MCV (Marci's Creative Version)

Meditation on Luke 5:1-11:

The people were pushing and crowding their way in. “I am about to get pushed into the water if I don’t find a better place to talk from” Jesus thought to himself.

There were so many, all straining to hear what He had to say. His forehead wrinkled in concentration. He knew some were just there to ridicule. Some were just there because of all the rumors that had been spreading lately. He continued to scan the crowd and tried not to remember all the different titles he had been given in the last few weeks.

Then he saw her and his heart leapt with joy and thanksgiving to His Father. The prostitute carefully hiding her face from the crowd under her shawl was here again today. She was one of the few in this large crowd that was hungry for the bread that only he could give.

As he was looking around for a place to stand he saw Simon and his brother.

“Ugghhh… let’s get these nets in and clean. We are obviously done for the day.” Simon spit the words out frustrated and hungry.

Jesus almost laughed out loud at Simon’s outburst, remembering again how much he loved Simon’s passion and zeal. Jesus’ smile widened as a perfect idea entered his mind. Under his breath Jesus whispered, “Oh Simon, I know how to win you… you just wait…”

“Hey Simon! Could I use your boat for a bit to talk to these people?” Jesus yelled over the voices of the crowd.

Simon, looks at Jesus. A few days ago, Simon was listening to this new teacher and something about what he said caused a churning in Simon. Simon wasn't convinced it was a good churning and he wasn’t sure what to think about this Jesus. But, Simon didn’t think he evil as some were saying. Simon nodded, “Sure, why not? Old thing is not doing me any good today.”

Simon went back to cleaning the nets and tried to pretend he was working, not listening to the new teacher…

Simon’s heart burned as Jesus spoke but his mind reminded him that it was just another day, and the prophecy about the Messiah was given over 400 years ago.

He laughed at himself at actually entertaining any thought that this new man was “the One.” If he was “the one” would he actually be using a poor fisherman’s boat to talk to the people? Everybody knew "the One" was a mighty king and would reign on David's throne...

Simon was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t realize that Jesus had stopped talking and that many of the people in the crowd had left. He saw Jesus walking toward him.

“Simon, take your boats out again and put your nets into the deep water to catch the fish for today.”

Jesus said this so matter of fact that Simon, was at first startled and confused, then angry at such arrogance… Wasn’t this guy a carpenter’s son? What did he know about fishing. Simon had been fishing since He could walk. No, even since before he could walk his dad had taken him out into the deep waters to fish... "Who was this guy?" Simon thought to himself.

Simon, tried to stifle his anger but remain authoritative,
“Teacher, we have worked all night and we didn’t catch anything.”

Jesus locked Simon’s gaze and held it. Only seconds went by but it felt like minutes for Simon.

Some unspoken, deep unto deep trust, love, and intense power came from his eyes and beckoned Simon’s heart and soul. Simon didn’t know what to think and he was completely unsettled by the whole thing. He thought about running but where would he go… Simon, when he could find his voice said, “Okay, teacher if that is what you say, I will do it…

Plato said if you want to govern a nation and you have to choose between art and politics, choose art.”

Richard and I do not usually go to movies together on date night because most movies are not worth seeing. But, this week we were so excited to go see Bella. It was absolutely stunning. My heart was moved and shaken to the core for real. I laughed, and cried. Great art is supposed to do that...

Check out an excerpt from an article (the full article is a pdf file. To read lick on the word "article" and then choose the box on the left that is titled Eduardo Verastegui and 'Bella' by Anita Crane July - August 2007) relaying the story of the main actor. His testimony and stance for righteousness is unbelievable.

When I asked Eduardo to guide young artists on the limits of compromise, he was absolutely clear. He said, “I won’t do anything that will offend God. Period.“When you kill somebody in the movies, you’re not killing anyone. But when you kiss someone, it’s really a kiss,” Eduardo stressed. “In sex scenes, you’re really half naked. So I would recommend that people be careful, because you are working with fire and you’re gonna get burned.

Don’t risk yourself for some role. I know because I did it. And I’m telling you, 12 years of that was nothing but emptiness, pain and suffering.” Eduardo described sex scenes as what they are: “legal adultery.” And because a kiss is sacred, he vows to kiss no woman unless she’s his wife. “Every single person in Hollywood, including hardcore Catholics, told me I wouldn’t work,” Eduardo admitted.

“So if changing my path to follow Christ means that I will never work, thanks be to God. I’m free, because you know what? I wasn’t born to be a movie star. I was born to be a saint, just like you. And this is not going to get in my way. Or God will make it happen in a way that I don’t have to compromise.”

Not by chance or circumstance...

And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. - Acts 1:23-26

We are getting a glimpse here of the most godly men on the planet at this time in history and the way they interact with God when making decisions. Does anyone else find their method slightly strange?

The way they decide to best go about this really big decision is to
1. Use reasonable wisdom to set a criteria for who it should be
2. Then they pick out 2 of the 120 (or however many fit that criteria)
3. Then they give God a choice of picking one out of the two that they chose from the 120.

I’m thinking, “Uh, Guys, shouldn't God get the bigger picking pool… ”

They get to pick from 120 or so, and God gets to pick from 2?
Hmmmm… why not let God pick from the 120 to begin with… I mean they cast lots in the end anyway.

Jesus, in the 40 days after His resurrection, when he was expounding on the Kingdom must have really hit hard that His people have a bigger part than they can even imagine in the shaping, influencing and bringing of the Kingdom.

This makes me excited all over again about life, my real decisions that God honors, and intercession, partnership with God to bring the Kingdom... I mean won't God bring about Justice for us, who cry out day and night to Him?

The Creator, King of all the earth is backing this thing... giving us real ownership.

As Lou says, "Let's be History Makers"...

Beloved, Let's change things forever!
Amen. Let's stand. :)