Day 14 : Covid-19 Lockdown in Taupo : "First Easter like this Easter?"

I wrote this in my Churches Weekly Email today as part of my introduction...

As you can guess, I came to realise that in our adjusting to the new "normal" of Church and our upcoming Easter Services, that maybe, just maybe, our new "normal" is more like the original?

On the night Jesus was betrayed most were home.
During the days He lay in the grave most were home.
And at the very moment He rose victorious from that grave, again most were home.
Even the disciples were at home.
In their self imposed lockdown of sorts.
Trying to figure out what to do next?

And then the news came - again to their home.
Some ladies who had gone to visit Jesus tomb, found it empty, and hurriedly returned to share the news within the context of a home.

Please don't be despondent that this Easter is not like any other for you. Maybe rejoice that it is possibly going to be an even more historically mirroring event for you.
The first Easter happened at home for most.
This weekend it will be the same for you.
Good News is coming to your home and everyone else's...

Let's focus on the moment, the message and the meaning this Easter.

Something to think about...

Day 13 : Covid-19 Lockdown in Taupo : "Quote"

Love this...

Something to think about...

Day 11 : Covid-19 Lockdown in Taupo : "God Wants to Speak"

You will have noticed that everywhere is so much quieter...
Our streets have less traffic and the noise they normally generate dissipated. The sound of planes and skydivers near our home has ceased for a time.
Is it like God has turned down the volume for us?

I am fully convinced that God wants to speak to people.
The Bible says that "he has given us ears to hear" His voice.
It is not just the booming from heaven style made famous in movies and satire, but the 'still small voice' that a man like you and me experienced on a mountain one day.

Speaking of that man...
Prior to him hearing God speak there was a ton of dramatic noise and yet it says God was not in any of it, not speaking through any of it.
Thunder, earthquakes, dramatic moments, all the stereotype for a god speaking, and God was not speaking.
It was only when all was still.
Only when all went quiet that God spoke.
Described as a 'still small voice'.

I am fully convinced that God wants to speak to you, not shout at you.
And this is the season I believe He has planned for that to happen.

So why not right now find a quiet place without noise and distraction?
Why not ask Him to speak to you?
Listen for His voice...

Something to think about...

Day 10 : Covid-19 Lockdown in Taupo : "Lockdown Attitude"

Many of you will have heard the name, others a bit younger probably won't have.
A gentlemen by the name of Terry Waite became famous around the world for reasons I am sure at the time he didn't desire or appreciate.

In the 1980's while trying to secure the release of 4 hostages in Lebanon, he himself was taken hostage, for something like 4 years!
His lockdown life was far more extreme than most of us will experience in our version of being modern hostages in our own homes.

He shared some advice recently that I thought was interesting...

This post from an expert in "social isolating" certainly got me thinking...
There are people around us and over us who have advice we should take, life learnings we should study, a way of life we should endeavour to emulate.

Paul the Apostle famously said these words...
And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT

Let's together follow great examples and imitate them.
I think that is great advice for helping us navigate life, especially in a lockdown.

Something to think about...

Day 08 : Covid-19 Lockdown in Taupo : "As it depends on you"

Have you heard of the phrase "pointing the borax?"
I heard it and variations of it when I was young.
And now all over the world people are doing it with steroids.

After just over a week of #lockdown here in Taupo, New Zealand I am seeing fingers being pointed, the old "pointing the borax" thing, apportioning blame, critiquing decisions and judging others compliance levels.

When I go for a walk around the direct location of where I live (which we are allowed to do) you get the occasional stare and sideways glance. You wonder what they are thinking?
You see posts on Social Media ranting about this group and that group.
"The cyclists are breaking the rules!"
"There were too many people in one car!"
"Surely they don't need that of amount of flour!" (seriously where has all the flour gone?)

Please don't get me wrong...
I am not saying to turn a blind eye to non-compliance etc.
But it did make me think of two very direct verses from scripture.
And by the Holy Spirit reminding me of them, I found they act as a fantastic filter to my sometimes unfiltered emotions especially at this heightened time.

Romans 12:18 NIV
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

The Hint...make sure are doing what you should be doing first and foremost.
Plus don't go looking for a fight, because being immature and using uneducated judgement always leads to one.

Matthew 7:5 NIV
...first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

The Hint...before "pointing the borax" at someone else, please make sure the multiple fingers pointing back at you aren't finding you doing the same or worse.

'Sorry not sorry' if this is a little challenging.
I for one am not on holiday from my spirituality at this time.
And I am constantly asking the Holy Spirit to speak to me.
I wonder what He is saying to you?

Something to think about...