Pastor’s Blog
Shield: Ephesians 6:16
There was a time when a shield was a common household object. In your little one-story, one-bedroom home, you had your water jug, your firewood, your flints, your pottery…and your spear and your shield. Those were violent times perhaps.
The Spartan mothers would tell their boys headed out to war, "Come back with your shield or on it." In other words, don't be that coward that throws down his shield in the face of danger and runs away. Make a stand, and either win or die trying.” Ok, mom!
Shift Your Weight: Matthew 14
Sometimes it’s the same motions and activities and steps that we’ve done hundreds of times, but it’s the context that throws us off and makes us doubt we can do it.
For example, in Matthew 14, Jesus walks out across the water of the Sea of Galilee to reach his disciples. It’s stormy. The waves are high. Their boat is taking on water. In the deep gloom they discern a figure in the water who identifies himself, above the noise of the storm, as their teacher, Jesus. Jesus calls to Peter to come out onto the water to him. In the storm. Boat sinking. Waves high. Walk on the water.
Feet in the Net: Psalm 25:15
There's a show on Netflix called The Floor is Lava, on which teams of contestants are told to get from one end of the room to the other without touching the floor, which is covered in four or five feet of bubbling red water ("lava"). They have to jump from one piece of furniture to another to do so. On one episode, there was a giant cargo net that contestants could release from the ceiling and then jump to.
Deer Feet: Psalm 18:33, 36
I once met a man who called his son a “rock climber.” His son wasn’t someone who dabbled in buying the gear or who went on a trip to a national park that one time. No, he was a full-fledged rock climber. He plans trips based on the mountain’s challenge to his personal fitness, requiring his absolute attention to safety, and then he goes and takes on those challenges! So cool!