Survivingthis

Digital BABYLONBABYLON

By The Way

Issue 20

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I was just reading an article about how some plants need the darkness to grow, that they will not reach their full potential if only exposed to the light. I think we are the same.

Now is a time of “darkness” for most of the world. The pandemic has overshadowed almost every nation, and brought death and destruction to every continent. How we as the people of God react to the darkness is going to have an impact on our family, Church, Community, Nation, and World. When the Psalmist was lamenting the absence of God, Psalm 77:8-9 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?

He realized that there was no peace or rest in following the path of anxiety, fear and worry. In the same way, it is hard for us to look beyond the moment we are living in, especially when we are hearing that the future we all expect is in doubt, and wondering what the “New Normal” will look like.

As Christians, we strive to overcome the anxiety, fear and worry that the world is governed by, we want to put our faith in God and his care for us, BUT, this is not an easy thing to do, and God understands. As the Psalmist continues in Psalm 77:10-12, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

God has given us his answer, we are his. His children to love, guide and care for, and he has told us that he will. When we are living in the darkness, and can not see the light, God’s reassurance is in his promise, the promise that has been given to his children from the beginning.

For this issue of “By The Way”, I have asked several brothers and sisters to write about their feelings during this dark time. I want to thank them all for taking the time to put into words what we are all feeling!

Overcoming…The New Normal

Michele Thomas Editor - By The Way Magazine Broadway Church of Christ

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A lot has changed in a couple of months. So much of “normal” life has either disappeared, never again to return, or has moved online. If you haven’t heard of the company Zoom by now, you’ve either been totally off the grid or you just aren’t paying attention. The vast majority of my face to face interactions have been replaced by screens, everything from staff meetings to prayer groups to grocery shopping. Swinging by the store on my way home from work has come to mean a completely different thing. We live in what is now being called Digital Babylon. Perhaps you’ve heard of the latest phenomenon to go along with our new digital world — Zoom Fatigue. Turns out trying to keep up with folks online is more tiring than in person. The BBC recently posted an interview with Gianpiero Petriglieri, an associate professor at Insead, who explores sustainable learning and development in the workplace, and Marissa Shuffler, an associate professor at Clemson University, who studies workplace wellbeing and teamwork effectiveness. They reported that video calls require more focus than a face-to-face chat, we have to work harder to process non-verbal cues like facial expressions, tone of voice, pitch of the voice, and body language. Trying to process all of these details consumes a great deal of energy, which has led to more and more people simply turn off their video camera and treat the interaction more like a phone call. The researchers noted the dissonance that is created when we know in our minds that we’re together in conversation but feeling in our bodies the distance and separation — there’s simply no way to relax into a conversation. But Zoom isn’t totally to blame here, our circumstances contribute to the stress and exhaustion we’re experiencing. We all feel, to varying degrees, the reality that things are not as they should be, the world is not right. Paul described it like this: the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time (Romans 8:22). Even the earth itself recognizes that life is not the way it will be one day. Yet even so, Paul reminds the church that there is much to be thankful for; namely, that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! He also reminds us that we have work yet to do as partners with God in His great ministry of reconciliation. That doesn’t stop whether we’re in person or online. Therefore this issue of By the Way Magazine is aimed at helping us discover, explore, and engage with some of the unique opportunities God has given us here in digital Babylon. He longs for us to be creative, loving, and intentional in helping those who are experiencing the brokenness of our world encounter the hope and love of the Kingdom of God. Now that’s the kind of work we never get tired of!

Zoom!! Karl Ihfe Preaching Minister

Ways to Tithe and Give at Broadway - UPDATES

Sunday Collection — Due to COVID19 considerations, collections plates will no longer be passed through the auditorium on Sunday mornings. However, locked collection boxes will be available for you to insert checks and cash.

Bank Draft — You can set up a recurring draft to your bank account. This draft can be drawn weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. For details and authorization form, contact Tracey Horne in the Broadway office, 763-0464.

*Online Gifts - You can make a contribution through Broadway’s website at bwaychurch.org. Look for the yellow GIVE button located at the top right corner of the homepage.

*APP Gifts - Install the Broadway Church of Christ APP on your phone (yellow background with a cross). Look for the “Give to Broadway Church” option.

Mail — Check contributions can be mailed to the church office: Broadway Church of Christ Attn: Tracey Horne 1924 Broadway Lubbock, TX 79401

Drop by Church Office — You can bring your contributions by the church office during office hours which are: M-Th, 8:30 to 5:00; Friday, 8:30 - 3.00. The church office is closed for a lunch hour from 12:00 - 1:00 each day. If you do not wish to come into the office or you need to come after hours, a secure mailbox is located outside the southeast office door.

Personal Pickup - If you would like for someone to drop by your home to pick up your contribution, we will be glad to arrange that. Contact Tracey Horne at 763-0464.

*Gifts made through the website and app are subject to merchant fees of 2-3%.

Thank you so much for continuing your gifts and tithes through this time of quarantine and distancing. It is vital that we continue our

ministry of pursing God, building community, and unleashing compassion.

Your faithful support is making that possible. 4

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In 587 B.C. the people of Israel were sent into exile, their Temple was destroyed, their capital city and their nation were in ruins. You have to wonder what the people were thinking? Were they thinking that the God of Israel was not as strong as the gods of Babylon? Were they thinking this is the end of the dream, the dream that Israel would be used by God to bless all the nations of the world? I am certain that there were many thoughts going through the minds of the people, and wondering what they should do with the prophecies of prophets like Jeremiah: Jeremiah:29:4-7TheLORDofheavenlyforces,theGodofIsrael,proclaimstoalltheexilesIhavecarriedofffromJerusalemtoBabylon:5Buildhousesandsettledown;cultivategardensandeatwhattheyproduce.6Getmarriedandhavechildren;thenhelpyoursonsLindwivesandyourdaughtersLindhusbandsinorderthattheytoomayhavechildren.Increaseinnumbertheresothatyoudon’tdwindleaway.7PromotethewelfareofthecitywhereIhavesentyouintoexile.PraytotheLORDforit,becauseyourfuturedependsonitswelfare. Today, in this time of Covid 19, perhaps it is the case that many people feel that the world that they knew, that they were accustomed to, now lies in ruins. Many may be wondering when things will return to the way they were before, some may realize that this event will actually change things for the foreseeable future. There are however things that will not change. One of those things is the people that make up what we call the church still have a mission. That mission, that goal, has not changed. What has changed is perhaps the way we go about accomplishing that goal? This is perhaps a time for each of us to reevaluate our priorities, how we spend our time and resources. Is our time, and are our resources truly devoted to our calling to be like Jesus, to be His followers? Do we truly love our neighbors as ourselves, and do they see that in the way we live our lives? Is the name of Jesus praised because of you? Often in the busyness of life it is so easy to be distracted from what is truly important, what is of eternal value. As followers of Jesus we are called to become like Him, talk like Him, love like Him, sacriPice like Him, have focus like Him. I don’t know about you but I know that I can do better than I have at all of these things. A part of the way I am seeking to do this is by being a better neighbor, a better husband, a better father, a better employee and most of all a better servant of Jesus Christ. Thisisatime,inthemidstofourdigitalexile,toreexamineourfocusand perhaps recommit to the call that we answered when we accepted Jesus as our Master, as our Lord. I look forward to doing this together with you in the weeks and months ahead as we pursue God, build community and unleash compassion as a group of people focused on following Jesus; of becoming more and more like Jesus each day.

Rodney Thomas Executive Minister

Your Calling

TeachingGoal: Jesus is the light. Shine the light of Jesus to others

Scripture:John9:5“While I am in the world. I am the light of the world.” John1:8 “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Matthew5:14“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Materials:Small Plashlight; Small hand-held mirror; Pictures of friends, neighbors, missionaries, people from other countries; A darkened room; Masking tape.

Devotional: Words written in bold are when the leader is speaking. Feel free to use your own words.

Read the short scriptures listed above from your Bible (let the children see you reading the Bible). Option: To keep their attention, you may read a couple of the surrounding verses, and give them a Plashlight so that as you read, each time you say the word light, they shine the Plashlight. And, you can ask them to count how many times you say light in the two verses.

WhatdoesitmeanthatJesusisthelightoftheworld?HowdoeslightrepresentJesus? (You can use other familiar Bible stories like The Lost Sheep and draw a comparison on how a shepherd is used to represent Jesus.)

WhatdoesitmeantosaywearetoshinethelightofJesus?HowdoothersseeJesus’lightwhentheylookatus?(Do not worry if the children have unclear answers because this lesson will help show how we shine the light of Jesus to others.) Whichofthesechoicesrepresentslight?Hugsorhitting?Wordsthatteardownorwordsthatbuildup?Helpingothersorwalkingawayfromafriendwhoneedshelp?PrayerorignoringGod?

SHINE THE LIGHT OF JESUSFamily Devotional

(from famtime.com, a great resource!!)

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Activity: With the lights on, go into the room which will eventually be dark. Tape the pictures of family, friends, missionaries, classmates and mission recipients on the wall. Let the children help, and make sure the pictures are spread around the room.

Write “Jesus” on a piece of masking tape or have the kids write “Jesus” and put the masking tape on the Plashlight. Each child takes a turn and one at a time, writes his or her name on masking tape and puts it on the back of a small hand-held mirror.

Demonstrate how the mirror rePlects the light from the small Plashlight. Show how to move the mirror to move the rePlection around. Give each child a chance to move the rePlection. The Plashlight represents Jesus who is the light. The mirror represents us. We are not the light, but we can rePlect the light.

RePlect the light and move the rePlection to hit each of the pictures taped around on the walls. Ask the children if they can think about things they can do to shine Jesus’ light to the people in the pictures. Finish by taking turns moving the rePlection to hit each member of the family: “Dad rePlects Jesus to mom, son and daughter. Daughter rePlects Jesus to mom, dad and brothers.”

Memorize: Jesus said: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Close in prayer.

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On March 27th my world in the pharmacy would change forever.

First let me explain what I do for a living. My name is Amber McWilliams, I am 36 years old, and I am a Pharmacy Discharge Technician at a local hospital. My job is to deliver medications to the floors to the patients that are being discharged from the hospital.

On March 27th, I learned that a patient was getting out of the hospital after testing positive for what we call Covid-19. So knowing that this patient had the virus and possibly might still carry it was a very scary thought. What made it so scary to me? Well, I have a family, including a young child the age of 3, and my husband. I did not want to contact the virus for fear of passing it on to them. I did not even want to be on the floor that contained patients who had the virus because you never know exactly how close you may be to getting the virus.

I listened to the news and everyday it seemed like someone had a different opinion of how the virus was contracted or what surfaces it stayed on and for how long. No one really had true data to back up their answers to the unknown, which fueled the fear that I had. I did deliver to the floor which was treating the Covid-19 patients, but was allowed to drop the prescription off with the nurse at the elevator so that I did not have to actually enter the unit.

However, just two days later, lucky me, I had to deliver to another patient going home with medication to the floor now labeled with a diagnosis of “Covid.” When I entered the floor, I was in shock, and almost disbelief. It was like something I had seen in a movie. There were nurses gowned from head to toe and isolation rooms everywhere. Doctors and nurses were running around like crazy trying to make sense of everything. At that point, I went to my boss and asked if we should really be delivering medications. Well, it is kind of my job, so my boss said, “Yes.” However, I was not required to actually enter the patients’ rooms.

I think the hardest part of this crisis has been trying to explain to a 3-year-old, “No, don’t touch Mommy until she gets out of the shower.” I am in tears just thinking about that. I have worked at the hospital for almost 5 years and never had to take a shower before I could touch my child or my husband until now. Never have I washed so many clothes, let alone on a daily basis. Sure I was cautious, but not this cautious. The fear of the unknown got to me. See, I have really bad anxiety which does not help at all.

Now, on top of all this we need to wear a mask all day anytime you leave the house. These masks are hard to wear anywhere, especially if its 100-plus degrees outside. We are told we have to socially distance: no hugging, no gatherings, no Birthday Party with friends for the 3-year-old. Rationing of supplies at the stores for items like toilet paper (really?), Lysol, and hand sanitizers. Even churches shut down? I thought this was the one place that the doors were always open. I can understand to an extent that we all need to do our part so that the hospitals would not be overwhelmed. It is just a really hard thing to gasp and really sad, especially with a 3-year-old that loves to go to church.

I eventually had to quit watching the news and get off of social media except to post daily devotionals. I appreciate our Broadway Family and their many efforts to help us stay connected through daily devotionals and streaming services online, our Small Group Zooms, and the gift and dessert exchanges on doorsteps.

I had to learn to lean on God now more than ever, living life everyday as it is and trying not to worry. God has this. I hope we all learn not to take life for granted and appreciate the things we do have and the people around us. Learn to truly love one another like Jesus did. Look deeper at what’s in our souls and focus on showing that to each other more so than our outward appearance.

Amber McWilliams 9

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In August of 2019, my wife and I packed up to move to St. Andrews, Scotland, so that I could pursue a master’s degree in Theology and the Arts from the University of St. Andrews. As we were packing and making our preparations to leave, it felt like a dream. It was still unbelievable that I had been accepted to the program, and it often felt crazy and reckless to have said yes. We weren’t sure what would happen once we arrived – I didn’t know any of my classmates or professors. Kristian hadn’t found a job. We had little to no information about where we would be living, how much space we would have, or where the nearest grocery store would be. We were moving across the world, and the move was full of the unknown.

8 months later, we found ourselves packing once again. Two students at the University had been diagnosed with Covid-19, one of whom lived in our apartment complex. The United States had just issued a travel ban. The president of my university urged students who were able to travel home safely to do so. Once again, as we were frantically packing our belongings and giving away the food in our pantry, it felt like a dream. We weren’t supposed to be leaving Scotland for another five months; we had countless plans, family members who wanted to come see us, and trips we had been saving for the summer months. I would be finishing my degree long distance, without the support system of my classmates who had become dear friends. Once again, we didn’t know where we would be living. Once again, Kristian was without a job and had to begin frantically applying. We had no way of knowing if the people around us in the airports and flights were healthy or not. Once again, we were moving across the world, and the move was full of the unknown.

In both of these situations, I was experiencing an underlying feeling, and a way of addressing that feeling. Both times, I felt deep existential dread, sadness, and fear. I was leaving behind a way of life and heading into the unknown, and felt like I had no control over what would happen next. I addressed this feeling by pushing it away; I sought a deep, numbing calm which allowed me to just move forward without dwelling on any of the highs or the lows of the experience. Without thinking, I would resort to the easy way through which doesn’t address my own feelings and fears. This seems useful, but is actually unhealthy. One of the huge downsides to this kind of problem solving is that you rarely take notice when the problems actually become solved. When you don’t notice that problems have been solved, you cannot celebrate and give thanks to God. Allow me to list some of the ways our problems were solved:

Returning Home Austin Moyers

We arrived in Scotland almost 24 hours late, having missed connecting flights and train rides. Miraculously, an acquaintance of my father agreed to pick us up in Edinburgh and drive us to our new home. On that first day, we were able to not only locate the grocery store, but also secure bedding and pillows (something we were very concerned about). Our apartment, while absolutely tiny, became a sweet home. My cohort quickly became very close, and provided us with a tight-knit community of students and their spouses who we shared our struggles, successes, and lives with. Kristian eventually found a job which made her happy and gave her purpose. We found a church which welcomed us with open arms and supported us when we had to leave. Many things came together and turned what seemed terrifying and impossible into the most beautiful 8 months of our lives, a time that we will always cherish.

And our return to the US: we secured flights quickly enough that we saved several thousand dollars. Kristian found a job almost immediately. We asked for information on a duplex, and the realtor turned out to be a good friend who helped us find a home. I quickly found a good, cheap bicycle to do the little commuting I need to do. We were able to adopt a sweet pup who needed a home, and who keeps me company while Kristian is at work. Once again, many things came together and turned what seemed terrifying and impossible into one of the smoothest transitions I have ever heard of, and we have been able to re-start a lovely life here in Lubbock.

In both of these situations, I was not able to recognize the way things had miraculously been resolved until well after the fact. Because I kept my head down and focused on moving forward without addressing my feelings or fears, I was numb to the way God had already been working in my life and addressing those feelings and fears. In this tumultuous time, I know full well that Kristian and I are not the only ones who experienced loss, fear, and extreme life changes. I’m also willing to guess that there are plenty of others out there like me, who have kept their head down these past few months, and also may not have noticed the ways God has addressed their feelings and fears. In the next few weeks or so, I invite you to take a moment, lift your head up, and see the ways God has been working in your life that you might not have noticed. It may be in something profound, or it may be something as simple as finding a pillow or being contacted by a friend. Allow yourself to be surprised,

for Christ plays in ten thousand places,

Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his

To the Father through the features of men's faces.

(“As Kingfishers Catch Fire,” Gerard Manley Hopkins)

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Quarantine. When you look at a word for long enough, that particular word begins to look foreign, or alien, to your brain. It’s an interesting phenomenon, but I believe the word quarantine is strange all on its own: it holds a certain weight with it, a level of stress and heaviness that you can’t really put your finger on but you know it’s there. At least, it does now. If you were to ask me a year ago what quarantine meant, I would have told you a brief definition of the word and that would have been the end of the conversation, but now I know that there is so much more that comes with the word quarantine than just isolation from others. As for myself: I am a college student studying Mathematics, I have a fiancé, and I actually work at Broadway Church of Christ. Most of this academic year had been pretty normal, and when my professors announced that we would be transitioning to online classes for the remainder of the school year I didn’t think much of it. I’m a pretty big introvert, so I assumed everything would go just fine because we would still be able to communicate online and talk about our assignments and ask questions. My reality, however, was much different. I found that with online only courses it was much more difficult to keep up with due dates and to fully grasp and understand new concepts that were being taught. I say this second point because many times in my life both at work and at school, I have learned much from the questions that others have asked that I didn’t even know I needed the answer to. I even had a public speaking class where we were required to record our final speech online and upload it to the rest of the class for review. Thankfully that only took about 28 attempts before I had one that I was happy with. The classes being online was only one issue that took its toll on me, and that was even something that could have been foreseen if I chose to think to the future. What I was not expecting from this quarantine was the actual isolation. I don’t mean that I didn’t know I would be alone in quarantine, but I didn’t realize how much contact with other people helped with my over-all well-being. Since I was isolated from everyone else in my classes that I normally see or talk with, I was more alone and in my head than I was prepared to be, and that definitely had an adverse effect on my mental health. With this happening, I turned to my close support group to help me through. My closest family that I have are my Aunt and Uncle whom I live with here in Lubbock, and they have been supportive every step of the way not only through this quarantine but through my time in this city. I don’t reach out as much as I could, but knowing their support is there was a great boon during this time for me. My immediate family is actually in Virginia, and as of my writing this they are visiting for the week. Over the course of these last few months my calls home have been more and more frequent, and I believe both parties have reaped the benefits of those calls. They will continue far into the future. Here in Lubbock I also have a fiancé. She works a stressful job and has a lot on her own plate to deal with, but even during this time of trouble for me, she took the time, energy, and effort to stand by my side and lift me up when I needed it. I am so grateful to have her in my life. The other part of my social circle is my professional life. As I mentioned above, I work at Broadway, and I can say that this has been a much different experience than any other I have had in the workplace. In most professional environments it is dangerous to become friends with your co-workers or superiors, but at Broadway we are all a team of people working together for the greater good. There is no anger, hatred, or jealousy that takes place. There is no rivalry to be better than others. There is just a building to maintain and a Kingdom to uphold.

Quarantine. When you look at a word for long enough, that particular word begins to look foreign, or alien, to your brain. It’s an interesting phenomenon, but I believe the word quarantine is strange all on its own: it holds a certain weight with it, a level of stress and heaviness that you can’t really put your finger on but you know it’s there. At least, it does now. If you were to ask me a year ago what quarantine meant, I would have told you a brief definition of the word and that would have been the end of the conversation, but now I know that there is so much more that comes with the word quarantine than just isolation from others. As for myself: I am a college student studying Mathematics, I have a fiancé, and I actually work at the Broadway Church of Christ. Most of this academic year had been pretty normal, and when my professors announced that we would be transitioning to online classes for the remainder of the school year I didn’t think much of it. I’m a pretty big introvert, so I assumed everything would go just fine because we would still be able to communicate online and talk about our assignments and ask questions. My reality, however, was much different. I found that with online only courses it was much more difficult to keep up with due dates and to fully grasp and understand new concepts that were being taught. I say this second point because many times in my life both at work and at school, I have learned much from the questions that others have asked that I didn’t even know I needed the answer to. I even had a public speaking class where we were required to record our final speech online and upload it to the rest of the class for review. Thankfully that only took about 28 attempts before I had one that I was happy with. The classes being online was only one issue that took its toll on me, and that was even something that could have been foreseen if I chose to think to the future. What I was not expecting from this quarantine was the actual isolation. I don’t mean that I didn’t know I would be alone in quarantine, but I didn’t realize how much contact with other people helped with my over-all well-being. Since I was isolated from everyone else in my classes that I normally see or talk with, I was more alone and in my head than I was prepared to be, and that definitely had an adverse effect on my mental health. With this happening, I turned to my close support group to help me through. My closest family that I have are my Aunt and Uncle whom I live with here in Lubbock, and they have been supportive every step of the way not only through this quarantine but through my time in this city. I don’t reach out as much as I could, but knowing their support is there was a great boon during this time for me. My immediate family is actually in Virginia, and as of my writing this they are visiting for the week. Over the course of these last few months my calls home have been more and more frequent, and I believe both parties have reaped the benefits of those calls. They will continue far into the future. Here in Lubbock I also have a fiancé. She works a stressful job and has a lot on her own plate to deal with, but even during this time of trouble for me, she took the time, energy, and effort to stand by my side and lift me up when I needed it. I am so grateful to have her in my life. The other part of my social circle is my professional life. As I mentioned above, I work at Broadway, and I can say that this has been a much different experience than any other I have had in the workplace. In most professional environments it is dangerous to become friends with your co-workers or superiors, but at Broadway we are all a team of people working together for the greater good. There is no anger, hatred, or jealousy that takes place. There is no rivalry to be better than others. There is just a building to maintain and a Kingdom to uphold.

QuarantineSean Stalvey

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I work closely with Lee and our physical plant team as well as with Gary filming and editing our content for the online environment that we have been using. I have had to learn new skills and adapt to the online transition just as many of you have had to do, and I am thankful that I had such a great group of support there with me. I may have painted a picture for you about a great time in quarantine this year, but I assure you this was a difficult time for me. There were many days where I struggled to get out of bed, where I struggled to make it to work on time, and where, as I mentioned, I struggled to understand and grasp the new concepts that my professors were trying to teach me through their videos over the internet. Some days I slept the day away while others I felt like I could get out and do some work. My point in all of this is that I made it through. I made it through this extremely difficult time not because the strength of will that I have to do what I know I need to do, but because of the strength of will of others. All of these people I have talked about above, whether they know it or not, have helped lift me up in these past months. They have helped me push through and succeed in a time when I needed it the most. Broadway has the mission of Pursue God, Build Community, and Unleash Compassion. During this quarantine I was doing none of those due to my mental health at the time, but as I look back, I believe that is okay. I say this because even though I was not Pursuing God, he was there for me. He put me on a path that collided with others in a way that he could show his love through them by lifting me up. The community that I am part of at Broadway has also solidified and drawn me in closer. There were days where I was so anxious, I could barely go to work, but as time has gone on those feelings have faded and I have been able to enjoy the job that I was sometimes afraid of. And the Compassion of those around me has grown and been more welcoming than ever. So as I look back at this quarantine, at this time of isolation, as I think to the times where I was forced to isolate due to my fiancé’s work or an illness, as I think back to the transition to online classes from in person lectures, as I think back to learning new skills and existing in a world that has slowed to a halt, and as I think back to my life as a whole over these last few months, I can truly say this: It has been difficult, it has been stressful, I have hated many aspects of it, but it has been necessary. This global shutdown has helped me take stock of what is around me. It has helped me learn what is important in my life and what I unintentionally prize the most. It has helped me examine my relationships in a new light. It has helped me see how God has been working all along. Though there will always be days of hardship, days of struggle, always look to the horizon. Because though that horizon may seem far away and hard to get to, there are always others that have been placed beside you to help you get there. God is Love, and Love is the connection that binds us together and pulls us forward to that horizon. I have stumbled, I have fallen, and I have dug into the dirt up to my neck, but my friends, my family, and my God have lifted me up when I needed it the most.

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By any standard one chooses, sixty-three years is a long time to be married; but, when the final nine weeks of that sixty-third year is spent in isolation with one another, it can seem even longer! In the admonitions given my husband and me by Norvel Young in the hallowed halls of the Broadway church on June 7, 1957, we promised to keep our marriage together “for better or for worse,” “for richer or for poorer,” as well as “in sickness and in health”; but, there was no mention of being shut up alone together for nine weeks! At the risk of being insensitive to those of you who have spent the past few weeks totally alone or in the company of your pets, I would hasten to add that I am thankful to have someone I dearly love with whom to be quarantined. Those with only fur babies with whom to converse tell me that, while their faithful companions bring them a great deal of comfort and joy, they are poor conversationalists! No doubt those without even a wagging puppy dog tail or the purr of a cuddly cat most assuredly would not hesitate to berate me for my ingratitude at having a husband who has knocked himself out to make this period of our lives as pleasant as possible. The fact is, however, that none of us can have all of his/her needs met by even the greatest of spouses. We all need community, and I have missed YOU. I understand, but resent, the social distancing rules that have kept us apart. I, personally, am more concerned about dying of loneliness than of the coronavirus, but I am determined to at least respect that which I do not personally fear as well as those who feel differently on the subject. I realize that we all bring to this incomparable (are you as tired as I am of the word “unprecedented”?) situation a unique set of experiences and feelings, and our response to the changes we all have been required to make have affected each of us in different ways, Our feelings in this matter are neither right or wrong: they are just our feelings. Personally, I can’t wait until Sunday mornings when I can see at least some of you as you wave, blow kisses, and/or give virtual hugs on my TV screen. After 73 years as a member of the Broadway family, I recently have realized that you are so much more important to me than I had previously understood and pray that I never again will take you for granted. Until I was deprived of your physical presence, I admit to taking you for granted, for expecting you always to be there to inspire, to encourage, and to bless me. I pray that I never do that again. When I am fully released from living the social life of the unabomber, I pray that I will treasure my Broadway family for the wonderful gift from God that it is and that I will not hesitate to tell you so!

FREEDOM LOST - APPRECIATION FOUND By Kay Evans

Katie Baccus

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2020 has been one for the books! I looked forward to this year with much anticipation for many reasons, including the final chapter of Family Nurse Practitioner school. I was set up to finish my clinical hours, coursework and graduate in May! When COVID first rolled around mid-March I was in clinic 2-3 times a week at the Andrews County Health Department. We were hearing rumors of this crazy virus and laughing…being from conservative West Texas, we were all convinced it had to be political, right?! However, within just a few days our worlds turned upside down. We had to switch gears into full disaster mode with little time to prepare. If you know me at all, you know I operate on the “proactive not reactive” spectrum. For example, I was one of the lucky few who finished their clinical hours for school because I front-loaded my semester (Thank you LORD for this opportunity)! This was complete shock and shook me off my axis as each day was different. I also work in the Surgical ICU at Covenant. Our administration was working diligently to stay ahead of the COVID game and keep caregivers safe and informed. We knew we had a job to do for the community and it was humbling to see so many of my coworkers and leaders step up to the challenge.

The one thing I don’t think anyone could have prepared for was social distancing. The concept was not a hard one to comprehend and practice in the beginning, but I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the repercussions. Not being able to gather with friends, my family or my church family…OUCH. This was and is hard for my extroverted self. Community is so important to my spiritual and mental health, as it is for many people, and my anxiety was spinning out of control. Satan knows how to attack, and he is good at his game. BUT OUR GOD IS BETTER, and His goodness is apparent through the work of this church and its people. I thought about our Heart to Home lessons on the Fruit of the Spirit, specifically joy. Joy is not situational or a fleeting characteristic, it is a result of a heart rooted in the unchanging and steadfast love of Christ. It was easy to see joy through the work of my friends like Holly Robbins and the Linkers as they worked diligently to provide masks to support so many and keep us safe. The online worship provided by Gary Moyers and the leadership at Broadway was a way to connect with my patients on Sundays and enjoy time in the Word with Austin at home. The many, may prayers, calls and texts from my family at Broadway reminded me that we are not fighting this alone. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I was already pretty fond of my Bway family. I am anxiously awaiting the day we can meet again!

We don’t have sidewalk so…ta-da!

The lure if Ethiopian food within walking distance finally broke us! Haven’t left home as a family in a month!

Happy Birthday wishes from our State side family!

The Harrison Family

Lock down in Africa!

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Hello All,

We hope all are healthy and well. We pray every Sunday for the Church at Broadway and all the congregation in Lima and throughout Peru. We make phone calls back and forth to Cusco to keep up with the news there. Currently, we are still staying at Francisca’s sisters home in Lima. The Bible encourages us very much. Lima is like being in hell. The government is so blind! The authorities drive around using fines and jail as punishment for those who disobey the ordinances. There are no ambulances. They forget those who are infected in their homes. They disconnected the telephone line to the police stations. There is COVID-19 in the jails, where seven people have died. Nobody walks at night, which is our custom. There are days scheduled for men to walk on one day and women on another day. There are no taxis. Offenders are fined $300-$600 and identification cards and drivers licenses are confiscated. No one can work. Agriculture is bad, and trade is a problem. Poverty increases, and Hospitals collapse. They do not have beds or medicine. 2,600 died from poor care by the authorities. Doctors and nurses are infected, and people from the provinces are sleeping in the streets joined by the police. Restaurants and stores are closed. In the cities of Peru, neither the people nor the authorities are doing well. Many ask for food and there is none. It is good that school is on the internet.

So, this is the news brethren.

Greetings to all! We pray that God will protect all of us from evil. Your servants in the Lord. Hipólito and Francisca Triveños

( Hipólito and Francisca hope to take the bus back to Cusco on May 25th)

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This period of our lives is different, whether you are working from home or if your job hasn’t really changed all that much, because we all have to abide by the social distancing requirements set by our leaders. So much of my current life is spent in meetings, either with many people together online, or even with just one other face looking back at me through the screen. Some conversations have been hard, a lot of people are hurting. My heart hurts with them.

One thing I am constantly reminding myself is that I am not in control. I like to be in control, or at least pretend that I am. Celebrate Recovery and the tools I continue to learn from it, have helped me realize that I am not. I can only control my actions and how I respond to the actions of others. If you too are tired of pretending to hold it all together, of being a different person on the outside than who you really are inside, Celebrate Recovery is for you!

We have been meeting online in zoom conference calls. Lord willing, we will begin meeting back at the building on Thursday,June4at7:00p.m. This is a great time to begin working on what you struggle with, and also walk with people who want to walk with you through it all. I hope to see you there on Thursday, June 4 at 7! If you would like to know more about CR, contact CamilleWhitneyat(806)789-2478,orLyndaTaylorat(806)252-6167.

Camille Whitney Outreach Minister c.whitney4291@gmail.com

Summer Series - 2020Series 1 - “Christian: Its Not What You Think” video series by Andy Stanley

Lesson 1 - May 31st - “Brand Recognition”

Lesson 2 - June 7th - “Quitters”

Lesson 3 - June 14th - “Insiders, Outsiders”

Lesson 4 - June 21st - “Showing Up”

Lesson 5 - June 28th - “When Grace Met Truthy”

Lesson 6 - July 5th - “Angry Birds”

Lesson 7 - July 12th - “Loopholes”

Lesson 8 - July 19th - “Working it Out”

Summer Series - 2020Series 2 - “Jesus Invites You to Follow” video series by Andy Stanley

Lesson 1 - July 26th - “Jesus Says”

Lesson 2 - August 2nd - “Next Steps”

Lesson 3 - August 9th - “Fearless”

Lesson 4 - August 16th - “Follow Wear”

Lesson 5 - August 23rd - “The Fine Print”

Lesson 6 - August 30th - “What I Want to Want”

Lesson 7 - September 6th - “Leading Great”

Lesson 8 - September 13th - “Unfollow”

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BROADWAYCHURCH OF CHRIST

bwaychurch.org

1924 Broadway Lubbock, Texas 79401