by J. Randal Matheny

My homeschooled daughter Leila started a new grade this morning. As I was finishing off my almondshake for breakfast, Vicki cranked up the first exercise of the new school year.

Appropriately enough, her first spelling lesson grouped words about "time."

First, Vicki read a historical, philosophical quote from the wonderful historical, philosophical figure, Benjamin Franklin, "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."

Leila then had to pronounce, spell out, and pronounce again important terms associated with time. I spelled them out in my mind with her.

Simultaneously - All those things I'm trying to do at once.

Chronic - Ongoing, often in a negative sense, like "chronic pain" at losing to Leila in rummy or to the boys in basketball.

Occasional - Once in a while, with no regularity. Like my exercise routine.

February - The book said the first "r" gets a slight pronunciation. Who wrote the book anyway, a Bostonian?

Seasonal - Occurring certain times of the year, like Christmas, Easter, or my poetic inspiration.

Century - How long I plan to live.

Ancient - How old my daughter thinks I am. Wait till she sees me at 100.

Contemporary - What some men in mid-life crisis want to be. And some churches.

Punctual - Arriving on time. But I live in Brazil, where everybody's late.

Continuous - Nonstop. Like my daughter's conversation when she gets to sit by her dad on the airplane.

The Bible has some time terms it wants us to know as well.

Always -

"Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity" (Prov. 28:14, ESV).

"You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always" (Deut. 11:1).

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice" (Php. 4:4).

"but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15).

Soon -

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (Rom. 16:20).

"And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book" (Rev. 22:7).

Never -

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).

"I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand" (John 10:28).

"But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Rom. 10:14).

Ancient -

"Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set" (Prov. 22:28).

"Thus says the LORD: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, "We will not walk in it"'" (Jer. 6:16).

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days" (Mic. 5:2).

Opportunity -

"This will be your opportunity to bear witness" (Luke 21:13).

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10).

"and give no opportunity to the devil" (Eph. 4:27).

Time -

"Jesus said to them, 'My time has not yet come, but your time is always here'" (John 7:6).

"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:13).

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you" (1 Pet. 5:6).

Conclusion -

That's what I have to do now.