The End Times

Bryant has all the adult Sunday School classes discussing the January sermon series, about Christ’s return. Studied Matthew 24: 5-14, when the disciples asked Jesus when he would return:

 

And Jesus answered them,

“See that no one leads you astray.

For many will come in my name, saying,

‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.

See that you are not alarmed,

for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  

For nation will rise against nation,

And kingdom against kingdom,

and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

All these are just the beginning of the birth pains.

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death,

and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

And because lawlessness will be increased,

the love of many will grow cold.

But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed

throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations,

and then the end will come.”

 

I used to read these verses in disbelief, thinking surely things could never grow that bad in my lifetime. Sure things were “bad,” but nothing like what Jesus foretold. But these days this passage seems ripped from my Twitter feed.    

 

Saw a self-driving Tesla with the bumper sticker: “In the event of the rapture this car will be driverless.” Speaking of Teslas, we had been talking about the cost of flights to the national championship game ($1,000.00 each way?). Shoot just get one of those self-driving Teslas and sit back and hit the road.

 

The hymns sung in the traditional service are more upbeat than the dirges sung in the contemporary service in the gym. You’d think it would be the opposite. The worship leader in the gym wants every song to be super special, but in doing so makes them too long and too slow. There was a big crowd at church Sunday, probably due to the new year. Hopefully the worship leader doesn’t run them all off.

 

 

Friday evening I worked past 6:30. Lots to do. Had a Friday lunch meeting with sandwiches and two different kinds of salad, all from Jason’s Deli. Ceil made up a Mexican casserole with ground beef, rice, cheese, etc.

 

Saturday morning small group went well. Went back home and started laundry and washed some dishes. Ceil left out to run errands and I got the oil changed in the Buick at Mr. Clean Car Wash. The place was crowded since it was the first sunny day for a long time. Went home and cleaned out the trunk. Went shopping for a new phone for Ceil, and stopped by the library and Dollar Tree. Bought a super cool Braves Hawaiian shirt. Later C went to Whole Foods to use M’s discount. I went back to the less busy AT&T store to get Ceil’s phone. While everything was getting set up I watched some of the Colts/Texans at the store. Later we watched some Cowboys/Seahawks and the Hallmark Channel.

 

Sunday School and worship. Stopped by Target on the way home from church. I gobbled down leftover chicken and vegetables then worked to finally get the Buick up for sale. Then I raked the front yard until dark. Took over 90 minutes, and I walked three miles. After C ran errands she walked Barney. I met a lady walking her grandchild, the new neighbor one house down. C had stopped to talk with another neighbor, so we walked down there to talk to them.

 

On the way back we said hello to our next door neighbor, who’d been helping his small children wash his cars. Found out he works for the Red Hare Brewery Shallot in Marietta. They just opened a location in Shallot, NC near where we go in Holden Beach.

 

Crashed on the couch and watched a little Chargers/Ravens and Bears/Eagles. Had a couple of calls gone the other way the Ravens and Bears might’ve won. Eagles QB Nick Foles has the magic touch. Saw a clip of him giving his Christian testimony on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Played on my laptop. Ceil cooked homemade refried beans and rice. M cooked wings and fries.

 

Watched the Golden Globe red carpet, Bob’s Burgers, and Jurassic World. Never realized Ron Howard’s daughter was an actress who starred in movies. When Henry Winkler was interviewed on the red carpet he was shown clips of encouragement from his three Happy Days chums: Ron Howard (Richie), Anson Williams (Potsie), and Donnie Most (Ralph Malph).

 

My computer is acting up a little. May have to restart.