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I have never been a very big fan of in-depth studies of eschatology (the study of the End Times - usually Revelation). I always thought, "We got most of the prophecies about the Messiah way wrong, so I bet we get most of these wrong anyway, so what's the point?"

Well.

I got into eschatology.

I still kind of have the "you can't know" mindset. But I came across a point of view that changes how we live now based on their understanding of eschatology.

I still can't describe exactly what the doctrine is. But I do know that it places a much higher value on how Christians are living now, what we're doing and thinking and changing about now than anything I've heard of before.

Which got me thinking.

What are we doing? Living for Jesus? What does that look like on a practical level? How many of us pour time and money and reputation and relationships into our Christianity? How many of us risk social rejection? Skip this month's latte to buy a coat for a kid in Nepal? Encourage missionaries (who are severely overlooked btw)? Take time off of work to go minister somewhere instead of vacation? Spend more time in our Bibles instead of "chilling"?

Honestly... I'm surrounded by Christians. But the secular people I do know are far more influential than the Christians.

Part of it is because I think secular people actually try. Social activists for things that are blatantly not Christian are loud and pour everything they have into their cause while Christians say "Let's pray and love them" and go back to scrolling Instagram.

There was a time when Christianity swept the world in a wave every government took notice of. A time when being a Christian meant giving beyond generously and actually loving on the hurting and angry and confused even when it was scary and uncomfortable and cost you instead of just talking about them and hoping they take notice and change.

From the secular people, I hear that Christians are judgmental. That they stay in their churches and all they do is pray about things.

Prayer and church are both critical, and we are actually told to judge (correctly and kindly, not hypocritically). But we're also told to be active. To live our Christianity in our work and school and friendships and running errands and in our conversations.

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' most famous sermon, found in the most detail in Matthew 5-7. Luke 6 is the parallel passage. After the Beatitudes (the "blessed are you for this because then you will get this" passage), Luke records the Woes (same format, but negative: "woe are you for this because you will get this"). I didn't know these were in the Bible, actually. Or that they went with the Beatitudes. And they kind of surprised me, because... it sounds like American culture.

Woe to the rich. Woe to those who are full. Woe to those who laugh.

The American dream. Get rich, be full, be happy, all on this earth and without God. Why? Because sometimes He takes your money and tells you to give your food away and hurts you.

But the Woe that I think is most applicable, at least to me?

"Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."

How many people speak poorly of you because you're a Christian? How many people call you judgmental? Say you're too strict? That you don't care about anything but Jesus?

Guys, the prophets of the Old Testament were hated because they spoke truth. These days, I hear teaching that say, "Be careful how you speak, you might hurt the relationship and you need the relationship to minister to others."

Other people's feelings aren't actually that fragile, believe it or not. We just all know about the ones with fragile feelings because - guess what - they actually work to make it known.

Why is truth second to other people's feelings anyway? Where is our courage? Where is our zeal?

And what does this rant have to do with eschatology?

See, that doctrine of eschatology I was talking about puts an emphasis on living to fulfill God's original calling for man: to steward the earth. It believes that Christians should be noticeably Christian, and that's our job, and that the Millennium is not Jesus literally coming to rule on earth for a thousand years but Jesus ruling through Christians for a thousand years.

A Christian earth. How awesome would that be?

I have no idea if they're right. But it has definitely helped me put my own life in perspective. I'm asking strangers tough questions. I'm stretching myself to follow the commands of God that I'm not comfortable with ("give to everyone who begs of you" for instance... Luke 6:30). I'm trying to love the things given into my care - the animals, the land, the plants.

And you know what? It's refreshing. I'm tired a lot. But there's something about setting your mind on God and taking care of stuff because that's what you were made for that is fulfilling in deep places of the soul.

That was long, and probably not all accurate. But let me encourage you, Reader. Live out loud. If you say Christ is your priority, live like it. Plant gardens. Take care of your body. Tend relationships. Fight your vices. Be faithful in your commitments. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. Ask tough questions and go find answers. Spend time with others. Learn from other Christians and look for younger Christians to teach. Let go of your finances and trust God to take care of you even if giving to His kingdom doesn't make financial sense. Live like God has made you a steward of His world, a herald of His gospel, a testimony to His salvation power.

We serve the King of the cosmos. Let's act like it in ways the world can't help but notice.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

-Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

Song of the Month

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Updates

I cannot believe how fast my days are going.

I'm working at a coffee shop four or five days a week. I'm doing a lot of school (more on that in a sec). I officially started a business (with state registration and tax stuff and everything), which made me want a rabbit. I'm trying to read more (Screwtape Letters, anyone?), and I'm completely revamping my garden and pouring a lot of intentional time into it (6 hours on Friday and sunburns to prove it), and I'm finishing up (*cough* basically rewriting *coughcough*) a Top Secret Project that I am hoping to have completely done by the end of May.

Life's fun B)

For business, before y'all ask, it is going fantastic! I launched in April and have had four scheduled housesits so far, two a month. One of the ones in April involved spending a lot of time with a shy-but-friendly rabbit and two massive dogs (which someone else referred to as horses), which made me beyond happy. ^_^

School is taking up the most time, I think. I finished Roamer on April 30th (cutting it close to my "end of April" deadline lol), clocking in at just over 52k words and almost 45 hours of work. I need to add another 8k during edits if I want to graduate to Year 2 of the Author Conservatory in August.

(Speaking of editing, registration is open for Crazy Editing Week if anyone's interested in a week of competitive word shredding... ;P)

Since Roamer is done, I'm starting the process all over again to see if I can write another novel by the beginning of August - and since I will be gone for almost all of June, that's quite the ambitious goal. We'll see. So far ideas include a griffin vet, elemental games, and a Korea-inspired underground jungle city with a MC who is severely lacking in Vitamin D. Yes, the last one is my favorite. XP

Anyway, here's a Roamer snippet as a celebratory gift for finally finishing it XP

The Book Nook

Ignite Kara Swanson Just like with Dust and Shadow, Swanson swept me away with the fast-paced action and tension. Once it got going, at least. It was a bit slow in the beginning (the world-building though... *chef's kiss*). There were some major thematic elements that I disagreed with/annoyed me. Overall a good read, though. Star Rating: 4 stars Continue Reading

Calculated Nova McBee ​A dear friend has praised this series so much and so often I decided I'd better pick it up. No regrets! Jo Rivers is a female protagonist I didn't hate, will wonders never cease. I didn't love her either, but I could enjoy her POV. The plot was gripping, though it did lag a bit in the middle. The best part was the end, hands down. I finished and immediately texted my friend about it because I couldn't believe I had missed something so obvious. I mean, her name is Josephine. Duh. XD If you know, you know. Otherwise go read it and find out. Star Rating: 4.5 stars Continue Reading

Binoculars - Flashfic

I tapped my binoculars against the cold stone, drumming out the familiar pattern my fingers knew by muscle memory. Two hours. That’s all I had. Two hours to get in, get the flag, and get out.

And my backup had yet to arrive.

And I was stuck on the castle roof.

And I had no idea where the blasted thing even was. Outside? Inside? Flying from the parapets or tucked in a drawer? How big was this thing, anyway? And why was it so important that I get this particular one and not just find a seamstress to make a copy?

I switched drumming hands and gave a mental shrug. Who cared? Mercenaries didn’t ask questions, even time-traveling ones with “magical” tech that reaped quite the reward from those who needed magnificent service.

Well, it was hard to be magnificent when I didn’t get any details.

I huffed and made my way across the turret roof to a nearby gable. Maybe I should sneak inside and start poking around. A quick scan through my binoculars showed no guards looking my way. If backup wouldn’t get here in time for us to follow the plan, I may as well make my own. Worst case scenario, I pop out into the future and leave another mysterious scar in history.

Unfortunately, Lynira would notice. She always noticed those and tried to figure out ways to mend them - even when it was so early in time she didn’t really know me. I huffed again. Immortals. Always trying to get redemption or purpose or whatever.

But also unfortunately, Lynira seemed to be everywhere. Iceland, 1612. The Amazon rainforest in 2036. Israel in 4 A.D. and Rome the same year. Antarctica well after its colonization, 3123, and again well before in 1809 B.C. Even as far back as I could go, well beyond the span of silly manmade timelines, right up to the moment Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden. Never allowed further back than that. Never into Eden’s perfection. Maybe ‘cause I’d spoil it. But she was there. I never understood how.

I shook it off. If anywhere were unlikely for Lynira to show up, it would be here: an insignificant Scottish castle in the Dark Ages. I’d seen her a few months ago in her timeline in China. There’s no way she could get over here in that short time - no way she’d want to.

At least, so I told myself.

“Rhett,” someone hissed.

I jerked around at the name, losing my drumbeat and almost chucking my precious binoculars at John’s head. What a boring name. John. Everyone in every time had that name. Some called it timeless, or solid, or believed it carried on some sort of legacy. But I’d seen some of the earliest Johns and wasn’t sure why anyone would want to carry on that legacy.

“Finally,” I hissed back. “What took so long?”

“Brawl at th’ bridge.” John hooked his thumb over his shoulder in a vague and entirely unhelpful gesture. “Friar drank too much and would nae let us cross.”

I rolled my eyes. “And it took you a full hour to get past him?”

John shrugged.

“Do you have the blueprints, at least?”

“The wha’?”

I fought another eyeroll. “The map.”

“Ah.” He pulled it from his tunic and offered it to me. I studied it closely. Flag was inside, hanging above a fireplace by the looks of it. Shouldn’t be a problem.

“Great. You stay here and keep a lookout.” I tossed him my binoculars and tucked the map into my ridiculous leather satchel. Couldn’t wait until backpacks were invented. Less flapping around the legs.

John stared confusedly at the binoculars. I sighed and showed him how to use them. The minute he looked through, his face lit up with a broken-toothed grin his own mother would have blanched at. Then a shadow darkened his face and he pulled away. “It is’nae witchcraft, is it?”

I shook my head. “It’s like a telescope. Just better.”

He muttered something else about witchcraft, too thick with Scottish brogue for me to make much out, but I took it as acceptance of my claim and crept away.

I had just made it to a flat section of the roof above the servant’s quarters, preparing to make a stealthy entrance, when the sound of my drumbeat ticked my ears. I looked up, frowning. That was my drumbeat. I invented it. Went all the way back to the city of Enoch to do it too.

My frown froze. Lynira stood there, on the roof of all places, arms folded across her chest, her foot tap tap ta-tapping out my beat.

“And what, Cain Adamson,” she said in flawless Gaelic, “do you think you’re doing on my roof?”

A Smile a Day

Words from the Wise

"There is a far kingdom
A ways from here
Beyond the storm and the sea
There will be no need of darkness
And none for tears
When that far kingdom I see."

-Far Kingdom, the Gray Havens

Take courage, pursue God, and smile while you still have teeth! ;)

~Joelle

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(P.S. Psst! If you head over to my site and find the Subscribers Only page, here's your password to get inside (copy and paste the bold parts and the asterisks) *IamAUTHORized* ;) Hop on in there and enjoy!)