Destroying The Oceans

What Kind Of Stewards Are We?

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Gen 1:28 KJV)

Watching the television documentary series "Drain The Oceans" the last couple of days has caused me a bit; no a lot, of concern over the way humankind has not been very good stewards of any of God's creation. It seems apparent that wars occur for no reason other than one person or a small group of people are greedy for wealth or power or both and have no problem with multitudes dying so that they can get what they want. They also don't seem to give any forethought to destroying the oceans or any living creature or plant that depends on water to live.  

I could not help but wonder how it is that submarines were invented and used during the Civil War; way before automobiles were even invented! Motivation to destroy others; to get wealth and or power over others seems to be a really strong motivation to get things accomplished.

It was devastating to see how many ships lie at the bottom of the oceans because of war. It was devastating to consider how many lives were lost because kings and queens and all sorts of other rulers wanted to rule the world.

I had totally forgotten about the testing of nuclear bombs during the Cold War. Testing in the Pacific Ocean; blowing up ships and islands as well as burying the nuclear waste in the ocean! I could not help but wonder how far the radiation had spread not just in the air; but, in the oceans. How far did the currents carry the garbage? What kind of effect did it have on the created life that exists in the ocean. After being bombed at the test site, the USS Independence was towed into the San Francisco harbor so that the Navy could study nuclear decontamination. It was later towed out about 30 miles so that it would sink out of everyone's sight and not in the harbor. I am certainly not an expert and that may be why I get concerned over stuff that I can only view as detrimental to not only human life; but, of all life. 

Then there were those four nuclear missiles that the United States accidently dropped on Spain in 1966. Three were found on land. The fourth was eventually found and retrieved from the Mediterranean Sea. How does that even happen!  How much nuclear garbage is hidden in our oceans left by the United States and Russia during the Cold War? 

After each day of creation God saw what He created and declared that it was good. When He created humankind He said it was very good. He gave us dominion over all that He created. I am pretty sure that by giving us dominion that He meant for us to take care of all that He created and not to destroy it.  If we destroy it there will be nothing left to have dominion over! 

Greed for wealth and power have been destructive forces in our world since the very beginning. May God help us to think a whole lot more before we do things that will further damage our world; before we destroy each other. Let us consider the consequences before we act on our impulses.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Beauty Of The Oceans

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

                                                                                 (Gen 1:20-23 KJV)

It has been a few years since I have been diving. I miss it. I was able to go snorkeling with one of my granddaughters about a year ago. I miss it. I miss the feel, the taste, even the smell of the salt water. I miss seeing the beauty of God's creation that is hidden from our sight in the depths of the oceans. 

There is a lot of beauty above the waters as well. God has made all things beautiful.  (Eccl 3:11) Let us make a habit of appreciating and being thankful for the beauty God has given us in all things.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Praise the Lord for Life!

Psalm 148:7-12

Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
old men and children.

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Every breathing creature upon this earth lives because of the very breath of God. He said: Let there be... and, there it was. 

How much do we appreciate the gift of life that He has given us? Do we spend more time lamenting our lot in life and drowning our sorrows, rather than thanking and praising God for the gifts that we have been given?

Live life! God gave us life for a reason and it was not to destroy it. Live life in relationship with God and enjoy the precious gifts that He has given you. Live life in a good relationship with all of God's creation and enjoy the life that you have received.

May all of God's creatures give thanks and praise the life that He has given us here on earth and in the Kingdom that has no end.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Thunderous Voice

Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
   worship the Lord in the splendor of his 

   holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
   the God of glory thunders,
   the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
   the voice of the Lord is majestic.

                                    Psalm 29:1-4 NIV

I awoke to the sound of powerful thunder over the mighty waters last night. I love to listen to the skies quake and the oceans roar. I love to hear the sound of the thunder; to hear the pounding of the rain upon the roof; to sit in the darkness watching the lightning light up the sky in the darkness of the night.

The sound of thunder in Flagler Beach is not quite like the sound it makes in Michigan. It sounds so much closer to the earth here. It roars like the ocean roars in the midst of a storm. At one point last night it sounded as though maybe the ocean had decided to roar over the land so much that I felt obliged to get up and check to see if the water  was rising and how fast. It is not that it causes me fear. It reminds me that we should all have just a little more fear and respect for the one who has power over all things; even the storms. Storms remind me of the beginning; of how the Spirit of God hovered over the darkness; over the deeps; over the chaos. And, as God spoke with his mighty voice He created all things out of all that darkness and chaos.

I do appreciate a good storm now and then. I enjoy listening to the roar of the water and the thunder. It reminds me of who God is. It reminds me that He is all powerful. He is majestic. Let us all give God the glory due His name!

God's Peace – Pr. J    

All Things Shall Praise The LORD!

           

               Praise the LORD you great sea creatures!

                                (Manatee - Blue Springs State Park, FL)

         Praise the Lord.

         Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for at his command they were created,

and he established them for ever and ever—

he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and women,

old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

And he has raised up for his people a horn,

the praise of all his faithful servants,

of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 148 NIV

God's Peace - Pr. J

Fishing!

Diving at the USS Aeolus off coast of NC many years ago...

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.  (Mark 1:16-18 NIV)

It has been a couple of decades now since I have been diving. I loved it. My health was at its best when I was diving. That may have been due to the salt water; maybe the exercise or maybe it was due to the atmospheric pressure or increased oxygen intake or all the aforementioned.

I thoroughly enjoyed being at the bottom of the Atlantic with the fish. But, while there, I never fished. That for me would have been a fruitless effort. I have never been much of a fisherperson. I enjoy being with the fish. I even enjoy eating them. I just cannot catch them. Even as a child I could not catch them. My family would go fishing often. Everyone would catch near their limits and me - NONE, NADA, NOT A THING.

That being said, I do fish; but, not for fish. I have been called, as many of you have, to fish for people. Sometimes my efforts are productive. Sometimes they are not. They are not when I depend on my ability to fish rather than trust God to fill the nets. Whether the fishing is productive or not really depends on the Spirit of God and not on me and not on you. Yes, we have to get out there and share the Good News. But, it is up to the Spirit of Christ to open ears, and eyes and hearts that they might hear and receive. And, it is not you or me who does this fishing; but, Christ who abides in us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Help us Lord to have the courage and wisdom to go and fish for people. Help us to trust you for a great catch.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Praise Ye The Lord!

"Praise the Lord from the earth,
     you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
    old men and children."
                                  Psalm 148:7-12 NIV

God is God of all of creation. He has made all things marvelously. Let us intentionally look around us today so that we might be better able to understand his awesome sovereignty; to grasp more firmly the reality of His gifts to humankind and all of creation. God, alone, is worthy to be praised. Let us all praise the Lord!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Beside Still Waters

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

He leads me beside still waters and not just figuratively. I have been blessed once again to live by still waters. The photo above was taken by my granddaughter in my new backyard. My last back yard was the mouth of a river. This one is a creek. I have been told that every now and then in the winter, I might see a manatee in this creek. I don't know how true that is; but, looking forward to seeing one, again. A few decades ago, I had the privilege of swimming with them. That, I understand is no longer allowed as they are awesome creatures and must be protected.

I have been most fortunate to live most of my life with a creek or river or even a Great Lake or ocean within at least walking distance of my home. I remember catching minnows for fishing in the creek near my grandmother's home when I was very young.

The waters reassure me of God's many promises to us. They are a reminder that through the waters of baptism our sins are washed away and we are born again. They are also a great reminder that there are some things that human beings cannot control as every now and then God will stir up even the stillest of waters. But, most of all the still waters remind of the peace that can be found only in Jesus Christ. No matter what storms might come; the water reminds me of God's peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Water and Word

"And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins." Mark 1:5

Scripture is full of stories of the water. The Israelites passing through the Red Sea; Jesus promising to give us living water; baptizing us with water and the Word; John baptizing multitudes in the River Jordan are just a few examples.

It is no secret that I love the water and I highly enjoy living near it. My last home was in an awesome cedar swamp on the edge of a bay of Lake Superior. These days, at least temporarily, I am, once again, living just a few miles from the Atlantic Ocean on a beautiful little river. The waters remind me of what God has done for us; for me. He has washed us. He has made us clean and not just with water; but, with the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Word.

May God bless us with constant reminders that through Him our sins have been forgiven; we have been washed and made clean.

God's Peace - Pr. J