The Book of Revelations and Eschatology

This weekend, we are taking a test at the Oklahoma School of Ministry over the course book called "Eschatology." I'm kind of nervous for a couple of reasons:

(1) I've always avoided topics dealing with anything more than a skimming reference to Revelations prophecies of the End Times. The Letters to the Churches and "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last," have been my most referenced verses from that book. When it comes to all of the details of the End Times, the Trumpets, Horsemen and Bowls of Judgment, I've got to admit, I just feel helpless, like I can't swim, like I'm sinking in the most horrific images of all time. And I try with all my might not to let the images of those chapters haunt my mind--especially at night! (Have I mentioned my nightmare issues? Night terrors? Screaming in my sleep?!!? I avoid ANY movies that could give me nightmares. This book of the Bible has many things in it which could haunt me in my dreams.)

I remember basically "ignoring" any message or sermon on doctrines concerning the Tribulation. There were people in the church, when I was growing up, who talked non-stop about it, preached about it. And I remember, around 12 or 13, saying to my mother, "How is this helping anyone live their lives TODAY? Right now? How does this help anyone live for Christ NOW?" And I suppose, because of that mentality, I have tuned out most all of the teaching I was supposed to learn about it.

...Which is coming back to haunt me now, when I'm taking a class to earn my ministry credentials...

(2) My mind isn't left-brained enough in memory and fact retention to keep all of the details straight. For me, the End Times prophecies all run together; I can't make out heads or tails about it, other than for brief facts--body sores, hail storms, comets hitting the earth, blood in the water, land destroyed, water poisoned, darkened sky...And then I think of all the "apocalyptic" films out there where the world freezes, or the volcanoes explode all over the earth, a meteor hits...and I just go into freak out mode again.

I'm just too visual. My mind's eye gets crowded quickly with the images summoned by a reading of this text. It's like an information overload for me.

And then I think, as fear and anxiety press in my mind while I'm trying to comprehend everything, "Lord, why is all of this included in the Bible? Why did you tell us all of this? Do I need to really KNOW this? Like, me? Shirley Harrod Yandell?"

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Tendon Stretch

My mind feels like a tendon
Stretched beyond its limits;
Struggling to find balance
Without over-reaction.

Dull ache molasses
Moving through my skull
Limited mobility:
There's nowhere to go.

Cloudy thoughts trapped
Inside thick syrup channels--
This wayfarer struggles
To see where she's going.

"This too shall pass," I think,
And so goes my mind--
The Tendon Stretch--
Reliant upon that final cliche.

"Beer with Jesus"

Stephen directed my attention to this song last night. A Good Ole Boy he knew had told him about it, expressing how it somehow captured his own heart and feelings toward Christ.

At first, I wasn't really interested in it. I heard the title and the twang and figured it wasn't something that I would really "get" or appreciate--the title did seem a little rebellious in nature, right?

Wrong.

Today, thinking about The Lord, what kind of devotion I would do here, I pulled up the song on YouTube to listen to it...

INCREDIBLE.

I loved the song, and what's more, I loved the idea.

What IF I--or anyone--got the opportunity to sit down with my Savior and talk to Him? What would I do? What would I say, if anything? What if I had the time it takes to play two or three songs on the juke box? And what if I had the evening?

This song makes you think about that. And it makes you think about the fact that Jesus did just this in the scriptures which record his life of ministry. He DID sit down with weary travelers, seekers, believers, and ate and drank with them--and he was criticized for it.

Without getting into a discussion that would bring my own convictions under fire, I will conclude by saying this:

We mustn't forget the HEART of CHRIST: to connect with every living, breathing individual on this planet. To seek and save those who are lost, those who need Him, those who are imperfect.

Thank God.