A truly good book teaches me better than to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting.
-Henry David Thoreau

thoughts, writings, reviews, & sermons from Dr. Pat Hannon
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Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed. (Mark 6:45-51).
Only moments ago, Jesus fed 5,000 families with a few loves of bread and two fish. Now he sends his disciples ahead of him to the other side of the lake. The disciples cross in a boat, straining at the oars, because the wind was against them.
When the wind is at your back, your efforts are multiplied. A small effort yields a big result. You go farther, faster, with less effort. You reach your destination quicker than expected.
When the wind is with you, work is a joy. You have more energy than you need. You have margin in resources. You can push harder and rest more.
But when the wind is against you, you work harder than normal, with less results. You work hard to even maintain your location. You become stagnant, and can’t seem to get anywhere. You have no momentum.
When the wind is against you, you wear down quickly. You have no margin. You quickly become tired—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
Three things to remember when the wind is against you.
Are the winds against you? Keep rowing! If you are following the Lord’s command, you must keep rowing—even against the wind.
And let us pray for Jesus to grant us favorable winds.
Discussion Questions
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I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 26, 2014, as a day of prayer for permanent peace.
–Presidential Proclamation: Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2014
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Becoming obsessed with what people think about me is the quickest way to forget what God thinks about me.
-Mark Wilson, Filled Up, Poured Out
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A church’s vitality is not measured by how many people fill the pews, but rather by how much those people are filled with Jesus.
-Mark Wilson, Filled Up, Poured Out
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Parable Praise Party: Come Back Home
by Mary Rice Hopkins
This is a colorful children’s book, retelling the parable of the Prodigal Son for children and parents.
Download FREE from Amazon.
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The practice of resurrection is an intentional, deliberate decision to believe and participate in resurrection life, life out of death, life that trumps death, life that is the last word, Jesus life. -Eugene Peterson, Practice Resurrection
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In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit; in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.
-Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life