5301 Lake Street
Bridgman, Michigan
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."
—Romans 13:8 (NIV)
Aloha everyone... March 2008
"Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man's eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, "Can you see anything now?" Mark 8:23.
Do you remember that commercial for Verizon phone service where the guy was walking all over the world asking...."can you hear me now?" Well, for some reason when I read this verse a few days ago I thought about that commercial and I laughed out loud!
The man answers Jesus that, yes, he can see, but not clearly. So, Jesus places his hands on the man's eyes again and the Bible tells us that his eyes were opened and his sight was completely restored.
As I continued to read the chapter I got to verse 33. Jesus is rebuking Peter for not seeing clearly...for not seeing things from God's point of view. Jesus is trying to tell him about His death that is going to happen soon.
Peter doesn't get it. He doesn't see God's plan for the world. He only sees through his own selfish nature and takes Jesus aside and begins to reprimand him!!
So often my view is like Peter's. My view is in the moment. It's as though I am standing at sea level.
God's view is huge. His view is a Mount Everest and Beyond perspective.
When I pray for clarity about my situations Jesus says, "Can you see me now?" I say, "Yes, Lord, but it's fuzzy. I don't quite get it." It may take awhile to get God's perspective on things in my life. In fact, it had been my experience that it sometimes takes years!
For Peter, things did not become clear until after Jesus' death and resurrection. After spending time with the resurrected Christ and being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter began preaching with a boldness that was huge. He had that Mount Everest and Beyond perspective!
A year ago this month Jack and I pulled into our driveway in Bridgman, Michigan. We were seeing at sea level. We really had no concrete plan on how to start South Shore Fellowship. We only knew that God was calling us here and that we were drawn to a location on Weko Beach.
God is saying, "Can you see me now?" We sure are beginning to!
We have been meeting at Weko Beach in the Lion's Cafe for over 4 months now. It is one of the most beautiful locations around....even covered in ice and snow! God has led us step by step to develop a small core group. They are so faithful; helping us each Sunday. We are averaging around 30 people each week but we are confident that this number will grow with summer coming.
For several months, Jack and I have been putting the final editing touches on his book....A Lake Surfer's Journey. As we have been writing and rewriting and going through hundreds of photographs, God has been there with us ... asking ..."Can you see me, now?" Thirty years ago He led a young family (us) across the ocean to Hawaii. We really did not know what to expect. We only knew that God said to go.
Writing this book has allowed us to see our lives from God's huge perspective. Each story and illustration of God's love and faithfulness has encouraged us so much. Writing down our journey to God and to Hawaii, the history of Hope Chapel South Shore, and now the call to return to Michigan, has served to build up our faith to continue on here.
We don't know what the future holds. But we know who holds our future!
We are excited about this book and can't wait until it goes to print. Please keep this project in your prayers. We hope to have it available by this summer.
Speaking of prayers, please pray for our Easter services. We are meeting at our house on Good Friday for prayer, communion and outreach. Many of the mailboxes in our town have slots under their mail boxes for newspapers, advertising and Easter service invitations to South Shore Fellowship’s first ever Easter Sunday Worship service. We will be delivering in cars, on skateboards, on bicycles, on motorcycles and on foot.
South Shore Fellowship Update
March 21, Good Friday - 6:30 p.m. meet at Jack and Maree’s for prayer, communion and Bridgman Blitz.
March 23, Easter Sunday – 10:30 a.m. SSF first ever Resurrection worship service at WEKO Beach House in Bridgman MI.
March 30, Sunday – 10:30 a.m. Pastor Bob Brunko and his wife Donna will be ministering. Pastor Bob tied the knot at Jack and Maree’s wedding November 14, 1970. There will be fellowship and pizza following the service. By the way Pastor Bob still snow skis. We are honored and excited to have them join us. They have been encouraging, supporting and praying for us for since 1978.
April 6, Sunday – 10:30 a.m. ride your motorcycle to South Shore Fellowship’s worship service with the bikers from CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association)
Aloha Ke Akua,
Jack & Maree
P.S. Please email us your snail mail address if you would like some South Shore Fellowship giving envelopes.
P.S.S. A big Mahalo (thank you) goes out to our resident photographer Sian Beck.