Anchor House Week 1: Purpose

As I reflect on week one at Anchor House Mission the word that keeps coming to mind is comfortable. Comfortable is often equated with complacent. The book of Revelation puts it this way,”I know your deeds that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either one or the other” (Rev 3:15). Complacency couldn't be further from the invigoration I feel associated with this new beginning. If John’s intention was to associate hot with being filled with purpose, excitement, and energy then it certainly describes how I feel.

For me, this feeling of being comfortable is better equated to being at home. Outgoing Executive Director/Chaplain, Alan Howe, has gone out of his way to assure a smooth transition. In addition, he has decided to remain with us and serve as a volunteer chaplain. Manager/Chaplain, Trish Alligood, has never flinched at my barrage of questions. She is one of the most committed individuals I have ever met. Yet makes time to provide training and insight to her new boss. Sandi is known as the Anchor House Kitchen Ninja. She works tirelessly from arrival to departure. Each person who visits the center is sent off with a “Have a blessed day” from Sandi. This is a special group of people. They certainly contribute to my feeling of being at home.

However, that’s not it. There is something more. It is a peace of knowing God has me right where He wants me. A joy associated with a Kingdom purpose.

Seafarers are a long way from home for months on end. They work hard, long days and rarely get a chance to get off the ship. The longshoreman and port employees invest hour after hour to move containers and bulk products in and out of the port. Port security always stands ready to assure the safety of the port, the people, and the contents. Truck drivers file in one after another waiting for their call to load out and move the products out to their final destination. There are so many moving parts and many, many people engaged in the process.

In the first week, it is glaringly obvious the nature of His purpose for us at Anchor House Mission. Our purpose is best described as love. We are called to be a ray of light. We get to simply love our neighbor and let God do the rest.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt

Comments

Anchor House Week 31 - NAMMA

The first week of August, I had the chance to attend the North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) Conference. NAMMA is an ecumenical, Christian association of individuals and affiliated organizations involved in maritime ministry throughout North America, including the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. I had the privilege of attending the conference with our summer intern, Gabe. For both of us it was the first time we had the chance to be a part of the conference. I enjoyed getting to meet so many individuals who serve the Lord across the globe. Each of us serves at different ports and in unique ways. The exchange of ideas was both enjoyable and informative, especially for me as the new guy. Each of the people I met had a heart for the seafarer and the challenges they face. Their hearts poured out to show the love of Jesus to the men and women aboard the vessels that visit their respective ports. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting one

Anchor House Week12: Constant

I've gotten almost a week behind on my reflections from Anchor House. It seems there just isn't enough time in the day. The way these blogs come together is different from week to week. Some weeks God puts a message clearly on my heart. Others it feels like a struggle to put "pen to paper". This week was one of those that I knew exactly what I'd write about. However, each day passed and I missed the opportunity. You see, I write best in the mornings. Not sure if it's the limited distractions, a product of my habit of practicing my spiritual disciplines in the morning, or something else entirely. Most of my afternoon writing is intelligible and requires numerous edits. In the AM, however, they seem to make more sense. What's funny is that as I am writing, I am feeling God moving. He's moving from what I thought I was to write about to what He wants me to share. These shifts and changes are a part of the shipping industry. Things hap

King of the Jews

Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head. They clothed Him in a purple robe and went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped Him in the face. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take Him and crucify Him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against Him.” The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law He must die, because He claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus g

Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

Search This Blog