Men's Breakfast at Gateway

Yesterday morning we had our Men's Breakfast at Gateway (that's the Church community we belong to). We heard from a guest speaker named Josh Riebock. He was described as a radical man of Christ and even though he denied that his story told led me to believe differently. He challenged us on the day before Easter to be radical ourselves. The word radical might frighten some of you but, trust me, it's okay in this context. :) I'm going to give a recap of what we heard as best I can. I liked what I heard and thought it was worth sharing with family and friends.

Josh began by first describing how we sometimes view our Lord. Comforting, caring, loving, relaxed, at ease....and He is, no doubt, all of these things. But He was also amazing and strong and dynamic, and a little edgy. A lot edgy as we learn from the story Matthew tells in Matthew 14:22-32 (Jesus walks on water). Many of us have heard the story of how Jesus walks out to the boat and reveals himself to his disciples and how He invites Peter out onto the water with him and when he begins to sink Jesus is there to grab him and keep him safe. Many of you may have envisioned this story before, as I did. A nice calm sea where Jesus walks out to the boat and calls Peter out of the boat and when Peter follows the Lords command to come to Him on the calm sea. This story helps illustrate that when we are troubled God is there for us and will not allow us to sink. Not a bad way to think of the story. And it's words are true. But let's dig a little deeper and understand it in a light that has much stronger meaning.

We know from the story that Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him to cross the Sea of Galilee, dismisses the crowd and goes to pray until the evening. So considerable time has passed, yet Jesus was still able to reach the fisherman on the water before they have completed their crossing. These experienced sailors are in very rough seas. We can think of it as a storm. The winds are gusting and they are in water that is extremely rough. Waves crashing against the boat as they make their way. When, in the water, they see Christ approaching them and they are terrified and cry out in fear. And Jesus says to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." I imagine these men scared at what they were seeing and not knowing what to do, prompting Peter to go check it out. I imagine Peter cautiously moving to the edge of the boat where it is not quite as safe, to investigate what is there. Then he says something to Jesus, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water". Now that's interesting. He and the others want proof that what they are seeing is real and that it is in fact Jesus. But why does he say those words. Why not, "if it's you Lord, where were we when you asked me to follow you?" or "what was the name of the boy your rose from the dead?" or "where did you heal the blind man?" or even "where is your secret place of prayer?", after all Peter knew all these places and events well and that would offer proof enough. Instead, he asks for something he knows only Jesus can do. Jesus told him to "come". And Peter got out of the boat and went to Him.

Let's step back for a second and consider some of what is happening. The seas are stormy. There is a figure that is calling to Peter that has told him that He is Jesus. And now he's getting out of the boat to walk on water. The other apostles are watching all this happen. So we have Peter on the edge of the boat preparing to step out onto the waters and we have the apostles in the safety of the boat. Now all the apostles were amazing men and had tremendous faith in Christ. They walked in faith with Jesus daily. Giving up the comfort of their homes and way of life to follow Him and deliver His message to others. These were strong men. Strong in their faith and listening to God and yet they were frightened, terrified in fact, trembling like little children at the sight of this figure they knew so well walking toward them on the water. How often I find myself in that same situation. Disbelief in what is possible, fearful of what is going on around me or what might occur next. And then there is Peter. Fearful and terrified himself but asking if Christ wants him to take what he believes is the next step. "Lord, if it's you, [if this is the path you want me to take, if this is the direction I am to go], tell me to come to you on the water, [tell me to take that next step, tell me to reach out to a friend in need, tell me to build a church, tell me to help a sick friend even when it's not convenient, tell me to stand up and give my testimony, tell me to leave a job when I don't have a better one, tell me to give when I have nothing to give]".

So Peter left the comfort of the boat and stepped out in faith that Jesus would be there for him. And He was. It was still frightening. Let's pretend we're Peter for a second. Out on the water, waves crashing violently, wind gusting. This was an extremely uncomfortable situation. If that was me it would be very easy to lose focus and freak out a little. As Josh was describing this, describing the events, I could see myself in that situation. And when Peter cries out, "Lord, save me!" Would that had been me or would I have been the one that looked back to the ship for help? That would have been just as normal a reaction. To look back to your friends for help, to pull you from the water. And while that makes sense, when you're out of the boat, when you are where God has called you to be, only He can help you. You must do as Peter did and look to Christ. And when you are where God has called you to be, He will reach out and take your hand just as Jesus did for Peter.

Josh finished up the message with some final thoughts. That sometimes God will put us in some difficult situations and ask us to do things outside of our comfort zone. But consider this, when the apostles looked back on the previous day's events and thought about the experience of what had transpired. The apostles definitely all had a story to tell and the events deepened their relationship with Christ for being there but Peter, without a doubt, had a much deeper closer relationship because of what he did. He was out in the storm with Jesus. A little inconvenient, a little out of his comfort zone (or a lot), but that is how we build our relationship with Him. Trusting Christ to be there for us just as He was for Peter.

Our little one is waking up :) .......keep in mind that you don't have to do a complete 180 when it comes to trusting and having faith....take one degree at a time. Make a difference in your life, someone else's life and return the love Christ showed us when he died for our salvation.

Josh finished up with three points that he wanted us to remember. (I actually forgot what they were and emailed him about them so I could make sure to remember. Funny huh?) Here is a question he posed then answered with the three points.

Why does God invite us to live in faith?
1. To become who we want to become
2. To become who the world needs us to become
3. To further develop intimacy with us

I really enjoyed the time with Josh and the other men at Gateway.

(Podcast's are available on Josh's website: http://www.joshriebock.com/