Good morning, friends.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 9:43, “And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.”
Up until a couple years ago, we belonged to a swim club. And when our kids were younger, they each were on the swim team. Now, I don’t know if you’ve been able to experience this part of life, but if not, let me briefly describe. You take the kids to the pool first thing in the morning each summer day for practice, and then again that afternoon. You pay some more money to get a little swim suit and funny looking swim cap. And then eventually, on successive Tuesdays, you participate in the swim meets. These gatherings will be either at your pool or the opposing team’s, and they will invariably be on the hottest, muggiest day of the year. Being that you’re at a pool, there will be no shade to be had for the first three hours of the meet, and then, as the end draws near, thunder will be heard, and the meet will be delayed, causing the event to stretch out for what seems like months.
As for the actual swim races, I think there are about 900 of them, and your child swims in about four. The rest of the time, you are doing whatever volunteer job you have been encouraged to sign up for. The job that I tried to get was the runner. Again, being at a pool, there was no running taking place. But what it entailed was taking the race results from the official scorers to the recording table, where they were documented and tabulated. It required zero brain power, involved zero anxiety, and kept me from merely standing in the baking sun. Another job to be done was a pusher. It did not involve pushing drugs, but required one to gather up the kids and “push” them into ready position for when the time came for them to be in the water. Quite a task when you’re trying to find five year-olds somewhere around a pool, snack bar, or playground.
Peter stayed with Simon, a tanner, a man who was surely not a professional sun bather. Rather, he worked with animal hides and skins. Peter was a fisherman who had just brought a woman back to life. I’m guessing that you are something and you do something. I’m also willing to say there is something else you could be and do. Don’t be just a Christian, however that might be interpreted. Follow Jesus to the point where He might make you into something more.
As we seek Him today, grow your relationship with Jesus more than you might try to grow your business or your muscles or your bank account.
Have a glorious holiday weekend, and I’ll be with you on Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
