(btw folks, this is based on Mark 4:35-41, the gospel reading for next Sunday)

some of my early wonderngs:

* it is Jesus' idea to go across the lake, and since evening has come, perhaps they were taking the fastest way across?

* "other boats were with him" but we don't hear anymore about them...

* what a contrast between the sleeping Jesus and the panicking disciples:  "Teacher, do you not CARE that we are PERISHING?"

There are dangers, real and/or perceived -- what constitutes a threat to us?  Of what should we be afraid?  What fears can we let go of?  Have we examined the roots of our fears?  Is Jesus asking us to go on a venture that is dangerous?  Maybe!  Is it realistic to expect that we will have no fear?  No.  Can we help each other to put our fears into perspective, knowing that God is with us through it all?  I hope so.  Perhaps it is not only the sea to which Jesus says, "Peace!  Be still!"

Greetings!

Reminds me of one of my favorite songs (especially when sung by Elvis Presley),

When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me (stand by me);
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou Who rulest wind and water,
Stand by me (stand by me).

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

Some look at it as sleeping faith. I look at Jesus being tired from a full day of healing, completely spent, exhausted... I look at him not only trusting God, but trusting the people he was with, who knew water, who were at the helm... enough to fall asleep.

He is awakened by their panic, they think they are perishing.  Almost everytime I have heard this reading spoken on, the disciples are criticized for not having faith in that they should not have feared. I have never gotten that.

I have always wondered how we criticize them for thinking all will be well, or they will be rewarded and then turn around and think a storm will spare them because of who they are with.

I don't just notice their panic at the situation, that to me is normal, but what speaks to me is that they are concerned Jesus does not care.

Does it mean you do not care when you are unaware? How could they know this person and think this? How could they think they were uncared for? How can you believe in God and in the midst of uncertainty, turmoil or pain, suddenly be overcome like this?

For me, when storms are raging I cannot think I will automatically be fine based on who I am with. I can be afraid, even filled with dread  (that Greek word for their "fear"  I believe has many meanings) For me I can be fearful, afraid, scared, full of dread... but I should not be faithless. In the midst of the boat filled with water and knowing I might drown,  I should have faith that I am not alone. I have faith with me. I have the Source and can be quiet, be still, be calm, find peace....

I recently attended a workshop given by The Rev. Dr. Gary Nickolosi.  He brought this particular story up in the discussion.

He made the point that whether or not this story is historical does not matter.  What it is saying to us is no matter what boat we are in we always want Jesus to be with us.  The boat could be just that or it could be the church. some illness, or whatever etc.

God has not promised us an easy road of it but He/She/IT will always be there for us and help us through.  What more can we ask for?

I especially like that poem "Footprints".

Shalom

Mate 

A favourite quote of mine:

"Pray to God, but row away from the rocks."

 - Hunter S. Thompson

Some may view this in a "God helps those who help themselves" context.  I tend to look at it in a "believe in God if you want, but don't expect him to save your sorry ass" kinda way.

Chansen

Having spent almost my entire life involved with boats and water in someway this particular passage speaks to me.

No matter how well maintained a marine engine is it will, at some point, sputter and fail.  Unless you want to float aimlessly, it is always wise to bring along a paddle, a tank of gas and a screwdriver, and even then you may have to hope that a fellow boater passes you by to tow you home.

LB - retired marina girl

Oh God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small.    

An Anonymous Sailor

Perhaps like their storm, our economic storm hasn't reached the point where real panic is in order.  All will be well, have Faith.

IT

Russ

 Hi Gang,

I went a different way with this on Sunday.

One of the congregations I serve was celebrating their 154th anniversary.  They are small, rural and ask a lot of questions about the future, their future and, like so many others appear bound to what is to the point that the what will be is terrifying.

I also noticed that the wind appeared to be a big part of the problem.  The wind whips the waves not the other way around right?

So . . .Wind, breath and Spirit all come from one Greek word and I wondered.

With such a visible display of the Spirit, the very breath of God, driving them forward why were they so firghtened and why did they want it to stop?

Compared and contrasted this with the modern lament that we don't feel the Spirit move with the same gale force power and wondered if perhaps it isn't another example of where we get in our own way sometimes.

What do we want?  The wind to blow or not blow?  The Spirit to move or not move?  The breath of God to invigorate or slacken?

Can we handle getting what we want?

Jesus sleeps in a pitching boat in a howling storm.  Sure, fatigue can do that.  I've never been so tired that I can be shaken like that and not awaken.

And Jesus makes the whole thing about little faith.

Grace and peace to you.

John

revjohn

We want the wind to blow, but not too hard.

We want the church to "emerge" but no radical changes.

The spirit to move, but not too fast.

The breath of God to invigorate, as long as it doesn't mean I have to do more than show up Sunday morning.

I'm not sure we know what we want, or handle it is we got it.  Being handed a bucket of glowing coals while standing in the middle of a hay stack.

IT

Russ

I ended up preaching about the real miracle of the text not being Jesus' ability to calm the storm, but Jesus' ability to sleep while the storm was raging.  And about our human tendency to feel that God has abandoned us when our lives take a turn for the worse.  Most, if not all of us, have experienced those times when circumstances beyond our control have overwhelmed us and thrown our lives into disarray, and the predominate feeling is fear.  "Don't you CARE that we are perishing?" we cry out.  But at least we know who to cry to.  And Jesus is there, to model calm in the eye of midst of chaos, to demonstrate the rock-steady presence of God even as we go down with the ship.  As a congregation, we can remind each other that we've all been in the storm before, God is there, and the wisdom of hearkening to Jesus' words: peace.  be still.

Shalom

Hi RussP,

With the weather one takes what one gets.  I suspect it is much the same with the Holy Spirit and the Breath of God.  If today's offering is gale force wind you take it or leave it.  If it is doldrums then you sit still and go nowhere.

The caterpillar enters the chrysalis and only the butterfly can emerge from it.

The Spirit is like the wind so the weather quote applies.  God doesn't ask how you want your dose.  In the last days, says the prophet, I will pour out . . ." so get ready for a soaking things are going to get uncomfortable.

Invigorate without the vigour.  That's like sunshine without the vitamin D.

Well either stay put till the coals die or run like hell.  Neither strikes me as a happy outcome.  Maybe happy is overrated?  Maybe active is more imporant?

All things considered.  I don't think God really bothers to ask us what we want.  We have been invited to join God not to be pandered to.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Why do we wait until we're in trouble before asking Jesus to help us? Aren't we the ones that put him on "standby" until we need him? I can just hear a soft chuckle as he fell asleep, wondering how long it would take before they realized they weren't in control.

Hi waterfall,

With all due respect.  Peter, Andrew, James and John should have been able to captain a simple fishing boat across the sea.

But for the wind.

Way too much.  Way too strong.  Way too much to safely control.

Much like God I expect.

Grace and peace to you.

John

revjohn

I have a vision of Jesus looking up at the sky and thinking, "Oh, this looks like interesting weather", and then settling down with a bit of a chuckle.  Wait for it boys.

IT

Russ

Hi RussP,

Either that or him calming the wind and the waves and saying, "I guess we'll have to row from here.  Break out the oars boys."

There is a plethora of sheepish looks all around and some nervous throat clearing as Peter steps forward, "Oars!?  This is a sailboat it is driven by the . . .um . . .nevermind."

Heads hang and the boat sits still on a sea of glass.

Jesus returns to the makeshift bead and snores gently, as the wind picks up the rhythm.

Grace and peace to you.

John