Gone Fishing!

The Blessing of The Fishing Fleet

   While ministering in the Bahamas I was asked to conduct, "The Blessing of the Fishing Fleet." This is a sporting event where people come from great distances in order to compete. I was up early, down at the docks where 40 boats plus were ready to race to their favorite spots. No one was allowed to leave port until a prayer was offered. The gentleman in charge of the event handed me a two way radio that was linked to all the boats. Following is what I shared with them.

The Blessing of the Fleet as you are probably well aware is an old and revered tradition. It has been passed down from generation to generation. It is as ancient as biblical times.
This centuries old rite calls on divine providence to safe guard ships and crews from the danger of the seas. It was meant to ensure that the fishermen would return to port and have a bountiful catch. Let’s ask God’s blessing on your fishing during the days ahead. Let’s pray.

   Dear Lord who art the creator of earth, sea and sky and all that dwell therein we give thanks for the day before us. We ask for your blessing upon the fishing fleet; a blessing of calm waters, blue skies, fair winds, comradeship, a good catch but most important of all a safe return to port. Lord, who chose fishermen for his disciples bless the men and women of the fishing fleet today. In Jesus name we pray; Amen.    

I’m sure that most of you have heard of the serenity prayer!

God, grant me the
SERENITY
to accept the things
I cannot change

COURAGE
to change the
things I can

and
WISDOM
to know the difference

Here is, "The Serenity Prayer for Fishermen"

God, grant me the Serenity

To accept the size of the fish I catch;

The courage not to fib about it,

And the wisdom to know

That no one would believe me anyway.

Have a great day!

I QUIT!

   What Are Your Goals This Year? Some people call them New Years Resolutions while others simply refer to them as, “My Plans for the New Year.” You will also find people who don’t make resolutions simply because they know that they will most likely break them! The most popular resolutions or goals (whatever you want to call them) usually has something to do with health issues. Some may want to loose weight while others want to give up smoking. Both are quite legitimate goals but why would we want to wait for the New Year to begin?

   After 25+ years of smoking I quit cold turkey! I quit in the middle of the summer. The way I looked at it was that I figured if this is a matter of health than the sooner I quit the better! No one was giving me a hard time about quitting; not my wife not my children. When I lit up a cigarette while driving home from the office one day I asked myself; why? Why take the chance of continuing with a habit that one day could land me in a doctor’s office and his words would be; “John, I’m sorry but you have………………” My quitting at that point (in the doctor’s office) wouldn’t make the verdict disappear BUT if I quit now than there would be a good chance that I could avoid that doctor’s verdict. So I did! I quit! Oh, it wasn’t easy and even months after quitting I use to dream that I was smoking a cigarette and I would feel terrible. Then, I would wake up and rejoice saying that it was only a bad dream. It has been over 20 years since I quit and I have never regretted it.

   Do you smoke or do you overindulge in other areas that are bad for you?  Are you going to wait for the doctor to give you the bad news or are you going to wait to find that your marriage is over with or your kids are all grown up and its too late to say, “I should be spending more time with my kids.” You can do something about your bad habit NOW while you are still in control. Don’t wait until it is too late do something about it now say to yourself; “I Quit!”

   The Bible says that all things are possible to him/her who believes! Go ahead quit the bad habit don’t wait until New Years!

Pastor John