If you are like me in this season you almost dread looking into the latest news. It seems every day brings a higher infection rate and increasing death tolls. Even though here in Ventura County, we have the lowest percentage of CIVID-19 impact throughout the California Southland, right next door, quite literally, is LA County with the highest count. On top of that much of our Conejo family live in LA County.
Here’s my first piece of advice. If you haven’t seen it you should check into SGN – Some Good News with John Krasinski on YouTube. Here’s a link: https://youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug. This spoof news cast is a bit madcap and satirical and yet highlights many good things that are happening in the midst of this pandemic. It is a bright spot on the internet amidst all the negative statistics and difficult news that seems so prevalent. Tami and I have thoroughly enjoyed Krasinski’s sense of humor and tributes to people who are out there making a positive difference while the world struggles through these difficult days.
Here’s my second piece of advice. Times like these are the perfect environment for the people of God to shine, so get out there and love your neighbors! God is the originator of the Good News business. We are the carriers and purveyors of the only Good News that can make a forever difference! You don’t have to stand on the street corner preaching or knock on doors handing out Christian tracts – in fact these methods probably aren’t very effective (especially wearing a mask and gloves!) What does matter is a simple act of kindness. The real difference is a loving smile or help with some task for an elderly neighbor or young family that could use a hand.
We members of the Conejo Church family are nothing if we are not creative! There must be a thousand ways that we can do good for those around us in these times. Let’s start brainstorming and planning! Post ideas on the Conejo Family FB page or send your plans to the church office. Just remember, we don’t want ideas sent to the church office that tell us what the staff should get started or how “the church“should do something. We want ideas of what you are doing or want to do along with ideas of how others can join you in being the hands and feet of Jesus, loving and serving others. That’s the kind of Good News that can lead to relationships that lead to Jesus.
Finally, let me say one more thing. The next act I am doing to help get us going is to preach a series I am calling Good News for Those Who Believe. This simple 4 week series takes a look at four familiar passages from the Good News Letter of Matthew, with an eye toward what Matthew has to say to encourage believers – you and me – to live out the priorities that the life of Jesus highlights. After all, that is why we have the Gospels in the first place. God has left us a blueprint, a model, an example to follow. Even in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, that example is Jesus.
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