{"id":3868,"date":"2017-05-16T15:34:58","date_gmt":"2017-05-16T20:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedisciplemaker.org\/?p=3868"},"modified":"2017-05-16T15:34:58","modified_gmt":"2017-05-16T20:34:58","slug":"beach-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2017\/05\/beach-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Beach Life"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn\u2019t recognize him. – John 21: 4 MSG
\nForgive me if I get a little personal on this blog.
\nI have just gained a daughter-in-law this past week and have enjoyed spending a few days on the Florida coast. The white sands were the perfect setting for a wedding. A \u2018destination\u2019 wedding. My first time and I hope, certainly not my last.
\nThe shoreline where we found ourselves was truly amazing. The sand was incredibly soft, nothing hard or uncomfortable about walking on it at all. The water that crested in from the Gulf was actually a nice temperature (not bathwater warm). Sandpipers skittered across the beach, running inland from the waves. The sun burned down on those sitting in their loungers or knee deep in the water, casting their fish lines. Seagulls flew overhead while pelicans floated and bobbed. A gentle breeze blew across our faces, creating a more bronze hue.
\nBeachlife. It\u2019s serene. It\u2019s calming.
\nHere in this beautiful Gospel story we see Jesus\u00a0 going unrecognized. No one even detected his familiar voice.\u00a0 A solitary figure giving fishing lessons to career fishermen. Rough and tumble guys in a boat with nary a catch. And then dear Peter – likely as they were sweating, hauling in an overwhelming catch of fish – had his aha moment. It\u2019s Jesus! In The Message<\/em> version we read that Jesus told Peter and the others, \u201cBreakfast is ready\u201d (verse 12).
\nOkay, so, another beach, another story, perhaps. But I can\u2019t help thinking Jesus was with us too, on our beach. In the exchange of vows. In the reading of Scripture. Preparing a feast \u2013 a wedding feast. A party. And how amazing it is when we recognize Jesus on the beach!<\/p>\n

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By Don Pape, NavPress publisher.
\nReady to disciple others, but not sure where to start? Here are great resources to get started. Follow the link(s) to read a free pdf of the first chapters:<\/p>\n