Swimming Lessons Can Change Your Life

Ethan and I made our first trip to the neighborhood pool the other day. While we were swimming together, he asked me about my teaching him how to swim when he was just about three-years-old. He picked it up pretty quickly, but remembering those days – and one afternoon in particular – made me reminisce fondly.

He had always been a water bug of sorts, the only problem was, he couldn’t swim on his own. He had water wings, noodles, and float suits to aid him, but the time was quickly approaching for him to learn how to truly swim. So one afternoon, our family ventured out to the neighborhood pool. We started by putting him in his float suit. After splashing around a bit, we then put him in his water wings. Shortly thereafter, we took the water wings off and I held him up while he got the feeling of kicking his feet and using his arms without any swim aids. He was getting the hang of it well enough and his confidence was beginning to soar. The time had come for my amphibian-in-training of a son to spread his fins and swim!

We started by standing on the steps to the pool in the shallow end. I stood at arms length from him and coaxed him into swimming to me from the step. After he made it back and forth a couple times—proving to himself he could swim without floats—he was ready to add a little distance. So I stood in front of him, still at arms length, and told him to swim to me. The closer he got the further back I would walk. As he realized what was going on, his eyes widened to the size of saucers and he began to truly swim. I started cheering him on, telling him he not only could do it, he was swimming all on his own.

I kept my arms held out to reassure him he was still within his father’s reach. Then at the moment he could no longer go on, I grabbed him, held him tightly, and gave him all the praise my body and soul could muster. Suddenly, I looked around and realized he swam the entire width of the pool! Just knowing his father was close gave him all the confidence he needed to reach deep down in his heart for strength greater than he could realize!

What a lesson we can glean from my son’s first swimming lesson. Sure he was intimidated and a little scared, but knowing his father was there gave him all the confidence he needed to face the challenge at hand and accomplish something perhaps he never thought possible. We all have a tendency to get comfortable and rely on “life preservers” to achieve things in life—particularly when faced with challenges. But these life preservers often keep us from tapping into the inner strength given by our loving Creator and having the faith to rise above the nearsighted low expectations we set for ourselves. For no matter what challenges lie before us, the hands of our heavenly Father are stretched out, offering us the assurance of His presence and infusing us with divine strength.

Isaiah 59.1 tells us, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save...” What an image as we consider just how swimming lessons can change a life! When we realize the Lord is as close as breath, we need not fear the unknown. Knowing the Lord’s power and drawing upon it gives us the strength we need to face life’s challenges with complete confidence. Sure, life preservers can give us peace of mind, but the power of God can steady your heart. Press on, know the Lord is with you, and do not fear the unknown. For God said, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1.9b)

Remember: It's Memorial Day

I am a patriotic person. I even considered going into the military as a chaplain following 9/11, but decided against it as Tiffany and I started our family. Patriotism and military pride has been instilled in me from a very young age as both of my grandfathers served during World War II (one in the Army and the other in the Navy). For this reason, among others, Memorial Day is very special to me.

Memorial Day was first declared at the end of the Civil War in 1865, and established as a national holiday by the US Congress in 1971 to honor those who have given their lives in service to the country. It is one holiday, therefore, that is born from our loss and pain. We are blessed that we have the freedom and ability to take a day off, fire up the grill, and take a dip in the pool, but Memorial Day is about so much more.

One thing that has always inspired me about American history is the fact that the founders of our nation strove to set a foundation based upon the Judeo-Christian principles of love, grace, sacrifice, and justice. They believed that God cared about human freedoms and we would do well to consult with the Creator in all of our affairs, big and small. In fact, Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying at the Constitutional Convention, "I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"

Now before I go too far and wax poetic, let me assure you that I am aware that the US is not perfect—far from it. Our current situation has us worrying about the environment; industry and the economy; debating over torture vs. enhanced interrogation; and what will come of our personal liberties amidst the threat of terror. When we think about our current state of affairs, it would be easy to wonder if we've lost our way and forgotten the eternal truth espoused by Benjamin Franklin.

If we have indeed lost our focus, I think Memorial Day provides us a marvelous opportunity to return to our roots. Though we are an imperfect nation governed by imperfect people, we would do well to remember just how much God loves ALL his children and the opportunistic responsibility we have to engage the world with the light and love of God. So this Memorial Day, I want to ask you to remember three things:
1) Remember God's desire for us individually and corporately
2) Remember our nation and leaders, regardless if you agree with them politically
3) Remember those who have fought and sacrificed to secure and preserve our freedom

We would do well to remember these truths of life. So on this Memorial Day, may you be thankful for the many blessings in life and remember the source of all things, God! For this holiday is a celebration of memory and allowing it to shape where we go from here.

Happy Memorial Day,
Pastor Mark

Dirty Words

I remember the first time I learned a dirty word. I was standing in the kitchen of the house where I spent the first seven years of my life. My parents had allowed me to have a spend-the-night guest and we were doing what most little boys would do at that age: splitting time exploring the outdoors and running back inside scouting for snacks. At some point in that back-and-forth, I heard my friend utter a word that had never before graced my innocent ears. I went to ask my dad what that word meant and I was instructed never to say it again. Perhaps you had a similar experience yourself, with a friend, or a child...

While surfing the World Wide Web yesterday, I stumbled upon a story that took me back to that day in the late 70s. I saw where the Christian Children's Fund has decided to drop the word, Christian, from its name for (get this) MARKETING REASONS! The powers-that-be over there have decided that it's better to sacrifice their identity for the potential to raise more money. We must remember that when we sacrifice our core, we are sacrificing everything!

The term Christian was first used at a place called, Antioch, in the years shortly following Christ's death and resurrection (see Acts 11.26). Throughout history, it has carried a number of different connotations, and strangely enough, many negative. From persecution in the early days, to the crusades, to today's wars on political correctness, and every day in between when people who follow Jesus behave in such a ways as to discredit their witness and the ONE they follow, it carries unfortunate consequences to the Faith as a whole.

Let's face it, Christianity has always been controversial! From the days of Jesus himself to this very moment, the very mention of Christ brings joy to some and consternation to others. Jesus knew this; in fact, he said, that he didn't come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matt. 10.33-35) This is a strange thought, but it makes sense, because making a commitment to Christ requires us to make a decision: will we follow or not? Whichever choice we make, we are saying ‘yes’ to one side and ‘no’ to the other. This will thrill some and disappoint others, but unfortunately, we cannot have it both ways.

What causes me pain, however, is to see those who follow(ed) Jesus abandon Him because they are afraid of how it might look to non-Christians, or because they think they can benefit (i.e., make more money) by distancing themselves from the Savior of the world. It’s as though the word, Christian, is a dirty word. As an aside, I was talking with a pastor friend of mine the other day who told me his/her mission in the church he/she serves is to convince them that the word, Christian, is not a dirty word!

In the face all the controversy that His name stirs, we as Jesus-followers need to remember that this has been the case throughout the history of our faith. People – even those closest to us – might turn their backs on us and shun us for our beliefs, but this has been transpiring for millennia! It's time for those who place their faith in Christ to also stake their reputation in Him! For as the Scripture says, "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil. 2.10, emphasis mine)

Someone Is Looking For You

I have been leading a Bible Study this spring called, R(edemption) Rated. The basis of this study is to view some films (many of which I could not use in my teaching during worship due to thematic elements or pure length) and see how God's Truth shines forth. Our small group has viewed movies from all genres, providing unique opportunities to explore the Scripture and see how God might just be working in our own lives.

Last week we were watching scenes from the 1991 Billy Crystal comedy, City Slickers. During one scene toward the end, one of the characters said, "We're lost, but we're making great time." It got some chuckles, not because it was a terribly funny line, but because it dripped with truth.

So many of us, if not all, know exactly what that line is all about. In life, we are all searching for something: significance. We try to find it in so many different arenas, we find ourselves sounding like Eddie Murphy's impersonation of Buckwheat from a classic episode of Saturday Night Live, "Wookin' Pa Nub In Aw Duh Wong Pwaces." Looking in such wrong places leaves us feeling empty and lost until we find what we seek. Unfortunately, we cannot find significance in anything we can own, possess, or manipulate, but when we turn our lives over to the One Thing we were created for: a relationship with God.

Saint Augustine said it well at the start of his Confessions, "God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you." We can only find the significance in life we seek when we realize that we need God. So often we look elsewhere hoping against hope it's something we can do or achieve on our own, but we just can't. This leaves us feeling like Phil from City Slickers saying, "We're lost, but at least we're making good time."

All this searching can leave us tired and weary, so I have some good news – stop. Stop right where you are and ask the Lord to help. The reason this works without fail is because of a great mystery of faith: God is actually seeking you! Jesus said in Luke 19.10 that he came to seek and save what is lost.

I remember being a child and going to Six Flags with my parents. It was a crowded day and my folks gave me a lesson I'd never forget. If for some reason we get separated, don't go looking for them; just stop and know that they will be looking for me. They will find employees, security guards, and anyone else possible to help them in their search. So if I got lost, all I needed to do was stay right where I was and let somebody know I needed help.

This same lesson can apply to our spiritual life as well. Just like Jesus said, he is out looking to find and save those who are lost. He has rallied together those who believe in Him to help in the mission. If you are lost, stop running in circles trying to make sense of it all. Wait on God and allow His love to bring meaning and significance to your life. It can happen. It will happen. While we might be "Wookin' Pa Nub In Aw Duh Wong Pwaces", God knows just where to find you.

So slow your pace and rest your restless heart. Allow yourself to be found, because God is actively looking for YOU!

“Be Water, My Friend”

I can remember being a small boy and watching Kung Fu Theater with my dad. It was then I developed an admiration for one of my favorite action movie stars, philosophers, and all-around Hollywood heroes, Bruce Lee. A couple of years ago, I received his book, The Tao Of Jeet Kune Do, as a gift.

In the book, Lee Writes these words, “Be like water making its way through cracks...Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.”

Lee’s comments regard having a warrior’s attitude, but not just in the martial arts. Lee is suggesting how to approach life by going with the flow, not letting circumstances dictate one’s mood, and being at peace. If we can learn to be water, we can live life according to where we are led and use our unique gifts and abilities to make a difference for the world in which we live.

God has given us each a great task, and that is to share what He has done for us with others. Testifying to God’s grace and glory is not something for the clergy to do alone. After all, preachers, ministers, pastors, and priests can only go so many places and do so many things. But if we each took the glory of God in our lives and spread that where we already live, work, and play, things around us will change!

We are like cups, bottles, and teapots. Without accepting Jesus and having the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are nothing but empty vessels. This is not how we were created to live, however. By accepting Jesus, God gives us the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us to live according to the plan and purpose for our life. None of us want to be empty vessels; we want to do what we are supposed to do. We need living water! And to receive it, we need the Spirit to fill us and change us from the inside out.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus said, ‘“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” (John 7.38-39a) Just as water changes the properties of an empty cup, bottle, or teapot, the Spirit changes our properties and we become partakers of God’s nature.

With the Spirit inside us, living water flows, changing the spiritual landscape of the world. We then become cups, bottles, and teapots able to fulfill their purposes because they are full and ready for action. And as the water from within flows, thanks to God’s Spirit, we are now able to positively change the properties of the people, places, and things around us with faith, hope, and love.

We have the ability to change the world as we fulfill God’s purpose of our lives. So accept Jesus and God’s Spirit as God’s gift. Accept God’s plan for your life. Allow the Spirit to fill you and shape your mind, body, and soul. And get ready for living water to flow! Hang on, and “Be water my friend.”