I think most would agree we’re living in unusual times. Let’s imagine time travel was really possible. Good News Wants to Know… Would you prefer to travel forward in time or back? …to what time? …and why?

Definitely NO going back in time for me and I hesitate in going forward. I think living in the moment is essential and taking each day as it comes. BUT if I must, I would go forward in time and meet my grandchildren; hopefully my children a long time from now will have some children. I would like to run ahead and see what the fruits of this current labor will look like in the future. Prayerfully, I did not mess up the present seed too much (smile) so that the fruit produced looks good. 

Germaine Smith Baugh, Ed.D, President and CEO, Urban League of Broward

I would prefer to travel back in time not forward. Traveling forward would rob me of the opportunity to exercise faith and hope one day at a time. Traveling back would allow me to be more attentive to giving thanks for each moment of life that He has given me.

William “Bill” C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law

I’d jump back to the Summer of 1986 and try to convince my younger self to stop spending so much time on Zelda and more time on developing a little league knuckle ball. Also less money on baseball cards and more money on Apple.

Bob Denison, President, Denison Yachting

I would travel back to the late 1950’s when America seemed to dress up for the average day, whether it was flying on an airplane or going to church. They also didn’t have the 24 hour news cycle. Another benefit would be the ability to see great entertainment like “The Rat Pack” live in Las Vegas with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. I may be one of those people that would have fit better in a different time (but with today’s technology of course!)

Chip LaMarca, State Representative, Florida House District 93

BACK in time for sure- I already know my future (at least my eternal future) – the Time of Jesus, to sit at His feet so that I may listen to Him and worship Him and hang out with the early church believers.

Major Connie Long, The Salvation Army

Forward in time, to a new heaven and a new earth, no more sorrow, no more death, no more pain, and He shall reign forever and ever.

Daryl Nelson, Pastor, Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches

It would be so thrilling to travel into the future to the days when the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea or even more, when every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. This is what I long to see.

Deborah Cusick, FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

I would prefer to travel forward in time to see my loved ones in Heaven, the rewards of my efforts according to the cloud of witnesses, sit at the table of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and be in the presence of the most loved one… Jesus Christ. As I look back, I would love to be at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the wedding ceremony of my parents, and at the Mount of Olives to see and hear Jesus before his ascension.

Dennis DeMarois, CEO/Executive Director, Gathering Palm Beach

I’d like to go back to when my daughter was little and my parents were alive. And, forward to when I hope to have grandchildren, or to when we all hear that trumpet sound.  

Dolores King St. George, King Communications, GraceNet Media

I would like to travel 20 years into the future because technology will enhance education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation etc. helping to raise the world standard of living for everyone. Less poverty, enhanced abilities to share the Good News and enabling a person to accomplish twice as much annually as we do now.  

Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service

That’s an easy answer for me. I would go back to the cowboy days. Horses, cattle, wagons, chili, campfires and barns. People knew each other, helped each other and cared for each other. Reminds me of many biblical principles. Besides, I love cowboy boots.

Fidel Gomez, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Hollywood

I would love to travel forward in time. I am so curious always about what God has in store for us and would be excited to know what is happening and what God has done to direct humankind.

Fred Scarbrough, DVM, founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and Hope South Florida

If time travel was possible. I had to think about this one for quite some time! You always desire the good times in your life. Dream of the past and the people in it and the way you felt. Running to the future, at this point in my life I’m happy and grateful for every day, every moment and everyone I share it with!!! The future is the Lord’s. And I’m grateful to be included in His timeline. 

Helen Wayner, P.A., Century 21 Hansen Realty 

I rarely gaze in the ‘rearview mirror of life’ but I think I would enjoy re-living the 80’s: Great music, great economy, preppy was cool, and I would look up the 80’s version of Les Feldman! Blessedly, God doesn’t allow us to travel in time, but He does promise us a perfect Eternity.

 “JT” James Taylor, Managing Director, Head of Automotive, Truist  Securities

I would travel into the future. It would be awesome to see the advancement of technology and medical research. For example, have scientists found a cure for cancer? What were the long term impacts of the current pandemic. Is the iPhone still a thing? Also, to see how far the gospel has expanded. What is the state of the global church? Finally, it would be interesting to see the lessons humanity has learned and the impact on daily living.
James Welch, Pastor, First Baptist Fort Lauderdale

If I had the choice to travel either forward or back in time, I think I would like to travel back in time so that I can receive Christ as my personal savior sooner than I did. I did not become a Christian until I was in my early twenties, and if I would have received Him earlier I would have saved a lot of pain in my life.

Dr. Mary Drabik, President, South Florida Bible College & Theological Seminary

I’ve always told my kids to “bloom where they are planted.” However, if I must answer, I have to admit that I would prefer to go back in time. There is simply too much chaos in the world today. We look forward to Heaven, but until then I’d prefer more peace than less. I value 3 things very highly: loyalty, courtesy and honor. As humans, we have always been flawed, nevertheless, it appears to me that if you go back a few decades, there seemed to be a little more of those three things to go around.  

Dr. Michael Rozenblum, Genesis Physical Medicine and Chiropractic

I’ve always been a big fan and reader of history, especially our great American history. Therefore, I would travel back in time. The era I would like to visit would be the birth of our country and how our Founding Fathers built a great republic form of government. It would be great to participate and observe how they came up with the principles and values of our Constitution. How their Christian and biblical beliefs shaped our great country. God bless the United States of America.

Milan Stefanovic, Chief Operations Officer, Bass Underwriters

I would like to travel back to Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, to be on the steps of Independence Hall and listen to the Declaration Of Independence be read publicly for the first time. What a moment to hear words of freedom like no other! “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are empowered by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” One of the greatest New Beginnings in starting the free world was founded on the Gospel. What a moment to know that I was on the ground floor of this new republic and then to hear the ringing of the Liberty Bell – proclaiming “Liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants there of”  Leviticus 25:10.  

Oksana Horton, Artistic Director, Torch and Trumpet Theater Co., a subsidiary of Revelation Ministries

Why would anyone, particularly a Christian, want to travel back? The rear view mirror rarely changes the view no matter where we travel, and it is not pretty. My resting place… “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem.”

Omar Aleman, Aleman & Associates

If time travel was possible, I would rather travel forward in time beyond this COVID-19 era where we can once again shake hands and embrace one another and where people are not losing their precious loved ones to this dreadful, horrible virus. Then, families can gather together for holidays, family reunions and other gatherings without fear of infecting one another.

O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, The Worldwide Christian Center

This is a really fun question to consider… In all reality I’ve always been a realist. I do my best to live in the moment. Sometimes I even have to focus my thoughts to make sure I live in the moment. My imagination doesn’t take me too far in the future and/or doesn’t allow me to stay too long in the past. The present for me is a gift from God and that is why it is called ‘the present.’ I do look forward to Heaven, ( I just don’t want to go there too soon), we get to be with Jesus… And also we will never grow old, weary, or tired…that will be GREAT!

Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder/President, SAINTS International Sports Ministry and SAINTS Homeschool. P.E. 

Moving forward is always the goal! Since our law firm is going to celebrate it’s 100 year anniversary in 2025, I would like to fast forward 5 years to see what the world looks like on the other side of COVID-19, and in particular  the spiritual, economic and  political atmospheres in the US and the rest of the world. Since my son Cam is going to have to carry the firm forward, I would like to be able to give him some practical advice on what the future looks like. However, I wouldn’t want to “stay” there to long (just a peak ) knowing as believers that we are supposed to live day-by-day by trusting  in the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding!    

Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers, Morris & Ziegler LLP

Being a historian, I would like to travel back in time. For me, to hear Jesus tell the parable of the Unthankful Servant would be worth more than all of the education I have ever had. The parable of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son would be my second choice. There would be nothing like hearing and seeing the story told by the master.
Samuel Lamerson, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies, Knox Theological Seminary

If I could go back in time, I’d travel to that early morning when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, went to the tomb and found it was empty and our Savior had risen. And to see the look on the apostle’s faces when they realized it was really Him. And the hope that must have flowed through them. And to think, because of Jesus, we have that hope of eternal life and a deep, intimate relationship with Christ. Does it get any better than that? It doesn’t, my friends, it most assuredly doesn’t.

Tewannah Aman, Executive Director, Broward County Right to Life

There are a number of places and times I would like to have witnessed. But they would only flatter my curiosity. There is a theme of forbidden knowledge in the Bible. Such an invitation might be one of those. But Jesus knows the beginning and the ending of time. He knows all things, past and future, and he comes saying, “Fear not.” That’s enough for me.

Dr. Warren A. Gage, Th.M., J.D., Ph.D., The Alexandrian Forum, President