Archives 10.22.01 - JOIN THE CONVERSATION! 10.15.01 - Sonburned at Soularize 10.08.01 - Nation can resist evil without using the tactics of violence and retribution 10.01.01 - Simplicity -- To Will One Thing 09.24.01 - That Was Then, This Is Now, and You Are Here… 09.17.01 - Come On! 09.03.01 - Anti-Racist Postmodernism? 08.27.01 - Really, Really Big Worship Ruts 08.20.01 - Your Own Personal Jesus 08.13.01 - New Agriculture, New World View 08.06.01 - Macro Questions 07.30.01 - Grace or Holiness … Must We Choose? 07.23.01 - The People Formerly Known as Lost 07.16.01 - Are We Motivated by Love? 07.09.01 - Take the Postmodern Reformation Quiz 07.02.01 - Artist Myths and Beyond 06.25.01 - Transformation For All Of Us 06.18.01 - Schleitheim, Shepherds, and 21st Century Leadership 06.11.01 - Tenth Anniversary 05.28.01 - Salvation and Mission 05.14.01 - Looking Beyond Ourselves 04.30.01 - The Ministry of Mapmaking 04.16.01 - On Sinking or Swimming in Postmodern Culture

Your Time, My Time, Me Time, and God's Time Jesus was a guest at the house of a woman named Martha. In Luke chapter 10, verses 38-42, we read the story of the busy Martha who was getting the meal ready, while her sister Mary took a seat near Jesus to listen to what she said. Martha was so caught up in her task, she pretty much scolded Jesus and told Mary to get up from her seat and help her. The response from Jesus was not meant to condemn Martha for being busy -- He was just asking her to set priorities. We can get so caught up in the busyness and preparation, and the rituals, that we miss what is most important -- being with Jesus. How many times do we get caught up in the activities we are doing? What would happen if we were not so busy? I'll tell you what -- some things wouldn't get done! Now stop and think about it -- is that really a bad thing? Maybe the things we think need to be done are taking so much of our energy, that we don't have time to listen to the Lord. What would happen if Martha wasn't so busy? When they looked back on this meal, what would they remember? The delectable buffet prepared to perfection? Or the words of Jesus that touched their hearts and changed their lives forever? Think of it, when we go to family gatherings, what do we remember? Aunt Betty's deviled eggs and cousin Wendy's Shoo Fly pie, or the chance to hear your grandparents tell about how they raised three children and witnessed to people on the mission field in Kenya? Let's look at the time and energy factor for a moment. I have several things that I would really enjoy doing, that I could really busy myself with: like putting those two folders worth of computer cartoons into scrap books. Or taping a few CDs so I can listen to them in the car. I even have a homemade video library I started putting on a computer database, but stopped because of the insane amount of time it was taking to type all that stuff in there. You see, if I were doing any of these things, I would not have the time to write this article you are now reading, or time to work on the book I'm writing, or time to sleep, or walk around the block with my wife, or read the Bible, and -- oh yeah -- go to work at my full-time job. So, I have to settle for that fact that some things just won't get done. We all get possessive of our time, as Martha did. How many times have you heard a teacher or employer say "do that on your time." Or how many times have you told a nagging relative or annoying telemarketer, "Not now, I'm on my time." I remember one afternoon a co-worker went to lunch and said "I've worked hard and I need to spend a little me time." What a concept -- "Me" time. As far as you and I should be concerned, it's all God's time, because we are God's children, and all that have is His -- our heart, soul, talents, and time. Even though we want to put our energies into some project or recreational activity that we feel we must accomplish. It seems to be a post-modern philosophy -- to do all that you can, the best that you can. Let's choose this day who we are going to serve, our God or our desires. And don't go "Martha" over the stuff that doesn't get done. You'll be better off for it. -- Will Schirmer Discuss this article with others or respond.