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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe started with this image from Rooted Good which simply asks \u2013 in the stormy seas of this moment, where do you find yourself?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you tossed about by conflicting opinions and information? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you riding the waves, or crushed by them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the midst of the constant change what is helping the most? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We took some time in small groups to share the stories of what kinds of stormy seas we are sailing through in our own personal lives\u2026 the loss of loved ones, of relationships, the concern for aging parents, the health of people we care about\u2026 not to mention the pandemic, economic uncertainty, and the swirling chaos of misinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So many of these things are circumstances beyond our control\u2026 stormy seas we have no power to tame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been sailing through some stormy seas personally, myself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the last six months, my spouse and I have been working to get help for some mental and physical health concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has been a long process, with a lot of appointments and hard conversations and work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wish I could say that everything is okay or that we see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we aren\u2019t there yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are still riding on the choppy waves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the truth is, I know that a lot of you are, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is hard and exhausting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that Wednesday night conversation with church leaders, we shared our stories of stormy waters but we didn\u2019t just groan and complain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We turned to scripture and read aloud these words from the Apostle Paul:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026 We\u2019ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we\u2019re not demoralized; we\u2019re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we\u2019ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn\u2019t left our side; we\u2019ve been thrown down, but we haven\u2019t broken. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Goodness\u2026 We have found ourselves in that place, haven\u2019t we? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battered by troubles\u2026 not sure what to do\u2026 thrown down?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Paul wrote these words, you can see the faith that keeps him going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You sense the deep trust he has that even if everything is not okay, it will ultimately work out according to God\u2019s will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hope of God\u2019s promises\u2026 in restoration, in forgiveness, in truth, in the resurrection, help him to keep going on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when I read those words, I find just a little bit of the strength I need to keep putting one foot in front of the other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth three or four years before this shipwreck and journey from today\u2019s reading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In part, he is talking about the cross that he must bear\u2026 which last week we named as the consequences we face when we choose to follow Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he continues in his letter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2026What they did to Jesus, they do to us\u2014trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us\u2014he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus\u2019 sake, which makes Jesus\u2019 life all the more evident in us. While we\u2019re going through the worst, you\u2019re getting in on the best! (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the Book of Acts, Paul continues to bear that cross, being taken to Rome to stand trial for charges that still aren\u2019t completely solid but boil down to his hope in the resurrection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He has chosen to follow Jesus\u2026 and as Jesus shines through his words and actions, he finds himself facing the same kinds of opposition as his Master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That itself is enough to bear\u2026 but he understood why he was experiencing those difficulties and sees every trial as an opportunity to let Jesus shine through him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But then there were the other circumstances beyond his control\u2026 stormy seas, literally, that could not be tamed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As our scripture for today opens, Paul is being put on a ship headed for Rome, but as a well-traveled missionary, he knew that it wasn\u2019t safe to travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were late enough into the season that the seas would be too rough for passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of the early months of the journey were spent traveling along the coastline of the Mediterranean but eventually they must make for open sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul has enough struggles to deal with \u2013 no sense in tempting fate or adding to his difficulty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n So he urges them to winter-over on the island of Crete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But his guard and the captain of the ship wouldn\u2019t listen to his warnings and chose to set out anyways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You know, I can\u2019t help but look at this map and think about the countless numbers of refugees fleeing from Syria and Libya who have tried to head north across the Mediterranean to safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We saw images of overcrowded and desperate families and even with modern boats many did not survive those rough waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine being at sea during the midst of a storm in the most dangerous part of the year with only a wooden boat and sails to protect you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Paul knew and trusted that even though danger and trials and storms and chaos surrounded him, God was stronger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n God would rescue them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God\u2019s promises stand forever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And so with complete confidence in what God could do, Paul helped the crew to make it through the storm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is a miracle Paul and the crew survived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They found themselves shipwrecked on the island of Malta dependent on the kindness of complete strangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that\u2019s what God does. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through the difficulties and trials, God shines through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Book of Acts seems like it has been building towards a grand climax where Paul eventually stands before Caesar and his story will wrap up with a nice bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But that isn\u2019t what we get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead of a trial, we find Paul continuing under house arrest in Rome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He preaches to the Jewish leaders there, challenging them to open their eyes and ears and hearts to what God is doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His door is wide open and without fear, Paul keeps teaching about Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then the story ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some ways, it feels like a let down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have followed Paul every step of the way of his journey and we want to know what happens next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the Book of Acts isn\u2019t a story about Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the story of Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is the story of how the word and life and message of Jesus travels from Jerusalem\u2026 to Samaria\u2026 to the ends of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul did his part and through ups and downs and good times and bad, he continued to let the Holy Spirit work through him to share that good news.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, it\u2019s our turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You see, that message continues to spread throughout this world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faithful folks carried the good news to right here in Des Moines, Iowa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve had our share of stormy seas and trials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve had ups and downs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have faced opposition and economic struggles and personal hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But through it all, God has been with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if we turn our hearts and our lives towards Jesus, we experience rescue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We experience healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If we hold on, with confidence, to the hope of the resurrection, we experience abundant life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It does not mean that the journey will be easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It certainly wasn\u2019t for Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And I know that it isn\u2019t for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it hasn\u2019t been for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But when we cling to those promises, then as Paul wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2026 We\u2019ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we\u2019re not demoralized; we\u2019re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we\u2019ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn\u2019t left our side; we\u2019ve been thrown down, but we haven\u2019t broken\u2026 Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus\u2019 sake, which makes Jesus\u2019 life all the more evident in us. (2 Corinthians 4:7-12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n And we can keep going, with complete confidence, because Jesus is with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s keep telling his story. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Text: Acts 27:1, 9-12, 15, 18, 20-22, 39, 42-43; 28:11a, 16, 30-31 About a month ago, I pulled together some of our church leaders for an evening of conversation and planning about where we are as a church and where we are going. We started with this image from Rooted Good which simply asks…<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salvagedfaith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-1.png?resize=444%2C308\")
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