That’s the way we know it’s Jesus. Jesus tells us to do something impossible. If it isn’t someone challenging us to do something that we think is impossible, it’s probably not Jesus….
- Mike Kinman
READINGS:
Luke 5:1-11 (Common English Bible)
One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Isaiah 6:1-8 (Common English Bible)
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. They shouted to each other, saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!” Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.” Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?” I said, “I’m here; send me.”
BLOG:
(I haven’t done my hair today, so I’m going to forego video and go old school for this blog entry.)
It’s been a long and bitterly contested presidential campaign, and whether one is pleased or stressed by its outcome, everyone has been affected by it. A cultural divide has been revealed that rivals the racial tensions we have felt for some time. We need healing as a nation, and someone has to step up and offer a route to reconciliation. In my estimation, no community is better positioned to do this is the Christian community.
It may seem like one would have to walk on water – perform an impossible task – to achieve this; but we Christians have been born to walk on water. Like Peter in Matthew 14 who successfully walks the surface of the water toward Jesus until his faith falters, we too can succeed; but only with a faith that is humble yet strong. Tomorrow we will examine two stellar examples of biblical characters whose lives model the way for us.
I hope you will join us for worship tomorrow morning at 8:30 or 10:30.
Bo
- Mike Kinman
READINGS:
Luke 5:1-11 (Common English Bible)
One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.
Isaiah 6:1-8 (Common English Bible)
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. They shouted to each other, saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!” Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.” Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?” I said, “I’m here; send me.”
BLOG:
(I haven’t done my hair today, so I’m going to forego video and go old school for this blog entry.)
It’s been a long and bitterly contested presidential campaign, and whether one is pleased or stressed by its outcome, everyone has been affected by it. A cultural divide has been revealed that rivals the racial tensions we have felt for some time. We need healing as a nation, and someone has to step up and offer a route to reconciliation. In my estimation, no community is better positioned to do this is the Christian community.
It may seem like one would have to walk on water – perform an impossible task – to achieve this; but we Christians have been born to walk on water. Like Peter in Matthew 14 who successfully walks the surface of the water toward Jesus until his faith falters, we too can succeed; but only with a faith that is humble yet strong. Tomorrow we will examine two stellar examples of biblical characters whose lives model the way for us.
I hope you will join us for worship tomorrow morning at 8:30 or 10:30.
Bo
RSS Feed
