On the Porch
Onisha Ellis
This Coronavirus crisis is scary and I am not ashamed to admit that my courage is weak but I am thankful that God is strong and true.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says:
… “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
A popular and true slogan is that first responders run into danger when others run away. They make that choice. We can make a choice as well. We can run to God in our uncertainly and experience His rest or we can run from Him and know fear and exhaustion. Some might ask, why would God care about me? I am a sinner.
Well, we are all sinners.
Church services have virtually been suspended here in the US. To stay connected and to encourage each other, many will either be live streaming on Facebook or on their webpage. Traditional service time is 11:00 am, ours is 10:30am. Larger churches have multiple online service times. I encourage anyone who feels uncertain or lonely to find one of the live streams.
If you know of a church in your area that you have heard good things about, look then up and see if they live stream or have an App. I am going to list some of the churches I know.
The Grove, Titusville, Fl Contemporary service https://www.facebook.com/thegrovechurchfl/videos/206574347077265/ Link to past services https://www.thegrovechurchfl.org/media
Gateway Community (my church) https://www.facebook.com/GatewayTitusville/
Indian River City Methodist IRCUMC has multiple times https://www.facebook.com/IndianRiverCityChurch
First Baptist Orlando 10am https://www.facebook.com/FirstOrlando
Cornerstone Church, Athens, Ga https://www.cornerstoneathens.cc/watch
Park Avenue Baptist, Titusville, Fl (Canadian pastor) 11 am live stream https://www.facebook.com/ParkAveFL Webpage https://parkavenue.org
Cowee Baptist Church, Franklin, NC. Contemporary service 11 am webpage http://coweebaptist.org/sermons/crossover/ Traditional service is 8:45 am http://coweebaptist.org/sermons/traditional
I’m all the way a Southern girl but I frequently listen to Times Square Church in NYC on their App. They have multiple pastors.
We will make it through this time. Let’s pray for the ones who are sick, the ones out of work, the business owners who can’t open their doors. Let’s be kind and sprinkle love and encouragement. If you can, volunteer to deliver food or help health care providers.
Ending this with humor. A call has gone out for retired healthcare workers to volunteer their skills. Doctors, nurses, maintenance, clerical, all hands on deck. Do they not realize the retired are in the age that is vulnerable and suggested that they stay home and avoid close contact? LOL
If you have a church to suggest, leave it in comments.
Old Things R New 
very good
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So far, field hospitals haven’t been needed but I can see it in the future if we can’t flatten the curve. Some areas here in Florida have curfews. I think they were precipitated by the college Spring breakers who refused to abide by any sort of social distancing. As isolation becomes more widespread, I am thankful for Facebook and being able to interact with family and friends across the globe..
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Over here the government has asked 55,000 retired doctors and nurses to return to work. A few have been on the TV and all of them are going back. The military is building field hospitals with1500 beds inside each one. Having shut all pubs, restaurants, clubs, theatres, cinemas, etc, I don’t know how long people will be allowed outside their homes, but some form of curfew will be the next step.
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