Find Yourself in the Bible Luke 5:1-11 Biblical stories are powerful.  It is because they speak to us at a very  deep level of the psyche.  We find ourselves in them. Good stories are about us just as much as they are about the characters that they portray.  We find that in hearing the story we are inside dealing with the hopes, dreams and conflicts in our own lives. In the Gardiner Museum in Boston there is a painting by Rembrandt entitled "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee." It is Rembrandt's interpretation of this scene. It shows panic etched on the faces of the disciples, as their small vessel is being raised up on a high wave, about to be crashed down. Two of the disciples are attempting to rouse Jesus who is asleep in the stern of the boat. But if you look more closely, you will discover that there is something that is not quite right. There are too many people in the picture. So you count them. There are fourteen. There should only be thirteen (twelve disciples and Jesus). But instead there are fourteen. It is then that you notice that one of the men in the boat is Rembrandt. He has painted himself into the picture. He has placed himself in the same boat. We have to put ourselves in the picture of what it presented in today's Gospel  as Jesus called his disciples to follow him. WE have to see Jesus calling us out of what we are doing at the present time and calling us to follow him on a journey of faith and love. We have to see him calling us to newness of life. When it does, we can call it a Christ event in our lives In can happen at any time and any place just like with the disciples as they were cleaning their nets after a night of fishing * I remember years ago after I had separated from my first wife and just before the divorce, I lived alone in a one basement room. I didn't spent much time there because I was working almost every available hour in the day and evening. I was a counsellor in outpatient clinic, I was doing news broadcasts on a local radio station, and I was looking after a small parish on weekends. One day one of my co-workers, a psych nurse, confronted me with the question, "When are you going to stop feeling guilty and beating yourself up? When are you going to start to live?" I was taken back. I said, "Leona, what makes you think that?" She answered, "Well look at you! I mean, you're living in dingy little place as if it is some kind of punishment. When you are not there, you are working all the time. You never have time for yourself. You probably never spend any time alone. Is it because you can't stand yourself - being alone with yourself?" Then she added , "If you can't live with yourself, you will never be able to live with anyone else." I was shocked. I was without words because I think she had hit the nail on the head. I had to re-examine my life, and make some changes. I discovered new possibilities - new life. It was a Christ event in my life. When this happened I realized that it wasn't just her that was confronting me from the outside. It was also coming from the depths of my own being. There was an inner movement. I believe it was the Spirit searching my innermost heart with sighs too deep for words, calling me to follow my own meaning, my yearning, and the new hope that was forming within me. It was all leading me to what I could become. To follow that Spirit is the kind of choice that tells us who we truly are and who we can truly become. * Christ has come to me many times. Sometimes it has been through a period self reflection, a time to take stock of where I've been and where I'm going.  I have lived long enough to have some dreams come true, some partially  fulfilled, others turn into nightmares. and still others die. I've had the sudden realization that through it all, my spirit has not been defeated, The presence of Christ still with me and I could  revise my dream I could also dream new dreams and have new vision even in my mature years and begin again. God has given us a great gift to begin again ---and we do so every time we chooses to defy death and side with the living Sometimes I have been surprised by Christ in a moment of realization when things that have become so familiar suddenly take on new significance and meaning.  Sometimes it has been in a moment of reconciliation, where there has been some manner of estrangement or in a moment of doubt, when we have had to wrestle with my faith and experience and out of it have been able to affirm life or when you have been overwhelmed or stirred by the events around me. I have been surprised by God when you have all of a sudden realized that you were in the midst of a loving , caring community of believers in which Christ is present?  I had that experience here.  I remember my first service at St. Philip's By The Sea when I became Rector.  I was a stranger.  I was from the mainland from "up-along" as Newfoundlander call it. I was nervous. I didn't know anyone. I wondered whether the people would accept me or whether I would become a part of them that we would be together, work together, share together and care for one another.  You have all kinds of anxiety coming into new situations.  It soon disappeared.  After my first service with you, I never had so many hugs from everyone in my thirty years of ministry.  I was there.  We were together as one in Christ. It never stopped. After three years we decided to build this new church building. We met as a congregation to make the decision to build it shortest meeting I ever had.  One motion - unanimously accepted - no opposition and we went ahead.. It was a new journey and many times I felt the presence of Jesus calling us, moving us forward in faith. When I left this parish one of the notes that I treasured from one of the parishioner. "Thank you for sharing your life with us, for loving us and allowing us to love you." Christ calls us to walk with him together as a caring community.  * Sometimes that experience of the presence of Christ and from it the power and strength that comes deep down within us, some from a verse in Scripture, a psalm, and hymn.  Two weeks ago I worshipped at St. Philips-By-Sea and we sang a hymn at communion had that affect on me, and I began to think of a story of Tommy Dorsey the jazz pianist. This Tommy Dorsey was not the the big band leader of noted fame.  This is a story about Thomas Andrew Dorsey who was a jazz musician and mostly played and sung the blues in his early years and later became known for his Gospel songs.  In fact was became famous as the father of Gospel music. While he was playing at a concert away from home, his wife Nettie died in childbirth. A short time later the baby also died. After he buried Nettie and the baby together he went into a deep depression. He felt a great deal of guilt because as he left for the concert he had the feeling that somehow he should stay with Nettie. He asked, "Was it God telling him to stay home on that occasion?" He was lost in his grief. He describes what happened next: Everyone was kind to me, especially a friend, Professor Frye, who seemed to know what I needed. On the following Saturday evening he took me up to a neighbourhood music school. It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows. I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys. Something happened to me then. I felt at peace. I felt as though I could reach out and touch God. I found myself playing a melody, one in my head - it just seemed to fall into place: Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn, Through the storm, through the night Lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home. As the Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit. I learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His restoring power. And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day comes when He will take me and gently lead me home. The following Sunday the choir of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in South Chicago, Illinois, sang the new song with Dorsey playing the accompaniment. It tore up the church!  The hymn as been an inspiration of many people since. Many famous Gospel singers have sung this  hymn Precious Lord including Mahalia Jackson at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.  It was also sung at Lyndon Johnson's funeral by Leontyne Price God continued to lead Thomas Dorsey by the hand until he had written more than 250 gospel songs including "Amen", "Somebody" and "Peace in the Valley".  He once stated: "All people are my people. What I share with people is love. I try to lift their spirits and let them know that God still loves them. He's still saving, and He can still give that power." * Be aware.  You can experience the presence of Christ, calling you to newness of life, I can happen anyplace, any time, even now. You are visitor number UK Online Casinos This free counter  is supplied by Visible Counter Connect with Deacon Sils Homelical resource Also for more sermon and lectionary resources connect to SERMON AND SERMON LECTIONARY RESOURCES   Check Out my daughter's web site CARLY'S STRENGTH THE GODDESS WITHIN MUSIC PROJECT Each year, thousands of women and children become homeless as a result of domestic violence.  "The Goddess Within" music project is designed to empower those whose lives have been affected by domestic abuse and to raise awareness of this issue. "The Goddess Within" compilation album will showcase artists and their songs, written for or relating to those escaping the cycle of violence.  The C.D. will be distributed throughout North America and proceeds from the sale of the C.D. will be donated to women's shelters. More information on the CD is available at ARTISTS FOR CHANGE My daughter Carly is featured on the album with her song The Mask.  The art for cover for the CD album is the creation of another daughter, Mary Anne Molcan. Another site to access is Ending Domestic Abuse * Mary Anne is a very talented artist.  She has a new web site called Faerie Artist where she displays her Art.   You can access her site at: Faerie Artist