Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

For years, my career revolved around sports teams, facilities, and contests.  One of my favorite parts of that chapter was the early mornings at the outdoor facilities.  As the sun rises, it bounces off the dew that clings to blades of grass on the meticulously manicured playing surface. A clean crisp breeze pushes across the field as the birds chirp in the background. What would later be filled with athletes and fans was now tranquil and peaceful. In these moments, I can recall being grateful for God’s creation.  A feeling of awe would overtake me as I realize how small I am in this world. A feeling of gratitude followed as I realized that God intimately knows me and loves me.  Even the hairs on our head are individually known to God (Matt 10:30). Those who love God are known by God (1 Cor 8:3). There is no place we can hide from God (Heb 4:13). We are known by our creator.  Take a moment to pause. Soak in God’s beautiful creation surrounding you. I...

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.- James 1:17 NIV John Maxwell said, "Change is inevitable, growth is optional." I think most of us resist change because it is uncomfortable. It pushes us to do things differently or shift our way of doing things. It may change our way of thinking about the things we face. There is peace and safety with our normal routines and way of doing/thinking of things. When those things change it can feel like our world turns into chaos and we don’t have control. We experience vulnerability.  My family and I experienced significant change this last year as I stepped into vocational ministry. The change was both uncomfortable and exciting. There has been this wonderful peace surrounding the change. I believe, with my whole heart, it is because my employer changed, who I work for (God) stayed the same.  As James reminds us our Heavenly Fathe...

"No one will be able to stand up against you all of the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you." - Joshua 1:5 Earlier this week I found myself staring doubt straight in the face. In this world of uncertainty, the enemy had waged a war in my soul. His weapon was uncertainty and fear. He uttered the words, "You are not good enough. You are not strong enough. You cannot do this." It was a very real battle. I was powerless. The words of Joshua 1:9 have been a shelter for my soul. The promises resonate and remind me of the the truth. It says, "Be strong and filled with courage; do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua certainly faced doubt. Moses was dead and God was calling him to lead His people. He assures him that he will never leave him.  That promise rescued me from doubt. The promise that I am not alone and God...

This past week we had the chance to hold a worship service on a ship. For me it was a first. I love worship services and preaching. Worshiping on a ship with a group of guys who haven’t had the chance to share in corporate worship for months made it even more meaningful. Huddled up in the crew’s lounge space, we sang worship songs together (thanks to our intern, Gabe, and his willingness to play guitar and sing), shared in the word, prayed, partook in the Lord's Supper, and shared in a message.  The message I shared centered around the fact that God is always with us. It is something I think it is important to remind seafarers. Their time on the ship can be physically and mentally arduous. The solitude can be overwhelming. One of the blessings of being a follower of Jesus is that we are never alone. God is with us. Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” in Romans 8...

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. - 1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV I have always taken this verse as a nudge to grow up. It reminded me to act like an adult and accept responsibility for my actions. As a child I didn't worry about a roof over my head or question where my next meal would come from. I was truly blessed by my parents.  As adults we work hard to put a roof over our head and pay our bills. We focus on responsibility instead of fun. The worry-free hours of play get replaced with purposeful actions.   After seeing the incredible generosity of our kids at VBS, I find myself enamored by the love they showed in their giving. Their faith in Jesus and hope that others will share the same faith drove them to give. Love truly emanated from their actions.  Later in the chapter, the author of Corinthians says, "And now these three remain: faith...

I saw this quote recently, “You glow differently when your confidence is fueled by belief in yourself instead of validation from others.” I found myself wrestling with it. I completely agree with the concept that the validation of my worth is not established by the thoughts of others. While I think a positive self image is important, I do not think that it is what really makes me “glow differently.” I hope I glow differently because of whom I believe in, rather than what I believe of myself.  The author of Titus says, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7) . Love and kindness entered the world in the form of a m...

Well, these last few weeks have been a “whirlwind”. We have had a banquet, the Giving Challenge, staffing changes at Anchor House, amazing volunteers who have headed north for summer, we’ve begun a website redesign, engaged in a process to consolidate years of data into one database, we launched a Youtube page, began to present weekly messages on that YouTube page, and we have had plenty of ships and seafarers in port. In the first four months of this year, we have served half as many meals to date as we did in the entirety of 2021. Anchor House is moving and shaking.  During this “whirlwind”, I have let my blog posts slip. I think the last I published was in week 14 and this is now week 20. That's right, 20 weeks serving God at Anchor House. How time flies. Each week that passed whereI hadn’t written, I could come up with various reasons as to why. Sometimes, I’d say to myself, “I’ll write next week and get it back on track.” The next week would come and go with no...

I was curious, so I googled how long it takes to build a skyscraper. I got answers that varied significantly. Some said 1 year and others said 5 years with the average being 3 years. One article suggested that the Empire State building took 13 months to build back in 1931. Regardless of the exact timeline, the pathway to transforming a skyline is lengthy. It just doesn't happen overnight.  The Christ the Redeemer Statue forever changed the landscape of Rio de Janeiro. It was built on top of Mount Corcovado over the course of 5 years. Standing 98 feet, it is the tallest Art Deco sculpture in the world. It is considered one of the new 7 Wonders of the world. The Catholic church funded the project as an initiative to build a monument in a city that was considered “godless”. I’m not sure if the statue impacted people’s choice to follow Jesus, but it certainly transformed the landscape of the city. Whether building skyscrapers or wonders of the world, you have to start ...

Happy Easter! This Easter week was just different at the SeaPort. We had quite a few ships in and many that will stay for Easter. One of the ships was getting loaded for most of the week and some of the crew came to Anchor House for some R&R. They shot pool, played basketball, got something to eat, and took advantage of the WiFi.  The final night the ship was in town, some of the guys spent the entire afternoon and evening with us. They had such a great time. As they got hungry they ordered a couple of double cheeseburgers, a great American classic.   Not long after, they ordered a couple of more double cheeseburgers. I didn't think much of it, these guys work hard and maybe they were really just hungry. But then they asked for them to be wrapped up for takeaway. Not long after, a few of their shipmates showed up at the center. They too ordered double cheeseburgers. Theirs were ordered for takeaway too.   After I left for the day, the impor...

Trish and I have had this wonderful discussion about the fact that we don't have jobs. I've had jobs before. When you are first starting in a new job it is exciting and you work passionately. Many times there is a shift that occurs. From the get to attitude to the have to attitude, "I have to go to work today." Jobs have the ability to consume our lives because we have our compass pointed in the wrong direction. When we chase a promotion and a paycheck it leads us down an empty path. They may consume us, but they are just a job.  Trish and I agree, serving God and his people at Anchor House is better described as a calling. We get the chance to live as missionaries right here in our own town. God invites us to serve Him and His people in this very special way. We get to show His love and share the Good News with a local, regional, and global impact. Jobs can be replaced when the person chooses. You simply decide you want to do something else, quit your jo...

In the communion and offering meditation, Mindy shared a picture of their family's dinner table. She described the numerous activities that happen around that table. The one she said that stuck out the most to me was forgiveness.  There is one particular table in the Bible that comes to mind. It is where a significant moment in our history occurred. At this table, Jesus is dining with his closest followers, just hours before He will be arrested. He gathers with them to partake in the festival of unleavened bread. During this meal, this table is the stage for truth, betrayal, denial, lies, promise, and forgiveness.   As Jesus identifies his betrayer (Matt 26:20-25) and predicts Peter's denial of Him (Matt 26:31-35), He is fully aware of what is to come. He will pay a ransom to free God's people. Even as these bonds of trust and friendship are broken, Jesus doesn't relent. He still breaks the bread and still drinks of the cup. He offers forgiveness, "T...

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3 NIV I was looking through various translations of Proverbs 16:3. I found that I received each one differently. For as long as I can remember, I have considered this as a verse that makes me think of success. If I commit my actions to God, He will be in my plans. Almost like God is some sort of genie in a bottle. It's a transaction based understanding. If I do A, God will do B for me and B happens to be something I planned out.   The New Living Translation seems to support my understanding as it says, "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." Essentially, if I commit MY actions to God, MY plans will succeed. I seem to be the central focus of this approach.   There seems to be a flaw in my understanding. If I am the one whose plans are being fulfilled, how can my actions honor God? If I were to truly commit my actions to God, could I still have my ...

 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2: 13-14 This is one of those selections of scripture that we like to gloss over while reading the Bible. This letter is written by the apostle Peter to the churches of another part of the Roman Empire. The people were located in what is now Turkey and were facing persecution for being Christians.  Christians were the new kids on the block when it came to religions. I'm sure it felt uncomfortable to the people of the time. I'd think they'd have felt similar as we would about a new cult popping up in our neighborhood.   Peter tells the church, "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us" (1 Peter 2:12). He basically says be...

One of the blessings of serving at Anchor House is I get to visit quite a few churches. One of the downfalls is that I get the messages intermixed from week to week. I show up for a single Sunday and don't get the benefit of the continuity of hearing an entire series.  This week I decided to re-read the creation story. It has been one section of the Bible that has been a part of many of the sermons I've heard lately. The story of God making the land has captivated me. Genesis 1:9 we see the creation of land "And God said, 'Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.' And it was so." He created the land then put it to work. God doesn't stop with creation, He continues with providing purpose. "Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so" (Genesis 1:11). The land ...

Our annual banquet is upcoming March 25th. For me this will be the first I have been a part of at Anchor House. Of course, I have been to other banquets, but not one for a mission I have the privilege of serving with. As the new guy, I am looking forward to meeting new people and sharing what the Lord is doing at Anchor House. Of course, the banquet is more than just a time for us to gather and enjoy each other's company. It is one of the major fundraisers to support the ministry.  That purpose is not lost. I have been amazed at the generosity of the many people who have given to Anchor House for the banquet. Whether it's purchasing a ticket, sponsoring the night, or giving and in kind gift for our silent auction the support for the ministry is overwhelming.  2 Corinthians 9:6‭-‬8 says, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your...

Have you ever found yourself aimlessly perusing the internet or social media? Just the other day I was scrolling through Twitter looking at articles about Ukraine. As I read, I felt my heart beat increase. I could physically feel anxiety from what I was reading.  It just so happened that I was doing this when I was supposed to be reading my devotional. In the morning I like to read a short devotional to get the day started. This particular day, however, I chose to see what was taking place in Ukraine.  As I was hit with my anxious feelings, I drew back to one of my earlier writings titled “Wrong App.” However, this time I was moved differently. It made me reflect on the term spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines can be thought of as the practices we participate in that help us grow in our relationship with God. They include Bible reading, meditation and prayer, serving, worshiping together, and many others.  Some use the term spiritual practices bu...

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10 NIV This week I had the chance to share a short devotional in our Anchor House staff meeting. It was about this word "thrive" that God has put on my heart for this year and in this new chapter.  The word "thrive" can be defined as "to grow or develop well, to prosper, to flourish."  When I think about thriving in God's kingdom, John 10:10 comes to mind.  But I must admit that I have struggled with what it says.  It says "life to the full" and I want it to say "life to the fullest". Isn't that what the world tells us to do? Live life to the fullest?  We are supposed to be the strongest, the richest, the smartest, prettiest, or any other "est". I want to compete. I want to live life to the fullest. That's not the way God's kingdom works.  It's not a competition. Jesus died...

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...

What if a father neglected his responsibilities and sat on his porch every night waiting for his estranged son to come home? What if one Sunday morning the people of a church arrived to find out the pastor suddenly cancelled services and instead he hit the streets looking for those who needed to feel love again? What if a teacher left their class to chase down a student who ran away?  Would you consider these actions reckless? The Mirriam-Webster dictionary offers this as a definition for reckless, "marked by lack of proper caution : careless of consequences.". Each of the scenarios above has an aspect of recklessness associated with it. There are consequences to neglecting responsibilities around the house. It seems careless to cancel church without advanced notice. It seems careless to leave behind believers for those who do not believe. What church is doing that on Sunday morning? There are consequences for a teacher who abandons their class. Each of these...

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12 The imagery in this passage is vivid.  Most of us don’t run around using swords anymore.  However, we have seen them in museums, history books, and movies, of course.  We know that a double edge sword has a blade on each side of the sword.  As opposed to our kitchen knives that have a blade on just one side. This was a tool meant to make an impact.   Paul the author describes a sword that has the sharpness of a surgical scalpel. It is able to split the joints of the bones from the marrow of the bones themselves. It can divide a soul from a spirit. The operator of the sword has a steady hand with precision.  Prior to this verse, the Apostle Paul has just shared with the audience the importance of rest.  He challenges his audience t...