Uplook - March 9, 2024
Dear Saints,
Today, (actually tomorrow at 2 am) most people in the United States and 70 other countries will set their clocks ahead one hour until the fall for what is known as Daylight Savings Time (DST). It began in 1918 as a way to save energy during wartime and get more use from natural daylight. In the USA, since 1966 every state or territory has had the choice to opt-in or opt-out of DST and a couple states (Arizona -except the Navajo Nation, Hawaii, and several US Territories) will remain on standard time with no change. There is lots of discussion about the benefit and cost of this annual spring/fall time shift both for the economy and also for our health. Those discussions aside, I have been considering how time is an amazing concept within the Bible.
You may have heard me mention from time to time the two main Greek words used for time – chronos and kairos. The first to describe what we might call the calendar or clock passage of time and the second noting a special moment in time which has great importance, significance, and implications. The Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 citing such a “kairos moment” to the Corinthian church.
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:1–2
Then there is the amazing account in Joshua 10:12-14 when in the midst of battle, Joshua spoke to God requesting the sun to “stand still” and it did just that for “about a day”. Of course, this seems physically impossible, defying all known laws of science. Another account in 2 Kings 20 tells of how King Hezekiah asked God for the sun to move backward 10 degrees (about 40 minutes) and it did. Another seemingly impossible feat. While some stories have circulated trying to “prove” the veracity of these stories by modern scientists, none of those have been verifiable. Still, God’s word remains true and it seems but a small thing for the God who spoke the universe into existence and who “upholds all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:1-5) to adjust his clock back by 40 minutes (nearly an hour) or even a whole day.
He exists outside the realm of time and yet chose to create and then enter into time in the person of Jesus in what the Bible calls “the fullness of time(s)”. It is fascinating that Paul in Galatians uses “chronos” and in “Ephesians” uses “kairos” to speak of this great event. It was both a time on the human calendar (chronos) but also much more than that; a time or moment (kairos) which has become the greatest and most consequential one in the history of humanity.
Tonight, as you hopefully remember to turn your clocks one hour ahead…remember there is coming another “kairos moment” in the seemingly continuous parade of time (chronos). There will be no turning the clock back a day, or 40 minutes, or even a moment on the day the trumpet sounds and Christian believers are called to meet the Lord in the air. Just as God’s Word was true for Joshua and King Hezekiah, it will be true for us as well. May the Lord help us all to be ready.
Housekeeping Items:
Food Drive – We were able to deliver a pickup full of donated food, etc. to a local food pantry this week because of God’s goodness to each of you. Thank you for your generous and giving hearts. Now follow up with prayer for those who will receive the food but are also in need of “living bread” that God will touch their hearts.
Choir – Yes, once again there is choir practice tomorrow at 3:30 pm
Youth Summit - April 19-21 at Kellogg Springs Camp. All attendees (staff & students) need to register by March 18. Eighth grade through age 24 church attendees are invited to join,
Easter – Looking ahead did you realize Easter is only 3 weeks away. The season of Lent is more than half over. May we all continue to prepare our hearts by God’s grace.
Blessings,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
Today, (actually tomorrow at 2 am) most people in the United States and 70 other countries will set their clocks ahead one hour until the fall for what is known as Daylight Savings Time (DST). It began in 1918 as a way to save energy during wartime and get more use from natural daylight. In the USA, since 1966 every state or territory has had the choice to opt-in or opt-out of DST and a couple states (Arizona -except the Navajo Nation, Hawaii, and several US Territories) will remain on standard time with no change. There is lots of discussion about the benefit and cost of this annual spring/fall time shift both for the economy and also for our health. Those discussions aside, I have been considering how time is an amazing concept within the Bible.
You may have heard me mention from time to time the two main Greek words used for time – chronos and kairos. The first to describe what we might call the calendar or clock passage of time and the second noting a special moment in time which has great importance, significance, and implications. The Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 citing such a “kairos moment” to the Corinthian church.
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:1–2
Then there is the amazing account in Joshua 10:12-14 when in the midst of battle, Joshua spoke to God requesting the sun to “stand still” and it did just that for “about a day”. Of course, this seems physically impossible, defying all known laws of science. Another account in 2 Kings 20 tells of how King Hezekiah asked God for the sun to move backward 10 degrees (about 40 minutes) and it did. Another seemingly impossible feat. While some stories have circulated trying to “prove” the veracity of these stories by modern scientists, none of those have been verifiable. Still, God’s word remains true and it seems but a small thing for the God who spoke the universe into existence and who “upholds all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:1-5) to adjust his clock back by 40 minutes (nearly an hour) or even a whole day.
He exists outside the realm of time and yet chose to create and then enter into time in the person of Jesus in what the Bible calls “the fullness of time(s)”. It is fascinating that Paul in Galatians uses “chronos” and in “Ephesians” uses “kairos” to speak of this great event. It was both a time on the human calendar (chronos) but also much more than that; a time or moment (kairos) which has become the greatest and most consequential one in the history of humanity.
Tonight, as you hopefully remember to turn your clocks one hour ahead…remember there is coming another “kairos moment” in the seemingly continuous parade of time (chronos). There will be no turning the clock back a day, or 40 minutes, or even a moment on the day the trumpet sounds and Christian believers are called to meet the Lord in the air. Just as God’s Word was true for Joshua and King Hezekiah, it will be true for us as well. May the Lord help us all to be ready.
Housekeeping Items:
Food Drive – We were able to deliver a pickup full of donated food, etc. to a local food pantry this week because of God’s goodness to each of you. Thank you for your generous and giving hearts. Now follow up with prayer for those who will receive the food but are also in need of “living bread” that God will touch their hearts.
Choir – Yes, once again there is choir practice tomorrow at 3:30 pm
Youth Summit - April 19-21 at Kellogg Springs Camp. All attendees (staff & students) need to register by March 18. Eighth grade through age 24 church attendees are invited to join,
Easter – Looking ahead did you realize Easter is only 3 weeks away. The season of Lent is more than half over. May we all continue to prepare our hearts by God’s grace.
Blessings,
BB
Rev. William E. McKibben
Senior Pastor
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