Glorious cross-over to 2007

Suzanne and I, and a Louisiana Recovery Field Office friend, Bob Miller, enjoyed a GREAT combined New Year's Eve service with the predominantly black Franklin Avenue Baptist Church and First Baptist Church, with Pastor Fred of Franklin Avenue preaching. He preached on Acts 27:41-44.

41And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

42And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

I am overwhelmed at what this man of God discerned from these verses. He spoke to the people who had lost everything or much in Katrina. He said that 2006 was a tulmultuous 2006, but he challenged everyone to "pass over to 2007, even on broken pieces."

"We've been shipwrecked. But we are to cross over:

BY FAITH - He said those who were spiritually mature should "jump in first" exercising mature faith.

BY GRACE - There are those who can grab hold of the boards from the ship - boards God prevented from floating out of reach. People came to your aid. That's God. Some were given money they didn't work for. That's God. People came down from every state and someone restored your home. That's God. Electrians and roofers. That's God. Those are the "boards" he provided.

BY MERCY - Some of us don't deserve to be rescued. These are the ones who have one foot in the church and one in the world. Their lives show no evidence of a godly character. But God showed you mercy and you were able to cross over to dry land by hanging onto "broken pieces."

And God said that ALL would pass over to dry land. Not just the ones who have money. Not just the ones who are considered spiritual giants. But he offers the safety of dry land to ALL.

Who is ready to cross over to 2007, even on broken pieces? Who is willing to commit their lives to their Savior?

...A number did. They went to the front, the pastor came down the steps to welcome them and the packed crowed of 1,700 clapped and cheered.

It was a service to remember!