Abandon Your Boat And Follow

"As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him." Matt 4:18-20

Simon Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets to follow Jesus. I wonder if those who are not fishermen attached to the waters understand how difficult it would be to leave behind their boats and nets to follow after a teacher.

Although, I was never really good at it, I grew up fishing. My family spent a lot of time on lakes and rivers and creeks. I love the water. Today, I live on a river. I look out over the water and am reminded of all the things that Jesus has done for me. The waters remind me of the washing and cleansing we have received through the blood of Christ. The waters remind me of my baptism into his death and resurrection. I have a small boat that sits at the dock and rarely gets used. It reminds me that I have been called to abandon my boat and go fish for people.

Following Jesus sometimes requires that we give up a thing or two that we love and enjoy so that we and others will know the greater joy of living in His presence. Now let's go fishing... for people. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 5:1-11 Fishing

Luke 5:1-11 NIV
When Jesus took them fishing, Peter, James and John caught so many fish that their nets were breaking. Then he told them that from then on they would be fishing for people. "So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." (vs 11)

What does this mean to leave everything behind to follow Jesus? Does it mean to spend an hour at Worship on Sunday mornings? Does it mean we share the good news when it's convenient and easy to do? What does it mean to you? These men made their living at fishing. They left their boat and nets and followed to learn a new thing. They left their very livelihood behind to follow Jesus. If they are like most fishermen that I know, they loved fishing. They left this thing that they loved behind them and went off to follow this itinerant teacher and preacher. They trusted that they would not starve to death. They trusted that he would be with them to lead them. They were unafraid to go follow this new vocation: fishing for people.

Jesus is with us. May God grant that He teach us and give us the courage to fish for people.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Song of Songs 2 - Internet Dating Is Not Love

Now that I am much older than the last time I read Solomon's Songs of Songs, I realize that all this falling in love stuff and romance is quite disturbing to me, at least the way it seems to be pursued today. It's not that I'm against love. I'm definitely for love. Sadly, this second chapter reminds me of something I'm seeing in many young people today - so focused on the object (person) that they are pursuing while neglecting the things (like education) that they should be focused on.  And, if someone is peeking through the lattice then they are definitely pursuing something or someone and quite inappropriately, I would say. Today, I'd run any young man off that's peeking through anything! But, that is just me...

It is a quite beautiful poem. In it you will find a really good warning: "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (Song of Songs 2:7 NIV)

Do not try to arouse love until it or you or the one you are pursuing is ready! The time will come when true love comes, but this jumping around from love to love is a bit crazy... a new boyfriend or girlfriend every other week! Be for real! It is a waste of time. Live life to it's fullest and I assure you there is more to life than catch and release. And, pursuing true love on facebook is even crazier. Some of you who may be a bit older, may be wondering what I am talking about.

Today, young people don't date like we use to date - you know - where we actually went to a restaurant or a movie.... Today, they connect on places like facebook. They call it dating. They may never even go on a date like we know a date before they are fighting and break up. It sounds safe in a sense - at least we know where they are - in their bedrooms chatting with someone via the internet.
But, there are a few problems with this.

1. They are locked up in their bedrooms not really living life. Go out and play basketball. Go skating or skiing or kayaking or swimming or fishing or with all the toys they have today sno-mobiling or 4-wheeling! There really are a lot of things you can do. If you are bored, it is because you choose to be bored. Get out of your room and talk to your parents and siblings! Really be with them! Live life!

2. They are not out interacting with other people, a social skill which is going to be necessary in adulthood.

3. We really can never know who that person is on the other side of the chat box. Yes, maybe they see their faces. They may even have mutual friends on the social site. But, can they really know who the person is? Will you in the end, after long hours of wasted time find that they're just playing games with you or even worse find out they are actually very dangerous people. From personal experience, I can say that until you can really look a person in the eye, in the flesh; until you can say I C U, then you can't truly know them.

4. It really makes for a lot of wasted and fruitless time as the young people are focused on these relationships rather than relationships that can really bring peace and joy to one's life. It takes the focus away from the things that are good and healthy for the young person; things that are necessary to prepare them for life as adults.

Let love come naturally. It may be that one day you will even meet your life-long partner on the internet. But, don't push it. Let love begin with the people around you, with your family, your friends, your neighbors and one day you will wake up and realize that you have fallen in love. It will come naturally. As Solomon reminds us today, "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

Love will come; but, in the meantime, live life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. and by the way, the friends you have made over the years are way more important to your happiness than some boy or girl you just met on the internet!  

Psalm 85 - Love and Faithfulness

"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:10 NIV)

Verse 10 caught my eye this morning as I was in Shopko last night and noticed they have the Valentine's stuff out already. Love and faithfulness...  I have seem some wonderful examples of it in the people around me. I have also seen some marriages that have neither.  Oh, for sure, most of the partners in these marriages will tell you that they really love each other, especially when they are caught in an act of out right unfaithfulness.  But, the evidence of love is not there.  Faithfulness is not there. 

The evidence of love and faithfulness is seen when one spouse would do anything for the good of the other.  Faithlessness to a spouse is not only about not "being with" other people.  Whenever, we put our own selfish desires above the others to the point that we separate ourselves from them, we are being unfaithful.  If you have to go fishing with your buddies every weekend or out with the girls, bowling, every Saturday night, you are being unfaithful to your spouse. You can tell me and you can tell God all you want that the other spouse does not mind. But, I've witnessed it enough and I am telling you that one or both of you is probably lieing to yourself or the other. You have chosen activities and other people rather than being with your spouse, rather than sharing your life together. You are breaking your marriage vows. You have chosen to separate what God has joined together.

There is no better example of love and faithfulness than the union that God chooses for us in the Body of Christ.  That, my friend, is a marriage made in heaven. He loves us so much that His whole life on earth was given so that we might be united with Him forever in His Kingdom.      

 As a reminder of how we are to treat our spouses; how we are to be loving and faithful: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband." (Eph 5:25-33)

"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:10)

God's Peace - Pr. J