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Deep Sea Fishing

July 25, 2007 in Evangelism, Travel with 1 Comment

Today, I had the joy of traveling 1 and 1/2 hours out into the Atlantic Ocean to fish.  I went by myself with 80 or so people I did not know, but it was a joy.  I just sat on the side of the boat and read a book as we travelled, then all of the sudden we were there.  The Fishing Hole!  All at once, 80 people begin dropping a line in the water attempting to catch fish.  It was amazing.  As I fished I prayed that I would catch some big ones.  I felt bad for praying this way, but in the middle of that I felt God interrupted me and say, “Go ahead and ask, a Father loves to bless his kids.”  I did catch some big ones, but also a lot of Small ones.  I caught a total of 19 fish.  It was a lot of fun. 

As I was riding back it got me thinking.  Jesus told Peter, “Come follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.”  What if every believer believed that God wanted them to fish?  Just get on the boat and go after some fish.  You do not have to catch them all, matter of fact, you will miss most of the fish you try and catch, all you have to do is get on the boat and fish.  If we had that attitude, instead of worry about what others think or if we could do it all right, we would catch a lot of fish.  Matter of fact, right next to me on the boat was this young girl with her boyfriend and within a few moments of trying, she started bringing in the fish.  And the craziest thing of all an 11 year old girl won the prize (about $200) for catching the biggest fish.  You see fishing is not about experience or about knowing all the right lures, it is about following the captain out to the sea and having the attitude that says, “I want to catch some fish.” 

Imagine every believer out everyday fishing.  Wouldn’t that be an awesome sight?

Oh, one last fishing story.  As we were getting our fish cleaned at the dock, a little guy about 10 years of age got so excited about fishing, he just took a left over line, a hook and some scraps from the fish and pulled in a 6 1/2 pounder right in front of us all.  The crowd cheered.  There is always excitement when fish are being caught.  Let’s go fishing.

Big Bass  The fish I wish I would have caught.

Beaufort, Bus, Blackbeard and a Barrel of rum

July 24, 2007 in Random, Travel with 1 Comment

On Sunday, Julie and I drove down to Beaufort, NC to visit her mom, sister, and grandma.  This is my third time to visit this little town on the outer banks of NC.  So in honor of the third time, I decided to do a little sightseeing.  So yesterday, Julie and I paid $8 apiece to ride in an open top double-decker bus.  This bus was awesome!  It was built in 1962 and was actually used on the streets of London before being purchased by the city of Beaufort for tourist tours. 

Double-decker Bus

As we rode around the city on the bus, Julie and I found out that Beaufort has a lot of history.  Housing dated all the way back to 1778.  Also, this city is where many pirates came to rest while their ships were being overhauled.  Even the famous Blackbeard rested here, and it is said that he hung one of his wives in the front lawn of the Hammock House (known to be Blackbeard’s House).  His ship is at the bottom of the sea about 20 miles off shore.  Yet one of my favorite history sites was call the “Old Burying Grounds.”  Deeded to the town in 1731, it has many old grave sites.  I know it sounds a little funny that I would enjoy old burial grounds, but grave sites are a favorite of mine.

One grave in particular caught my eye.  It is the site of a little girl buried in a barrel of rum. 

Little Girl

In the 1700’s an English family came to settle here in Beaufort.  As the little girl grew older, she begged her family to see her homeland of England.  Against the advice of mom, dad decided to take his daughter to see her homeland.  After visiting England, on the way home, the little girl fell sick and eventually died.  The custom at sea was to put the body overboard and bury the dead person at sea.  Yet the dad had promised his little girl and his wife that he would return her to Beaufort.  So he made a deal with the captain and bought a barrel of rum and put the girl’s body in the barrel in order to return her to Beaufort.  Once home she was buried in that very barrel.  To me this was a story of love and commitment. 

Final thoughts…
History is beautiful.  It does not matter who you are or what you do in this life, you will leave a history behind you.  The question is what history will say about you.  For Beaufort, it is historic houses and wars.  For the Double-decker bus Julie and I enjoyed, it is one of London and now America with thousands of riders along the way.  For Blackbeard, it is hangings and treasure.  And finally for the English Family in the “old burying grounds” it is the journey of a little girl that seemed to be lost, yet in the end millions would eventually visit her grave because of a promise kept. 

Speaking of the “Old Burying Grounds” most of the graves faced the east.  Why?  “To be facing the sun when they arose on judgment morn” is what one writer said.  Interesting, most of us never think that one day we will face a history test.  The test will be judgment day when we face God to see if we really made history or not.  Maybe today, it would be worth spending a few moments thinking about the history I am making with my life.

Hairspray

July 23, 2007 in Convictions, Travel with 0 Comments

Hairspray

On Saturday, Julie and I left Elli with the grandparents and went to the movies.  We saw Hairspray.  This is an excellent show.  It’s a move filled with great music, incredible dancing, humor, and best of all a great message. Hairspray will definitely be the “Grease” of our day.

As I watched Hairspray, it touched a deep root in my heart.  The root of integration!  Integration of blacks and whites, but also integration of all people (fat, skinny, Hispanic, Asian, etc.).   Sad to say, way too often the local church is the most segregated place on earth.  Each Sunday, I see church after church filled with people who all look like each other.  Most people within a church are of the same race, same social class, and even the same convictions.  By the way, convictions are not creeds, they are impressions given by the Holy Spirit for your own personal protection.  Never meant to separate the body of Christ!  Another blog sometime…

Anyways, my heart beats strong for a day when the local body of Christ is integrated.  I believe that as we lay down our convictions and preferences, then start to take up God’s love and His word, we will see a change.  Way too often we allow these petty little preferences to cause us to not befriend someone of a different race or background.  It is time to change.  Go out today and befriend someone different than you!

Jamestown

July 21, 2007 in Leadership, Travel with 0 Comments

Jamestown Ship

May 12, 1607 was an historic date in America.  On this date, the first permanent English settlement was established in Jamestown.  Yesterday, my family and I got to tour this historic location.  As we walked through this area learning about the Indians, the Englishmen, and the suffering and sacrifice, I was amazed. 

Most of the first men and women that came to Jamestown eventually died.  Disease, famine, and continuing attacks from the Algonquian Indians devastated the original settlers.  Only 60 out of the 214 survived.  One man, named Captain John Smith showed tenacious leadership as he explored the territory, drew up a map of Virginia, and established trade relations with the natives, while surviving death multiple times.  This man eventually had to return to England because of an injuring suffered by an explosion accident, but his work helped established the eventual foundation of America.

As I observed Jamestown, many thoughts captured my thinking.  Here are a few:

  • Great establishments, whether they are a country, a church, or a business, will require men to sacrifice and suffer.
  • Great establishments will take a lot longer to get going than you ever expect at the beginning.
  • Great establishments will be attacked by outsiders and insiders.
  • Great establishments require great leadership.
  • Great establishments are usually enjoyed more by those of the future than those of the present.
  • Great establishments cost a lot of money, time, and energy.
  • Great establishments are worth it because they usually bring greatness for many others for years to come.

Jamestown is worth the trip and the $13.50 ticket if you ever get to travel north to Virginia.

Saturday Night Anxiety

July 14, 2007 in Teaching with 0 Comments

Saturday nights are just plain weird for a pastor.  It is like being on deck in a baseball game with the bases loaded.  You are expected to perform!.  You know every eye is on you and most people want you to hit it out of the park.  I say most people because there are always a few that would love to see you make mistakes and fall on your face. 

Amidst the pressure though, every pastor must understand that lives are on the line.  Whether there are 1000′s at your church or just a few, someone will be showing up hoping to hear from God through you.  This awareness most often will put a few tingles in my gut and hopefully some prayers in my heart and mind.  Many times on a Saturday night I find it hard to sleep.  I just have the anxiousness about the message and the church in general.  If I could give any staff member or church attendee advice it would be this, pray for your pastor on the weekend with the awareness that lives are on the line.  Some church attendees are deciding if they should stay married, some are deciding if they should change careers,  some are deciding if they should continue in their faith or not, and some will be deciding about their eternities.  Finally the majority will show up without a clue, just coming out of routine, pray for their awakening. 

Hopefully Saturday Night Anxiety will turn into Sunday Morning awakening. 

1 Timothy 4:16 – “Keep a close watch on yourself and your teaching.  Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.”

In the beginning…

May 30, 2007 in Random with 0 Comments

Beginnings are hard for me. I just never know what to say ro do.  But I do know this, it takes beginnings to get anything going.  So begin something today, it just might be the best thing ever.  Nothing happens without someone somewhere working through the beginning.  In the beginning God created, what are you beginning?

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