I enjoy walking the paths leading to the clearings at the back of our lot by the creek. I go down there just about every day. Especially I like it when the sunlight glistens on the water or the sun is setting. In the summertime our grandchildren like to visit and wade in the water with me.
In our Sunday Bible Study today we learned important lessons about wading in the water (Joshua 3). Joshua was about to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River. Though the people had been freed from slavery in Egypt for 40 years, they had been wandering in the wilderness due to their lack of faith and confidence in God and their leaders. Crossing the Jordan River was the marker moment to move forward into the Promised Land.
Verses 13 and 17 of Joshua chapter 3 have the key words:
"It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap. So the people crossed opposite Jericho and the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”
As the priests stepped in the water it was an exercise of faith that God would guide and provide. Though there was still war to be waged, crossing the Jordan was a faith-builder that God would take care of his people as they faced the walls of Jericho. They had to wade in the water to experience the wonders of the ways of God.
I realize anew that there are successes and victories God wants to give me if I will wander on out to wade in the water ... if I will move out in faith. If I stay safe "onshore" I may miss out on some great adventures.
I am reminded of the old Negro spiritual, “Wade in the Water.” There are different versions of the song that make references to varying biblical events of wading in the water to trust God. Some people speculate that the original song contained coded language to slaves during the Civil War to “wade in the water” when they fled to escape the scents of searching dogs.
I have heard many renditions of the song. I like the presentation of the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
January 18, 2009
February 25, 2008
HIPPIE GOSPEL
Thinking of Larry Norman’s music after his death yesterday brings back memories for me. In the early 1970’s I worked with high school kids through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. I lived in Florida and spent the summers at Crusade headquarters in California. It was the peak of the hippie era.
While in California I became friends with a guy and two gals who enjoyed sharing their faith. We would go down to San Bernardino and Los Angeles and meet kids on the streets.
On one trip to Sunset Strip we met Arthur Blessitt. Arthur had chained himself to a cross on the sidewalk after he had been evicted from a building hosting his Christian coffeehouse. Over the years Arthur has carried the cross all over the world while he shares his faith. http://www.blessitt.com
The Californina streets were my first exposure to the drug culture, with “reds” and “acid” easily available. We turned kids on to Jesus and saw them experience a real spiritual “high” far better than any counterfeit experience with chemical substances.
With other friends I went to the Watts area in LA (a few years after the horrible racial riots) where we went door to door witnessing. On other occasions we had outings to places like Newport Beach where we sat in the sand and shared Jesus.
Rock festivals were a big thing in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Sometimes promoters offered free passes to Christians like me who would come share their faith. It seemed one of their motivations was a public relations attempt to cool the anger of those opposed to the invasion of “druggies.”
Performers at the June 1969 Newport Rock Festival in California included Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, Joe Cocker, Ike & Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater, Jethro Tull, Marvin Gaye, Three Dog Night, Booker T and the MGs, Byrds, and the Rascals.
I came to share the “good news” and I was shocked by what I saw. It looked like many of the 50,000+ people were stoned out of their minds. Crowds knocked down chain link fences and some climbed on the stage. It was so gross to me seeing a guy full of drugs drawing blood out of his arm with a syringe and drinking it again to repeat the high.
Another big rock festival I attended was the Palm Beach Rock Festival in Florida on Thanksgiving weekend 1969. Among the musicians were Johnny Winter, Grand Funk, Iron Butterfly, King Crimson, Jefferson Airplane, PG&E, Rolling Stones, Vanilla Fudge, and Janis Joplin.
I remember meeting Glenn Schwartz from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG & E). Their biggest song was “Are You Ready?” Glenn impressed me. Like me he was a fairly new Christian. In between sets of his own band, he was out in the crowd sharing his faith in Christ.
I sorta wish I still had photos of me in my “hippie gear.” I for one, though, am glad that era ended. Yet I do need again that kind of passion to tell the good news of Jesus!
While in California I became friends with a guy and two gals who enjoyed sharing their faith. We would go down to San Bernardino and Los Angeles and meet kids on the streets.
On one trip to Sunset Strip we met Arthur Blessitt. Arthur had chained himself to a cross on the sidewalk after he had been evicted from a building hosting his Christian coffeehouse. Over the years Arthur has carried the cross all over the world while he shares his faith. http://www.blessitt.com
The Californina streets were my first exposure to the drug culture, with “reds” and “acid” easily available. We turned kids on to Jesus and saw them experience a real spiritual “high” far better than any counterfeit experience with chemical substances.
With other friends I went to the Watts area in LA (a few years after the horrible racial riots) where we went door to door witnessing. On other occasions we had outings to places like Newport Beach where we sat in the sand and shared Jesus.
Rock festivals were a big thing in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Sometimes promoters offered free passes to Christians like me who would come share their faith. It seemed one of their motivations was a public relations attempt to cool the anger of those opposed to the invasion of “druggies.”
Performers at the June 1969 Newport Rock Festival in California included Jimi Hendrix, The Animals, Joe Cocker, Ike & Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater, Jethro Tull, Marvin Gaye, Three Dog Night, Booker T and the MGs, Byrds, and the Rascals.I came to share the “good news” and I was shocked by what I saw. It looked like many of the 50,000+ people were stoned out of their minds. Crowds knocked down chain link fences and some climbed on the stage. It was so gross to me seeing a guy full of drugs drawing blood out of his arm with a syringe and drinking it again to repeat the high.
Another big rock festival I attended was the Palm Beach Rock Festival in Florida on Thanksgiving weekend 1969. Among the musicians were Johnny Winter, Grand Funk, Iron Butterfly, King Crimson, Jefferson Airplane, PG&E, Rolling Stones, Vanilla Fudge, and Janis Joplin.
I remember meeting Glenn Schwartz from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG & E). Their biggest song was “Are You Ready?” Glenn impressed me. Like me he was a fairly new Christian. In between sets of his own band, he was out in the crowd sharing his faith in Christ.
I sorta wish I still had photos of me in my “hippie gear.” I for one, though, am glad that era ended. Yet I do need again that kind of passion to tell the good news of Jesus!
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