Went back into the mangroves behind Picnic Island on a high tide. It all started with a call at 8:30 am from Jon Locklear. I like it when I am rousted out of bed to go do something worthwhile I might not have done on my own. Here are the results.
As we left the bay started swarming with very large Jack Cravelle. John hooked into two that started smoking his drag but the rig was to light for either on and they broke off.
The older you get the more death you see until soon enough it is your own demise you face. I met Charles Michael Moser through South Tampa Fellowship. I first met his daughters family at STF and later as Mike came to know and grow in Jesus I had the pleasure of knowing him. He is an awful sweet fellow and I am happy to know that he is where I will be when I pass form this death unto my new life with the Lord.
It was only a couple months ago that we would see him at church just about every time we would gather. On Fridays we would see him behind the welcome desk in the morning and it was always a blessing to have his welcoming presence there to greet us. The last two Fridays we saw him it was evident he was experiencing a change in his health. There was talk of a hernia but I suspect he knew something more was up. It was not long after he went to see a doctor who gave him the news I think he already anticipated. Cancer was the diagnosis but no one could have suspected just how pervasive it was. Now when I arrive at church I miss seeing him but I know I will see him soon enough along with my father and the growing number of folks I love who have gone on before. It really is a happy thought to know that as soon as I leave this body I will be in the presence of Jesus with all my bothers and sisters who have gone on before!
Tyler has acquired a Nemo 200 Underwater housing so we tested with a Canon HV20 recently. It work very well!
Here is video I captured with my little canon sd800.
Here is the HD video of me blowing bubble rings under da water.
Yeah, yeah, I know they have been married and have a sweet little girl but that is all the more to celebrate. I had a really enjoyable time of fellowship with everyone as we slowly floated along on the Star Lite Majesty.
A place that is completely familiar can suddenly become as foreign as the other side of the world. It is not often but there have been times in my life when I have found this to be true. It most cases it is not the surroundings, unless of course you factor in some catastrophic natural disaster that radically changes the landscape you once found familiar. In most cases it is a shift in relationships.
A change in leadership and values without a change in direction can so change the social dynamic of a place you find yourself feeling lost. It becomes increasingly more difficult to gracefully fit in as you once believed you did. This is the natural course of things after years of watching those you know so well grow older and turn their focus in new directions.
One thing I do find the hardest to process is letting people down. On so many occasions I have felt an expectancy from others as to who I might be to them as time passed. I have seen the light in their eyes fade as I have failed them. It is never more heart breaking than when in the mind of a little one they decide we are to be the one who rescues them from the tragic circumstances they find themselves in.
You know by their complete and unmerited trust they are looking for a savior. You know you are powerless to do anything but show them the love of Jesus in that moment you have with them. You tell them Jesus loves them when you say goodbye knowing full well they are returning to the torment of a home life in chaos and possibly even abuse.
The saddest moment of all is that moment when you know they understand you can do nothing. You hope against all the odds they decide not to count you among their tormentors for you failure to stop the pain, only to have them begin to keep their distance. It is not easy for anyone, even a child to step into the moment when they recognize they are loved unconditionally without the shadow of the rejection they have experienced tainting the present.
You can pray but I get so mad when I pray and nothing changes. I know it is pride but I still get angry. Grown ups are the walking dead, I am the walking dead. None of us live in Christ-likeness powerful enough to transcend our own insecurities and so we all fail to be open and honest. We all fail to walk in the light. We are all strangers to each other. Strangers who are the best of friends rapidly moving to our graves.
The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
(Joh 12:34-37)
Big birthdays are good business for folks who snap images like me. I have a few really gracious clients who enlist me to record their celebrations. I sure do appreciate them.
I recorded some images for friends of mine who have an online business called Baby Rock Apparel. I enjoyed it and was really happy with the results.
A big thanks to all the little models you did a terrific job!
There are many times in my life…. more like many times in any given week when I experience an astonishing affinity for this or that person I find myself in proximity to. Perhaps you have have experienced this on many occasions in your daily life as well and this is what prompts me to type these few words. This experience is especially acute when you can see in another’s eyes the same familiar quality of light. This is the kind of reaction I can only ascribe to God and His never ending gaze upon us. A gaze which only we break by turning our eyes away to perishable things.
Where is the balance? I can tell you that few people know the true overflow of affection I have for them. I feel as though I can not reveal this and it is for good reason. There is a process that must be completed because we are all partakers of the forbidden fruit.
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
(Gen 3:7-11)
We come into this world with few inhibitions about loving lavishly and learn quickly as we grow from the innocence of our childhood the sting of rejection, jealousy, and selfish desire both given and received.
Jesus is the balance. His life is the model and His love for His disciples who are the church is the example. The process is not complicated only challenging.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2Pe 1:2-8)
This process builds upon itself and cannot be accomplished out of order. I have become more and more determined not to hide myself but to exhibit the true overflow of love for others in the light of who Christ is and what He continues to do in my life.
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
(1Jn 3:18-24)
It is my Confidence in God my Father that gives me courage to be bold in my affection and I praise Him for this. A gift that is given freely to one who is entirely unworthy of the receiving is to that one a most precious gift.
"It is by loving, and not by being loved, that one can come nearest the soul of another; yea, that, where two love, it is the loving of each other, that originates and perfects and assures their blessedness. I knew that love gives to him that loveth, power over any soul be loved, even if that soul know him not, bringing him inwardly close to that spirit; a power that cannot be but for good; for in proportion as selfishness intrudes, the love ceases, and the power which springs therefrom dies. Yet all love will, one day, meet with its return. "
— George MacDonald
This week I am reminded of this fact by seeing a light in the eyes of a child who having only been in my presence for no more, than hour and not all at once mind you, believed me to be of great value and affection.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(1Jn 4:10-12)There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.
(1Jn 4:18-19)
Thank you God you are love!
Below is a post by a former pastor from our church who moved on to a church in Arizona. We at South Tampa Fellowship need to anticipate leaner times ahead as well. It may come to this for many of our leaders who’s finances are a function of the congregations giving. People have less and less money and therefore anyone who is paid to preach, or is part of a church bureaucracy is finding themselves contemplating their financial future more frequently. The Christian church is as over extended as the world around it. We are in debt and not willing to truly cut spending in meaningful ways.
When it gets really bad that is when it is going to get really good. It is much easier to live 1 John 2:16-17 when our choices are limited. God is going to remind us how to truly serve our communities and families with a little lesson in true sacrifice. We will become disciples who will no longer ask what is in it for me, and instead be determined to use up our lives by seeking first the unseen kingdom to come.
You can follow James on his blog HERE
This morning I awoke much like the previous few mornings; very early before the sun has begun to shine its light into the day. I awaken because I am restless. I awaken because something is stirring within me. I awaken…and then remember that my position as Singles Pastor has been eliminated. I try to drift back to sleep but my mind has already begun to churn about the days, weeks, and months ahead. Where will we go? What will we do? Will we have to move again after being here only 15 months? Will I continue being a Singles Pastor elsewhere? Will God use this time to change my role to an Associate or even Senior Pastor in another location? What will become of those we’ve grown to love here in the Phoenix Valley? How will my children fair in this process? Will Tracy and I have the energy to transition and start again in a new ministry elsewhere? The questions are constant and repeating in my mind. I have no choice…I must get out of bed; my mind is now fully engaged in the reality of the moment.
The church where I serve is dealing with an extreme financial crisis. This alone has led to the elimination of my position as well as a few others. Although God tells us that those who are faithful with a little will be charged to be faithful with much, the tithes and offerings necessary for the church to continue the current ministries are simply not being received. As a result, the elders and lead team have had to make some very difficult decisions; one of which has led to our transition.
It is at this crossroads where each one of us has a choice. We can choose to get upset and even angry. We can choose to embrace the bitterness inside because this just doesn’t seem to be the right course of action…there has to be another way. Or we can choose to believe; to believe that God saw this coming; to know that He allowed it to happen; to know that we live in a broken world and yet the church must go on in the midst of trials. We can choose to blame the President, or the economy, or the church leadership, or those attending who don’t tithe on their income. But where will this get us? Will placing blame on the failings of men (whoever they may be) resolve the problem at hand? Surely not. So what do we do in the midst of the chaos of emotions in this moment? We choose to believe on the One who died so that we could live, and we challenge ourselves to honor Christ with this life for which He died.
Tracy and I are waiting for God to reveal our next step in this master plan He has for us. We will not be fearful or afraid, but will remain confident in His promises and lean not on our own understanding. But what does this mean for you? How can you embrace the brokenness of the moment and make it better? By being part of the solution. There is no better time than now to begin to return to God what He has given you through tithes and offerings to the church if you do not already do so. There is no better time than now to stretch yourself financially so that the message of the kingdom will continue to reach a lost and dying world. There is no better time than now to begin to volunteer and serve somewhere at the church to help shoulder the even greater burden which it now carries with fewer paid staff to carry it. You can choose to believe in a God who never guaranteed life would be without struggle, but who promised to always weather the storms of life with us…even carrying us through them when He needs to.
Tracy and I will keep everyone updated through our facebook pages, twitter, and this blog as to what direction tomorrow holds. You can email either of us on facebook or at jpatters13@gmail.com and tracydp@cox.net. Keep running at the cross and keep your head up for the journey. We love you all.
- James
Last evening was South Tampa Fellowship’s awards ceremony for our Awana program. Awana encourages kids to memorize God’s Word and there are few things as important.
We had food and fellowship outside before going inside to have the awards.
Bouncy Bouncy!
Glory to God!
My friend Bill Carl called me up yesterday and suggested we go to Fort Desoto wade fishing. I am very glad he did.
We used the bait barge and is worked very well! The video below shows the construction and testing months ago.
Back to Ft. Desoto last night.
Bill caught some little trout and one of his obligatory Cat Fish.
I was happy to catch this impeccable little Grouper!
A beautiful representative of it’s species I must say!
The sunset was lovely and the moon over the Sky Way was an amazing backdrop for the whole delightful excursion!
Go fishing and be happy for it my friends!
Went on a little motor cycle ride with a pretty desperate group of two riders today. Loved it .
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
(Mat 10:16)
