Creekside Church Sermon of February 1, 1998 "The Right Decision " Matthew 14:22-33	Rev. David Bibbee
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Over the years I've fished on three of the Great Lakes and the Atlantic and Pacific, and never got sea sick. While others turn green and leaned over the rail, I fished away on the rolling seas. I've never been sick on a boat, but I got sea sick reading a book. The book is entitled, The Perfect Storm. It chronicles the awesome force of a storm that formed off the coast of Nova Scotia on October 28, 1991. It resulted from a rare confluence of three weather systems which became an extreme Nor'easter, the intensity of which occurs perhaps only once every one hundred years. Winds blew in excess of 100 miles an hour. Wave heights were the highest ever recorded by measurement or calculation. Ships caught in the three-day monster were tossed like toys on waves in excess of 100'.

The story revolves around the crew of the Andrea Gail, a sword fishing boat which was seized by the storm seven hundred miles from port and never heard from again. The most nail-biting descriptions were of Coast Guard rescue attempts for small vessels two hundred fifty miles off the Massachusetts coast. A sailboat named The Satori and its three-person crew issued a "may day". The ship was breaking apart. A helicopter arrived with only one hour of daylight left. Survival suits were dropped to the crew. Because of the horrendous wind, rain and waves there was so much water in the air it was difficult to distinguish sea from sky. The waves nearly snatched the helicopter from the sky. The only possible rescue for the crew was to put on the suits and jump overboard, hang onto one another and be retrieved one at a time by a rescue swimmer who would drag them over the mountainous waves, lock them to a hoist, and lift them to safety.

In riveting detail the author tells how the three had to will themselves over the gunwale. Slowly and ever so cautiously they put one leg over and then another. For several minutes they stood there clinging with all their might, trying to work up the nerve to jump. If they stayed on board, they would die. Letting go was the only way out, and finally they jumped into the watery nightmare. Do you know what happened to them? You'll have to read the book yourself.

Few if any of us will ever find ourselves in such a perilous position, but all of us know what it's like to be caught in a storm. We have all been through turbulent times where we had to deal with sorrow, tough circumstances and difficult choices. We are in the midst of one now. Today we will decide the church's future. Today we will choose a path which we pray will lead to greater outreach, deeper faithfulness, and unity and growth despite the different perspectives we hold. A decision to stay or move is the most difficult a church can make. We've been sailing on a sea of surveys, statistics, projections and prayers to help us make what we hope will be a wise, best choice - a choice governed not by what's in it for us, but what's in it for God.

If there is one story that seems to fit the situation, it's the one Cary just read. To set the scene, the five thousand had been fed, the disciples were exhausted, and Jesus needed some solitude and prayer. He told them to hop in a boat and meet him on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It is somewhere between three and six in the morning. The disciples are in the middle of the sea, and up came one of those instant windstorms for which the Sea of Galilee is noted. The waves were beating them silly. Some were ticked off that Jesus had even put them in such a position in the first place. Then through the white caps and the light of the moon, they saw something coming toward them. "It's a ghost!" they screamed. Then came a familiar voice. "It's me," Jesus said, followed by what he always said when people were in distress..."Fear not."

As usual Peter spoke before he had time to think. "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." I don't know about you, but in that situation, I'd be saying something different. "If it's you, get this ship to shore NOW! Make the sea like glass and tell the sun to come up!" Not, "Tell me to walk on out, the water's fine." Then Jesus spoke but one word...the one word which has brought more change to more lives than any ever uttered. "Come." And to their amazement, Peter slipped over the gunwale and started his watery walk toward Jesus. The sole basis of this bold act was the invitation of Jesus.

What we have here is a response based upon that thing called faith. There was nothing supporting Peter's gesture than the loving presence of Jesus Christ...no facts, no probabilities, no water tension studies - but a response to an invitation.

It's the same invitation Jesus offers us. Beyond the alternatives we face, is one clear call. "Come." The need has been expressed in various ways. We've heard ourselves say, "We need more passion, we need deeper experiences of prayer, more Bible study, more small groups to study, pray, and support each other. We need to share what matters most and know more how we can be blessed when seeking and sharing his spirit at the center of the church's life. All are symptoms of a felt need to abandon the ship of discipleship based on past experiences and habit- forming ways of being the church.

Jesus wants us to do something new here that can't be done without him. I read about a pastor who told someone his church doesn't celebrate Pentecost, God's gift of the spirit to the church. "Why not? Is it too high church for you?" "No. It's because it's been so long since this congregation has attempted anything for which we would need the spirit, that we just don't bother asking for it anymore." Ask yourselves, "When was the last time we ventured something so significant it couldn't be done minus the spirit's help? Jesus is not needed to remodel the sanctuary, put on a new roof or pave the parking lot. His presence is required where churches want to grow spiritually, relationally, numerically, and make a difference for good in situations where the news is bad. This is the territory of where he calls you. "Come to me. I'll show you what it's about through the storms, through the trials and hard decisions. Come. There's a way."

Meanwhile, back at sea, Peter is on the water, so engrossed in Jesus that he doesn't realize what he's doing. Then his concentration is broken. Maybe Thomas hollered, "How're you doing that?" Matthew says, the wind hit him. Imagine...he's walking on the water and the wind bothers him. Then Peter began to sink. I don't know how you "begin" to sink. In the instant it would take to realize it, you'd already be under. He began his walk with faith and focus then he started wondering, "Am I supposed to be doing this? Rocks don't float." Uncertainty crept in. He wasn't sure what to do.

When called into the unknown, anxiousness sets in. We wonder if we're doing the right thing. In the context of our situation we are asking, "What does God want us to do?" That's a huge question. One answer is to pray about it, search the scriptures, weigh the options, and listen. But I have noticed that many times God's will bears a striking similarity to what we want. Sometimes there are situations where two opposing groups claim God's will on the same issue, so God ends up opposing himself.

We often ask the question about God's will, as though we haven't the foggiest idea of what it is. But the truth is, we already know. "You shall love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself." "God has shown you what is good. Do justice. Love kindness, walk humbly with God?" "Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Visit the sick and imprisoned." "Make disciples of all nations." "Love one another as I have loved you." "Forgive seventy times seven." We know God's will. We are to snatch a piece of heaven and bring it to earth. By the manner of our living we show others some kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Isn't this God's will?

Sure, we know that already, but what about the issue at hand? What's God's will for Elkhart City? Before I try to answer, let me share this - I don't believe God is wholly aligned with one option or the other. Can we please God and do his bidding through either choice? If not, God is very limited. Therefore from my perspective, this is what I think God is telling us to do. Listen carefully-God wants us to do what we decide to do. The most challenging thing we face isn't the vote, but what we will do to make that vote reality.

I have no doubt that God will honor our effort if it is fueled by the right motivation. To move in order to avoid involvement in the needs of this community or because it would just be nice to have a new building, won't be honored. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. To stay minus a commitment to be involved in this community, or to avoid change will not be honored. But if our motivation is to be drawn deeper into Jesus Christ, if our motivation is to multiply the numbers of those who follow him, provide ministries to help us grow in relationship to him and each other, and engage in concrete mission and service, our efforts will be honored.

God wants us to do what we decide to do. That's why, when you have a ballot in your hand this afternoon, you must ask yourself a huge question. "Am I willing to do whatever it takes to help what I vote for, happen?" If you cannot say in sincerity to God and yourself, "I commit my heart, my energies, my time, my leadership, my money along with my decision", then maybe you shouldn't vote. There isn't a box to check that says, "Stay the same." It's time to commit to something too great to be done without God's help. There are all kinds of unknowns and what ifs with either option, but faith isn't fueled by fact.

Peter would never have gotten out of the boat if he had done a feasibility study. He started sinking when he got absorbed with, "How can I do this?" questions. His faith needed some work, but Jesus grabbed his hand and pulled him up. In the storm of decision-making, Christ calls to us..."Come." The determining factor isn't knowing which way God prefers. God's concern is that we be a witness for him. The determining factor is, "What will you commit to God to support your decision?"

If you have ever watched an equestrian competition, you can't help but be impressed by the calm, elegant, graceful way the horse and rider fly over hedges and fences and gates and water. Of course, it looks effortless because of years of practice and discipline and commitment. Seasoned instructors say that even the greatest riders encounter a common obstacle; the rider's perception. A large part of a rider's training is devoted to perception because they will never succeed in the sport unless they can approach the barriers with anticipatory confidence. One teacher gives his students this no-nonsense approach for overcoming the hesitation..."Take your heart and throw it over the fence. Then jump after it."

We need to approach our decision with anticipatory confidence. Consider the facts. Consider the needs. Consider the commitment. Consider which option can be the best witness for Christ. Take your heart and throw it to Christ. Then jump out of the boat after it.

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