Archives for posts with tag: COVID-19
Is it just me, ladies and gentlemen, or does it seem like our Politicians and Media keep on generating Questions, Questions, and then even more Questions? There just doesn’t seem to be any end to all this Crap!!!
Here’s how I proceeded to respond to them afterwards in a comment: Hey Facebook Fact Checker(s): The TRUTH always hurts, doesn’t IT???
Romans 14:8
“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we write this month’s newsletter to inform you of the death of our brother in Christ, John A. Lynn. On September 24, 2021 our brother John fell asleep in the Lord from Covid-19 and other health related complications. His life and ministry were a testimony of goodness and love. John lived in pursuit of the truth and was bold in declaring it to any and all who would listen.
Sometime next month, the Board of Trustees, along with John’s wife and daughter, will be producing an online tribute to John honoring his many years of faithful service to the Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that everyone please keep his wife Elizabeth, daughter Christine and their families in prayer as they grieve John’s passing. If you would be blessed to give a monetary gift, you can do so at Gofund.me, a page that was set up for this purpose, or you can contact us for her home address.
John was faithful at teaching God’s Word for fifty years and he will be dearly missed. We know John sleeps in the Lord and we look forward with great hope for the appearing of Christ when we will rejoice to see him again. It is important to remember that God is ultimately the source of our comfort (2 Corinthians 7:6), so in times like this we must run to the shelter of the Most High where we will find sweet rest (Psalm 91:1-2). John’s heart for the Lord and service to the gospel of Christ is something for us all to emulate. He always gave his all for God’s people and the gospel. Well done good and faithful servant!
If you were one of the many brethren who prayed for John’s healing over the years, we thank you on behalf of all our TLTF leadership. The Word of God is our greatest source of comfort when someone we love dies. Our Lord certainly understood the pain of losing someone close to his heart. In the book of John 11:1-44, we learn that Jesus lost a loved one named Lazarus. Jesus was deeply moved and wept at the loss of His friend. This story, however, doesn’t end in tears. Jesus knew he possessed the power needed to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25). Jesus overcame death through His resurrection. It is comforting to know that death is not the end for those who believe. Those who know Jesus as their Savior will have eternal life (John 10:28). God has prepared a new home for us where there will be no more death, tears, or pain (Revelation 21:1-4).
As we move onward, we thank our Lord Jesus Christ who has provided for us everything necessary to continue to help others receive the Words of Life. We also thank you for your love and support as we continue to press forward in the high calling in Christ Jesus our Savior. We must not be naive as to think that Satan isn’t looking to take advantage of us. Until Jesus returns, he will continue his attacks on the body of Christ. He will do anything he can to sabotage unity, sow dissension, and erode trust. Particularly in difficult seasons, we need to all unite in every effort to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).
It takes courage to go through difficult times. But, if there’s one thing we know about the people who fellowship with this ministry, it is that they are, by God’s grace, a strong and courageous people, as we have made our way through many sufferings in the past. God develops grit and endurance in his people through suffering. Let us all praise the name of Jesus Christ that he would count us worthy to suffer with him. We now get to demonstrate once more the all-sufficiency of his grace as he bears us up and carries us forward in his strong and loving care.
As we consider the impact of John’s death on our lives and the ministry, this scripture quickly comes to mind.
Joshua 1:1,2
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them…”
The death of Moses was perhaps the most monumental loss the children of Israel had faced since leaving Egypt. Moses had led them forty years; from his initial return to Egypt until he had brought them to the Jordan river with the promised land literally in sight. Israel knew no other way to follow God than to rely on Moses’ directions for every step of their journey. But, now Moses was dead and they were in many ways at a standstill. So, what was God’s message to these desperate Israelites who were now grieving their one-of-a-kind leader? It was, “Get going!”
From a human perspective, one could easily anticipate that the LORD would have directed them to have a prolonged memorial for Moses’ death. But instead, He simply told Joshua to get with the people and get ready to move out from where they were and move on, into the promised land. And when you think about it, what other choice did they have? Their forty-year trek through the wilderness had brought them to the banks of the Jordan River, and Moses was now dead. Their hearts could either be tethered to their past with Moses or delighted for the future Moses and the LORD had brought them to. In many ways, ours is the same choice.
I’m confident that John Lynn would not want this ministry to stop, or pause, in any way because of his death. His vision of following the Lord Jesus Christ and helping others to do the same can and will continue; only if we remain committed to entering the land of promises. We have no choice but to regroup, prepare our hearts to obey, and follow the directions of the spirit of God.
Some ask, “What do we do now?.” And the answer as is always going to be the same … “obey.” Obey the Lord Jesus Christ and follow him. That has been his message since he first began calling his disciples on the shores of Galilee. That message will never change. Every Christian is obligated to follow Jesus, in word and deed. He is the only one worthy of our complete allegiance. He is the only one who perfectly demonstrated what humanity can become if we will but live with selfless service to God and shower those around us with His love.
Who among us doesn’t have a neighbor, friend, or family member in need? Can we not simply take some time to visit them? What instruction is needed to love? We may not have an answer for them, but we can be a listening heart. We can care enough to show up in their life and be kind… can’t we? Or we could decide to just sit on our hands and reminisce about the good times and great teachings that John taught us. Which will you do? Which do you believe will bring glory to God and His son?
The TLTF Board of Trustees have been diligently seeking the Lord’s guidance about the future of TLTF, and we believe we have heard his voice. Some of the direction we are hearing is new and exciting. But, regardless of the course we take, we know it must be done in prayer, with love and a commitment to obeying the Lord. After all, this is not “our ministry” just as it was not “John Lynn’s ministry.” It is the Lord’s ministry, and we are all his servants. Our objective is and must remain to magnify Jesus Christ, the living truth.
So, as we look forward to the days ahead, we are thankful, deeply thankful for John Lynn’s life and ministry; and that will never change. But we are also eagerly looking to the Lord Jesus, the living way; to guide us on our journey. Our only ambition is to follow him. He alone is the author and finisher of our faith. He alone is worthy of our complete trust. He alone can take us into the land of promises where there is joy unspeakable. As JAL would often say, “the future is as bright as the promises of God.” So, let’s hold fast to God’s Word, hold on to one another, and boldly walk forward into the future He has planned for us.
We are very excited to be entering into a new season of ministry inspired by the spirit of God. We look forward to continuing with you in this new season of growth as we minister the Word unto the hearts of others. As Paul said, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Thank you for your love, prayers and support as we move ahead together fighting the good fight.
We love you dearly,
Franco, Jon, and Gary Lee
TLTF Board of Trustees
UPDATED 10/7/21: The following Internet link was the Obituary apparently published in the Indiana newspaper for John Lynn. Due to the writing style, along with its rather lengthy nature, I assume John might’ve written this himself. If I’m wrong about that, I sincerely apologize. But please read through this obituary for yourself and I think you’ll agree with me. I can promise you, it’s very well written and there’s nothing disrespectful in it. Agape
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-lynn-obituary?id=20568575
So for about the next 24 hours, I guess I’m confined to something called, “Facebook Jail” all because the aforementioned Meme is viewed by Facebook as, “Hate Speech”. The following was the inscription I had posted just above the Meme, which sort of echos the writing in the Meme itself.
ATTENTION ALL FEMINISTS: Which one is it Ladies, you can’t have it both ways? Are ALL Men pigs, OR, Are Women equal to Men???
Thus far, have you read anything that puts Feminists in an inaccurate light? From what little I know about Feminism, these are two very common statements often made by this woman’s group. The only other thing I can possibly think of is the guy in this Meme — if he’s a famous actor or celebrity, I honestly have no clue who he is as this is the very first time, I believe I’ve ever seen this guy in my life.
So long story short, when I woke up about a couple hours ago, I learn that Facebook was suspending me for 24 hours over the aforementioned Meme because they viewed it as “hate speech”. Basically, I wasn’t allowed to post anything new, or respond to another post within that 24 hour time frame. I guess Facebook does offer a Right to Appeal, but it’s like going through a next to impossible gauntlet that seems to work in Facebook’s favor at every turn. Why can’t Facebook give me a phone number of someone I can actually talk to? Or how about an email address of a Facebook rep I can correspond with?
Facebook also blamed COVID-19 as to “WHY” its Appeals Process is so slow, yet we’re about two weeks away from all the great American cookouts that are scheduled to take place on the July Fourth holiday all throughout the country.
$64,000 Question: Has this ‘World-Wide Coronavirus Pandemic’ turned everybody on this Planet into Brain-dead Imbeciles? If you notice somebody in Public either Coughing, or Sneezing, do YOU automatically ASS-U-Me that that individual must be Dying of COVID-19? How much of this Meme do you find Stupid and Ridiculous, and how much of it Speaks the Truth? I rest my case.
Wow, what a difference a year makes! The cost of five (5) different items literally going thru the proverbial roof. Two different Presidents both running our Country during the same Worldwide COVID Pandemic. Two completely different, polar opposite results.
Hey Facebook Fact Checkers — “Missing Context”, now that’s pretty funny. If I recall correctly, going into the Presidential Election last November, the Liberal Media blamed COVID-19 on Donald Trump despite the fact that it’s a “WORLDWIDE VIRUS”. Trump DID pushed to get the Vaccines into fruition via Operation Warp Speed, despite the fact that the Media NEVER gives Trump credit for that. Joe Biden, incidentally, was COVID vaccinated during the Trump administration. Go figure.
One Bad Decision Away From Homelessness 