{"id":214,"date":"2007-02-18T12:34:00","date_gmt":"2007-02-18T12:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jwalking\/2007\/02\/and-then-faith-returns.html"},"modified":"2007-02-18T12:34:00","modified_gmt":"2007-02-18T12:34:00","slug":"and-then-faith-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jwalking\/2007\/02\/and-then-faith-returns.html","title":{"rendered":"…and then faith returns…"},"content":{"rendered":"

yesterday’s discouragement<\/a> diminishes in God’s presence. We returned this morning to our simple little church full of really wonderful people who love God and who love us. For lots of reasons – some good, some not – we haven’t been in church much lately. This morning though Kim and I return like the bewildered pilgrims we are – or at least that I am. And though there are times during the service and the sermon when I wonder whether it was worth the trek, that indescribable place inside knows that it was.<\/p>\n

Then our pastor’s easy words about the calling of the first disciples from Luke 5:<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, <\/span>he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. <\/span>He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. <\/p>\n

<\/span>When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

<\/span>How crazy. The guys are washing their nets. They’ve given up for the day. It is all over. But then Jesus comes along with a crazy proposal – let’s go fishing again. Let’s actually go to deep water. There, with Jesus, there are fish.<\/p>\n

Have you, the pastor asked, started washing your nets? Have you given up on whatever it is that presses you?<\/p>\n

No, not me. I bring those nets in from time to time and I hang them up and I get out the soap and brush but I haven’t started washing them quite yet. But even if I do, Jesus can still lead me out into deep water where the fish live. I just have to listen and be willing to go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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