger people, it can seem like a big frustrating overreaction. But here’s another perspective to consider.
To everyone under the age of 70 years old:
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted all of our lives. We’ve all had to make sacrifices—and possibly will have to make more in the future—as our world struggles to find its way through this global crisis.

Sacrificing for others

The COVID-19 disease will likely have little effect on you—even if you contract it. So the sacrifices you make, the inconveniences you endure, are not really for you.
The greatest danger to human life this disease poses is to older people, senior citizens with whom you may have very little contact on a daily basis. 
As one of those seniors (I’m in my 70s), I’d like to offer a different perspective on the current crisis. It seems true that younger people who contract the virus have relatively mild symptoms, and in some cases may not even realize they are infected.

Overreaction to a virus no worse than the flu?

Many people, especially those with little or no medical training, have cited the relatively low death rate among younger people to say that this virus is really no worse than the common flu.
If that were the whole story, they might have a valid point. We could even cite the number of deaths worldwide from the virus as further proof of its limited severity, though those figures are changing so rapidly that it’s hard to make any argument from them at this point.
It’s easy to understand why a young, healthy person (with little to fear) would feel frustrated with all of the current restrictions on normal life we are facing because of this pandemic. Limiting entertainment, sports, recreation, dining out, and many other social events seems like an overreaction for such a mild disease.

Seeing faces, not numbers

The perspective I wish to offer is a little different. I am not young and healthy any longer. While the World Health Organization put the overall mortality rate at 3.4 percent globally, in my demographic, the fatality rate is around 8 percent. That means for every dozen 70-something people who contract this easily transmissible disease, one will die. (A recent report says the fatality rate is 3.6 percent for those between the ages of 60-69, but 14.8 percent for those over 80.)
If one out of 12 is going to die from this disease over the next few months, I’m not losing numbers, I’m losing friends.When I consider that figure, I honestly don’t see numbers. I see faces. I hear names. I could easily list several dozen people who are my friends and family who are in that demographic—my wife, my in-laws, many of the friends I have had since the days when we were young and healthy together.
If one out of 12 is going to die from this disease over the next few months, I’m not losing numbers, I’m losing friends. I’m losing a part of my life. For all I know, it may be my name that gets listed among the casualties before this pestilence has run its deadly course.
Here’s the point: If everyone makes the sacrifices today, some of those lives may be saved tomorrow. Perhaps it can help us to put names and faces on those lives instead of numbers. Whose life could you save by your sacrifices today?

“Love your neighbor” in the age of coronavirus

What we are seeing in all of this is the operation of an ancient principle, often ignored or minimized in modern society. In the Bible, God is recorded as telling His people to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).
Are we just “believers”—as long as that belief doesn’t inconvenience us or hinder our ability to do what we want, when we want?The same instruction is quoted seven times in the New Testament. In addition to Jesus’ statements, the apostle Paul says that phrase summarizes the entirety of God’s law (Galatians 5:14). James refers to this principle as “the royal law” (James 2:8).
Throughout history, “love your neighbor as yourself” has always been easier said than done. What about when your neighbor is not so nice? What if he or she doesn’t look like you or sound like you or believe like you? What about when you don’t even know your neighbors? What about when they are just statistics in a news story?
That’s when loving your neighbor becomes a test of what we really are. Are we genuine followers of Jesus Christ and His Word? Or are we just “believers”—as long as that belief doesn’t inconvenience us or hinder our ability to do what we want, when we want?
You probably don’t know me, but: I’m the neighbor.
I’m part of the population that is threatened with an 8 percent death rate. I’m older and much more vulnerable than I would like to be, and I’m in need of your willingness to sacrifice your convenience to give me a better chance to survive this crisis.

Thank you for your sacrifices

To those of you diligently doing that: On behalf of all us 70-somethings, thank you. Your sacrifice means more than you will ever know.
And if you happen to be one of those complaining because of the current limits this has posed to your freedom, well, this may be the big test of whether your belief and character are genuine or just a nice slogan. I believe it’s clear what your response should be, but that choice is still entirely yours.”   From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/loving-your-neighbor-in-the-age-of-coronavirus/?
To learn more about how to “love your neighbor as yourself,” read “How to Be a Good Neighbor.”
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Suddenly the world changed.
New York now sleeps
Mickey Mouse went on vacation✈
The NBA said NO
The toilet paper is a treasure to find (Used as chips in poker game) 
No more vacation ✈️
We learned to wash our hands
Kisses and hugs are not daring, today they are contagious
Sanity gave way to hysteria and panic
And a virus crowns as if it were the owner of the world ...
But it is not so, and there is something that the coronavirus will not change! It is the love ❤ and the mercy of God ... that will remain for eternity! May our faith not diminish. Let's not stop praying He is in control!
I know so! And you? ❤ God is good! All the time!
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This is what Brother Oscar from my previous church in Willis wrote to the congregation:
“My dear church family,
I pray that you and your family find yourself blessed and at peace in this time of concern that not only this nation is going through, but the world.
I am being asked by some of you, and others, my opinion on the Covid-19 Pandemic. A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. 
First and foremost, as our Pastor mentioned, we must have complete faith in our heavenly Father YHWH through our Lord and Savior Yeshua. He is the One who is in control of all things and the One that holds our lives in His hands. We are merely on a journey, in His service, awaiting the glorious return of our Lord and Savior.
There is nothing wrong with having a “godly concern” over something, there is however, everything wrong with “worrying” about something. Scripture teaches us not to worry.
Philippians 4:6-7   Do not be anxious (worry) about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
With that said, I am in full agreement to do our due diligence and take all necessary precautions that local, state and federal government is asking its citizens to follow, Scripture teaches to submit to government:
Romans 13:1-2 and following says...
13 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves...
Scripture also teaches that we should not tempt God:
Matthew 4:7  Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
When our government is asking us to do something that does not go against God's will, we are to obey.
It is imperative to try to nip problems in the bud and not allow them to blossom, which is what our government is attempting to do.
I am of the opinion that short term sacrifice to avert long term suffering is prudent and wise.
As I'm sure, most of you have been doing your own research, a few pointers (among many) I have found is:
The Covid-19 virus mortality rate is 10 times higher than the flu mortality rate as of today.  Mortality rate numbers will inevitably change as time goes on and more is known.
The flu has been around for about 2000 years and the human body has developed some limited type of immunity or resistance towards it.
The human body has not had any time to develop any immunity or resistance to this new virus.
Of course, anything can be found on the Internet to prove a point one way or another, but it's best to play it safe now than to be sorry later.
I believe that Non believers and God's people may be paying a consequence for disobedience towards Him with this virus, therefore, He is testing us, his people, so we ourselves, can see how we will react.
John 14:27  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
This is excellent closing Scripture to answer all of your questions.
You are all in my prayers, God bless you all.  Be safe, be clean and most of all, be blessed.
Brother Oscar”.
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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters

Please look at these myth busters, there are too many to show on this page.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters

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Update
I sincerely pray that you and yours are all well.  Please take care of your critters, don’t go leave them at a shelter where they will be put to sleep because they can’t have Adoption Days anymore.  Though I suppose that will be better than starving to death if you can’t get food for them. 
We had the Bible studies on Friday morning and Sunday afternoon as usual, but that was all changed by Tuesday.  The apartment management locked the doors to the Community Room and the outside door too, so only the few who have a key can even get into the building to do laundry.  The Fitness Programs, Bingo and St. Paddy’s Day lunch were all cancelled.
When I went to Physical Therapy on Wednesday, they screened me with questions before they would even see me.  When I stopped at the grocery store the few that were there, were keeping their distance from each other.
Now, there is an order in TX where there can’t be more than 10 people together at any one time.  Fortunately for me, I am in a county which has no one infected so far.
On the Sabbath, our Pastor live-streamed the service through FaceBook, so my un-computerized neighbor who attends that church too, came here with her dog, and we watched it together.  I even found a website that has hymns with a piano and the lyrics, too.
Not knowing that physically going to church would be canceled, I had made a big.Cheesy-Egg-Hashbrown-Casserole.  We enjoyed some of that, and the rest will be frozen for another day.

Do You Feel Lucky Today? Who Was "Saint Patrick"? Update.

Do You Feel Lucky Today?

“Good luck, bad luck, no luck and even luck that can follow you—is this really what controls your future?

Photos.com

Do You Feel Lucky Today?

Across the globe the seemingly harmless Irish tradition of having to wear green on March 17 so the luck of the Irish will be with you has saturated our society. What’s all the fuss over a man called St. Patrick that has resulted in widespread partying and celebration?

Even more widespread is the concept of luck, a seemingly supernatural force that swings the odds of circumstances in people’s favor or against them. Is this acceptable from a biblical perspective? Should we be wishing others “Good luck”?

As St. Patrick’s Day comes around, it’s a good time to take a hard look at luck.

Irish tradition

Throughout the past 1, 500 or so years, traditions have grown, folklore has spread, and “luck” has sprouted in our everyday language. The leprechaun and icons like the color green, the shamrock and the pot o’ gold have all come to be associated with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

Legend states that St. Patrick used the shamrock or three-leaved clover to explain the Trinity. Its three leaves supposedly represented the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Eventually, the custom was adopted of wearing a shamrock on his feast day. (The Trinity doctrine, however, is unbiblical—for more information, request our free booklet Is God a Trinity?)

A shamrock is different from a four-leaf clover. According to Celtic tradition, when a four-leaf clover is found, it is said to represent God’s grace, with the four leaves standing for faith, hope, love and luck.

Ironically, the real Patrick would probably have frowned on the traditions associated with his feast day—as well as the holiday itself.

What’s with luck?

Of course, the concept of luck or fortune is not exclusive to Irish tradition. We find it throughout human history and throughout the world today.

We now hear phrases like “good luck with the job interview,” or “good luck on that test.” While many deem this merely an expression of hoping for the best outcome, not really believing in luck, others take the concept of luck more seriously.

Some things associated with luck seem harmless, like wishing on a star, shooting stars, wishing wells, lucky trinkets or fairies. But there are underlying issues here that need to be raised.

Over the years luck has become like a god in society. Luck seems to decide things like your fate, car accidents, test scores, the job hunt, pay raises or even the answer you’ll be given about that date you want to go on this Saturday night. People believe luck controls things and that it provides different opportunities for different people. Decisions are even based on it. Consider that many skyscrapers have no 13th floor—as 13 is considered unlucky.

No luck with the Bible

Looking to the Bible, we find that it gives no credibility to luck. In the first of the Ten Commandments, God states, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). The intent of His command here is that nothing is to take a higher priority in our lives than Him! This first command warns us to not accept a religion or philosophy that teaches that our life and well-being originate or depend on anything other than the one true God.

As He often does, God colorfully portrays the utter foolishness of making gods of wood and stone, but the biblical nations of ancient Israel and Judah manufactured as many fake deities as the number of cities in the land of Judah (Jeremiah 2:27-28). “See if they can save you in the time of your trouble!” God taunted them and modern mankind (compare verse 28). Today our peoples still trust in worthless and inanimate things to save us—such as weapons, money and even actual idols by seeing power in crosses, religious statues and good luck charms.

God even laments over His people rejecting Him “and offering food and wine to the gods you call ‘Good Luck’ and ‘Fate’ ” (Isaiah 65:11, Contemporary English Version). Any credit to luck is really a form of idolatry.

No luck at all

Maybe you’ve heard people say, “I know luck doesn’t exist, but good luck anyway!” Perhaps they’re conceding that there may be luck after all—or maybe they just don’t know how else to wish someone well. They could simply say, “Do well” or “All the best.” Or they could look to God, saying, “God be with you” or “God bless you” (yet only if He is truly sought).

After all, true power is with God, not with luck. As the Bible tells us: “Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things … by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing … The Creator of the ends of the earth neither faints nor is weary” (Isaiah 40:26-28).

Using luck in our vocabulary and lives may seem harmless. But God is jealous for His people. He truly loves you and desires the best for your future. It does not please Him when we turn to fables and smooth phrases that announce our dependence on anything but Him. Everything we are and have ultimately comes from God. The only reliable assurance that our future is secure lies in our relationship with our Creator, not some ominous luck, wishes, stars or leprechauns.

God beats luck any day

God wants us to understand that we must never direct our worship toward anything He has created, or regard it as the source of our life and blessings. Worship only the Creator—never the creation. He is the sole miracle-working God who provides blessings, hopes and a promised future of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Rainbows, waterfalls, clovers, stars and the rest of the creation were created for us to enjoy and use as a wonderful and beautiful environment to live in. We don’t bow down, pray or make requests to any aspect of the creation.

So where are you placing your trust, faith and hope? That’s a vital question for each of us.

God’s ultimate plan and desire for us is that we live forever in His eternal family and Kingdom: “Now we are children of God … we know that when He [Jesus Christ] is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

That is the purpose for which we have been created! Luck has nothing to do with it! Wishing wells, wishing on a star or making a wish when blowing out birthday candles simply skew and corrupt our relationship with our Creator.

There is one source of blessings. There is one way into the Kingdom of God. There is one sacrifice that removes the penalty of our personal sins. God alone is that true source—not luck!” From: https://www.ucg.org/vertical-thought/do-you-feel-lucky-today

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St. Patrick & St. Patrick's Day

“Who was this Patrick guy, anyway? Known as the patron saint of Ireland, he's an almost mythological figure in the Christian world, with tall tales of his legendary exploits known far and wide.

Theologian and historian James Moffatt said, “So much legend and fiction has been written about him that one is almost led to believe that there were two individuals—the real Patrick and the fictitious Patrick” (The Church in Scotland, 1882, p. 140).

There are few hard facts about Patrick’s life, but we can draw some reasonable conclusions from what we do know.

Patrick is credited with establishing the Roman Catholic Church throughout Ireland. But does history match tradition? Moffatt commented, “He should not be placed where certain historians seem determined to assign him … He was in no way connected with the type of Christianity which developed in Italy” (ibid).

As it turns out, Patrick probably wasn’t even Catholic! His belief system was evidently quite different than that of continental Europe.

It’s probable that Patrick even honored God’s seventh day Sabbath! “It seems to have been customary in the Celtic churches of early times, in Ireland as well as Scotland, to keep Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, as a day of rest from labor” (ibid).

Other historical records and Patrick’s own writings reveal him to have been closer to biblical instruction than to traditional Christianity. Part of the Bible’s teaching includes rejecting the use of pagan practices in the worship of the true God. (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).

The real Patrick likely wouldn’t even have approved of observing his own namesake holiday! This holiday on March 17 was supposedly to commemorate his death, but that date was in fact the time of the Roman Bacchanalia—celebrating the god of wine and partying. It seems the pagan party goes on in another guise. Bear that in mind when March 17 comes around. Forget the leprechauns, and put God first!

See the related article “Do You Feel Lucky Today?” above.

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Who Was "Saint Patrick"? Should a Christian Observe Saint Patrick's Day?

“Saint Patrick's Day is a well-recognized holiday in the Western world. Celebrated in mid-March with no other Christian holidays around it, Saint Patrick's Day has taken on a very festive atmosphere. While many picture wearing green, three-leaf clovers, leprechauns, green beer and corned beef, do any of those things really have anything to do with Patrick himself?

MillefloreImages/iStock/ThinkStock

Saint Patrick's Day is not a biblical holiday or Holy Day. And, as it is currently celebrated, St. Patrick's Day actually has nothing to do with the historical man Patrick. Many "Christian" holidays are a mixture of truth and error.

Let’s start with what most people think they know. We have been told that Patrick was a Catholic monk who brought the Trinity doctrine to the people of Ireland. And along the way he drove all the snakes from the Emerald Isle. He became so renowned that the Catholic Church made him a “saint.” None of that is true!

Patrick was Scottish!

Patrick’s given name was actually Maewyn Succat (or Sucat). He took the name Patrick most likely because of the area he was from in Scotland. That’s right, Patrick was Scottish, not Irish! Here’s what Patrick said himself of his background: “ I, Patrick…had Calpornius  for my father, a deacon, a son of the late Potitus, the presbyter, who dwelt in the village of Banavan…I was captured. I was almost sixteen years of age…and taken to Ireland in captivity with many thousand men” (William Cathcart, D. D., The Ancient British and Irish Churches , p.127).

Patrick labored for six years as a slave until he managed to escape back to his native Scotland around A.D. 376. He believed he had a calling from God, however, to go back to Ireland to teach God’s Word to the people there. The Catholic Church, while having had an impact in England and later Scotland, did not have a significant foothold in Ireland until the 12th century. They didn’t even acknowledge Patrick for about 200 years after his death.  Patrick was connected to what is known as the Celtic Church. It was very much opposed to what was taught in the Roman Catholic Church.

Patrick did not follow Roman Catholic doctrine

While we have little of Patrick’s history and teaching written by himself, what’s taught about Patrick now didn’t surface until about 500 years after his death. It was the Catholic priest Jocelyn, writing around A.D. 1130 who wrote most extensively about Patrick. He ignored much of what was known then about Patrick and inserted a Catholic background into Patrick’s story. Patrick never wrote about a connection to Rome or popes or that his authority came from there. So if Patrick wasn’t Roman Catholic, what did he teach?

In A.D. 596 Pope Gregory sent a group of monks to England to try and bring the Celtic Church under the authority of Rome. However, the Celts refused to acknowledge Gregory’s authority and rejected the teachings of the Roman Church. In Ireland the monks found that the Celtic Church permitted their priests to marry. They also practiced baptism by full immersion in water. The Celtic Church also rejected the doctrine of (papal) infallibility and veneration, transubstantiation, the confessional, the Mass, relic worship, image adoration and the primacy of Peter ( Truth Triumphant , by B.G.Wilkinson, pg. 108). The latter list is of specific Roman Catholic doctrines that the Celtic Church knew were not taught in the Scriptures.

Patrick observed the Saturday Sabbath, Passover and rejected the Trinity doctrine

Patrick also rejected the merging of church and state (a main teaching of Catholicism). He believed and taught the same as Jesus in John 18:36 that God’s Kingdom is not of this world. The Celtic Church had local ecclesiastical councils and kept Saturday as a day of rest , (A.C. Flick, The Rise of Medieval Church, pp. 236-327). In this matter of a Saturday (Sabbath) rest, Dr. James C. Moffatt wrote that, “They [the Celtic churches] obeyed the fourth commandment [the Sabbath commandment] literally upon the seventh day of the week” ( The Church in Scotland , pg. 140).

Patrick (and the Celtic Church) observed the other “festivals of the Eternal” (Leviticus 23), believed human beings were mortal (that is rejected the teaching of an immortal soul and the doctrine of going to heaven or hell), rejected the Trinity doctrine, followed the food laws of Leviticus 11, refused veneration of “saints” or worship of Mary, and believed that only Jesus Christ is our mediator (Leslie Hardinge, The Celtic Church in Britain; B.G.Wilkinson, Truth Triumphant ).

The Celtic Church had a long history before the Catholic Church pushed deeper into England, Scotland and Ireland. Celtic writings speak of individuals coming from Asia Minor who brought with them the doctrines they received from John, Paul, Philip and other apostles of Jesus. A Catholic “father,” Bede, (who lived in the mid 700s A.D.) who wrote about the Celtic Church: “They ignorantly refuse to observe our Easter [Pascha, or Passover] on which Christ was sacrificed, arguing that it should be observed with the Hebrew Passover on the fourteenth of the moon” (Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica).

Is Saint Patrick’s Day in the Bible?

Saint Patrick’s Day is not a biblical holiday or Holy Day. And, as it is currently celebrated, St. Patrick’s Day actually has nothing to do with the historical man Patrick. Many “Christian” holidays are a mixture of truth and error. Because of this, most people don’t really know the history or purpose of the day. We encourage you to read what God said in the Bible to know which Holy Days He made and who He said are saints. The United Church of God traces its origins to the Church that Jesus founded in the early first century. We follow the same teachings, doctrines and practices established then, and believe our commission is to proclaim the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God to all the world as a witness and teach all nations to observe what Christ commanded.

It appears that Patrick believed these same teachings. We encourage you to read online Bible study aids, and to learn more about what individuals like Patrick taught and what we teach from Scripture. From our best historical understanding, the Patrick you didn’t know lived a life according to the Bible, rather than human traditions. You can too.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/who-was-saint-patrick-should-a-christian-observe-saint

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Update.

Even with all this hullabaloo about the coronavirus going around, we still had both Bible studies and the congregation met on the Sabbath as usual.  In fact there were at least twice as many there because one of the matriarchs of the church’s founding family came to celebrate his 96th birthday with many of his family who now live out of town. There were so many in our little dining hall that we had to have the potluck in three shifts.

I made a large batch of Chili Mac and Cheese with a big can of Hunt’s Crushed Tomatoes in it, and it went fast. This week’s theme was “Rejoice in The LORD always, I will say it again: Rejoice.” Phil. 4:4  The sermon was about “Just Break The Bottle”, about Mary giving all she had and using up all her rare oil on Jesus’ feet.  Do we give our all?

Now that my little dog is gone, my neighbor, Joe who helps me sometimes, and I, got my rugs and carpet-steamer back out of storage, and we steam-cleaned two of them.  We laid them on my outside chairs to dry in the sun, before I laid them back down again. They hadn’t been thoroughly cleaned the last time they were done, and had been getting dusty in storage so we wanted to rinse them until the water ran clear, but our arms got tired, so the other two rugs will have to be done on another nice day.

Coronavirus Prayer. CDC. Where Is Lent in the Bible? What Are Ash Wednesday and Lent? Update.

Coronavirus Prayer

“A controversial photo provides us an important reminder.

VP Pence ridiculed for praying with coronavirus task force

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/eiphnCKLhbk

[Darris McNeely] We’re all still watching news about the coronavirus as it continues to spread among the nations. More than 80,000 people have been infected by it, more than 3,000 people have died as of the last news report that I had on this subject. And we are still very much fearful of where it will go and what will happen even as nations such as the United States take the necessary precautions to shield its citizens and to work toward a vaccine to ward this off. We’re not out of the woods yet, but there is hope and there is reason to expect that we will see better days on this.

An interesting picture came up on the internet recently. In the United States, President Trump has appointed Vice President Pence to head up the team, the task force that is dealing with the coronavirus. In a meeting in the offices of the vice president, before they began, they did something that you see on that picture there. They all bound their heads and they asked a prayer. Pretty good thing, to ask prayer for something like the coronavirus or any other type of a pandemic or serious national crisis and emergency. It’s unbelievable, the criticism that came as a result of this picture when it got posted on the internet and what people thought. Critics, people of different ideas about God, Bible, religion, criticizing leaders praying for wisdom and for God’s hand and his intervention in this world crisis that is developing this pandemic of coronavirus. It brought to mind a scripture.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, it says from God to the people of Israel what to do at a time of crisis. It says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Those were God’s words to His people. Those were God’s words to any people, and they are words that we should listen to today.

I have no problem with the vice president leading a group prayer as they try to tackle this problem, and seek a solution, and come to a point for it. We should applaud that, and we all should go to God and ask God to give us wisdom and to heal our land. There may be a bigger crisis that will hit this land that will teach us this very same lesson, to call out to God, and to ask for his mercy, and ask for his help.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/coronavirus-prayer

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Don’t be alarmed by the media’s reports on Coronavirus, just check with the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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Where Is Lent in the Bible?

“The Bible shows the truth behind popular customs like Lent.

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZsLnzmTEegY

[Steve Myers] Christianity has now entered the Lenten season. Mardi Gras is passed, Fat Tuesday into Ash Wednesday, and now the Lenten season is recognized by much of the Christian world. But when you check out what your Bible has to say about Lent, you’re not gonna find anything. It’s a man-made tradition, and when you recognize what God thinks about counterfeiting his way, it’s a very serious thing.

There is a powerful passage in the book of Colossians, Colossians 3:23. This is what God inspired Paul to write. “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”  You see the problem with false Christianity, made up Christianity, false traditions, they do a disservice to God and dishonor him. And when you really check out the basis for these practices, you’ll find them rooted in false beliefs, paganism.

I hope you’ll take some time to check it out. If you’ll search on our website, just type in the words “Lent,” and you’ll find a number of articles where you can get into the details of how Lent is an imposter, how it is fake, how is it a counterfeit to what the true God wants us to observe. So check it out, I think you’ll be surprised by what you find.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/where-is-lent-in-the-bible

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What Are Ash Wednesday and Lent? Does the Bible Tell Us to Celebrate

These Days?

“After Mardi Gras comes Ash Wednesday and 40 days of Lent. Did the early New Testament Church observe these days?

Enterline Design Services LLC/iStock/Thinkstock

The Bible does teach the importance of fasting and self-examination, but it does not teach a 40-day period called Lent or an Ash Wednesday of putting ashes on the forehead.

The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or Lent, and the early New Testament Church did not observe these days. Here is how the BBC Religion page describes Ash Wednesday and Lent:

“Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian churches. It’s a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast.

“Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some other churches hold special services at which worshippers are marked with ashes as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin…

“The Christian churches that observe Lent in the 21st century (and not all do significantly) use it as a time for prayer and penance. Only a small number of people today fast for the whole of Lent, although some maintain the practice on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It is more common these days for believers to surrender a particular vice such as favourite foods or smoking” (BBC).

Lent is counted differently by those of the Western Catholic tradition and those of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. “The western church excludes Sundays (which is celebrated as the day of Christ’s resurrection) whereas the eastern church includes them. The churches also start Lent on different days. Western churches start Lent on the 7th Wednesday before Easter Day (called Ash Wednesday). Eastern churches start Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end it on the Friday 9 days before Easter. Eastern churches call this period the ‘Great Lent’” (BBC).

Various biblical events and customs are referred to by those who celebrate these days. The Bible mentions people mourning in sackcloth and ashes. The Bible also talks about repentance and fasting, and the number 40 is prominent in various biblical events.

“The justification for the Lenten 40-day preparation for Easter is traditionally based on Jesus’ 40-day wilderness fast before His temptation by Satan (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, ‘Lent’; Matthew 4:1-2; Mark 1:13). The problem with this explanation is that this incident is not connected in any way with Jesus’ supposed observance of Easter. The 40-day pre-Easter practice of fasting and penance did not originate in the Bible” (The Good Friday—Easter Sunday Question).

Some have suggested that Lent may be connected to earlier, pagan holidays. In Ezekiel 8:14, the prophet in vision saw women weeping for the pagan god Tammuz. “It has been suggested by some scholars that the practice of ‘weeping for Tammuz’ was the actual origin of Lent, the Roman Catholic 40-day period of abstinence prior to Easter (starting after Mardi Gras, ‘Fat Tuesday,’ on Ash Wednesday). Consider that the name Easter itself is derived from Ishtar, the ancient Babylonian fertility goddess and Tammuz’s mother”. (See the Bible commentary on Ezekiel 8 for details.)

The Bible does teach the importance of fasting and self-examination, but it does not teach a 40-day period called Lent or an Ash Wednesday of putting ashes on the forehead. These customs appear to have pagan origins.  We seek to follow the customs and practices of the early New Testament Church as described in the Bible. For more on the biblical religious festivals, such as the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the spring, see God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/what-are-ash-wednesday-and-lent-does-the-bible-tell-us-to-celebrate-these-days

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Update.

Apart from the bible studies here and going grocery shopping in College Station, there hasn’t been much to report.  My medical situation changed so I had to confer with the agent to get a different policy with United Care.  She was very thorough and helpful so now I will have a DO instead of an MD for my doctor.  Most MDs, all they know is how to write prescriptions.  DOs have a different kind of training, I hope this one is like that!

The most notable thing this last week was that my little abused, rescued dog, Foxie, finally got the message that it was OK to pee, and no one was going to punish her for peeing again.  She used to be so afraid when she wet her blankie and would tremble and try to hide it she was so afraid of being punished.  With lots of praise every time she peed outside, she got the message that it was OK and then she would smile, like an American Eskimo can.  Now she will wait until she is taken outside and doesn’t pee on her blankie any more.  But she is still terrified of strangers and will tremble when she sees them.  Now she has gone to an SPCA friend of mine who has a fenced yard, who will train her some more, and get her spayed.  I miss Foxie, but she needed a place to run, play with other dogs, and not be on a leash all the time. 

For the church potluck I made a pot full of organic veggies.  They don’t serve meat there at that church. The sermon was “Why Keep The Sabbath” and why it is a Sabbath made for man to rest on the seventh day.