Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
Life up your heads, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
He is the king of glory!
Psalm 24:8-10 (ESV)
Wow! I
braved it and looked at my retirement account today. I kept hearing people say
“the market needs a correction.” Well if this isn’t “a correction” then I’d
have a hard time understanding what one would look like. I’m so grateful that
I’m still employed. I anticipate my every-other-week paycheck will be in my
account on Friday. My health insurance is still in place. I can work from home
– for real.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
But . . . my
classes. I’m teaching three classes at Point this semester – and one directed
study with two students. I have incredible students in all three. Occasionally
some need some rather direct encouragement to get it in gear, but they are good
kids and I can be direct when needed. They act like they think I have something
important to say – and listen in class. Now, because of something totally
beyond our control, we are “virtual learners.” That’s not the same, but I will
do my best to make sure each of them gets the opportunity to finish well. Some
of them are seniors and I will never have them in class again.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
And . . .
thirty-plus students and five faculty members were headed to an incredible
learning experience in Italy and Greece over Spring Break. That trip obviously
can’t happen. A group of students were headed to Central America to work with
Casas por Christos. They were going to build a house for a needy family. That
trip obviously can’t happen. There are countless Point students who are
athletes and whose schedule is a spring one, not fall. The NAIA has cancelled
their season. Some are seniors. Some were on teams that are the best in our
conference, and with national rankings. Their seasons are over. Lots and lots
of Point students have been preparing for junior and senior recitals, or spring
concerts, and a variety of other fine arts related activities. Those events
can’t happen. My spiritual formation team – students who help plan things like
chapel and other special events – can’t meet. We likely won’t have another
chapel service. Will I get to meet with this incredible group of students
again?
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
Think about
the reality that your last semester in college – one of the best of all the
semesters – has come to an abrupt ending. You are required to move out of
housing. People who have become your best friends – and who will be life-long
friends – are now experiencing “social distancing.” Part-time jobs and
ministries are somehow over in an instant. Will graduation even happen other
than getting a diploma in their mailboxes? There are countless other moments
like this – all of them have in common that they are “nothing like we thought
our last semester would be.”
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
In my
classes, students have group projects going on. How will we manage to complete
those? A number of students at Point are doing internships this semester. How
will that work out? Some students who are being asked to leave student housing,
may be going home to circumstances that are less than “the best.” Fall 2020
recruitment is in full swing. How will our enrollment management staff figure
out what is next? Student life staff are suddenly faced with all sorts of
challenges that didn’t exist a few weeks ago. Registration for the Fall 2020
semester is in the middle of its roll out.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
So far this
is sort of “Point focused.” But . . . lots of people who love Point and support
Point are facing all kinds of challenges. What do parents, suddenly faced with
“on-line learning,” do to cope with the challenge? Some of us are dealing with
loved ones who have compromised immunity because of chemotherapy and radiation
treatments. Some of our great supporters are looking at the stock market and
wondering how they can continue to be so gracious to this kingdom outpost
called Point University.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
If you have
loved ones in an elder care facility and have been reading the series published
in recent issues of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, then you no doubt
have great concerns right now. At their best, elder care facilities are
challenged, and if the stories told in the AJC are remotely close to the
truth, then this may be a particularly stressful time for you. Limitation on
visitation, general concern for adequate health care, awareness of the issue in
Washington state at the beginning of this crisis, and other related issues can
generate great concern.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
If you have
friends and loved ones who unfortunately are in the Georgia prison system (or
the prison systems of other states, particularly the south) then you no doubt
are nervous. Again, the AJC has published disturbing stories about
medical care – and the lack thereof – in the Georgia prison system. Our general
population seems to think “out of sight out of mind” is somehow the Christian
response to this issue. District attorneys, prosecutors, and judges appear to
think the more they send people to prison with severe sentences, the more likely
they are to be re-elected. Often Christians, concerned about “law and order” to
borrow from a phrase rich in unpleasant and unjust connotations, routinely vote
in the name of punishment not justice and mercy.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
This could
go on. If I have left out the area of concern for you – don’t think that was
deliberate. My mind is flooded with how the people of God should deal with
these new and unexpected challenges.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
I’m no
Pollyanna declaring “don’t worry, be happy” – everything will be okay. Chances
are that “everything” – whatever that means – has changed and we must learn to
deal with the new realities that are inundating us every minute right now.
But here is
what I know. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of
glory!
May we trust
in Him in ways that are new and exciting in these difficult days.
Who is
this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the king of glory!
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