Dive In

Crickett and I love going to Destin Florida. It is a place that beautiful beaches full of fine white sand and emerald looking water, and the people all seemed to be relaxed. Part of the reason I admit is that most of them are on vacation…but none the less there is a wonderful atmosphere there. However it did not start out as a vacation spot.

Crickett and I love going to Destin Florida. It is a place that beautiful beaches full of fin white sand and emerald looking water, and the people all seemed to be relaxed. Part of the reason I admit is that most of them are on vacation…but none the less there is a wonderful atmosphere there. However it did not start out as a vacation spot.

Long before the tourist found this place a man by the name of Lenord Destin. He created what would become know as the luckiest fishing village in the world due to the amount of jobs the fishing industry created for people. The beaches were always beautiful and the water was always clear but the purpose of the place had changed.

Long before the tourist found this place a man by the name of Lenord Destin. He created what would become know as the luckiest fishing village in the world due to the amount of jobs the fishing industry created for people. The beaches were always beautiful and the water was always clear but the purpose of the place had changed.

People are not just fishing they are living a lifestyle that revolves around the Gulf of Mexico. While fishing is an important part of this life there is more to life in what was once a sleepy little fishing village.

People are not just fishing they are living a lifestyle that revolves around the Gulf of Mexico. While fishing is an important part of this life there is more to life in what was once a sleepy little fishing village.

You see people living what is called the “Salt Life”. Whether it is fishing, surfing, diving or just spending a day at the beach all the people we see are simply doing what comes natural to them. They don’t worry about what people think. (Some People Should not wear certain kinds of Bathing suits) They live in the moment pursuing their passion.

Living what is called the “Salt Life”. Whether it is fishing, surfing, diving or just spending a day at the beach all the people we see are simply doing what comes natural to them. They don’t worry about what people think. (Some People Should not wear certain kinds of Bathing suits) They live in the moment pursuing their passion.

That is what God wants us to do as well…with the difference being that He wants His Word to be our passion. You see to live the “Salt Life” means that we should Dive into whatever God is calling us to, Surf the wave of the Holy Spirit and of course Fish.

That is what God wants us to do as well…with the difference being that He wants His Word to be our passion.

To live the “Salt Life” means that we should Dive into whatever God is calling us to, Surf the wave of the Holy Spirit and of course Fish.

You see to live the “Salt Life” means that we should Dive into whatever God is calling us to, Surf the wave of the Holy Spirit and of course Fish.

Very often churches or people get stuck on one aspect of “The Salt Life” and when they do that is when things start to get stale. It is not that doing any of these things is unimportant but as followers of Christ it is important to adopt the “Lifestyle” of a Christian and not just on aspect of it.

Very often churches or people get stuck on one aspect of “The Salt Life” and when they do that is when things start to get stale. It is not that doing any of these things is unimportant but as followers of Christ it is important to adopt the “Lifestyle” of a Christian and not just on aspect of it.

When we get to a place where we understand this idea that it can be said of us we are truly living “The Salt Life” in the Spiritual sense.

When we get to a place where we understand this idea that it can be said of us we are truly living “The Salt Life” in the Spiritual sense. That is when we live without fear of failure, burnout, or others. I think there is a progression when it comes to living this type of life and takes us through it in a really practical way. Over the next few weeks we are going to look at what it takes to live “The Salt Life” in a spiritual sense and in a practical way.

That is when we live without fear of failure, burnout, or others. I think there is a progression when it comes to living this type of life and takes us through it in a really practical way. Over the next few weeks we are going to look at what it takes to live “The Salt Life” in a spiritual sense and in a practical way.

Destin did not become the luckiest fishing village in the world because a person willed it. It became the luckiest fishing village in the world because Some one took a chance to start a venture that was risky at best and that is where the fish are. Some One Just Dove in not knowing what would happen and the result was Beautiful.

Destin did not become the luckiest fishing village in the world because a person willed it. It became the luckiest fishing village in the world because Some one took a chance to start a venture that was risky at best and that is where the fish are. Some One Just Dove in not knowing what would happen and the result was Beautiful.

Luke 5:1–3 NLT

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

5 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

5 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

Simon Peter had to choose to push out.

Simon Peter had to choose to push out.

Simon Peter had to say yes and dive in so to speak to find out if this Jesus was really worth following. When God call us to push out the boat most of the time we want him to give us reasons why, a plan of how it is going to work and a guarantee that things are going to work out. Jesus did none of these things He just asked Simon to trust Him and the rest is history.

Simon Peter had to say yes and dive in so to speak to find out if this Jesus was really worth following. When God call us to push out the boat most of the time we want him to give us reasons why, a plan of how it is going to work and a guarantee that things are going to work out. Jesus did none of these things He just asked Simon to trust Him and the rest is history.

Jesus was in a regular place talking to regular people

Jesus was in a regular place talking to regular people

The Sea of Galilee was a place of great activity, fishing, buying and selling and to a point probably recreation.

The Sea of Galilee was a place of great activity, fishing, buying and selling and to a point probably recreation.

He looked for ways to better communicate

He looked for ways to better communicate

It was so crowded and people were so interested that the crowd began to become unmanageable. Too big to really reach everyone. (Conversation likely started one on one or at least a small group.

It was so crowded and people were so interested that the crowd began to become unmanageable. Too big to really reach everyone. (Conversation likely started one on one or at least a small group.

He took something unspiritual and turned it into a pulpit.

He took something unspiritual and turned it into a pulpit.

Jesus was not afraid of using modern Technology.(Yes this was Tech) Knowing that water carries sound he put out a little not to separate from them but so they could hear him. Jesus did not restrict His teaching to the Synagogue.

Jesus was the mother of invention. Knowing that water carries sound he put out a little not to separate from them but so they could hear him. Jesus did not restrict His teaching to the Synagogue.

Jesus engaged people who did not believe yet for their help.

Jesus engaged people who did not believe yet for their help.

Simon was not a believer at this time only a skeptical fisherman who had seen Messiahs come and go. Yet…Jesus enlisted his help. The result was people here the word of God.

Simon was not a believer at this time only a skeptical fisherman who had seen Messiahs come and go. Yet…Jesus enlisted his help. The result was people here the word of God.

We are to help people belong before they believe.

Jesus knew that he needed to preach and was not deterred by challenges.

Jesus knew that he needed to preach and was not deterred by challenges.

Jesus was a can do person…always looking for better ways to communicate to regular people in Regular places.

Jesus was a can do person…always looking for better ways to communicate to regular people in Regular places.

Just Dive In.

Just Dive In.

Sunday Nights with Jacque Custo. I was glued to the TV so I could discover along with the divers the mysteries of the deep. They never knew how things were going to end but they still dove right in.

Sunday Nights with Jacque Custo. I was glued to the TV so I could discover along with the divers the mysteries of the deep. They never knew how things were going to end but they still dove right in.

I remember how after every episode I would want with everything that was in me to be with those guys in that shark cage, or in that small sub. I wanted to explore the ocean floors study marine life but in the end I would just settle for watching it on TV.

I remember how after every episode I would want with everything that was in me to be with those guys in that shark cage, or in that small sub. I wanted to explore the ocean floors study marine life but in the end I would just settle for watching it on TV.

We often want to know what is going to happen before it happens before we commit to seeing what happens.

We often want to know what is going to happen before it happens before we commit to seeing what happens.

Confusing huh? We naturally fear the unknown…yet if we really want to experience God’s best for us we must be ok with giving the reins of our life over to the Holy Spirit.

Confusing huh? We naturally fear the unknown…yet if we really want to experience God’s best for us we must be ok with giving the reins of our life over to the Holy Spirit.

Staying on the topic of diving that is the reason most people settle for watching Jacque Custo on TV. They never just dive in. People may make up excuses like money, time or not living close to the Ocean, but the truth is many people don’t dive because they are scared.

Staying on the topic of diving that is the reason most people settle for watching Jacque Custo on TV. They never just dive in. People may make up excuses like money, time or not living close to the Ocean, but the truth is many people don’t dive because they are scared.

They fear running out of air, getting lost on the ocean floor, becoming shark food or just feeling claustrophobic. We know we are not in control of what will ultimately happen and in the end many people don’t dive because they just don’t like their odds. In so doing the rob themselves of a great opportunity to experience beautiful things that most of the world never get the see.

They fear running out of air, getting lost on the ocean floor, becoming shark food or just feeling claustrophobic. We know we are not in control of what will ultimately happen and in the end many people don’t dive because they just don’t like their odds. In so doing the rob themselves of a great opportunity to experience beautiful things that most of the world never get the see.

On my Sabbatical one of the pastors I interviewed said “Clarity is us trying to take God out of the equation.” This didn’t mean not to plan or seek God’s direction for the future it means that when we commit to a God given direction for our live we must be ok with whatever result God leads us to. Just because things do not turn out the way you and I think they should does not mean that we failed.

On my Sabbatical one of the pastors I interviewed said

“Clarity is us trying to take God out of the equation.”

This didn’t mean not to plan or seek God’s direction for the future it means that when we commit to a God given direction for our live we must be ok with whatever result God leads us to. Just because things do not turn out the way you and I think they should does not mean that we failed.

Simon Peter did not know that by allowing Jesus to use his boat to preach that it would turn his life upside down. I have to think if Simon knew the hardships, and eventually the death he would receive for this teaching were in his future Simon might have made another choice.

Simon Peter did not know that by allowing Jesus to use his boat to preach that it would turn his life upside down. I have to think if Simon knew the hardships, and eventually the death he would receive for this teaching were in his future Simon might have made another choice.

When we choose not to take the first step toward God we rob ourselves of a beautiful adventure and ultimately a meaningful life. We settle for watching others live a life of adventure, joy, and peace.

When we choose not to take the first step toward God we rob ourselves of a beautiful adventure and ultimately a meaningful life. We settle for watching others live a life of adventure, joy, and peace.

You were made to dive in!

You were made to dive in!

It does not seem very obvious in the passage but the truth is the rest of Simon Peters life hinged on his decision to take a risk and let Jesus speak from his boat. In allowing Him to do this seemingly insignificant act He made the transition from a simple local fisherman to a world famous fisher of men. In the weeks to come we will explore this Salt Life and what it takes to live it but until you Dive in you will not be able to fully appreciate it with us.

It does not seem very obvious in the passage but the truth is the rest of Simon Peters life hinged on his decision to take a risk and let Jesus speak from his boat.

In allowing Him to do this seemingly insignificant act He made the transition from a simple local fisherman to a world famous fisher of men.

In the weeks to come we will explore this Salt Life and what it takes to live it but until you Dive in you will not be able to fully appreciate it with us.

What is keep you from Diving In today. What is keeping you from “The Salt Life?”

What is keep you from Diving In today. What is keeping you from “The Salt Life?”

You Were Made for The Salt Life.

You Were Made for The Salt Life.

Altar Call: Today will you Ask Jesus to help you Live “The Salt Life?”

Altar Call: Today will you Ask Jesus to help you Live “The Salt Life?”