Skip to main content

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
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anchor House: Week 6 Buried Treasure

When I started at Anchor House I committed to write at least one blog per week. Writing is something I enjoy and a way I get to interact with God. I can recall wanting to write about Anchor House in the days before I started, but my knowledge was limited..  To be honest I felt like I knew three things before I joined Anchor House. First,  Anchor House was a mission at Port Manatee (the Seaport, not the jail) Second, I knew it was a mission that my church, Westside Christian Church, supported with our Show Love funds.  Third, I knew God was calling me to serve Him there. However, what happened at Anchor House day to day was something of a mystery to me.   After being here for a few weeks I have learned quite a bit. I know where to look to find out when ships are coming in or departing.  I have learned that I am just tall enough to hit my head where most seafarers don’t. I have learned that flexibility is the key to serving at a seaport. One of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Set Your Sights

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.- Colossians 3:2  Have you ever made a mistake and had someone ask, "Where are you at?" They ask it when they think you've lost your focus. Usually it happens when performing an easy task or one they've seen you perform successfully numerous times. But this time your actions don't match the task. They assume your mind is on something else or somewhere else.  The challenges of life have a way of hijacking our peace and focus. Finances, work, friendships, church, housing, food, politics, children, spouses, parents, worry, fear, anger, and jealousy can take over our minds. They take our focus off of the task at hand.  Paul reminds his readers, in his letter to the Colossians, that we all died. We are born again in Jesus and the things of this world cannot change our future. We have the promise of an eternal place in heaven with our Lord. Nothing in this world can ever take that away. There is no fear,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more