When we began our recent study of the book of Nehemiah, we started by recognizing that the things which break the heart of God should break our hearts as well. There is no doubt that God’s heart breaks over events in the USA. Time after horrific time, we have seen video images of people of color being killed for the high crime of having a particular skin color. The most recent of those was a man named George Floyd. The video of Mr. Floyd, who was African American, with a white police officer’s knee on his neck, saying over and over again that he could not breathe is something that will haunt my memory for a long time to come.

Floyd grew up in Houston, moving to Minneapolis around the time Susan and I moved from Houston to Wiesbaden. In Houston he was known as “Big Floyd” and helped churches set up mentoring and discipleship programs in some of Houston’s roughest neighborhoods. His body will be returned to Houston for burial in the coming days.

My heart breaks at the death of George Floyd, but it breaks even more because it is only one in a mind-numbing list of deaths. It breaks because these deaths are but the tip of the iceberg of injustice that my brothers and sisters have faced. My heart breaks because my own ears have been deaf to their pleas or I have failed to recognize the depth of their pain. And for that, I am deeply sorry.

There is a disease eating away at the very fabric of American society. This disease is a scourge which allows injustice to persist unabated. It causes the very people who should lend a prophetic voice to society to make excuses for leaders at all levels who have abdicated any semblance of moral leadership. This sickness has cost us the ability to have any kind of meaningful discourse with those who think differently than we do, much less come to any kind of compromise and solution. This disease is fear. America today is a society wracked by fear and this fear is what has prevented good people from seeing the injustice around us and saying STOP! Fear mongering leaders and ratings hungry media have spread this disease, each with their own agenda and each using the same weapon at incalculable cost to the American people.  

The time has come to say, NO MORE. We can do better. We can BE better. We can be known by our love, a love rooted in the love shown to us by Christ, who was willing to die Himself so that we do not have to live in fear and blindness. This is the love which calls us to:

Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Amos 5:24

Each week while we are using ZOOM for our Worship Service, your children can be watching their own posting Kid’s Worship videos. These resources are available thanks to the Life Church Open Resource Network, so we thank them for making these available!

CHECK OUT THESE KID’S WORSHIP PLAYLISTS! CLICKING ON THE PICTURES BELOW WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PAGE FOR EACH OF THESE KID’S WORSHIP OPTIONS. FROM THERE YOU CAN WATCH THE VIDEOS FOR EACH WEEK.

All of our church meetings held by zoom will be open, meaning you shouldn’t have to register. We try to make sure each meeting is set this way, but if we forget to change that particular setting, there is a chance you will have to enter your name and email address. We suggest that you log in early, especially if it’s your first time to use Zoom. It is very simple to use. You will probably need to give permission to download/run the application, and even if you have used it before there is often an update. There IS the possibility of participating without downloading and running the app. When you click on the meeting link, a popup screen will open and at the bottom of the popup should be a link to run the meeting in your browser. Please note that the experience is much better in the app.

We are adding more meetings all the time!! By going to our calendar of events you can find the most up to date information on upcoming events. Just click on the event and it will give you the ZOOM link.

Of course, every Sunday we will have our LIVE weekly worship service at 11:00  (same link should work for each meeting). Invite a friend by simply copying and sharing the link below. We love having people visit with us and know that in this crazy time, having a place to worship can be a comfort and help.

http://tiny.cc/IBCWorship

Pastor Nick will do a greeting at 11:45 today, Sunday, March 15th. You may join by clicking here!

13. March 2020

SERVICES CANCELED, BUT PRAYER, WORSHIP, AND MINISTRY CONTINUE

In our current environment, things can change dramatically, even in the course of the day.  This morning I wrote to let you know that the Cleaning Day planned for tomorrow was being canceled and that we would be monitoring the situation and do our best to make decisions which are measured and wise. As the day has progressed it has become increasingly clear that the tide has turned and we are entering a time in which we seek to limit the impact of the virus by limiting contact with other people.

From what I have seen, this is indeed the best course. If we can slow the spread, it gives our medical system the time it needs to work through the growing number of cases. Especially for those who are at high risk, limiting the ways in which they can be exposed might just save someone’s life. We want to do our best to be a part of the solution, working for the best not just for those who are involved at IBC, but for our city and her people.

For that reason, the deacons and I have made the decision that we will be CANCELING ALL CHURCHWIDE SERVICES until such a time that it has been deemed safe to resume those services. This will include our  Sunday Bible Study and Worship services, Wednesday night Bible Study and Life Groups.  

This DOES NOT, however, mean we will stop meeting together. We will just switch to virtual means of doing so. As far as THIS Sunday, Sri will be recording Phillip presenting his message on Sunday. We will post that message either on Sunday evening or on Monday for you to watch. Sometime next week, I will write you again with some ideas and plans for us to meet together virtually, and share in times or prayer and worship.  

In the meantime, I want you to know that I am available (via almost any kind of technology you can think of). I love and appreciate each of you. I believe that God can and will work in these days. 

Wishing you grace, peace and courage

Pastor Nick