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So, what should congregations do in response to COVID-19? One such response is given below: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/march-web-only/seattle-churches-stop-meeting-to-slow-covid-19-coronavirus.html?utm_source=ctweekly-html&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_term=16245031&utm_content=701922595&utm_campaign=email

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Uncle Sam_4 On March 13 1852, the familiar image of "Uncle Sam" debuted as a cartoon character in the New York Lantern. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about this popular symbol of our country... The Original Uncle Sam May Have Been a Meat Packer A man in New York named Samuel Wilson joined the Army in 1781, and his duties included taking care of cattle and slaughtering and packaging the meat that was sent to the troops. He and his brother went into the meatpacking business and supplied the meat during the War of 1812, stamping the packages with a U.S. for the United States. Soldiers knew and liked Samuel Wilson and joked that the U.S. stamped on the packages stood for Uncle Sam instead of the United States, so the name was born. Uncle Sam Didn’t Grow a Beard Until Late in the 19th Century Thomas Nast, the cartoonist, was well-recognized as producing the popular image of Santa Claus and the Republican elephant and Democratic donkey. He was well-known, in addition, for his many cartoons depicting Abraham Lincoln, who was bearded. Uncle Sam alternated between having and not having a beard until Lincoln was elected President and facial hair became common as a sign of power and masculinity during the later part of the 1860s. It isn’t much of a mystery why Nast added a beard to Uncle Sam as well as making him a bit older and thinner. A Recruitment Poster Made Uncle Sam More Famous In 1917, illustrator James Montgomery Flagg drew an image of Uncle Sam to use as a recruitment poster for World War I, which showed Uncle Sam pointing and saying “I want YOU for U.S. Army.” About four million copies were printed for the war effort. While he used his own face in the first version he created, Walter Botts, an Indiana man, posed for the updated version. You Can Celebrate Uncle Sam's Existence in Troy, New York Samuel Wilson was from Troy, New York, and the town has several sites and monuments to the man behind what was one of the country's earlier memes. In addition to a statue and marking the location of his grave, Troy also has marked a false grave, the vacant lot where his house used to be, a mural on the side of a brewery building, and other unusual sites. There May Be Two Modern Comic Book Connections "Sam Wilson" is a pretty common name, but Marvel Comics may have decided to base its superhero character "the Falcon" on the meatpacker Sam Wilson. And in 2014, when the comics publisher decided to remove the character of Steve Rogers from the position of Captain America, guess who got the job? Yes -- the Falcon, or Sam Wilson, now personifying the country in a superhero capacity.

Greetings BlessedMan, The following uses similar terms to James 1:12, and the example of Paul also helps us to understand what is meant: James 1:12 (ESV) Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 2 Timothy 4:1,6–8 (KJV): 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. The test will end for those now living when Jesus returns to grant the crown of life, the crown of righteousness, that is eternal life in the future kingdom that is to be established upon earth when he returns. Those who receive this crown will be the faithful who love God and love his appearing. Many, like Paul, will be waiting in the grave for the resurrection and then judgement and glorification. Kind regards Trevor

Charity never faileth ? 1Cor 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

See: https://www.adventistreview.org/2003-26

I wonder what would happen if we all did this in church this Sabbath? Or anywhere else?

I read it as it reads? To me the "Crown of Life," is Eternal Life that the Bible talks about throughout. God keeps promising us that we will be living with him throughout eternity? And that to me leads us to the other question "the test!" To me its how we live our lives, sure there will always be the ups and downs, and so if we pass the test, or maybe we should say the different trials we go through, and that will bring us to the "crown of Life" living with Jesus for eternity? That's the way I see it!!

Fabulous that you've given it a go! My husband and I have gone completely whole-food, plant-based vegan (eliminating also salt, oil, sugar, and alcohol) since January 1st. Our team (the two of us combined) weight loss after January was 30 pounds off. My husband's blood sugars dropped from a daily morning reading of 200+ to a stable morning reading of 85-90. His doctor eliminated one of his medications for now, and hopes to eliminate the other drugs in the near future. We continue with the eating plan. My goal for February was to be in bed, asleep, by 10:30 p.m. My husband's goal was to do intermittent fasting between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. We both did all right, with a few slip-ups here and there. Our team weight loss after February was 52 pounds. Our goal for March is to get more exercise. We intend to keep up with our walking goals of 7,500 steps a day, but to also do some weight training, swimming, and cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, rowing machines).