Another Quarankingdom Story: A Movement to Isolation

 On Friday, 11/20/20, I started to not feel so good. At first, I thought it was allergies because it is that time of the year, but I was wrong. I let my boss and professors know that I was not going to be at any meetings that day that I had planned on being at and that I was going to be tested for Covid-19. I contacted my school's health email and got direction as to where I was to go get tested. I went to Rhea County's Health Department and after three hours, I finally got my nose swabbed. 

As I was in line, I started to feel wobbly and not able to really drive for a long period of time. The health team at Bryan wanted me to go into quarantine until I at least got my results back, but with it being so close to the end of the semester, my mom and I decided it would be best for me to come home. I had to have my mom and bonus dad to come pick me up as, like I said, I was not up to drive for 3 hours. 

I came home to my room where I have been for most of my time here so far. On Saturday, I got my results back and they said that I was Positive for Covid-19. My symptoms are mild and not too much to complain about. It feels like a severe sinus infection: stuffy nose, headache, and clogged ears (kinda like when they do not pop when coming off a mountain). I am noticeably more tired than I usually am and my breathing is harder as well. For right now, I have to watch what I eat lest I want to return it. I can do a lot of things like shower, write a blog, walk to the kitchen to get water, and such, but then I do need to sit down for a moment to get my bearings. (As I am writing this, I just got a call from Rhea County Health Department to ensure that the results I saw were correct: I am positive for Corona.) 

So, now the Quarankingdom is populated again with people that I know. I have a couple of friends that are positive for Corona and many others that are in quarantine because of these cases. The quaranpeeps will reunite (socially distant that is) and have fun while we all await our sentences in this kingdom. 

The main thing about this is, God is still in control. What makes this better than last time is that I am home and am able to have some communication with people on a day to day basis. God will still teach me things while I am in this isolation and I hope He does the same for my friends. 

As always, prayers are appreciated. God bless you all! 

The Election Results are In!

 Today is the day that many people in the United States have been eyeing for many months. Today is Election Day. Many people are anxious and stressed over this election to see which candidate holds the highest government office in the United States. Like many others, this is my first ever presidential election that I was able to participate in. 

My experience was probably not the most orthodoxic as I did not early vote or even vote in person but through an absentee ballot. My vote has been received since 5 October 2020, and I have felt the pressure of the results lifted from me as I did my civic duty. But voting for the election was not the only reason the stress was lifted from me. Why? Because no matter who becomes the next President of the United States, I know the King of the Universe. 

Sometimes, with all the people worried about the election, I wonder if people really trust God to put into place who He wants in place. Romans 13 tells us that "there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." What Paul is writing about is the marks of a true Christian. He tells us to follow God, be kind, quiet, genuine, kind and submissive to the government as long as the government does not try to supersede God. What I see are people being extremely vocal about candidates and how they are the ones going to change America. I am sorry, but I did not know Jesus was running for office. You see, only Jesus can change this nation and world. He will use people like us to change it, yes, but we can do absolutely nothing aside from Christ. 

I hear people say that we are only voting between the lesser of two evils. You are 100% correct. Every man is fallen from God and is in need of salvation. Therefore, we are going to be choosing between the two (or more) evils. So what do we do as Christians in a political world? Here are a few things to keep in mind when voting anytime: 

• Do not just look at the party, look at the person. There are some that run on a platform and do the complete opposite in their personal and professional lives and some run on a platform that they mostly agree on except for one issue. 
• Read the Bible and research what we are called to do as believers. Let this guide you to who to vote for. Who is planning on doing these things you have researched? 
• Do not trust the government to do the things that you researched. Instead, do it yourself with your church. think the government needs to help the foster care system and widows (like I do)? Then set up a ministry within your church or join one that has something like that. 
• Research, Research, RESEARCH! Go to websites like Ballotpedia, your local election office website (for sample ballots), campaign websites, etc. 
• And if you are up to it, there was a debate at Bryan College where four Believers talked about their different political views and how their beliefs drove them to that viewpoint. The link is https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=405033184220136 
• As always, pray. Pray for God to show you who to vote for. Pray for peace. Pray for people to see God in this time by you and other believers. 

The best thing that we can all do right now and as the results roll in tonight is pray and be quiet. Let us not be puffed up in our flesh but let the Spirit guide us to what we do. Let us not fight over who we all voted for but instead rejoice that Jesus Christ is on the Throne. 

So, yes, the results are in: Jesus is King. Are you following His rule?