What does the following list of words all have in common? Royal Carribean, Carnival, Windstar, Abracadabra, Blue Lagoon, Celebrity, Princess, Festival, Majestic, Regal, Spirit, Temptress, and Voyager. These are the names of cruise line companies from all over the world. The names are romantic and exciting and conjure images of moonlit nights, dancing, good food, great shows, fishing, dolphins swimming by— well, you let your imagination run on. These cruise line companies all have at least one thing in common. They all depend on boats. (You knew that.)

By now you may be asking, "What does this have to do with God? We're not going anywhere on a boat." That's not entirely true. The very first boat we read about in the Bible was the ark. Jesus preached from boats. He calmed the storm from a boat. Some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen who fished from boats. Boats have played an important role in Biblical history.

Did you know that many churches (including ours in Lone Wolf & Elk City) are designed for the ceiling to look like the bottom of a boat. It is called the nave. There is a big difference between our ‘boat' and a cruise ship, however. Cruise ships are designed for pleasure and partying. Those are not bad things. But the ‘boat' of Christians is designed as a rescue ship just like the very first boat, the ark that rescued Noah. When we look outside the ‘boat' of the church, we don't see dolphins. We see "people screaming for help as they flail and drown". Take a minute to ask yourself: What kind of boat is my church? Am I willing to throw out a life-line from my boat? Am I letting Jesus captain my boat?

"Jesus has charted the course for our journey: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' Acts 1:8 The charted course is to go out with the mission. Our immediate communities are our ‘Jerusalem'. Our county and beyond is our ‘Judea' and the ends of the earth.' ‘Samaria' includes all of the people that are difficult to like or trust. Now, ask yourself again– Is our church/boat a cruise ship for Christians to be served and be comfortable in? Or are we a rescue boat for those dying for eternity?

We will begin new studies after Easter to learn about this Rescue Boat God has called us to be as His church. Please make plans to join one of the groups.

	Send Your Thoughts and Feedback		Browse the Archives
Partners ©2006 Lutheran Ministries of Southwest Oklahoma (PO BOX 368 Lone Wolf OK 73655) A Partnership of Lutheran Churches (LCMS) from Altus, Elk City and Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. Permission to reprint is granted for Christian Ministries where distribution does not exceed 500 copies and where the source is sited in such publication.