Get Out of the Boat

PETER'S EARLY ATTEMPTS TO WALK ON WATER WITH JESUS DISPLAYED AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FAITH

PETER'S EARLY ATTEMPTS TO WALK ON WATER WITH JESUS DISPLAYED AN INADEQUATE AMOUNT OF FAITH

Get Out of the Boat

9.29.08

When Roger and Elaine Hillegas were with us a couple of weeks ago, I thought it would be a great idea to take the out to eat by boat to Gilligans.  My father in law, Ray Hundley, had just recently come down to visit and preach in area churches.  He brought his boat with him because he loves to fish.

Heading to the restaurant he asked several times, “how far are we going”, that we were getting low on gas.  I kept telling him “no problem”.  I must have thought his gas tank was like the widow’s jar of oil in the Bible that never ran dry!  1 Kings 17:8-16

Coming back at night is scary enough, especially because Ray insisted on driving his boat.  We almost ran ashore on several occasions.  But we ran out of gas at the mouth of Durham Creek.  From there he had to use his trolling motor and eventually we reached the boat landing - 45 minutes later.  Fortunately it was a full moon that evening.

With the trolling motor at the front of the boat you can’t just run the boat on the trailer.  You’ve got to pull it up by hand.  When I saw Ray’s trolling motor get closer to the rocks, I offered to jump on the rocks and pull the boat up by hand.  When I went to step out, the boat pushed back and with one foot in the boat and one on shore, I did the splits and went into the river.  Fortunately there were no alligators in the immediate vicinity.  The biggest disappointment in the whole fiasco was ruining my cell phone in the water.

In Matthew 14 we read the story of Jesus walking on the water to his disciples in the middle of a storm.  Peter jumps out of the boat to get to Jesus and the Bible says he “walked on the water” vs 29.  The Bible doesn’t tell us how far he got, but at some point he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the pounding waves and got scared and began to sink.  He cried out “Lord, save me!” A pretty simple prayer that got straight to the point.  It is a similar prayer that all of us must pray.  At some point in our lives so we too might be saved from drowning in our sins.

Matthew 14:31

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Verse copied from BibleGateway.com

People often criticized Peter for sinking, which he also did in a spiritual sense on several other occasions, but he was also the only disciple to walk on water, even if it was just a few steps.

Mark Batterson, in his book “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”, makes a statement that is a profound observation.

“I think that there are two kinds of people in the world:  creators and criticizers.  There are people who get out of the boat and walk on water.  And there are people who sit in the boat and criticize water walkers.

Here is what I think:  Sinking is better than sitting.”

At least Peter took a risk. I have observed over my years of ministry that those who tend to be the most critical of the church and its leadership, are those still sitting in the boat.  But those who are involved in ministry, even taking great risks to advance God’s kingdom are more concerned with staying afloat and getting to Jesus rather than being critical of others.

So get out of the boat…even if you lose your cell phone in the process.

Still swimming and sometimes sinking,

Pastor Larry

September 29, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

7 Comments 

The Simple Truth

The Simple Truth

9.22.08

What a wonderful privilege to have the Franklin Graham Festival come to the Lowcountry.  They brought in some wonderful groups.  I’m glad they showed the words to the songs on the screen or I would have been lost.  I can’t listen as fast as they sing.  I loved the sound, lights and energy.  My favorite group had to be Casting Crowns.  I felt the words to their songs had the most substance.

The remarkable thing was the simplicity of Franklin Graham’s message.  On Friday night he preached from Matthew 8:1-4 and Jesus touching the unclean leper.  On Saturday night, Luke 15:11-24 and the story of the prodigal son returning home and finding forgiveness and restoration at his father’s house.  Last night he preached from John 3:1-7 and the story of Nicodemus.  Religious people need to be saved too.  Each night he emphasized that we are all sinners and need to repent and put our faith in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.  That is the gospel {Good News!} message.  The exciting thing is that each night about 300 came forward to accept the Lord Jesus Christ and His indescribable forgiveness.

The message of the cross of Jesus is a simple and powerful message.  It is hard to accept that someone would love us so much that he would take my place and pay for my sins.

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Read more @ www.biblegateway.com

Thank God for the simple, but powerful message of the cross.  And thank God for the 1,200 plus men, women and children saved this weekend.

Pastor Larry

September 22, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

3 Comments 

The Weight of Guilt

The Weight of Guilt

September 15, 2008

Last weekend I borrowed my neighbor’s (Adam) truck.  I was borrowing my other neighbor’s (Steve) trailer to haul some wood.  Aren’t neighbors great!

When I backed up the truck, I bumped the tongue of the trailer with the truck bumper.  It left a dent in the chrome bumper and the middle was buckled.  I couldn’t believe it because I barely tapped it!  If it was my truck it would not have mattered because eventually all my vehicles look like they have been in a demolition derby.

I worried working all that Friday.  By the time I got the work done, the trash dump was already closed, so I couldn’t take it till Saturday morning.  Then I had the men’s breakfast and meetings so I still hadn’t told him.  I tried pounding the dent out with a hammer but the bumper didn’t move.  I checked with a body shop and to put a new bumper on would be over $600.  I worried about it for two full days.  When I took the truck back Saturday, Adam was not home.  Sunday was communion and I made sure I covered “forgive anyone who dents your bumper” oh, I mean sins against you.

Sunday afternoon I went over to tell him and he was asleep.  My agony continued.  That night after church I finally caught him to give him the bad news…Adam laughed and told me the dent and crease had been messed up for a long time from a previous fender bender.  I was so relieved! If only I had told him earlier, I could have enjoyed my weekend a whole lot better.

Guilt is a terrible thing.  It weighs us down and robs us of our joy.  But it is definitely something we don’t have to carry around.

Proverbs 28:13

“13 He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. ”

Verses copied from BibleGateway.com

Let the Lord deal with your sins right away…my burdens have been rolled away!

Pastor Larry

September 15, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

2 Comments 

Turning the Corner

Turning the Corner

September 8, 2008

There is a wonderful lady, Barbara, age 58, who faithfully attends our church.  Three years ago I preached her husband’s funeral.  He died of a heart attack after 38 years of marriage.  It was a very difficult time for Barbara, but I have watched her in recent months and she is so full of joy, with a huge radiant smile.  I asked her when she turned the corner.  She didn’t answer immediately, but after giving my question some thought she stopped by the office about a week later.  She said it was after the year of “firsts” had passed.  First Christmas, first birthday, first anniversary and any first holiday or special occasion after the death of your loved one.

I feel like in my life I am beginning to turn the corner.  I’m sure there will be some sad moments this first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first anniversary…but I am extremely blessed with three wonderful children, their spouses and seven beautiful grandchildren with whom I can celebrate each special occasion.

My daughter, Lindy, and her husband Josh have been able to stay with me these last three months.  What an incredible blessing!  She is a lot like her mother, Tania.  My wife had spoiled me rotten with cooking, cleaning and taking care of me - and my daughter just picked up where she left off.  Tomorrow they fly back to continue their missions outreach to the unreached people of Western Nepal.  It will be another corner to turn, but as I shared with the congregation yesterday, I hold to Zephaniah 3:17.

Zephaniah 3:17

17 The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Verses copied from BibleGateway.com

Quieted by His love,

Pastor Larry

September 8, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

4 Comments 

Walking with a Limp

Walking with a Limp

September 1, 2008

By now you are familiar with my foot saga (part 1 here, part 2 here).   Well the good news is this painful chapter in the life of my foot is about to close.  Last Wednesday I was totally released by my doctor.  The last 6 weeks I have walked on my right toe creating a noticeable limp.  Yet now that I have been released and the pain is gone, I find myself still limping out of habit.  A good friend told me the story of a dog who had surgery on one of his legs and walked on three legs.  Even after his leg was better, the dog still hobbled around.  Until one day a rabbit went darting by, the dog took off full speed after the rabbit and never limped again.  For me it was football Saturday morning.

There was a man in the Old Testament who never did get over his limp.  Jacob was facing the brother he had betrayed years earlier with much fear and in trepidation.  Jacob had an encounter with God that changed his name and character from “Jacob”—“deceiver, surplanter” to “Israel”—“overcomer”.  But out of that face to face encounter with God would also cause a limp.

Genesis 32:24-25,31 24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
Verses Copied from www.biblegateway.com

Jacob’s limp would be a constant reminder of God’s transforming power in his life.  It would also force him not to depend on his own strength but the strength of the Lord.

I have recently had my own wrestling match with the Lord, with the recent loss of my wife.  The limp in my foot is lessening.  In some ways I feel there will always be a limp in my heart.  I am reminded of my own inadequacy and total dependence on the Lord.

Still limping along,

Pastor Larry

September 2, 2008 | Filed Under Pastor's Thoughts

5 Comments