Pastor’s Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I read in the news recently that the official term for 2008 has been designated as “bailout.” In retrospect, I suppose that term is apt. In my usual obtuse thought process, I wondered if the term “bailout” was in the Bible. I checked my super-sized concordance for any reference. Nothing. Next I started to think how one would even translate the term “bailout” into Greek and Hebrew. The problem with translating the English idiom is its variety of uses. It may mean “to bail out a boat of water so that the boat not sink.” However, it may also mean “to bail out of an aircraft to save one’s self.” Another obscure use of the term is “to suffer in torment.” Which one describes 2008 best?

In the Bible we see that Jonah was bailed out of the ship heading to Tarshish. Well, technically he was thrown overboard and then got whaled on. Didn’t Saint Paul bail out of the ship when it wrecked off the beach of Malta? Nah, we see that he just swam for shore with everybody else. What about the disciples of Christ when they were caught in the storm crossing the Sea of Galilee? No, they prayed to Christ. Christ came walking over the water and stilled the storm.

Truth (capital “t”) here, Jesus never bailed. The word does not come into the Bible at all. Jesus calmed the storm. Jesus walked over the water. Jesus even got into the boat with the disciples to calm their fears (check Mark 6:45-52). He and His disciples never had to do a bailout of any kind.

We ought to do the same. We need to expect Jesus to walk out to us over the water. That is to say, when we are in trouble and it looks as if we are about to go under, we need to lift this up in prayer so Jesus can hear us. Although God is always gracious unto us, if we do not ask in prayer for what we need in our lives, we should not expect it. God will do miracles if we trust this to prayer.

Jesus will calm the storm, the adverse winds of fate. The number one comment that I hear from people who accept Jesus into their hearts is that they have never known such peace before. A calmness and gentleness of spirit washes over their lives. As a pastor, I find it hard to comprehend how people can live their lives without this sense of the calming presence of Christ to grant them peace. It is hard to think about.

Lastly just as Jesus came into the boat with His disciples to assuage their fears, we must also find out courage in Christ’s presence with us. What can go wrong if Christ is on board? As Christ is with us, we have no reason to bail!

Happy Old Year, and Happy New One Too!

-Pastor Olaf