The Cross and Pen

 In Matthew 14, the familiar story of Jesus walking on water is recounted. I’m not going to address Peter’s response to Jesus’ actions here (previously addressed in  Walking on Water, Part II) . For this post, I am going to focus solely on Jesus. Here’s the backstory. Jesus sent the disciples ahead while he dispersed the crowd and went up into the mountainside to pray. According to Boice (2001), “...Jesus had been praying for six or seven hours and ... the disciples had been rowing for the same length of time” (p. 273). Most likely he was able to observe the disciples’ progress, which presumably was not as significant as it would have been had it not been for a storm that buffeted the boat with waves and wind. Jesus decided to join them and so walked out on the lake to where they were. Okay, let’s just stop here for a moment. Although Matthew does not provide an in-depth account of Jesus’ actions from the mountainside to the boat, let’s infer what the scene might have looked l...

 In Matthew 14, the familiar account of Jesus walking on water is recounted. Told in many a Sunday school class, churchgoers know the account well. Often times when this passage is read and discussed, the subject of faith is discussed in great detail. Peter frequently gets a bad rap from this story for some reason. I’ve heard criticism of Peter’s audacity to even request to step out on the water with Jesus. And while his actions and subsequent sinking have long been discussed and debated, I wish to add a different perspective to the account.  So imagine - I mean really imagine - you are in a boat on a lake, sea, or ocean, and you see someone walking on water. (I explore the accuracy of this in Walking on Water Part I ). I’m not going to debate the legitimacy of the account here. The Bible says Jesus walked on water, so I will leave it at that. What I want to discuss is the reaction to this supernatural event. As a former sailor, I have spent a significant amount of time at sea...

  Dear friend,   As you may recall, I grew up attending church. My household was quite religious by all accounts. While I have never been the bastion of faith my mother and father were, I nonetheless have come to accept the Bible as the complete and inerrant Word of God. Oh, I wish I were more of a zealot and crusader like many in the church. And I aspire to be a beacon of faith for others to follow. However, I’m mortal, and I struggle with sin on a daily basis. Needless to say, I am not a role model Christian by any standard. I say all of that by way of admission and introduction. You see, we are living in very interesting times, what many theologians, scholars, and believers refer to as the  last days . Now, before you object to that idea, just hear me out, okay?   Remember, I grew up attending private Christian schools and attended Sunday school and church every week. I’m no theologian but I know a thing or two about the Bible and prophecy. Ironically, I didn’t im...

  Imagine discovering something with eternal value – something that cannot be measured in any form of currency. And what you’ve discovered is something whose value can not be depreciated or decreased if shared. In fact, sharing your discovery increases its value. What would you? Like most, you’d probably be inclined to share it, or at least tell other people about it so they could discover it for themselves and in turn share with others. But what is there that not only retains its value but also increases in value the more it is shared? Salvation, of course!      Now, I know what you’re thinking. We cannot grant salvation to anyone, and you’re right. Only God can grant salvation, which is done through the work of the Holy Spirit. But we can certainly share the Gospel with others and get the ball rolling, so to speak, right? So why don’t we? Why are we hesitant to share this amazing discovery, one that is eternal and everlasting? One of the reasons, I believe, is we d...