CORONAVIRUS AND MURDER

THE NEWS OUT OF CHINA OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS CONCERNING THE CORONAVIRUS THAT SEEMS TO HAVE AS ITS GROUND ZERO THE CITY OF WUHAN IS SIMPLY HEARTBREAKING - AND, IF WE ARE HONEST, MAYBE A LITTLE SCARY AS WELL.

In no way, shape, or form am I qualified to speak to the specifics of this crisis. However, examining some of the coverage surrounding this event has gotten me thinking about who we are as individuals and as a church, since we do have something to learn from all the buzz around this horrific outbreak.

To wit, I wonder if we all understand just how contagious we are and how much of a risk we take with respect to the fact that when we spend time with people - no matter how long or short - we wind up with a far-higher-than-we-might think chance of both picking up that which is infecting them and sharing with them that which has infected us.

So, for those who spend time with us, what is it that is consuming us that could (and probably does more so than we might think) infect them?

You have heard me say more than once that my focus for this year as it relates to the life of our congregation is on discipleship - being and making disciples. For the purposes of this emphasis, I am defining a disciple as one who, to paraphrase Christ's words, "...[L]oves the Lord our God with everything they have and their neighbor as themselves."

In thought, word, and deed, are we infecting others with the life of discipleship?

Grace and Peace,
LAMAR