Bruce Szwast November 13th, 2010

Oh the joys of camping.

The first time I went camping was in New Jersey, about this time of year. The day was good, but that night the temperature went down to about 32 degrees. I was so uncomfortable in the tent. I got into my car which was nearby but I dared not start it up lest I give away my inadequacy. At least my back did not hurt the next day.

When we moved to Florida we went on a church camping trip, about this time of year. No problem right? The temperature went down to about 32 degrees and my car was too far away. I grinned and bared it, and my back did hurt the next day. Oh well, I suppose that is what the church experience is all about.

We have gone camping at other times when it was warmer, but my interior motive was always just to go fishing. I could have my rubber dinghy ready for the Crack of Dawn, cruise (with a green and quiet electric motor, of course) out to my favorite spot over glass like water, listening to the birds awakening, and watching for the first glimmer of light over the trees, thinking about what is must have been like in the Beginning.

At the right spot and the right time I would watch for that little circle form on the 'surface of the waters' and cast my plastic worm into that circle. Boom, well sometimes, the silence of the morning would be briefly broken by a flurry of activity. Nothing like it, especially when it is warm. I wonder if the fish enjoy the challenge as much as I did. Catch and release you know.

Now Jesus knew how to fish. He would just think it and lot of fish would appear 'out of the dust of the ground'. I am sure you all know that there were two incidents of feeding the needy. One of 4000 and one of 5000. This was not a typo as some would claim since Jesus made reference to it in Matthew 16

"9. Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
10. Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?"

Sometimes we wonder about the unbelief of the disciples. But if we put ourselves in their sandals, we would just be overwhelmed with 3 years of activities which seem to contradict everything we are taught to believe. But we get it eventually. Matthew seemed to be into Bible Chronology and saw Jesus as descended from Adam. John, the high minded one, saw Jesus as the one who made it all, the author of life and in control of all things.

You will pardon the analogy of 'catch and release', but Jesus told us to be fishers of men, not to be released again, but to be freed from damnation and to enjoy eternal life, in the new creation, which I am sure will happen in the 'twinkling of the eye'. Jesus proves His power and authority over and over again, ever since Day 1.

Alma Siemens November 13th, 2010

I especially liked the idea of an answer and question session.

A Dream Unveiled: Wild Goose Lineup Announcement, Part 1! :: WildGoose Festival 2011 November 23rd, 2010

[...] For now, if you want to hear more about the festival, you might want to listen to Festival Director Gareth Higgins talking with Steve Brown in an interview he did just a few days ago, on the appropriately-named Steve Brown Etc.. [...]

A Dream Continued: Wild Goose Lineup Announcement, Part II! :: WildGoose Festival 2011 November 26th, 2010

[...] And in case you missed it, check out Festival Director Gareth Higgins talking with Steve Brown in an interview he did recently on Steve Brown Etc. [...]