Our country is at a critical point in its history. We are in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, and as a result, we are facing uncertain and unlimited short-term and long-term economic impacts.

Due to the encumbrance of these circumstances, I would respectfully ask the Carroll County Board of Supervisors to postpone any action to raise taxes on the citizens of Carroll County. I would also respectfully ask that the Land Use Tax be left as is, until such time as the citizens and our county leaders have a better understanding of where this pandemic will leave us.

Our Federal Government is looking for ways to stimulate the economy through stimulus checks and small business grants and loans, in order to help alleviate the financial strain of a mostly closed economy. During such a time, why would we consider placing more strain on this community and the citizens of Carroll County?

I also ask that the Board of Supervisors gather different community leaders together to look at possible solutions to the financial issues we face as a county. When facing difficult situations, in my experience it is always helpful to seek the guidance of trusted individuals who have expertise that I do not possess, to come alongside and help find solutions to the problems that I face. I understand the supervisors have been elected to oversee the county government, including the budget. I also understand that when we come together and look for insights from people around us who see things from a different perspective, we often come up with a better solution for everyone. I believe the board, together with other community leaders, could discover a winning situation for everyone involved.

In talking with many tax paying citizens of Carroll County, there is a lot of confusion. People have honest questions and concerns that could and should be addressed. We are in a very difficult place right now financially in our county, and we are in a very uncertain place with the economy in the midst of this pandemic. People are understandably very unsettled right now.

I am asking that this request; to postpone any action to raise taxes or to make changes to the Land Use Tax; be considered before proceeding with the scheduled meeting and public hearing of The Carroll County Board of Supervisors on April 13th. Thank you for your consideration of this request during this critical time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ronnie G Collins

“Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to bring every thought into captivity in obedience to Christ. This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a trial comes along because then your faith and the spirit of God will work together.”

Oswald Chambers

2 Timothy 1:7  (NKJV)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

The human imagination is a powerful force. It can imagine a beautiful future or it can conjure up a worst case scenario. Our imaginations can put us in the grip of fear and that is a place God would never have us go. For a lot of people their imagination destroys their peace. But this scripture verse shows the power to defeat fear is a sound mind. We maintain a sound mind by bringing every thought into captivity.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:5, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Paul is saying if my thought doesn’t line up with Gods Word, I’m going to take it captive. If my thought is not true, I’m not going to allow it to run free in my mind and my imagination where it will put me in a place of unhealthy fear.

Some of you have been very anxious during this pandemic, you have the opportunity and the responsibility not to let this event destroy your peace. You can control your mind because if you couldn’t God would not have commanded you to do it.

We need to have a mind centered on Christ. Fill your mind with scripture, the promises of God. Corona virus without Christ is a scary thing but with Him, it’s not scary. We know He has the power to demolish this virus and He has the power to heal those who have been infected.

Isaiah 26:3  (NKJV)
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

We serve The God of the Bible. The God who created us. The God who parted the sea and the God who raised Jesus from the dead. We know that we can trust Him. In the midst of uncertainty we know we can trust our Lord Jesus Christ. Focus today and one day at a time on God and His Word. When your mind begins to go to a place of unrest and fear, go to God’s Word and read the truth. Read it out loud and claim the promises and simply trust God. He has brought us this far and He will get us home.

Pastor Ronnie

(This blog post was inspired by a sermon from Dr. David Jeremiah)

 

Yesterday was a good day, things went along like any other day, nothing out of the ordinary. I did some studying here at home, made a Three Minute Thursday, one day late. I made a short video on Chaplain matters. I had a pastoral counseling matter to take care of, and then David and I hosted a Bible study around Jesus and social distancing. Pretty normal day. While we were making the video I received a request from someone in our community who has a lung issue needing assistance with grocery shopping. No problem, happy to help.

So I go on to the grocery store and while I’m waiting to receive the list from the individual requesting assistance I decided while I was there I should go ahead and get some things for our home. I filled up a shopping cart with my groceries and pushed it to the front and asked the young man working the register if I could leave my cart there, will you make sure no one puts these things back? His response was yes it is fine to leave it but you have frozen items that shouldn’t stay out too long. I said to the young man, it’s ok, they are mine, I’m not worried about them melting, I’ll deal with that, just make sure no one puts the stuff back.

I received the list, it was a pretty big list but no problem. I had to make some decisions when what was requested was out of stock, do I get a different brand, a different size, or just leave it off the list. Of course there were no paper products available. It probably took me about 30 minutes, I was able to get about 75 percent of the items on the list, the other items were out of stock.

Guess what I found when I get back to the register to pay for everything…

You guessed it, all of my items had been taken and placed back on the shelves.

The past 3 weeks of shelter in place haven’t been all that difficult for me and my family. We have laughed a lot and really enjoyed our time together. We have been able to mostly work from home and get things done. We already homeschooled our children before this happened so adding the youngest granddaughter to the homeschool hasn’t been all that big of an adjustment. We have been running some and trying to stay active and healthy.

But, when I discovered that my groceries had been placed back on the shelf, it felt like an elephant had just sat on my chest. Every bit of energy I had just drained out of me. I felt like screaming. But I didn’t, the look on my face probably spoke volumes but I didn’t say anything harsh. The young man apologized and said he would go and gather the items back up for me, but I didn’t have the energy to even try and remember what was in the cart. All I wanted to do was get out of that store, deliver the groceries I had, and go home.

While I normally sleep five and a half to six hours on a normal night, last night I went to bead and slept about eight and a half. It was the first night in a long time I didn’t toss and turn, I slept good.

I tell you this to help you and myself to remember that we are human beings. And when we get busy and we are helping others we have to be sure and come aside and rest and recharge. It’s exactly what David and I spoke about to the church yesterday. Jesus often pulled away from the crowds and got alone with God and sometimes with just a few of his closest disciples. We may think everything is fine and it is, but then one little thing like the groceries can cause us to lose it. The young man in the store was just doing what he has been trained to do and thankfully I did what I have trained to do and that is to do no harm. It was groceries, we can go another time, no harm was done by anyone, just a misunderstanding.

I see families struggling because you haven’t taken time to get away, maybe not from the crowds but time to just get alone and rest, spend some time with God in His word, and pray. Find your place and go there often.

Ronnie

Once again in the last 24 hours we lost approximately 1000  more people to the Coronavirus. As I read of all the people who have died I began to think of all the things I have lost during this pandemic.

My family is no longer able to do many of the things that we enjoy. Going out to eat together, going to the movie theater, going on camping trips, just hanging out with friends, going to worship services, and one of my favorites, Rook Tournaments. Basically anything that puts people together is not encouraged or allowed right now because of this pandemic.

I miss those things. But I haven’t lost anything!

First and foremost I have Jesus in my heart and no one can take that away from me, not even death. Second of all, I have my family right by my side and they are all healthy. Third, I have a nice home that is both warm on cold days and cool on hot days. Our electricity and water are both still working. We have the benefit of the internet that allows us to stay connected with our church family and friends. I really haven’t lost a thing. (And we still have toilet paper.)

Here are some of the things I have gained.

I have longed for a day when things would slow down and we wouldn’t be running from thing to thing, almost at the rate of nothing having real meaning, simply because we no longer had the time to enjoy where we were because of where we had to go next. The day I have longed for is here, my family is actually enjoying these slow paced days where we can stop and laugh together. We are playing outdoors as well as working together in the yard. We are taking the time to read and watch some shows together. We are enjoying the grandchildren and everyone doing homeschool together. We are finally eating the food we have had in the cabinets for a long time that really needs to be eaten. Our animals are enjoying the attention they are getting because everyone is home. We have two dogs who love to run with us and we have been running almost every day.  We have 5 cats and a new litter of kittens (one of them will definitely be named Corona) but not if the rest of the family gets a say in the naming. 🙂 Even Spike the Corn Snake is getting more attention these days. I know I just lost a bunch of you, I have always wanted to bring Spike to church and use him in a sermon illustration but I have always feared people would leave and never come back, now I can use him on a livefeed, I’m sure Pastor David will hold him for me until I am ready for him 🙂

Anyway, my point being simply this…We haven’t lost anything, we haven’t suffered any loss, we have good health, we have each other, and we have God in our lives most of all. I refuse to act like a spoiled child who no longer gets to do whatever he wants. We are blessed beyond measure.

Just my thoughts.

Pastor Ronnie

 

 

And just like that. 1000 people died in one day. It may not have affected you yet personally but rest assured, before this is over, none of us will go untouched, either personally or someone we know. Lord have mercy and heal our land in your time and in your way.

The first headline I read this morning was that the death toll from Coronavirus had increased from approximately 4,000 to 5,000 in just one day. It breaks my heart in so many ways. It breaks my heart that so many who live in places like I do just don’t get it because with the smaller population we are not seeing the death tolls that places like New York City are. I hear so many people say this thing is being blown out of proportion, but not for the people who have loved ones who are sick it isn’t. I hear people still saying Coronavirus is a government conspiracy, it isn’t real. If that is you, get your head out of the sand and look around. This thing is real! I know it’s real because I personally know people who are being affected by it and they are broken right now. They are standing by feeling helpless while their loved one is alone and there is absolutely nothing they can physically do. It is time we stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking of our neighbors. My heart is broken for those who are either personally sick or have loved ones who are. And finally there is this one, “I don’t want to hear about Coronavirus anymore, I’m sick of hearing about it.” Were about 18-20 days into this thing, you better toughen up!

My policy is usually to not read the headlines first but to read my Bible first, so this morning that was reversed. Somehow I believe that was God’s plan for me this morning though. After reading that headline and listening to a young man share his heart for a couple of minutes the Spirit brought to my mind Proverbs chapter 3. There are so many promises in the first ten verses that my heart went from broken to overflowing in a instant.

Look with me at the commands… God says,

Remember my teaching…

Keep my commandments…

Do not let mercy and truth forsake you…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart…

Acknowledge God…

Stop thinking you’re smarter that God…

Fear the Lord and stop doing EVIL… (Evil just might be that little sin you have denied for years)

Honor the Lord with your first fruits… (this one keeps most people in poverty)

These are all pretty simple to understand and hard to follow, right? All of these things are what God teaches us over and over, again and again, book upon book, in the Bible. We think we are smarter than God. OMG, how is that working out for you?

I’m sorry, I have never in my life used OMG. When things get tense though…

It’s the Dr. Phil coming out of me… “You’re just an idiot aren’t you.” Dr. Phil

“Remember my commands, trust me, stop doing stupid things, get a grip, I made you and you’re not smarter than me Einstein.” God said it, not me…

Now, look at the PROMISES.

You will have better days, a longer life, filled with PEACE.

You will have FAVOR with God and FAVOR with man.

God will DIRECT your steps.

You will have good HEALTH and STRENGTH.

And this is the most difficult one, when you GIVE back to God (we don’t really give God anything that isn’t His already) when we give back to God the FIRST PART, also described as the FIRST 10% of our Increase or INCOME, and yes this is still relevant today. Then you won’t just have enough, you’ll have enough to help others.

I am RICH! There, I said it…My kids say it all the time because they think having a thousand dollars makes one rich. I am not a millionaire, I plan to be someday. (Eye Roll from Misty) she just doesn’t understand :)… I am rich because I really do appreciate what I have. I am rich because I have the greatest family ever, some strange, some interesting, but awesome still. I am rich because I have PEACE that passes all understanding. That peace comes from trusting God, from knowing He is smarter than I am. That peace comes from following His ways, His commands. Am I perfect, NO! But you better believe I ask forgiveness quickly because of my imperfections. Am I rich in the worlds eyes, heck no, but I have a lot, I am so blessed, I have enough for me and my family and I am blessed to be able to help others. You better believe God gets the first 10% of all my increase through the local church, the storehouse. You can argue that is wrong all you want but I have lived it and I have been blessed beyond measure.

I am thinking this morning, I’m ready God! Take me and use me however you see fit. I would prefer to not be affected by this virus in any negative way but even if it should take my life, I know where I am going and that is to be with my Creator forever in Heaven for ETERNITY.

What are you going to do? Scare me with Heaven?

I love you guys,

Pastor Ronnie

 

 

My thought this morning is this…How in the world could it possibly be April 1st? Didn’t we just get through putting the Christmas decorations away?

My thoughts this morning are around what is going to be different when all of this is over. And when will all this be over? Truth is, nobody knows. It is sort of like when Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour that He will return to make everything new.

If you look at the news and I’m sure you do, it’s sort of difficult to ignore it these days, things are looking bad. We were told yesterday that we can expect to lose between 100,000 and 240,000 people to death because of Coronavirus, just here in the United States. That is huge when one realizes we have only lost around 4,000 to date. And have you noticed that it doesn’t matter if one is rich or poor, powerful or no power, black or white, this virus doesn’t distinguish any of those things and nothing so far has stopped it.

I am thinking what will look different will depend on how long this thing lasts. If it lasts another 2 weeks and is over, not much if anything will change. Once the carnage is cleared things will go back to business as usual. But, if this lasts for several months to a year, a lot is going to be different.

I believe we will see a revival of people who will turn to Jesus because many people will see that Jesus really does have the answers. Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for those who follow Him, a place where we will spend eternity. And in this place, there will not be any thought of a pandemic. There won’t be any death, no tears, no crime, no anything bad. So I am thinking that when people see the carnage, the death toll, the absolute loss of control that comes from this virus, they will come to realize that God was right all along, so we will see a revival in the world for a period of time anyway. And while I haven’t been given any visions or special revelations, I believe the next big thing will hit and that big thing will be even bigger than the Coronavirus. I think we are at the point where Jesus said “when you see these things happening.”

Matthew 24:32-44 (NIV)
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Go grab your Bible and read all of Matthew 24, read all of Matthew, heck start in Genesis and read the whole love letter. We finally have the time to read…

Hear me out, I don’t believe Jesus is coming back in the midst of the Coronavirus. I believe the time is near.

Ronnie

I’m thinking how truly blessed I am…

I serve The God, Jehovah, of the Bible…

I have an amazing family…not perfect, but amazing…

I have the absolute best friends a man could have…

I serve three amazing local churches…

I live in a beautiful part of the world…

I have a nice home and dependable vehicles…

I have never had to wonder where my next meal is coming from…

When we began to feel the effects of Coronavirus about 16 days ago, it was pretty easy for me to keep a good attitude and to encourage others to have faith that God is still in control and He is not surprised by any of this. God will never be found walking the streets of Heaven with sweat on His brow from worry.

For the past two weeks we have honestly laughed more than we have laughed in a long time at our house. We have prepared and shared meals together, and yes we have made some great desserts. We have run together and rode bicycles for miles. We have even done yard work together. Our grandkids are with us most days and we cherish that time with them.

With that being said, when the Governor of Virginia gave the Stay At Home order yesterday afternoon, there was some sadness in my heart.

I am not a cold weather person, my favorite weather is 70 degrees and above. I would much rather be hot than to be cold. I jokingly tell Misty often that we need to move to Florida where we could have year round warmth. Needless to say I loved this winter as it has been one of the warmest ever on record for our area. In January we began to plan some family trips. We have one planned for Tybee Island in late April, Lake Junaluska in June, and Lake Hartwell for the late summer or early Fall. My first thought was, all of this is now on hold and the first two are probably not going to happen. But then almost immediately I remembered the year we did Staycation and vacationed at home. That year we saved a lot of money, we grilled out, sat by the firepit, built a playground for the kids and a nice sitting area around the firepit.

I quickly realized that we don’t have to go anywhere. We need God and we have each other and that is really all that matters. We will take it one day at a time. The Bible says that His mercies are new every morning. We will be thankful for our good health and our family and friends and we will help others every opportunity we have. Who knows, we may finally get all the clutter out of the house, we’ve been working on it for a few years now. Where there are obstacles, there are new opportunities.

I have Joy unspeakable and full of glory…

Ronnie