What a week! 

I’m on the road just outside San Francisco at a gathering of pastors for Convoy of Hope. This incredible ministry serves our local community and the poorest of the poor all around the world. I’m out here to learn more about them and looking into how we can partner with them in the near future. Stay tuned for more information on that!

I’m also thrilled to be with our Executive Team meeting with a group of great people in the city of Pacifica (near San Francisco) as we discuss our next campus “Skyline Pacifica.” You’ll be hearing more about that soon!

Today, I want to talk about “loyalty.” When conflict begins to heat up between those who are relationally close, it can be increasingly difficult to solve the problem. If a problem continues to go unsolved, the person you’re close to can begin to feel like an enemy.

If you’re not currently at odds, just make sure you’ve got these tools of loyalty ready to go because it’s never IF you have conflict, it’s always WHEN you have conflict, you’ll want to be prepared with these habits. 
It may seem impossible to affirm a loved one with loyalty during strenuous times, but today I want to encourage you with an easy way to remember practical keys to make this possible in your life. Use the ABC’s to remember 3 ways to affirm loyalty during conflict.

1. Accept them! Part of loyalty is accepting each others differences. Acceptance doesn’t mean that you approve of everything they do, but it means that your love for them is not dependent upon them changing.
2. Before you seek to be understood, seek to understand. It’s easy to all the sudden start focusing on the problem and to forget the value of the relationship. Pretty soon you start seeing yourselves as enemies. Remember, they’re NOT the enemy!
3. Cloth yourself in Compassion. Colossians 3:12, reminds us that there’s an act of putting on compassion. Compassion is really defined as love IN action. 

Implement these habits of loyalty and when the fires of conflict begin to heat up, you’ll be able extinguish the flames before you get burned.

Shut up! Is that too harsh? I think it might be appropriate for some of the stuff that flows so freely across the thumbs of the most prolific social media “influencers” and shock jocks across our nation.

Our words can bite, can’t they? James 3:2 says that “if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” Look closely at what he says … it starts with our mouths (or our thumbs as we type away on our phones)! From there, we can begin to grow and mature in EVERY way. What we say steers the direction of our lives.  We tend to move in the direction of our words. 

Let me be clear here. I’m not talking about the few buddies that you’ve known for a while and you joke around with each other from time to time. Some of that is the spice of life (unless the heart behind it is wrong). But today, I want to talk about this steering wheel of life … the tongue.
Here’s the deal, the average American will have 30 conversations per day.  In one year, you could fill 53 books that are 1,000 pages long. You’re going to spend 1/5 of your life talking!!

If you want to know where you’re headed, look at some of the recent conversations you’ve had with others and think about the self-talk you’ve had with yourself. Our words can both damage and destroy our life because that’s what has hold of life’s steering wheel. If you’re always putting yourself down you need to stop listening to yourself and start preaching to yourself the positive messages and words of affirmation that God has for you.

James 3:5-6 explains the power of our words. “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is a flame of fire.” Your words will reveal what is really in your heart. And even a seemingly small careless word can start a fire that becomes a raging argument inferno.

Not too long ago in 2018, California experienced its worst fire season in history. Nearly two million acres were burned across our great state. It started in February, and the last fire was put out in November. You know how it started? One spark!

Some of the arguments you’ve gotten into were caused by one spark. Only you can control the sparks that come out of your mouth. Careless words can destroy an entire life. Don’t become a verbal arsonist. If you don’t work on it, it’s going to ruin all you have!

I imagine that many of you have mastered the problem of cussing, but perhaps you haven’t mastered the problem of cutting others down. In James 3:10, James talks about how out of the same mouth come both praises and curses. This shouldn’t be the case. I want to challenge you today, to really focus on taming your tongue. What are your words revealing about you?

A good question to ask yourself is what is the source of the things that come out of your mouth? At the end of the day, as Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks…” Luke 6:45. The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. Sometimes people will say, “I don’t know why I said that, that’s not like me.” Actually, it’s exactly like you, because it has been bubbling up inside you for a long time. If a loose tongue is a problem for you the reality is your heart is not healthy.

You need to deal with the heart issue. Get to the root of the problem and root it out. Is it anger, bitterness, envy, hurt, or anything else? Whatever it might be it will not get better until you have a change of heart. Thankfully, God specializes in heart transplants, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart” Ezekiel 36:26. Give your heart to Jesus Christ and watch him take the reins of your tongue and steer it toward peace.

With all that’s going in the world, it’s likely that you’ve found yourself in some negative conversations or dealing with some negative feelings. We already know it’s the bad news that makes the headlines. Society is conditioned to focus on adversity. THAT is what gets ratings! 

Today, if you speak up, you might be condemned for speaking up. If you don’t speak up you might be vilified as not caring enough to speak up … it’s like Raiders football, there’s no winning. Ha!

The main scripture that’s going to launch us into our conversation today, is Philippians 2:14-15.

“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world of crooked and perverse people.”

People are constantly complaining about what’s going on in the world and Christians aren’t exempt from spreading this negativity. We’re all human, we all do it. In fact, there are several people in the Bible that were recorded complaining. But when it comes to the issue of complaining, God says He wants His people to be different. 

Now, understand, there’s a difference between complaining and speaking into a situation you disagree with. I’m not saying you just have to sit down and shut up and then you’re a good non-complaining Christian. It’s all in HOW you go about it. Complaining just spreads negativity and bad emotions, while speaking calmly and respectfully through disagreements attempts to bring solutions.

I want to share 4 types of complainers illustrated by the examples of some of our biblical heroes. See if you resonate with any of these types. It’s important to recognize where we are so we can get to where we need to be and change our complaints into solutions. I’m also going to share what these “complainers” typically say. But here’s the thing …  I don’t want you to forward this to someone you’ve heard say these phrases. Use this to reflect on your own speech. 

The 4 most common types of complainers are …

1. The Whiner: The biblical example of the whiner was King David. The Psalms are full his complaints! Visit Pslam 73:13-14. 
   The whiner will say things like … “I don’t deserve this” or “Everybody else gets all the breaks” or “Why is everybody picking on me.”
   
2. The Martyr: The biblical example of the Martyr was Moses. He felt under appreciated (Numbers 11:11-15).
    The Martyr says things like … “No one appreciates me” or (under their breath) “It wouldn’t kill anyone to say thank you once in a while.”
   
3. The Cynic: The biblical example of the Cynic was King Solomon. Take a look through Ecclesiastes! 
   The Cynic says things like … “What’s the point?” … “Nothing is going to change.”
   
4. The Perfectionist: Last but not least, the book of wisdom warns us of the perfectionist in Proverbs 21:19. This verse is really going to test some of you who wanted your spouse to reflect on their complaining. 
   The perfectionist will say things like … “Is that it?” or “Is that the best you can do?”

Maybe you identify with one of these complainers and that’s a great start! Proverbs 28:13, reminds us that, We cannot be successful unless we admit our mistakes. It’s only then that we get a second chance. If we’re going to begin to conquer the attitude of complaining we can’t make excuses for ourselves and make accusations of others. We must choose to be the positive change in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. 

Instead of complaining about the issues in our community, let’s serve our community.  
Instead of complaining about our government, let’s pray for our government.
Instead of complaining about baseball being postponed, let’s … well maybe we can complain a little about that? There’s only so much a person can take!!!

Bottom line is this: Complaining is a sin. It’s what kept the Israelites out of the promise land for so many years. If you’re asking yourself if you should speak up, the better question may be, WHAT are you going to say and HOW are you going to say it? Complaining will never get our communities to the promise land we all desire. Instead of complaining, choose to be the light in a dark world. And the darker our world gets, the more the light can be seen. This will keep God’s promises for you and others in sight. 

There’s a lot of anger going around these days. While the reasons to get angry are wide and varied, the release of anger needs to be in appropriate ways. Losing control of anger doesn’t help anyone. Everybody needs to know how to manage their anger because it’s not a matter of IF you get angry, it’s always a matter of WHEN. Proverbs 14:29 says it like this, “People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.” Notice it doesn’t say people with understanding do not get angry. Rather, it says that they know how to control it. 

We need to understand that anger is a God given emotion. God wired you up in a way to get angry because sometimes anger is the most appropriate response. When something happens that shouldn’t happen, you should get angry. When someone is hurt, you should get angry. When there’s an injustice, you should get angry. As a matter a fact, if you never get angry, that’s a good indication that you don’t have much love. Sometimes anger is the most loving thing to express. BUT, we have to learn how to control it and how to use it wisely.  

All of us tend to get angry in one of two ways. We externalize it. Or, we internalize it. Both of these are inappropriate expressions of anger. 
Let me give you an illustration. When it comes to anger, you’re typically either a skunk or a turtle. It’s pretty easy to guess that a skunk is someone who’s very external. They just spray it ALL OVER the place. And then everyone around them has that sour face because it stinks. OR, maybe you’re the turtle. The turtle retreats and hides as it goes back into its shell. And then, there are those rare cases of turtles that are hiding, stuffing it all under their shell and allowing the resentment, bitterness, and all their anger build and build inside until … they explode!

We must be resolved to control this God given emotion. Don’t make excuses by saying things like, “I can’t control it” or “it just happens.” Look, this is a big deal for me too. I was born Irish. The Irish typically have two emotions, we’re either angry or asleep … But then Christ came into my life and that changed everything. That doesn’t mean I don’t ever get mad … I’m a Padres fan. But I learned how to deal with it better and better. Take a look at Proverbs 29:11. It says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”

While anger is a God given emotion, anger is a choice. We must remember that uncontrolled anger comes with a hefty cost. As we go about our week and grow in discerning this emotion, let me leave you with this verse from Ephesians 4:26 …“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” The reality is, we all lose when you lose your temper. Let us be transformed by the renewing of our mind and begin to release anger appropriately.

Blessings to you in the week ahead. 

Jeremy McGarity

Today I want to talk about one of the biggest hurdles in our faith. It’s one of the enemy’s favorite tools in keeping us from growing––not just spiritually … but economically and educationally. In fact, I don’t think there’s one area of your life that isn’t affected by this obstacle. 

Today, I want to talk about defeating discouragement.

In any race there is fatigue. No matter what you do, we ALL get tired. Fatigue makes cowards of us all. It causes us to shrink back from our duties, goals, and expectations. But if we overcome it, we can live out God’s best for us! In Acts 20:24, Luke tells us on behalf of the Apostle Paul, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Unfortunately, most people never finish their race. They get distracted. And for one reason or another, they grow old with unachieved dreams without ever realizing what God had planned for them. Often times, discouragement is the biggest deterrent in our lives. 

But that thing that discourages you, or intended to discourage you from God’s purpose for your life, doesn’t have to! Right now the state of our communities and chaos across our country can make us feel overwhelmed with discouragement and dread. 

Here are 3 ways to overcome discouragement:

1. Ask yourself, what is slowing you down?
   Hebrews 12:1 reminds us, “We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
   
   There are a lot of people in your life that want you to run their race for them. They’ll add so many expectations, responsibilities, and distractions that God never intended for your life. The Bible makes it clear, if you’re going to go far in this race you’ll need to remove those things!
   
2. Remind yourself, why you became a Christian.
    Ephesians 2:10 promises us, “we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
   
   Remembering your WHY will give you determination. Remember that this whole life isn’t about you. The more we focus outwardly, the more excited we get to live out God’s purpose in our life. 
   
3. Get in the Word on a daily basis!
    2 Corinthians 4:16 encourages us, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
    
   Just like your physical body gets hungry, your spirit is hungry. It’s hungry for the Word of God. To go without it for a day is like starving it. Stay encouraged by knowing what God has to say about your life and the instructions and direction he can give you every day.

Overcoming discouragement IS possible! So, let me ask you … What has God called you to do? At the end of a long lived life, will you be able to say that you endured? Will you have lived the life that you were created for?
The key to endurance is perspective. Most people in this world are living life as if all that matters is today. And that’s wrong. Today’s going to be over … TODAY! We need to live with the perspective of eternity in mind. If you’re going to avoid discouragement, you’ve got to know how to recharge yourself spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. Especially during this time!

Set yourself up for the race ahead by refueling your faith in these 3 key ways that a mentor of mine gave me as I was entering full-time ministry:

1. Divert daily
Take time each day to get quiet with the Lord. You need some time where nothing is demanded from you. Where the distractions are gone and you can be focused in silence for some time of renewal. If this is new to you, start with as little as 5 minutes. As you do this you’ll notice you want more time to do this. Add 5 minutes at a time as you build up and you’ll soon realize you don’t want to go a day without it. 

As I mentioned, 2 Corinthians 4:16 encourages us to be renewed day by day. We know that each day carries enough challenges of its own. While we do not always know what obstacles are headed our way, we can trust that the Lord does! And it is He who will navigate you through those waters. 

2. Withdraw weekly
The race ahead is going to require rest. Take a whole day each week to do something different, something fun or relaxing. Make a list of things that refuel you and choose something from this list one day each week to get your mind off of your daily grind.

3. Abandon annually
Schedule the time to get out of town and do something for an extended period of time like a week or two or more! Know what refreshes you and do something engaging and fulfilling! It takes energy to do God’s will and you need a plan for when you run out of gas. 

Discouragement can ruin a conversation, a job, a marriage, a faith, OR a life. When we talk about “the building of our faith” we’re talking about taking the first steps of change. God takes His time in growing us step by step and piece by piece. Did you know it takes a mushroom about 24 hours to be fully grown. Ha. It takes an oak tree about 100 years! A mushroom could be brushed over. Pshh! But an oak tree is immovable. It’s solid! God is interested in building oak trees of faith. He’s strengthening us through everything that He allows in our lives. Yes, even a quarantine and social unrest! 

The race of life is tough. But you CAN overcome discouragement and refuel your faith regularly with enough fuel to finish in a strong sprint. Implement these practices this week, and you’ll see discouragement leaving you and encouragement coming. Let me know how it goes!

Who are you wrestling with in your life? Your spouse, your kids, an in-law, a neighbor? Or maybe you’re wrestling with your finances, a car, your job, or even your health. One thing for sure is we’re all wrestling with the restrictions and affects of this quarantine right now. 

IT’S. NOT. EASY.
 
If you’re in a wrestling match right now … congratulations!! If you’re encountering a conflict in your life, the problem is likely deeper than you realize. YOU my friend, are wrestling with God. Let’s take a look at Genesis 25 and 32. 

Genesis 25: Here we find a man’s life that can be described in one word … conflict. To give you some background, Jacob was born fighting with his twin brother, Esau, literally came out of the womb “grasping the heel of his brother” vs 25:21-26.  Later, Jacob tricked his brother out of his inheritance (vs 29-34). To say Esau was not happy with Jacob would be an understatement. But it wasn’t long before Jacob got a taste of his own medicine! He was tricked by a man named Laban. 

After working for Laban the agreed upon seven years to marry his daughter, Rachel, Jacob was told it would cost him another seven years of labor to gain the blessing of marrying Rachel. Talk about a long engagement! After 14 years, it was time to part ways from Laban, and Jacob planned to sneak his new family out of town. The only problem was, Jacob had no where to go except back to his hometown where another problem awaited, his brother Esau.

Genesis 32:  When Esau heard that his brother was coming home, it wasn’t water under the bridge. Esau sent an army of 400 men to face Jacob.  Like many of us, Jacob was stuck between a rock and a hard place. His options were slim and none and he was facing the consequences of a lifetime of bad choices. Jacob was terrified(Genesis 32:7). And he finally surrendered and prayed to the Lord (Genesis 32:9-11).

The problems you’re facing with your spouse, career, appearance, you name it …  is only a mere symptom of a greater conflict in your life. The Bible tells us that Jacob spent the next night, literally, wrestling with God. How many of us know who is going to win that match? Like Jacob, you and I know that we’re going to wear out before God does. But did you know that God actually wants to wrestle with you? Wrestling is a contact sport. It doesn’t bother God to wrestle with you, to hear your complaints and your anger and your needs. Why? Because it means that you’re up close to Him. Your relationship is finally getting personal. For you it may sound like shouting … WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING?! Why are you doing this God?! When will this end?! etc. etc… And that’s okay! God blesses those who realize their need for Him (Matthew 5:3).

Jacob may have surrendered by turning to God, but he wasn’t ready to change his ways. He and God wrestled ALL night. Maybe you’re in the same boat. Maybe you’re open to having a conversation with God, but are you willing to let Him call the shots? Jacob and God wrestled to the point where God says it’s time to call it. It’s a momentous turning point for Jacob. Is he going to change his ways or not? To which Jacob responds, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Can you imagine?! Listen to the incredible passion Jacob displays here. He’s literally clinging to the Lord and refusing to let go until he get’s what he needs. He’s like a kid holding on to their dad’s ankle as the dad walks down the hall. And God does bless him and leaves him a little reminder to carry with him the rest of his life. From that all night wrestling match with God, Jacob was left with a permanent limp. A reminder that he could not run from his problems any longer. Instead of running, he needed to rely on God. 

If you’ve been a Christian very long, I can bet you have a specific limp. No, it may not be a literal walking limp, but the limp I’m referring to is a reminder that God left with you to keep you humble and to keep you reliant on Him. You came through that all night wrestling match, but you’ll never be the same, and you thank God for that. 

Though these are difficult times, it’s a great time to dig deeper in your relationship with the Lord. “Consider it all joy… when you encounter various trials”(James 1:2). Hold on until God blesses you! Ask hard questions! Wrestle it out! Seek first the Kingdom of God because I promise that, “He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion,” (Philippians 1:6).

What in the Pandemic World is ACTUALLY going on?

Alright, I’ll admit it, I’M DONE. I’ve been a good soldier, taking precautions and leading others to do the same. This Coronavirus, Covid-19, Pandemic, Social Distancing, Face Masks, Quarantine, long lines at Costco and other stores, no church gatherings, no gatherings at all for that matter, unless it’s Costco or Home Depot or other Big Box stores, hmm… I was shoulder to shoulder with people in these places, but I can’t worship at my church? I can’t stand shoulder to shoulder in church but as long as I’m at certain stores, no problem? Oh, but not small businesses (the backbone of our economy) just certain large stores. Even with the signs that say keep your six feet of distance, there was no way to keep six feet from people when there were well over 500 people buzzing around these big box stores.

What are we to do and what are we to actually believe? How long will we allow our freedom of religion and our freedom of speech to be trampled on? What started out as a “safety” measure has turned into a sacrifice measure. The sacrificing of our freedoms. I’ve been doing my research and I hope you have too. What I am about to share with you is only the tip of the iceberg, I could write a book about the atrocities being committed through this supposed crisis. I would encourage you to do your own research, check my facts, and find more facts yourself. I am not an alarmist, but I am a person who believes in our Constitution and in our founding father’s principles for laying the groundwork of our great country including freedom, truth and justice. And I hate to see people being taken advantage of and right now seven weeks into this quarantine, there is no question in my mind, we are being taken advantage of.

This “pandemic” in my opinion, and in the opinion of many others, has been blown WAY out of proportion. Is this virus serious? Yes, is it serious enough to shut down our nation? NO. Don’t get me wrong, we still need to be cautious and take care of the most vulnerable. However, the bottom line is, something else is happening. I do not know what that something is, but it is clear, the extreme measures that have been taken are NOT necessary. Some believe China manufactured this as a bioweapon. Some believe the democrats are behind this as a last-ditch effort to get Trump out of office. When their impeachment failed miserably, they had no other options. It is said, they wanted to crash the economy, blame it on Trump, and get new leadership in place on Nov. 3^rd at the next presidential election. You can see articles ad nauseam on this and many other theories. That is an argument for another time.

Initially, these extreme measures we have all experienced were, perhaps, necessary. Now, however, we have treatments, we have tests, we have the ability to at least manage the virus. Yet, we are told to continue to “shelter in place” with no thought to the mental, emotional, financial, and physical trauma this has caused and continues to cause people each day our country is CLOSED. I spoke with a local law enforcement official yesterday and he told me crime has skyrocketed the last week and a half. People can only take so much. It is time to open our country. The effects of the supposed cure (shelter in place) are now worse than the pandemic itself. Suicides, alcoholism, abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence are all up across the nation. We are not meant to be caged up like animals. 

Let’s take a look at some of the things I’ve found. There are plenty of statistics through research that confirm what I’m saying and I’ve provided links for you to see what I’m talking about. However, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google and other platforms have been taking down videos and articles from doctors and other experts with statistics disproving the numbers that counties are claiming are Covid-19 related deaths. So, if the link does not work, let me know, it may have been censored and taken down. There are multiple reports, including recently on Fox News with Tucker Carlson, that Doctors are being pressured to claim deaths as Covid-19 even if they are not (see link from San Antonio news). I had to dig for this link because YouTube (where I first saw the video) took this video down, because it did not agree with what YouTube believes. Since when do they muzzle free speech? The answer is NOW. Same with Facebook, Twitter, and Google. Many reputable fact finders have been shut down on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Free speech? Only if you agree with these Social Media outlets which have a liberal and even communistic worldview. 

Taking the Covid-19 from a strictly data-driven perspective, let’s see how it shapes up against our annual flu season. Statistically speaking, the numbers don’t lie, unless those reporting the numbers lie about the numbers which has been the case with Covid-19. Let’s take a look at some data. Flu deaths vary from year to year, but according to Johns Hopkins University (see link) that range can be anywhere from 12,000 to 61,000 in the United States per year. The worldwide number of deaths from the Flu vary from year to year anywhere between 291,000 to 646,000.              

Currently, total deaths from Covid-19, and remember this is with the inflated numbers of doctors and hospitals reporting non Covid-19 deaths as Covid-19 deaths, so we know these numbers are hyper-inflated. According to Johns Hopkins University and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) total worldwide deaths from Covid-19 are, as of April 29: 225,927. This inflated number, currently represents the LOW end of a typical flu season, yet we are quarantined! In the United States, currently, as of April 29 the CDC estimates that there have been between 24,000 and 62,000 Flu related deaths. Covid-19 inflated deaths in the US stand at 60,207 as of April 29. Now, we grieve for those who have friends and family members who have died from the flu or Covid or any other disease. We do not take this lightly. 

However, these numbers are in line with a typical flu season. While the Coronavirus is not the flu, it is a different virus as I understand it, most comparisons are comparing it to the flu because of some similarities in the nature of the viral disease. It is time to open our country. The chance of dying from Covid-19 in California (again, this is with the inflated numbers) is 0.03. Huh? 0.03 … You’re more likely to win it big with a scratch off ticket (I do not recommend buying scratch offs), the point is you have very long odds at winning the lottery, yet your odds of dying from Covid-19 are longer. However, we remain locked down, the economy is in the toilet, people are literally going crazy stuck in their homes and we are doing NOTHING about it. 

In the beginning, it may have been wise to shelter at home and avoid contact with people. We simply did not know the facts about this virus. However, now, we know, we have a lot of information, and a lot of disinformation. As the stay at home mandate lingers on it is becoming clearer that it may actually be a fear tactic being used in an attempt to gain control of the population and limit our freedoms. Fear is an incredibly effective control tactic. So far, it’s worked for seven weeks. I do not know what “they” intend to try to control in the long run, but currently, they are controlling our lives, our freedom of expression, our worship, and our futures. It is time to put pressure on our politicians to open our county, state, and country. Once again, Texas is leading the way in exhibiting a willingness to be American and show the way to freedom (see link below). Just another reason why so many California companies and California residents have made their way to Texas over the last decade (link below). 

So, what do we do now? The first step is inundating our local government with calls, emails, letters, messages, etc. and let them know you want our county, state, and nation OPEN. The next step is peaceful protest. There are many protests being organized right now, you can find them near you by a simple search (if these have not been taken down by google, twitter, facebook or other sites). Just make sure you know what exactly is being protested before joining one. There are protests for and against this lockdown so make sure you’re at the right one. I want you to know, as your pastor, and also for those that do not go to Skyline, I will be doing everything I can do to make sure our voices are heard. We will be together again soon, gathering, singing, praising, learning, growing and doing all God has called us to do in His Name. Although these stressful and anxious times can be overwhelming, you have the ultimate source to take your fears, worries and concerns to. Our Lord Jesus Christ has promised to let His peace rest on us as we draw near to Him. Trust Him, He will get us through this. God bless you and God Bless America.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-disease-2019-vs-the-flu

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/2018-2019.html

https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-ccp-method-chinese-communist-partys-global-agenda_3329428.html

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/coronavirus/accelerated-urgent-care-provides-statistical-update-on-covid-19

https://www.foxnews.com/shows/tucker-carlson-tonight

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/reopening-texas-begins-may1-governor-says/287-45ff1dcd-dd78-4419-af21-0d9edfd558d4

https://www.southstarcommunities.com/blog/companies-leave-california-bound-for-texas