What Time is It?

"The LORD replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it" - Habakkuk 1:5 (NLT)

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way" - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

Of all the quotes one could pull out of literary history, perhaps none is more apropos than the above one taken from Dickens.

And, of all the pictures I could have placed in this entry, none speak more to my life than the one above...a broken clock, waiting to be fixed, and placed out in the garage (out of sight, out of mind, you know)...until there is "time" to fix it.I'm not sure about you but sometimes I feel like that clock. Broken. Waiting to be fixed.
And, often, our world, our culture, our communities, our families, all feel like that clock. Broken and waiting to be fixed.

We all feel like we have "time" to get our lives together, heal that broken relationship, obtain that better job, start giving to those less fortunate, plant a tree, read the Bible, "get right with God"...Yeah, we all think we have more time. More time for things to get better. More time for us to get better.

But do we? Really?

The above scripture from the obscure prophet Habakkuk (aren't you glad there is not a test here to pronounce the name properly?) does not necessarily have a happy ending. It is not what you might think. At first glance of the single verse from above it seems that God is going to do something great - "Just wait and see!" But, that is not what occurs.

First, Habakkuk is crying out to God in full blown complaint - that God is allowing violence and other atrocities to happen. Why is Yahweh not stopping it? Where is he? Why does he not do anything about it?

Well, God replies.

And he is going to do something about it -

I am raising up the Chaldeans that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand. They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it. Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through.

Yikes.

So, let's get this straight. It's actually going to get worse?

I would say that alot of people have that feeling now.

Riots in the UK? Gangs overrunning apartments in Colorado? AI deepfakes? Groceries costing 30% more while wages remain stagnant? ChatGPT writing for everyone? People being arrested for what they say? Social media dividing us even more?

Yet, even if it does get worse, hear what Habakkuk says at the end of his writings...

Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights!

So, what does this mean for all of us? Well, we do have time. We are also running out of time. And things, well, they just might not get any better. As a matter of fact, they just may take a turn for the worse.

That said, no matter what we may face - no matter what may or may not be heading our way - we need to be fixing what we can (of ourselves) while we still have time and maintain a hopeful, if not joyful, outlook. And, quite honestly, no one is capable of doing this on their own. No one person is that strong.

And with apologies to Hillary Clinton, a village is not even enough.

It takes Divine intervention. It takes God.

I finished reading a wonderful memoir of sorts this a couple of weeks ago. It is written by a dear friend, Marsy Powell Hollander. In her book (and she's written more than one) "Floating Above Myself" she recalls a life of struggle, abuse, violence, abandonment, frustration, and isolation. And that's just the first couple of chapters...

But, her story - and you need to read it ( Floating Above Myself: Hollander, Marsy Powell: 9781691528424: Amazon.com: Books) - doesn't end with pain and loss. It concludes, and is still being written, with grace, restoration, hope and joy. Your story? It could be the same as well..

So, if you've taken the five minutes to read this might I encourage you with these words - also, from the Scriptures? "'The thief comes into this world to steal and destroy. I came that you may have life...and have it in abundance'" (John 10:10). And, my friend, Jesus wants you to have an abundant life...not based on things, but based on him. Now, go, while you still have time...start working on yourself. Start working on what you can.

I'll do the same. Afterall, I have a clock to try and fix - among other things...

    

"Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!" and Try Not to Eat Baby Jesus...

 

    Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

    King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

    “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

            ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of                    Judah,  for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

    Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

    After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

    When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. (Matthew 2:1-12 - NLT)

"Let the good times roll!" is the rallying cry this time of the year down South. Even though most people equate Mardi Gras with New Orleans and debauchery, drunkeness, gluttony, and all manner of sins the truth of the matter is that Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) finds its origins in Mobile, Alabama (which was a Louisianna port city to begin with) and has some of the most interesting customs and traditions.

As newbies to the Gulf Coast and all things Mardi Gras, we were fascinated by one custom which we had never heard about...the King Cake. If you see the pic above you will notice the colors, the texture, the sugar (can you actually see that or just imagine it?!), and of course, the attempt to be the one who finds the "baby Jesus" in the cake and therefore win a prize.

Be careful NOT to bite into baby Jesus though...he's actually plastic.

Find the baby Jesus. Win the prize.

When we read the birth narratives of Jesus in both accounts of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament we find people looking for him. 

In Luke, the shepherds make their way in the middle of the night (abandoning their posts we might add) to locate this One whose birth the messengers of heaven told them of. They find him and his family and go throughout the region celebrating and telling everyone about their experience. 

Find Jesus. Tell everyone about it.

Then there are the wise men from the Orient whom Matthew recounts for us. The magi, who have been journeying up to two years while following some celestial light which guided them to a particular home, find Mom and the toddler Jesus and simply lay down invaluable gifts at his feet and then go back home. A different way, of course, but back home.

Find Jesus. Give him everything.

From Joseph and Mary "losing" Jesus on a family trip, to a short man with the crazy name of Zaccheus climbing a tree, people across the gospel writings were constantly trying to find Jesus. Even whole crowds would run to find him.

And still today, people are trying to find Jesus. They are looking to TV preachers. They are hopping from church to church. They are scrolling through their social media. They are even picking up books on spirituality. They are downloading apps on their phones to read daily devotionals.

Find Jesus. All of my problems will go away.

And yet, through it all, the greatest of all ironies is that Jesus is actually looking for you.

Jesus is looking for us. 

As a shepherd would do everything within their power to find the one, scraggly, forgotten, neglected and lost sheep...so the Good Shepherd Jesus does for us. 

But, what does that mean? 

Although there is no better example of this than when we look in the mirror (hint, hint) perhaps we can see what this means in the life of one former slave trader, John Newton. 

Almost dying on a sea voyage Newton was saved on that perilous journey and it was a redeeming and resolute moment in his life. He eventually would frame his "being found by Jesus" in his epic poem Amazing Grace. 

The words are self-explanatory. And they explain what happens when Jesus finds us.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

When we've been there ten thousand years bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun. 

Jesus finds us. Grace finds us. Good finds us. 

Indeed, let the "good" times roll...