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Sun and Surf

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8 New International Version (NIV)

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding
no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:10 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday and today
and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

New Life

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, 
a girl of about twelve, was dying.

Luke 8:40-42a 
New International Version (NIV)

As Jesus was on his way,
the crowds almost crushed him.
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,
but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her
bleeding stopped.
“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me;
I know that power has gone out from me.”
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 8: 42b-48 (NIV)

Faith is indeed personal, but it certainly is not private.

Fred Craddock, Interpretation

While Jesus was still speaking,
someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter
is dead,” he said.
“Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus,
“Don’t be afraid; just believe,
and she will be healed.”

When he arrived at the house of Jairus,
he did not let anyone go in with him
except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile,
all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said.
“She is not dead but asleep.”

They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”
Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.
Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished,
but he ordered them not to tell anyone 
what had happened.

Luke 8:49-56 (NIV)

Therefore if anyone is in Christ,
they are a new creation:
old things are passed away;
behold, all things are made new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Jubilee Bible 2000

Following Jesus can be Messy

They sailed to the region of the Gerasene’s, which is across the lake from Galilee.
When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town.
For a long time, this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house but had lived
in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into
solitary places.

Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into
solitary places.

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission.

When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.

Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Luke 8:26-39 
New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the
other side of the lake.”
So they got into a boat and
set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep.

Luke 8:22-23a 
New International Version (NIV)

A squall came down on the lake,
so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in
great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

Luke 8:23b-24a (NIV)

BHVS – Big Honking Violent Storm

He [Jesus] got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Luke 8:24b-25a (NIV)

Getting to his feet, he [Jesus] told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did it. 
The lake became smooth as glass.

Luke 8:24b
The Message(MSG)

siópé – “hold your peace”’

“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? 
He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Luke 8:25 (NIV)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One 
is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

A Miraculous Catch

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

LUKE 5: 1-3 New International Version (NIV)

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

LUKE 5: 4-5 (NIV)

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink

LUKE 5: 6-7 (NIV)

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they 
had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners

LUKE 5: 8-10a (NIV)

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

LUKE 5: 10b-11 (NIV)

You’re the Treasure; You’re the Pearl

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:44-46 New International Version (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Jonn 3: 16-17 (NIV)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3: 23-24 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in  Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23-24 (NIV)

Be the Yeast!

He [Jesus] told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13:33 New International Version (NIV)

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
John 9:25 (NIV)

…“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 (NIV)

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16 The Message (MSG)

The Talk

Today’s message was a conversation between Pastors Kari and Alan and some members of our church family regarding race in the world. 

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8 New International Version (NIV)

 

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:16-19 New International Version (NIV)

A Little Help From Our Friends

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.
Exodus 17:11-13 New International Version (NIV)

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”
Exodus 18:13-14 (NIV)

Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”
Exodus 18:19-23 (NIV)

 

Winding in the Wilderness

So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

Exodus 17: 2-4 (New International Version)

God’s intent is to use the harsh conditions of the wilderness to prove his faithfulness.
If these faith lessons take hold, then the people will be molded into a people of trust,
prepared to enter the land promised to their ancestors. Do you see that? The Land Between and its hardships are meant to get them ready
for the Promised Land. The question being asked of them through these trials is
“Who is the source of life? Upon whom will you depend for water, food, survival.”

The Land Between, Jeff Manion, (p.45)

Life isn’t something that is achieved;
It is something that can only be received.

When God Interrupts, Craig Barnes, (p. 145)

 

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