Our worship service yesterday was such a blessing! ROOTED youth led every aspect of it, and sure did a wonderful job helping us grow closer to God as we reflected on God’s timing. This lead me think about a few things. When we talk about God’s timing, what exactly do we mean? Are we hoping God accommodates our schedule? Are we talking about a specific event? Does God even abide by our chronological order of time (i.e. “deadlines” and “planning” for the future)?

In the bible there are many words for time. As with language translation, there are always nuances and complicated meanings to discern.

A common Greek word for time is chronos. This is where we obviously get English words like chronology, meaning a sequence of events. Chronos time is often used to signify ordinary happenings. Days pass, people grow older, and chronos marches on. Time in this sense is something to be measured. It “adds up” and can be counted. Chronos isn’t a “bad” sort of time. Hopefully we can honor God with our daily living! But that’s another blog post for another day.

On the other hand, another word with a lot of theological significance is the Greek word kairos. When the bible talks about kairos, this usually means God’s special time. It is different than chronos because it is out of the ordinary. It does not adhere to human planning or scheduling. Kairos means God directly touches our world and stirs up something new. Sometimes in your bible, you might read kairos as the right time or appointed season. Here are a few examples:

• In Mark 1 at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, it notes that the time is fulfilled. God is about to do something wonderful with the person and work of Jesus Christ! The gospels begin at just the right time.
• Romans 13:11 reads: “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Paul here is encouraging the Romans to wake up to God’s special time. Kairos requires us to respond to God!
• 2 Corinthians 6:2 speaks of “the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” God’s timing presents an opportunity to accept God’s grace. It is more than human events. It is God intervening in creation.

So when you reflect about time in your own life, which sort of time are you thinking about?

Are you just concerned with events happening in sequential order? Are you just focused on tomorrow and making sure everything goes according to your plan? Do you have a chronos view of time?

Or do you seek God’s special time? Do you understand that your plan is not necessarily God’s plan? Do you seek those opportunities for God to touch your life? Do you realize that there are countless kairos moments everyday?

When we read the bible we notice two different words for time. It is my prayer that Concord would recognize God’s “right time” when the opportunity presents itself. God is more than a scheduled item on your personal calendar. Hopefully God shapes your life.

Our church service yesterday on thankfulness reminded me of some special memories. When I was in seminary I worked for a Methodist church in Houston for a few years. One of the major parts of my job was coordinating outreach projects and mission trips. These formative years definitely shaped my passion for outreach in the local church! One organization we worked with was ZOE, a nonprofit focused on empowering orphans and vulnerable youth. My wife and I continue to support them, and I think they’re worth checking out!

ZOE is a 3-year program that lifts teenagers and their younger siblings out of poverty through education, health, and business work. They have programs in Guatemala, India, and several African countries. 60-120 youth in a particular community come together as a “working group” and meet on a regular basis. They select adult mentors and organize what to spend grant money on for both individual and group projects. Pastors from the community would offer spiritual guidance, too, for a holistic approach to missions. ZOE covered the full spectrum of human need, from promoting public health, educating youth about the bible, to even how to successfully raise pigs.

While working with ZOE, I had the blessing of making several trips to Xela, Guatemala to see this mission project in action. These weeks were such a blessing to see youth overcome the struggles of poverty and transform their communities. ZOE groups had a lasting impact on the surrounding town. Young people developed businesses and had brighter futures than joining gangs associated with drug cartels. This was so powerful to see, compared to the troublesome anti-immigrant and racist sentiments that run so rampant in our culture. God calls us to love our neighbors, and that includes “neighbors” in other countries, too.

As I reflect back on these trips, I cannot help but remember the spirit of thanksgiving among these young brothers and sisters of the faith. They were truly thankful for what they were learning. They saw how God could give hope, regardless of life circumstances. Sure, they had challenges, including abandonment by a parent, violence from gangs, or faced racism as indigenous Guatemalans. Yet they found ways to count their blessings and celebrate what God was doing in their communities.

Here are some pictures and details on the mission work!

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How can you count your blessings this week? What does it mean to have joy in all circumstances? Do you intentionally spend time thanking God for what you have?

The story of Adam and Eve is such an interesting tale. There are obviously many different interpretations to it. I’ve heard preachers explore the issue of free will (for instance, why couldn’t God have put that troublesome serpent in a cage?). I’ve heard others focus on the core definition of sin—separation from God—and how Adam and Eve’s actions severed that divine relationship. And in my sermon yesterday, I hoped to communicate the dangers of envy and wanting what we do not possess.

Sometimes, I will hear or read other people be particularly harsh towards Adam and Eve. Supposedly they are the only people to blame for the world’s woes, that if they just followed God’s commandment, our world would undoubtedly be perfect today. According to some, Adam and Eve are apparently the worst of the worst when it comes to biblical history. I’m sure you have heard of biblically inaccurate stereotypes alleging Eve was the person to blame (never mind the fact Genesis 3 specifically notes Adam was standing right next to her!). Tragically many have casted Eve, and by extension, all women throughout history, as more susceptible to sin than men.

The “Fall” narrative of Genesis 3 is undoubtedly a serious story. Sin is of course a grave topic. But as we read this story of Adam and Eve, I cannot help but see a unique detail we often overlook.

In her book We Were the Least of These, author and pastor Elaine Heath explores this story in a new light. After being deceived by the serpent, Adam and Eve are ashamed of their nakedness and make coverings out of fig leaves. For those who don’t know, fig leaves are nettled sorts of plants and incredible painful to touch. Heath interprets this passage as Adam and Eve feeling a profound sense of shame. In fact, research shows that those who have experienced abuse exhibit similar behaviors, too, often acting out in self-harm.

What does God do in response to Adam and Eve’s brokenness, sinfulness, shame, and self-inflicted injury? Instead of destroying them, he crafts soft clothes made of animal skin in verse 21. Of course, they are expelled from the garden and face a new reality in the world, but this detail is truly revealing of God’s nature. Instead of strict condemnation, God offers comfort. I believe we worship a God who in unfathomably loving and merciful. If you ask me, Genesis 3 offers a brief snapshot into God’s wonderful character.

I honestly think we are usually too hard on Adam and Eve. We think that all our problems can be placed on them. In reality, all of us would likely do the same if we had been in their situation. We struggle with disobedience, dishonesty, envy, and even self-harm.

The good news is that God doesn’t simply leave us to ourselves. Genesis 3 might read as a tragic tale, but the story continues on with God continually pursing humanity and never giving up on mending that broken relationship.