The Five Things

Five things that USA as a free society should be doing differently with regard to COVID-19 response: 

1. Open everything up.  We have rights under the U.S. Constitution.  So open everything up. Now. Go back to pre-pandemic conditions with no restrictions on business, trade and the free market. 
2. Set policies and procedures immediately that help protect the vulnerable, elderly, and treat the sick with the best possible care available.  Test everyone that works in hospitals, assisted living, homeless shelters, veterans homes, etc.  Isolate sick people (without violating their rights) and give them the best possible medical care as possible. 
3. Set a national policy recommendation that encourages measures to restrict transmission, including masks and social distancing. This would be a national campaign like the 1980’s “just say no to drugs” campaign or like we often hear and read to “support veterans”.  It won’t be perfect but it will set the tone from the top.  (Note: we have to remember that the USA is a federal republic and the power to manage the pandemic rests primarily with the individual states. What’s good for Alaska is not necessarily good for Iowa.  But some things are a good idea everywhere.) 
4. Research, research, and more research. Apply emergency federal funds to it like we did to develop nuclear power. We should know way more about this virus than we apparently do already. Share the info so that the states, academia, and the free market can have the best information to make the best decisions.
5. Better screening at entry checkpoints including airports, ports, etc. Test everyone coming into the country especially from locations that do not have a good handle on the virus response.  Use a homeland security approach to it.  Know the origin of travelers and manage their entry to the country in a practical way.  Don’t violate the Constitutional rights of American citizens. Don’t restrict travel and trade. Treat visitors with respect but manage their travel entry using the customs and homeland security systems already in place. 

Any input or comments?  Be respectful. Back up  your claims. And remember, this is just for discussion amongst friends. 

 "God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.  I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength.  Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.  I will live in Your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings.  ​Selah"  

Psalm 61:1-4

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What the Bible says about Salvation through Jesus Christ...

The Bible’s pathway to understanding salvation…

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 6:23)

Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  (Acts 16:30-31)

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.  (Romans 10:9-10)

“But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, turn Your wrath from me—a sinner!’  (Luke 18:13)

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”  (John 3:16-17)

For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!  (Romans 8:38-19)

My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”  (John 10:27-30)

For He says:  I heard you in an acceptable time,and I helped you in the day of salvation.  Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.  (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  (Mark 16:16)

But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.  (John 20:31)

In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  (Matthew 5:16)

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.  What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels.  (Luke 9:24-26)

Jesus teaches us to...

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.  How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.  16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.  On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’  Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock.  The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”  (Matthew 7:13-27)

Do you want to learn more?  Click here to read the Bible.

<all Bible quotations above are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)>

The Lord's Prayer Guide... praying through the Lord's Prayer

by Charles Mylander    (© Charles Mylander, 2013.)

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.” (1 Peter 3:12)

“They eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;”  (Psalm 34:15)

Our Father who art in heaven,

We praise you--
Because you are eternal, the alpha and omega, beginning and end, first and last, the Lord God Almighty who is, and who was, and who is to come! (Revelation 1:8, 2:8)
Because you are all-knowing, all-present, all-powerful.
Because you are immortal, always alive and will never die.
Because you are infinite, with no limits except those self-imposed.
Because you live in the highest heaven and also in the broken and contrite heart.
Because you reign on the throne of heaven and yet are closer than the air we breath.
Because you are invisible, and yet the Word became flesh as you revealed yourself in the coming to earth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because you are Father in all the best senses of that term.
Because you are better than any earthly father could ever be—holy, loving, strong and supremely glorious.

We pray—
Help us to glorify you as Father, the awesome God, full of holiness, love and splendor.
Help us to know you more fully as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Help us to enjoy you as our Abba Father, who lavishes us with love and calls us children of God.
Help us live with you as citizens of heaven while we walk this earth.
Help us to imitate you—your actions and character qualities—as a child imitates a father.
Help us to enjoy your Fatherhood in our personal lives, in our churches, in our homes, workplaces, recreation venues and in the display of your splendor throughout creation.

Hallowed be your name.

We praise you--
Because your name radiates glory that holds greater majesty than any other in the entire universe.
Because your name is holy, holy, holy—sovereign and supreme, beautiful and majestic, righteous and just, pure and faultless, flawless and blameless. (Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8)
Because your name is filled with grace and peace—merciful, kind, patient, faithful. 
Because your name is love, the epitome of self-sacrificing love—gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. (John 3:16 Psalm 145:8-9).
Because your name is true, the absolute truth—wise, understanding, discerning, insightful.
Because your name is honorable, the very definition of worthy of everything good and great.
Because your name is immeasurably powerful—with unlimited authority, invincible strength, enormous energy. 
Because your name includes your pleasurable presence—pleasing, gratifying, satisfying, fulfilling, joy-giving. (Psalm 16:11, 63:2-5).
Because you protect your reputation and bring fame to your name.
Because you fight against shame brought on your name.

We pray--
Help us to implore you to “holify” (hallow) your name.
Help us to worship your name in spirit and in truth.
Help us to speak your name with the greatest respect, deepest reverence, highest praise.
Help us to honor your name in our thoughts, attitudes, words and actions.
Help us to pray in your name, in line with your commands and character.
Help us to fear your name with the awe, love and reverence that casts out all other fears—and prepares us for the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).
Help us spread the fame of your name over all the earth as the waters cover the seas.
Help us to glorify your name with intensity and spontaneity, wonder and awe, worship and adoration, praise and thanksgiving, rejoicing and singing. 

Your kingdom come.

We praise you--
Because your kingdom, your sovereignty, your ultimate control rules over all.
Because your kingdom is embodied in Jesus Christ the Lord—crucified, risen, reigning and returning.
Because your kingdom is within us as you reign in our hearts, minds, attitudes, actions.
Because your kingdom seeks and saves the lost, serving their needs and searching for them with compassion
Because your kingdom is hidden, yet active, constantly changing people and events.
Because the good news of your kingdom will be preached to all nations, and then the end will come  (Matthew 24:14)
Because your kingdom brings blessing to all the families of the earth (Gen 12:1-3)
Because your kingdom will overcome all evil resistance, not only by your salvation but also by your holy judgments and righteous wrath  (Revelation 15-18)

We pray--
Cause the sovereign working of your kingdom to become our awe, our wonder, our thanks, our praise.
Cause the presence of your kingdom, especially in the birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection, reign and return of our Lord Jesus Christ, to fulfill all your purposes for your people.
Cause the saving reign of your kingdom, your salvation, to spread throughout the earth and transform more and more lives from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Cause your disciples in the kingdom to obey everything that you taught, becoming intimate friends and devoted followers of our Lord Jesus.
Cause the good works that your kingdom produces to become the wonder of the watching world.
Cause your intercessors in the kingdom to implore the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers into his harvest field.
Cause your kingdom to conquer the dominion of Satan, and those who insist on following him, even if our testimony means people ridicule, belittle or despise us, or even if it costs us our lives as martyrs, or our financial resources through lawsuits.
Cause the movement of your kingdom to overcome all opposition and overcome evil with good.

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We praise you--
Because your will is your saving grace in action, your salvation for all who repent, believe and receive your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Because your will is to set us free, restore us, bless us.
Because your will is your sanctifying progress in our discipleship and consecration.
Because your will is your best, and our desire when we are at our best.
Because your will is to disciple all the nations, languages and ethnic groups, near and far.
Because your will is that Jesus is “the ruler of the kings of the earth.”  He has already taken his great power and begun to reign.  (Rev 1:5; 11:17)
Because your will is that love and good works will be done in your name, and bring you glory and honor.
Because your will is what’s best, reflecting your goodness.

We pray--
May your will, revealed in your written Word, become our treasure, our meditation, our delight. (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:14, 35, 97-104).
May your will, taught to us by the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, guide us into all truth.
May your values in heaven become our lifestyle on earth, your designs become our plans, your instructions our choices, your commands our joyful obedience, your judgments our response of revolutionary repentance.
May your will as it is done in heaven break through in our daily lives on earth—what we believe, how we behave, how we make and spend money, what we find significant, what we do for entertainment, how we love family, friends and neighbors.
May your will that we give thanks in all circumstances “because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” become our daily practice (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
May your will for discipling all the nations become our heartbeat, our dream, our compelling desire. (Matthew 28:16-20, Romans 1:5-6)
May your will to rule all the nations of the earth with an iron scepter become our spiritual goal, coming by the sacrificial way of the cross. (Genesis 49:10, Psalm 2:8-9, Revelation 12:5, 19:11-16)
May your will be done, accomplished, completed, finished.

Give us this day our daily bread.

We praise you--
Because you are the Bread of Life, the Source, the Provider, the Giver.
Because you are the Creator and Sustainer of the universe with all its resources.
Because you are the One who relieves our anxieties, and provides our needs as we seek first your Kingdom and your righteousness.
Because you are our Resource, our Renewer, our Refresher.
Because you are our Life and our life-giver.
Because you invite us to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, and give free hors d'oeuvres in this life.

We pray--
Give us every word that proceeds from the mouth of God to nourish our souls, our hearts, our minds, our spirits, even our bodies.
Give us our daily needs for food, water, shelter, clothes—and bills, debts, taxes, medical costs, major expenses, retirement (Matt. 6:33, Phil. 4:19).
Give us satisfaction of our physical needs within your perfect will—food, shelter, sleep, exercise, health, energy.
Give us satisfaction of our emotional needs—love, acceptance, dignity, purpose, freedom, identity, importance.
Give us social food—solitude with you alone; intimacy in marriage and our closest friendships; fellowship in acquaintances, church, work, community.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

We forgive--
We forgive our debtors, those who owe us big time.
We forgive those who trespass against us, step over our boundaries, violate our rights.
We forgive those who criticize us, irritate us, disappoint us, hurt us, damage us.
We forgive those whom we resent, envy, or criticize.
We forgive those we have not previously forgiven (Eph. 4:32, Col. 3:13).
We forgive, and keep on forgiving, those who offend us not just once but seventy times seven.
We forgive those who seek our harm, persecute us, pressure us, harass us, ridicule us.

We ask forgiveness--
Forgive us our trespasses, our falling short of the mark (Romans 3:23).
Forgive us our trespasses, our willful transgressions of your known law (1 John 3:4-6).
Forgive us our trespasses, our failing to do what is good, what we ought to do (James 4:17).
Forgive us our trespasses, our speaking words that hurt instead of heal, that discourage instead of encourage, that damage instead of restore, that curse instead of bless (Proverbs 10:19, Eph. 4:29, James 3:1-12).
Forgive us our trespasses, our refusal to live in faith in regard to our convictions about questionable activities (Romans 14:3).
Forgive us our trespasses, our presuming on your grace and goodness by harboring hidden faults and willful sins (Psalm 19:12-13).
Forgive us our trespasses, our repeated failures in the battleground arenas of struggle where sin so easily entangles us (Hebrews 12:1).
Forgive us all our trespasses and cleanse the evil cause within us.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil and the evil one.

Protect us--
Protect us from trial and suffering, except within your perfect will.
Protect us from dangerous places and situations where temptation will inevitably strike.
Protect us from accusing thoughts and words against others (and ourselves).
Protect us from deception, deceit, lies, foolish choices.
Protect us from smugness, self-importance, pride, arrogance, haughtiness, conceit.
Protect us from irritability, anger, resentment, bitterness, hatred, rage, violence.
Protect us from discouragement, disillusionment, depression, despair.
Protect us from fear, withdrawal, isolation, phobias, panic attacks.
Protect us from the evil one.  (John 17:15)

Deliver us--
Deliver us from neglecting to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:6-10).
Deliver us from the pressure of this world’s corrupt values and misleading thought patterns (Romans 12:2, 1 John 2:15-17).
Deliver us from the craving, clamoring, deceiving desires of our flesh (Eph. 2:3, 4:22).
Deliver us from bad habits, disorders, addictions (James 1:14-16).
Deliver us from selfishness, sin, satanic influence, satanic control (Eph. 4:26-27, 2 Tim. 2:26).
Deliver us from wrong voices—accusing, lustful, disillusioning, irritable, defensive, angry, resentful, unforgiving, revengeful, bitter, violent, discouraging, fearful, withdrawing, tempting, criticizing, deceiving, scheming, self-absorbing, tired, depressive, complaining, grumbling, wandering thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5, Eph. 4:26-27, 2 Tim. 2:26).
Deliver us from the attacks, influence, harassment, hindrances, distractions, confusion, divisiveness, criticism, gossip, doubts, curses, generational consequences and every other means of Satan and his evil powers and authorities against us, against our marriages, against our families, against our churches, against our Christian schools and colleges, against our Christian organizations, against our mission agencies and mission fields (Eph. 6:10-20).
Deliver us from lukewarmness, neither healing hot nor refreshing cold.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Yours is the kingdom
It’s not my say,
It’s not my way,
It’s not my decision,
It’s not my will,
It’s not my choice,
It’s not my right,
It’s yours—because you are the King, the supreme, almighty Sovereign—and this is your kingdom!
Yours is the power
It’s not my strength,
It’s not my ability,
It’s not my personality,
It’s not my gifts,
It’s not my hard work,
It’s not my money,
It’s yours—because you are the Power above and beyond all powers!
Yours is the glory forever
It’s not my honor,
It’s not my credit,
It’s not my approval,
It’s not my success,
It’s not my applause,
It’s not my praise,
It’s not my reputation,
It’s yours forever and ever, throughout all ages—because you alone are surpassingly worthy, ablaze with beauty, radiant with splendor, brilliant with glory (Jude 25).

Amen.
So let it be.
Yes, yes, yes!

Heavenly Father,
          Whatever else Jesus meant when He taught the Lord’s Prayer, I ask that you will make that effective in my life, our lives.  Thank you.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

© Charles Mylander, 2013.

Look deeper than the headlines

Look deeper than the headlines.

Don’t settle for what the media tells you to believe. Seek the truth. Think critically, using reason and logic.  Hypothesize, test, evaluate, and adjust based on what you observe.  Pursue knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Grace and peace to you.