a church in pursuit of God, with a passion for people
03... John & Linda Rohal
04... Alex Schofill
05... Tom Schofield
06... Michael & Brenda Petersen
06... Taylor Weaver
07... Aimee Anderson
07... Curtis & Jill Vanorder
07... John Macrae
08... Joey & Jeanne McDonald
08... Robert Bowersox
09... George Geer
10... Jason Greene
11... Jay Coulson
13... Gregg & Kathryn Merrill
13... Steve & Stacia Doggett
15... Jim & Ruth Bruce
15... Tom Caruthers
18... Grant Doggett
19... Cliff & Jamie Cochran
20... Andrew Davidson
20... Emily Davidson
20... Maria Carstens
21... Bob Hannon
21... Myra Harbaugh
21... Ryan Wilnau
22... Annalise Greene
23... Amber Varnum
24... Ruth Bruce
24... Suzy Wilnau
26... Don Wilnau
28... Steven & Torrey Bennett
30... Phil Stokes
31... Deborah Evangelist-Tiller
31… Lennie & Cheryl Moser
 Randy Gideons Lead Pastor The Warehouse Church

Giving a RELIGIOUS word to someone

without consulting the Great Physician
is like BLINDLY reaching into the medicine cabinet
and randomly grabbing a prescription and proceeding
to give it to someone and saying,
“take 2 of these and you'll be alright!”
You don't know whether it will help them or harm them.
SEEK INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE
GREAT PHYSICIAN
AND FOLLOW THEM CAREFULLY.
RG

Check out Randy’s blog on the Warehouse website at www.vcfleesburg.com

On Sundays, July 4, 11, & 25

The Warehouse Church will be meeting at
Main Street Receptions on the corner of
Canal St. and East Main St.
in Leesburg.

Parking spaces are available on the site, the street,

or in the lot provided on the corner of
Main and Kaolin Streets.
Look for the signage.

Our service time will be:

10:00am – Café
10:30am – Worship Service

Hope to see you there!

Daddy’s Business

L ate last year, our neighbor lost his wife When Mary and Joseph left Jesus in Jerusalem and went back to find
after a long battle with various him, what did they find him doing? He was busy doing the work of His father.
sicknesses. He had taken care of her They were surprised to find him in the temple courts. In Jeff’s paraphrase He
for so long and then she was gone. As so many asked them, “Why are you surprised to find me here? I told you that I would
of you have seen happen, it wasn’t long that his be doing my father’s work.”
health began to deteriorate. One of his son’s Folks, think back for a minute and be honest. When was the last time that
would come over each Saturday and mow his you actually did some work for your Daddy with no other string attached but to
huge yard and spend the day doing the stuff that really do what would bring praise and honor to him? When was the last time
his dad would normally try to do. As his dad’s that you unselfishly gave of yourself to do His work?
health began to slip, the work would get further That is just some food for thought! Get busy about your Daddy’s
and further behind. This son would not miss a business and don’t take your business so seriously.
Saturday nor detour from his work load.
Early this year, the father eventually passed
away. As expected, the house was very busy
with all the preparations and things that had to
be taken care of as a result of his passing.
Within a week, the house was again quiet (as is
the norm out where we live). Early the following
Saturday morning, I was out in the pasture just
checking on stuff and I looked over at the man’s
house. I saw one car. Then I saw the same
son, on the same lawn mower doing the same
work. You see, this son was going about doing
his father’s business even in the absence of his
father. It was a true testament of this man’s
respect for his father. He knew that his father
liked his place to look nice and presentable. He
continued to do the work of his father.
That is when the Lord asked me if I was
going about doing His business. That hit home
like nothing I had heard in a while. You see, it is
very easy to go about doing your own work.
You know, LIFE! You have work, weekends,
kids, toys, church, personal ambitions, your
goals……. Now where in there do you use any
of that to do the work of your father? Do you
actually make time to do work for the Lord? Do
you allow Him the luxury to interrupt your life to
further His kingdom?
Elias James ~ Hmmm, that's a hard one. There are
many I’d love to meet. King Leonidas and the pope that
with few words turned Attila the Hun away from totally
conquering all of Rome and most of the worlds probably.
I think it was Pope Leo the 3rd.
Tim Walleker ~ That would have to be
George Washington Carver. Anyone who could come up
with that many uses for the peanut has got to be
interesting.
Barbara Smith ~ John Wycliffe! The man who I believe
truly set things in motion for the coming reformation in the
1500's. Although he was a couple 100 years before that
time. He is an amazing man that came against false
teachings in the Catholic Church, lived through the black
plague while living in the midst of it, and lived a long life
even though his teachings brought him multiple death
threats. The church even dug up his bones and burned
them 40 years after his death to prove he was a heretic.
Well that didn't stop God's plan at all for others to follow
in his footsteps to bring the word of God to future
generations.

Elise James ~ President Abraham Lincoln. I would love

to sit with him and get to know him. I would love to hear
his stories.

Sandy Lindsay ~ This would be a lengthy list for me, but

of course Christ would be my first choice. Ezekiel is
another; my call is similar to his. Elisha, wow... took to
heaven in a chariot, now that's where the third heaven
invaded earth! What kind of stories would he talk about?
And one less sought after perhaps would be Peter. For
many years I studied I and II Peter because he suffered
so much pain in his walk with the Lord. It witnessed to
me far more than anyone would want it to, but, there I
was in that season of my life. I enjoyed World History but
no ones name even comes to mind there.

Derek Striker ~ Jesus, ‘cause that means I made it in!

Jeff Light ~ The woman in the Bible with the issue of

blood!

Brenda Petersen ~ Not counting anyone from the Bible,

that would be a given…I would like to meet Walt Disney,
the man.

Russ White ~ Hmmm.....Constantine I think. It would be

interesting to hear about how the life of the Church
changed under his time and the effect the state and
church had on one another from a first hand point of
view.
Every Sunday ~
averagejoe’s Café
Free continental breakfast served from
10:00am to 10:20am
Contact: Renee Stoffel @ 253-2465
THEWAREHOUSE BAND
Contacts: Aaron Symonds @ 330-1928
Mela Striker @ 365-1006
WAREHOUSE NURSERY & PRESCHOOL
We believe in ministering to the needs of even
our littlest members. Our qualified teachers
create a positive experience that introduces
nursery and preschool children to the love of
Jesus early on.
Contact: Jill Porvaznik @ 793-1326
WAREHOUSE KID’S
Warehouse Kid’s is for all boys and girls in
Kindergarten through 6th grade. We provide a
combination of games, interactive characters,
and fun filled songs capture kid’s attention
while showing them that living for God is the
best way to live!
Contact: Ron Sellers @ 787-0385
1st & 3rd Sunday @ 5:00pm~
We desire to Tell, Teach and Touch those
around us. We are ordinary, everyday
people, working out a God-initiated,
supernatural salvation, and offering the same
to those we come in contact with.
12415 SE 60th Terrace, Belleview
Contact: David Schott 347-9841
2nd & 4th Sunday ~
S T A T U R E Youth Group @ 1:00pm
Stature is about experience, connection and
influence. Teenagers can have an authentic,
first-hand experience with God while they
connect with others, forming purposeful
relationships. As they grow, they learn how
to make an impact on the world they live in.
Contact: Neal Hayes 365-1496
Next Meeting: July 11 & 25
1st Wednesday ~
Light Home Group @ 6:30pm
Our group is about RELATIONSHIPS;
building them and maintaining them. We are
studying Romans Chapter 12 and using the
examples given to do Acts of Kindness to the
people that we run into within our own
community. This in turn will hopefully build
more relationships to the people that need it
most.
1304 CR 245A, Oxford (West)
Contact: Jeff Light @ (352) 427-9211
Next Meeting: Jul 7
2nd & 4th Wednesday ~ Every Friday ~
* S OA K IN G @ 7:00pm Life’s Healing Choices
The Lindsay Home Women Only
The Plantations off Hwy 27 June 4th - July 30th
24113 Peekskill St. South Leesburg 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
Contact: Sandy Lindsay 315-0245 Sonia Shearer's Home
Dinner served @ 6:30pm 701 Hickory Ave, Fruitland Park
Next Meeting: July 14 & 28 Childcare by Danelle Wall at a different
location. Please call Danelle at 787-8578 to
* Soaking is simply spending time in God’s arrange.
Presence rather than striving in prayer. It’s Contact: Sonia Shearer @ 408-7192
about resting in His Presence, experiencing
Him and choosing to be intimate with Him.
1st Friday ~ elev ation
READER’S Book Group @ 6:30pm Young Adults of 18 to 29 years old gather for
This group is for the discussion of books fellowship and different activities. Contact:
pertaining to the Christian Faith. Vance Harbaugh (941) 720-3912
Barnes & Noble @ Lake Sumter Landing
Book to read for the summer:
The Great House of God by Max Lucado CREATIVE ARTS
Contact: Brenda Sims (352) 787-5266
Drama! Dance! Pantomime! Sign language!
Next Meeting: Sept 3
Flags! Children's ballet! These are just a few
venues that have been incorporated into the
2nd & 4th Friday ~
Creative Arts Ministry at the Warehouse
Harp & Bowl - Worship & Intercession Church. The message of salvation through
Cochran Home Jesus Christ and the ministry of worship are
3233 Indian Trail, Eustis, 32726 key factors in the foundation of our Creative
Snacks at 6:30; Harp & Bowl at 7:00 Arts Ministry. Many people are blessed
through the visual arts and this is why this
Harp & Bowl is based on Rev. 5:8-10 ministry exists. Look for future opportunities
... one had a harp and they were holding golden that will allow community oriented theater and
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the dance.
saints... Contact: Barbara Smith @ 315-1400
Our goal is to worship God and to pray the heart of
Jesus in every situation that God leads us to.
The format is simple--worship and pray--which
works out very free flowing, with sensitivity to the
Spirit expected. We worship and minister in many
various ways, along with focused/pointed
intercession. Everyone is expected to participate,
encouraging everyone that they
have the freedom to fail--just go for it! When we
feel like God's done with us we stop. Everyone is
encouraged to slip out earlier if they need to.
Our worship is led primarily by Ernest & Rita
Machamer and Jamie & Cliff Cochran. Ernest, a
former church worship leader, plays the keyboard
beautifully, while Rita sings beautifully and
prophetically. We’ve got three guitars, a piano, and
another keyboard just waiting for those who can
play them.
Contact: Cliff Cochran @ 483-3140
Next Meeting: July 9 & 23
4th Friday ~
Older Gents @ 11:30am
Older Gents is an opportunity for men over
50 to meet for lunch and enjoy great
conversation over a variety of topics that
affect all of us.
Golden Coral, West Leesburg
Contact: Randy Gideons 793-9270
Next Meeting: Aug 27
 Brenda Petersen

Energy Savers Tips

Air Conditioners
Buying a bigger room air-conditioning unit won't necessarily make you feel Plant trees or shrubs to shade air
more comfortable during the hot summer months. In fact, a room air conditioner conditioning units but not to block the
that's too big for the area it is supposed to cool will perform less efficiently and airflow. Place your room air conditioner on
less effectively than a smaller, properly sized unit. the north side of the house. A unit operating
Sizing is equally important for central air-conditioning systems, which need to in the shade uses as much as 10% less
be sized by professionals. If you have a central air system in your home, set the electricity than the same one operating in
fan to shut off at the same time as the cooling unit (compressor). In other words, the sun.
don't use the system's central fan to provide circulation, but instead use
circulating fans in individual rooms. Long-Term Savings Tips
If your air conditioner is old, consider
Cooling Tips purchasing a new, energy-efficient model.
Whole-house fans help cool your home by pulling cool air through the house You could save up to 50% on your utility bill
and exhausting warm air through the attic. for cooling. Look for the ENERGY STAR
Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The and Energy Guide labels. The shopping
smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower guide in the back of this booklet will help you
your overall cooling bill will be. find the right size unit for your needs.
Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn Consider installing a whole-house fan or
on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in evaporative cooler if appropriate for your
excessive cooling and, therefore, unnecessary expense. climate. Check out www.energysavers.gov
Consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner for more
to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly information on
increasing your power use. efficient
Avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your air-conditioning thermostat. The cooling.
thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air
conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Find the Cross!

Hidden somewhere in the newsletter is a “cross” similar to
the one below and possibly a different color.

If you find it and you’re the first to call the church office
@ 365-2594 or email to vcfleesburg@embarqmail.com,
you’ll win a treat! Happy Hunting!

Last newsletter the cross was on a graphic

in the Renewal article.

First person to find the cross was Deborah Evangelist-Tiller!

 Jeff has been around the Vineyard for a long time. Randy and
Jeff go way, way, back and have the stories to prove it! We
love Jeff’s heart to serve and his practical look at the
Christian life.
Jeff Light

Full name: Jeffrey Lee Light

Nicknames: Bigdog
When you see God, what do you hope
Born where & when: Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, FL 03/05/1973 He'll say? Hey this party is for you, can you
help us cook??
Family stats: Married to Jennifer, daughter Abbie Rae, son Trever Lee.

Pets: CJ the dog, Hercules the cat A FEW OF YOUR

FAVORITE THINGS
Last movie seen: Not much of a movie person.

First job: Ranch Hand

Color: Blue
Worst job: I have had really good jobs that I mostly enjoyed.
Food: Smoked Pork
Worst subject in school: English and Literature (Amy Russ got me
through them). Words: Dang right!

Your favorite sport/game to play: Volleyball Vacation spot: At this stage of life it would
be the beach so the kids can have fun too.
Who is your favorite sports player: Currently Tim Tebow but not for his
athleticism!! Bible Verse: Philippians 4:13 ~I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me.
How many speeding tickets: Two
Song: Toby Keith “Should’a Been A
Hidden talent: I can crochet. Cowboy”

Most annoying habit: I am sure Jen could give you a list but I won’t tell Dessert: Peanut Butter Pie
on myself.
Cologne: Nautica, Cool Water, Halston
Best way to make you laugh: Pass Gas (sorry mom, but they asked!!!)
CD: Any Sugarland album
If you had to pick another profession, what would it be: Teaching
again Movie: Major Payne

Word or phrase you overuse: “Dang Right!” Book: James and “A Land Remembered”

Worst trouble you got into as a child: Have you seen the size of my Restaurant: I have several depending on
dad??? All the trouble was the worst trouble!!! what dish I want to eat.

Most unusual thing in your fridge right now: Hog casings Spiritual song: I’m Trading My Sorrows

Most embarrassing moment: How do you narrow that down to one? TV show: NCIS, The Unit, Good Eats,
Diners, Drive In’s and Dives.
Best advice you've ever been given: I don’t know if I was told this or
not but what I have learned is that some of the best lessons are how Toothpaste: What’s on sale this week?
NOT to act or react.
Flowers/Plant: MY GARDEN!

I OFFERED HIM ALEVE INSTEAD OF RELIEF
H ave you ever done something
nice for someone, or at least
you thought it was nice until you
figured out that you had done the wrong
thing?
I’ve been working for a marketing
company. We go into stores and do all
kinds of things as far as displaying
merchandise. For the past 4 weeks we
have been going into Walgreen’s and
doing what we call resets. We move the
entire product in the store around from
one place to another. This is physically
hard work. We move or replace the
shelving and we are up on stools or
down on our knees a lot. We have a
team of 9 people who reorganize the
entire store in a 4 day period.
There is a young man who works
with this team who was in an automobile
accident some years ago. He has steel
rods in his back, so his back bothers him
quite a bit. He was complaining one day
about his back bothering him. I asked if
he wanted some Aleve for the pain. He
said yes. I gave him the Aleve and left to
come home. I felt good about the fact
that I had offered the Aleve to the young
man and was able to help him. It was a
perfectly natural thing to do.
by Sonia Shearer
I’m walking through the house
yesterday and as plain as day the
thought came to me that I had offered
Aleve instead of permanent relief. Don’t
get me wrong, there wasn’t anything
I’ve also asked for forgiveness of not
praying for the young man or at least
asking if he wants prayer. The key to
this kind of mistake is repenting, asking
forgiveness and moving on and improve
wrong with me offering something the next time. I think we get all hung up
practical to alleviate the pain, but I and beat ourselves up for what we did or
should have gone a step further and did not do. So the next time someone
offered him prayer for his back. I don’t has a pain, I’m going to offer some Aleve
know if he would have accepted it but I and prayer. What will you offer when
didn’t even offer. Then I asked myself, someone asks you for some Aleve?
“Why didn’t I?” I didn’t like the answer I
got. I didn’t offer it because I didn’t think
God would really heal him. Oh my gosh!
Unbelief is my problem! I didn’t offer
prayer because I didn’t really think God
would show up and do what I asked him
to.
My unbelief may have kept a person
from not only getting healed but knowing
who Jesus is! Once again, it was all
about me! I was afraid because I thought
I might look stupid. What if he said no
when I asked him? What if he said yes
and God didn’t show up, that would be
even worse. How wrong is this thinking?
Really wrong! I’m not going to beat
myself up over it. I have asked God to
forgive me of my unbelief and to help me
believe.
Come hear our own Sue Myers
share her testimony at Grace Tabernacle
7279 E County Road 468, Wildwood
Phone: 748-3255
Monday, July 12, 2010
7:00PM to 9:00PM
Worship led by Mela Striker
Contact is Beth Collop at 753-5047

World’s Salvation
O
n May 3, 1979 I started working with
a one-year contract at the Valley
View Citadel as a social worker
manager with the Tri City Salvation Army.
During this period of time I read much about
the founders William and Catherine Booth. I
was intrigued how this innovative couple who
refused to be limited by tradition set out in
1861 to take the gospel to whomever would
listen. They used street meetings, parades,
marching bands, and posters which brought
much opposition from political and religious
leaders. To this day this organization
continues to change lives.
In 1980 my family moved to Fitchburg,
Massachusetts because of all the adjusting
and many changes in our lives. I had lost my
focus for sharing the Gospel with the lost. My
son John subscribed to “The Last Days
Magazine, A Witness and a Warning.” The
people of this dedicated group, Last Days
Evangelical Association, published tracts and
a newsletter and more importantly went out to
do what they felt the church is suppose to do;
to be an army, fighting the world, flesh, and
the devil for the souls of men. They were out
there on the front lines, in the neighborhood,
in the streets, in the ghettos, in the mission
fields. He kept encouraging me to read
different articles by Keith Green and his wife
Melody. For many years I had enjoyed
listening to his music my favorite being,
“Here Am I, Send Me.” In the January-March
edition there was an article “Who Cares?”
written by William Booth founder of the
Salvation Army, put into modern English by
Keith Green.
After reading this article I continue to
hear these words, “You must do it. With the
light that is now broken in upon your mind
and the call that is now sounding in your
ears, and the beckoning hands that are now
before your eyes, you have no alternative.
To go down among the perishing crowds is
your duty. Your happiness from now on will
consist in sharing their pain, your crown in
helping them to bear their cross, and your
heaven in going into the very jaws of hell to
rescue them.”
For all these years I have not been able
to get this vision out of my mind. It continues
to disturb me ever since I read it in 1981. It is
my “War Cry”, extend salvation through grace
to the hurting and the needy.
Who Cares?
On one of my recent journeys as I gazed
from the coach window, I was led into a train
of thought concerning the conditions of the
multitudes around me. They were living
carelessly in the most open and shameless
rebellion against God, without a thought for
their eternal welfare. As I looked out the
window, I seemed to see then all…millions of
people all around me given up to their drink
and their pleasure, their dancing and their
music, their business and their anxieties, their
politics and their troubles. Ignorant – willfully
ignorant in many cases – and in other
instances knowing all about the truth and not
caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass
of them, sweeping on and up in their
blasphemies and devilries to the throne of
God. While my mind was thus engaged, I
had a vision.
I saw a dark and stormy ocean. Over it the
black clouds hung heavily; through them
every now and then vivid lightning flashed
and loud thunder rolled, while the winds
moaned and the waves rose and foamed,
towered and broke, only to rise and foam,
tower and break again.
In that ocean I thought I saw myriads of
poor human beings plunging and floating,
shouting and shrieking, cursing and
struggling and drowning; and as they cursed
and screamed, they rose and shrieked again,
and then some sank to rise no more.
And I saw out of this dark angry ocean, a
mighty rock that rose up with its summit
towering high above the black clouds that
overhung the stormy sea. And all around the
base of this rock I saw a vast platform. Onto
this platform, I saw with delight a number of
the poor struggling, drowning wretches
continually climbing out of the angry ocean.
And I saw that a few of those who were
already safe on the platform were helping the
poor creatures still in the angry waters to
reach the place of safety.
On looking more closely I found a
number of those who had been rescued,
industriously working and scheming by
ladders, ropes, boats and other means more
effective, to deliver the poor strugglers out of
this sea. Here and there were some who
actually jumped into the water, regardless of
all the consequences, in their passion to
“rescue the perishing”. And I hardly know
which gladdened me most – the sight of the
poor drowning people climbing onto the rocks
reaching the place of safety, or the devotion
and self-sacrifice of those whose whole being
was wrapped up in the effort for their
deliverance.
As I looked on, I saw that the occupants
of that platform were quite a mixed company.
That is, they were divided into different “sets”
or classes, and they occupied themselves
with different pleasure and employments.
But only a very few of them seemed to make
it their business to get the people out of the
sea.
But what puzzled me most was the fact
that though all of them had been rescued at
one time or another from the ocean, nearly
everyone seemed to have forgotten all about
it. Anyway, it seemed the memory of its
darkness and danger no longer troubled them
at all. And what seemed equally strange and
perplexing to me was that these people did
not even seem to have any care – that is any
agonizing care – about the poor perishing
ones who were struggling and drowning right
before their very eyes…many of whom were
their own husbands and wives, brothers and
sisters, and even their own children.
Now those astonishing unconcerned
could not have been the result of ignorance
or lack of knowledge, because they lived right
there in full sight of it all and even talked
about it sometimes. Many even went
regularly to hear lectures and sermons in
which the awful state of these poor drowning
creatures was described.
My friends in Christ, you are rescued
from the waters, you are on the rock. He
is in the dark sea calling on you to come
to Him and help Him. Will you go?
I have already said that the occupants of
this platform were engaged in different
pursuits and pastimes. Some of them were
absorbed night and day in trading and
business in order to make gain, storing up
their savings in boxes, safes and the like.
Many spent their time in amusing
themselves with growing flowers on the side
of the dock, other in painting pieces of cloth
or in playing music or in dressing themselves
up in different styles and walking about to be
admired. Some occupied themselves chiefly
in eating and drinking, others were taken up
with arguing about the poor drowning
creature that had already been rescued.
But the thing to me that seemed the
most amazing was that those on the platform
to whom He called, who heard His voice and
felt they ought to obey it – at least they said
they did – those who confessed to love Him
much and were in full sympathy with Him in
the task He had undertaken – who
worshipped Him or who professed to do so –
were so taken up with their trades and
professions, their families and circles, their
religions and arguments about it, and their
preparations for going to the mainland, that
they did not listen to the cry that came to
them from this wonderful being who had
Himself gone down into the sea. Anyway, if
they heard it they did not heed it. They did
not care.
And so the multitude went on right before
them struggling and shrieking and drowning
in the darkness.
 And then I saw something that seemed
to me even more strange than any that had
gone on before in this strange vision. I saw
that some of these people on the platform
whom this wonderful being had called to,
wanting them to come and help Him in His
difficult task of saving these perishing
creatures, were always praying and crying
out to Him to come to them!
Some wanted Him to come and stay with
them, and spend His time and strength in
making them happier. Others wanted Him to
come and take away various doubts and
misgivings they had concerning the truth of
some letters which He had written them.
Some wanted Him to come and make them
feel more secure on the rock – so secure that
they would be quite sure that they should
never slip off again into the ocean. Numbers
of others wanted Him to make them feel quite
certain that they would really get off the rock
and onto the mainland someday; because as
a matter of fact, it was well known that some
had walked so carelessly as to lose their
footing, and had fallen back again into the
stormy waters.
So these people used to meet and get
up as high on the rock as they could, and
looking toward the mainland (where they
thought the Great Being was) they would cry
out, “Come to us! Come, help us!” And all
the while He was down (by His Spirit) among
the poor struggling, drowning creatures in the
angry deep with His arms around them trying
to drag them out, and looking up – oh! so
longingly but all in vain – to those on the rock,
crying to them with His voice all hoarse from
calling, “Come to Me! Come, and Help Me!”
And then I understood it all. It was plain
enough. That sea was the ocean of life – the
sea of real, actual human existence. That
lightning was the gleaming of piercing truth
coming from Jehovah’s throne. That thunder
was the distant echoing of the wrath of God.
Those multitudes of people shrieking,
struggling and agonizing in the stormy sea,
were the thousands and thousands of poor
harlots and harlot-makers, of drunkards and
drunkard-makers, of thieves, liars,
blasphemers and ungodly people of every
kindred, tongue and nation.
Oh what a black sea it was! And oh,
what multitudes of rich and poor, ignorant
and educated were there. They were all so
unalike in their outward circumstances and
conditions, yet all alike in one thing – all
sinners before God – all held by, and holding
onto, some iniquity, fascinated by some idol,
the slaves of some devilish lust, and ruled by
the foul fiend from the bottomless pit!
“All alike in one thing”? No, all alike in
two things – not only the same in their
wickedness but, unless rescued, the same in
their sinking, sinking…down, down, down…to
the same terrible doom. That great sheltering
rock represented Calvary, the place where
Jesus had died for them. And the people on
it were those who had been rescued. The
way they used their energies, gifts and time
represented the occupations and
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amusements of those who professed to be
saved from sin and hell – followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ. The handful of fierce,
determined ones who were risking their own
lives in saving the perishing were true
soldiers of the cross of Jesus. That Mighty
Being who was calling to them from the midst
of the angry waters was the Son of God, “the
same yesterday today and forever” who is
still struggling and interceding to save the
dying multitudes about us from this terrible
doom of damnation, and whose voice can be
heard above the music, machinery, and noise
of life, calling on the rescued to come and
help Him save the world.
My friends in Christ, you are rescued
from the waters, you are on the rock. He is in
the dark sea calling on you to come to Him
and help Him. Will you go? Look for
yourselves. The surging sea of life crowded
with perishing multitudes rolls up to the very
spot on which you stand. Leaving the vision,
I now come to speak of the fact – a fact that
is as real as the Bible, as real as the Christ
who hung upon the cross, as real as the
judgment day will be, and as real as the
heaven and hell that will follow it.
Look! Don’t be deceived by appearance –
men and things are not what they seem. All
who are not on the rock are in the sea!
Look at them from the standpoint of the great
white throne, and what a sight you have!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God is, through His
Spirit, in the midst of this dying multitude,
struggling to save them. And He is calling on
you to jump into the sea – to go right away to
His side and help Him in the holy strife. Will
you jump? That is, will you go to His feet and
place yourself absolutely at His disposal?
A young Christian once came to me, and
told me that for some time she had been
giving the Lord her profession and prayers
and money, but now she wanted to give Him
her life. She wanted to go right into the fight.
In other words, she wanted to go to His
assistance in the sea. As when a man from
the shore seeing another struggling in the
water, takes off those outer garments that
would hinder his efforts and leaps to the
rescue, so will you who still linger on the
bank, thinking and singing and praying about
the poor perishing souls, lay aside your
shame, your pride, your cares about other
people’s opinions, your love of ease and all
the selfish loves that have kept you back for
so long, and rush to the rescue of this
multitude of dying men and women.
Does the surging sea look dark and
dangerous? Unquestionably it is so. There
is no doubt that the leap for you, as for
everyone who takes it, means difficulty and
scorn and suffering. For you it may mean
more than this. It may mean death. He who
beckons you from the sea however, knows
what it will mean – and knowing, He still calls
to you and bids you come.
You must do it! You cannot hold back.
You have enjoyed yourself in Christianity long
enough. You have had pleasant feelings,
pleasant songs, pleasant meetings, pleasant
prospects. There has been much of human
happiness, much clapping of hands and
shouting of praises – very much of heaven on
earth.
Now then, go to God and tell Him you
are prepared as much as necessary to turn
you back upon it all, and that you are willing
to spend the rest of you days struggling in the
midst of these perishing multitudes, whatever
it may cost you.
You must do it. With the light that is now
broken in upon your mind and the call that is
now sounding in your ears, and the
beckoning hands that are now before your
eyes, you have no alternative. To go down
among the perishing crowds is your duty.
Your happiness from now on will consist in
sharing their pain, your crown in helping them
to bear their cross, and your heaven in going
into the very jaws of hell to rescue them.
Now, what will you do?
G
eneral William Booth (1829-1912)
founded the Salvation Army in 1865.
His passion for the lost, especially
those who were considered “irredeemable”
by the established church, was legendary.
His whole life can be summed up in his own
words, “Go for souls – and go for the worst!”
To many, the name “Salvation Army”
brings to mind clothing and furniture stores,
Santa Clauses ringing bells for charity
outside department stores at Christmas, and
old brass bands playing concerts in the park.
But the original Salvation Army set out to
salvage much more than unwanted clothes,
they were after the souls of “forgotten and
forsaken” men and women. With a zeal
unsurpassed by any, they declared “salvation
war” first in the London slums, then all over
Europe, and eventually in every inhabited
continent on earth. Theirs was a message of
repentance and holiness unto the Lord. On
every flag and banner was their insignia with
the awesome words “Blood and Fire!