The Summer of Disorder: Finding Peace in the New Normal

Until now, 2007 was the strangest summer that I had ever experienced. Many of you know, My dad made a living by speaking at summer camps, churches, and conferences. Growing up our family would spend the summers traveling to summer camps around the eastern United States. We called it our summer tour. Just a few weeks before leaving for summer camp, my dad injured his head and we had to cancel all of our plans. Normal life was interrupted. We didn’t return to visiting summer camps for several years as my dad recovered from his brain injury. The “Normal” was gone and uncertainty and confusion set in.

This summer we have faced a similar disruption of “normal”. I don’t have to write in length about the difficulties that the summer of 2020 has brought. This has been a year of disruption and frustration for all people. I wanted to focus quickly on what this summer has been like for us, what I have been working on, and then a quick word of encouragement. 

I have been working almost exclusively from home since the real start of the outbreak in March. If I am going to be honest, working only from home is not my favorite thing. I actually work better when I am able to study beside coworkers. Their presence helps me to focus and be generally more productive. Working from home, very often alone, I have found myself getting discouraged easily. It has been a tough season to feel productive when I feel so isolated. Lauren has continued to work in the hospital in her unit. 

This summer I have mainly been working on studying Exodus (more on that to come) and also helping to craft our COVID-19 response plans for the different ministries we run. Usually, when we look at our fall season, we are busy trying to improve our ministry programs; seeking ways to make our teaching better. This year we are also trying to think through spacing, masks, locations, use of technology and so much more. That being said, I am very happy with the several different contingency plans our team has come up with. Emmaus Ministries will indeed continue to help people engage the Bible. 

In fact, this season has helped us to embrace new ways to equip believers to know the Bible. For the first time this fall, our Biblical Narrative Series will be streamed online. We are opening up that course for anyone around the United States. If you are interested and want to learn more Click Here.

The biggest project I have been working on is my lecture for Exodus. Exodus has very quickly become one of my favorite books of the Bible (Most books that I study become my favorite). Exodus may be one of the most important books of the Old Testament. The story of the exodus is a story of a God who wants to rescue his people. God answers the cries of his enslaved people by sending a rescuer. God gives his people protection of the coming judgment through the blood of a lamb. Those who have the blood of the lamb over their doorpost, death passes over them and they are released from their slavery. God then takes them out of their land of slavery and into a new land. 

This story shows us God's salvation blueprints. It is in a very similar way that Jesus himself has set us free, not from slavery to Egypt, but to our own sin and shame. The story of the Exodus is of a God who wants to radically save his people. As I have studied this book I have found myself more in awe of God's absolute power, wonder, and grace in my own life.

Devotional: I have found my thoughts and heart clouded with frustration, distractions, and disappointments. I would imagine that you might be in a similar place. (And if not praise God!). I need to spend more time focusing on what God has done for me and less time on the unknowns. In Exodus, we see the exuberant work and planning that God did to save his people. At no movement was God not in control, at no moment was God’s ultimate plan derailed. God rescues his people while only using an ounce of his power and wonder. He did the same for you with his son Jesus on the cross. Join me and pause. Reflect on all that Jesus has done for you, find peace in knowing that Jesus loves you and cares for you. Whatever chaos you might be facing, is smaller than the God who parted the Red Sea. 

Prayer Requests: 

Thank you so much for investing your time, money, and prayer to our ministry! In this season we have a few prayer requests. 

Planning for the Fall- As I stated above, we have several COVID contingency plans ready in place. We are already planning to run several programs this year in different capacities to make our classrooms safe. Please pray that God would give us his wisdom as we seek to implement those plans. 

Students for the Fall- Even in the midst of a global pandemic, God has called to us several students for our day school and our Biblical narrative series. We are so excited about the community that God is forming. Please pray that we can best serve and love our incoming school. 

If you are reading this, and have not partnered with me in ministry, I would ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with me spiritually through prayer or financially through monthly donations. If you would like to learn more: Click Here. 

PS We recently had the pleasure of adopting our very first family dog. We are so excited to welcome Korah to the family. Please enjoy these very cute pictures of her.