In the Fullness of Time--PREPARATION

 In the beginning.... in the fullness of time....at the end

We like to define life by time; we think linear, forward and backward, fixed points.

So, what does "in the fullness of time" mean? How does this make a difference to when Jesus came to earth? Why does it matter when he came?

PREPARATION

If we believe that God is in control of  everything that happens here, then it stands to reason He had an idea of when the Messiah should come.  So, what made that time so special?

The Greek empire came into power after the Persian empire (which was after Babylon).  Persia allowed the Jews from the southern kingdom to go back to Jerusalem; the Samaritans already occupied an area in the region (thanks to the Assyrian empire).  Alexander the Great believed that the Greek culture was the best and greatest, and he promoted the use and spread of the culture, including the language.  As the empire grew and spread, the leaders left by Alexander helped the language spread.  As it was the main language used, it became the "default" language of the time; it was used in commerce, and in diplomatic situations. This common language tied all areas together and made it easy to exchange ideas and values.  Alexander did not live very long, but the culture was firmly established, despite being divided into four areas after his death.

The Roman empire was growing during all of this time; it was able to exist unthreatened for close to 600 years.  Rome was able to establish peace in their empire so travel was safer and easier, and their legal and political systems were imitated for centuries.  They recognized the good influences from Greece and allowed them to continue to flourish.  

Peace had been established, communication and travel were streamlined, and the Jewish nation was left relatively in peace to define itself as a nation (with the rise of the Herodian family).

During this time the Jewish religious system had been morphing into the system that existed in Jesus' time: Synagogues (places of teaching in most towns), Pharisees (middle-class men who were committed to a strict adherence to their definition of the law) and Sadducees (wealthy, aristocratic priests, forming a group that was more political than religious), along with other groups that grew in time.

So, the time of Jesus was stable, fairly safe, established; travel was common and the ability to communicate made it easier to travel.  Political security and a common language created a stability that made the Message accessible and easier to spread.  God created an environment that would not only allow freedom of movement, but make it easy to spread far and wide... first Jerusalem, then Judea, the to the ends of the earth..

Of Cheetos and File` Mingon.....

At small groups on Sunday evening a couple of weeks ago, we strayed into some almost strange, but interesting, conversation.....I will freely give a lot of credit to Rev. Christopher Bright--he came up with the steak!!

We have been doing a really neat series: Death & Resurrection of the Messiah Faith Lessons  by Ray Vander Lann. We finished it up with the final lesson, Total Commitment.

(sidenote:  If you have never experienced his stuff, I urge you to; he travels the Holy Land area personally with groups, and he has so much knowledge but is very passionate about his subject matters!)

We were talking about what gets in our way of making a total commitment to God sometimes....and this led to talking about sin in our lives.  Is sin intentional or "acccidental"?  Do we confess our shortcomings on a daily basis, or do we let it pile up inside?  Since this is a small group, we felt we could share much--and, I must say for me, gain much! 

Now, most people really don't want to share their "deep, dark, secrets"....so, I used an example that isn't that "deep", but is a little embarrasing, and helped make a point.  So in the interest of full disclosure, I will confess to any who read this.....please don't judge me too harshly.

Several years ago, I struggled with an addiction--to Cheetos.  Yes, those lovely, cheesy crunchy beauties would call to me; I could eat an entire bag by myself.  Oh, I justified it by convincing myself "well, they're in a smaller bag; there's not that many in there!  It would be worse if it were a big bag of potato chips."  I tried to hide it from my family, but they realized there was a problem--I mean, an empty bag is an empty bag, no matter how you describe it.  One day, I decided I needed to end this--I would make myself almost sick sometimes, even not eating much of wonderful meals because I was full from my debauchery.....I stopped letting them into the house, avoided them in the store, everything I could do to stop the downward spiral.  I cannot say today I am cured, but I do everything I can to avoid having a problem again......

After I shared this, we discussed it, and our friend Chris finished the analogy; here it is.

See, Cheetos are "sin"....no, not literally!!  But try to follow this....

Imagine that Cheetos stand for sin in our lives; we indulge, secretly--gorging ourselves sometimes!  I mean, no one is going to know if we don't tell, right??

We indulge, secretly, and get filled up on something that we really shouldn't.  Now, your spouse decides to take you out for a deluxe steak dinner--upscale, fancy, biggest and best cuts of beef you've ever seen!  This is the "don't ask the price" meal.....with me so far??  Do you see where this is going?????

IF YOU HAVE INDULGED IN SECRET, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO ENJOY THAT FABULOUS DINNER!!!

Imagine your disappointment--this is the best meal you've been presented in years, and you don't feel like eating it.....
Imagine your spouse's disappointment--you are basically rejecting their best, their love for you; you are not wanting to take what they want to give.

Ok, so "Cheetos" are sin....and "deluxe steak dinners" are God's blessings for us.

Yeah.....think about that for a minute.......we CHOOSE sin and it's consequences, and we don't have room for the blessings God wants to shower on us!  This "steak dinner" isn't for one time, but a daily occurence!  The finest of cuisine, handed to us every day, and we choose not to partake.  It could be steak, or surf and turf, or whatever God has on the menu for the day--but we decide to fill up on emptiness, on things that will make us sick inside and out if we continue.

So....what will you choose today--"cheetos" or "steak"?? 

I hope you will pull up to that table of plenty, running over with goodness, and enjoy all that is there for you!

Things of Clay

My husband went to China several years ago for business and met with several companies, one of which they do business with now.  He is the engineering manager, and as such, he receives gifts at Christmastime from a few companies they have a working relationship with, including the one in China. 

A couple of years ago, they sent him replicas of the terra cotta warriors.  I admit, I didn't really know much about them, but nontheless, they were interesting.  There was a little bit of information about them in the box; since the box was sent from China, however, most of the writing is in......Chinese!  Yes, not a lot to go by.....

However, I started reading a book recently--The Well by Mark Hall--that mentions these terra cotta figures.....
(for further information on them:  http://www.terracottawarriorexhibit.com/ )

The first emperor of China was named Qin Shi Huang. He was young when he took power (still in his teens!), but he is credited with many accomplishments: unifying China; revolutionizing the way warfare was carried out; building the Great Wall of China.  All of these things are awe-inspiring!  But something happened to him.....a trusted confidante (or so he thought) snuck a knife into the palace inside a scroll, with the intent to kill the emperor.  He missed, but the damage was done in the emperor's mind.  Qin became paranoid; he began to see enemies everywhere he looked.  He had defeated many, but the question now became--how do you defeat death?  He searched for answers to this question, and was finally told taking mercury was the way to live forever.  You can imagine the impact on his already fragile mind; when the sensory impairment started, he slipped deeper into paranoia.  Eventually, he decided he wanted to be surrounded by a vast army that would guard him on his way to the afterlife--a terra cotta army, more than 1,000 massive clay statues, 6-foot tall warriors, chariots, horses.  

After these warriors were found, it was discovered that an estimated 7,000 figures were created--a complete household lay buried with him.

There was a lot of effort and time put into this vast world of statues that would never live.  They weren't even for the people to admire; they were meant for one man trying to cheat death.

How often do we put so much time and effort into dead things?  Why are we so obsessed with things that really don't matter, that will corrupt and crumble away?

Make sure what you do has a lasting impact..........an eternal impact (Galations 6:8-9).

Hello!

Well, it's me, deciding to write a blog.  Why, you ask?  Hopefully, this will be a journey for me--and, possibly for you.

So, maybe to start, some little tidbits about me:
I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend....

I am a girly girl--high-heels, strappy sandals, sassy boots; fancy clothes, flouncy flirty skirts; makeup, curls....bring it on!!

I love colors that cannot be described with one word, cloudless days where you feel like you can see into space, and rainy day times spent by the fireplace (okay, it's electric!).....



I also like editing--it may take a while to post anything!