THE SEASHORE!
There are beaches, the warf, the jetty, sandy picnic area's, the pier and docks. These are places we all like to go when we go to the seashore. Before the 20th century these places were always referred to as the seashore. It wasn't until somewhere in the early 1900's and especially in the 50's that you had to specify exactly where you were going. So many places had sprung up on the seashore that it was necessary to identify where you could be found. One of my favorite places was the Redondo Beach Pier in Southern California.

A group of us went to Tony's on the Pier and had clam chowder. After that, when Jim would pick me up after his night class, we would go to Tony's on the Pier for clam chowder. Then we walked around the pier watching the people closing up their fishing paraphernalia; putting their poles away or cleaning their fish. Very romantic! It became one of our favoritie places. The smells, the sound of the seagulls and the lonely sound of the boats, returning from the fishing barge, bring back many fond memories of our courtship smiling days.

Today the sea is referred to as a small body of salt water that is part of the oceans. In the scriptures the Sea of Galilee was a fresh water lake that was fed by the Jordan River, which also flowed out of Galilee and into the Dead Sea. no matter how we picture the sea, the ocean comes into view. Having been in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, I can tell you that it is big; blue and magical as you sit in the middle of this lake and know that Jesus had sat there 2000 years before.

As we read about the beginning of Jesus' ministry we find that He spent a lot of His time at the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Many times we would find Jesus and some of the Apostles in a boat, perhaps to get from one place to another and many times to get away from the crowds that would gather wherever Jesus went. A lot of the New Testament takes place on the shores of the Mediterranean. Paul traveled by boat and so we see that the ocean and sea's were favorite places in the lives of those who we have grown to love and follow.

"And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." "And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him. Mark 1:10-20

A life long learned trade, handed down from generation to generation. A lucrative occupation for they had hired hands on board. As long as the fish were plentiful, their jobs were secured. Along comes the man Jesus and everything changes. They had heard about Him! They had already been influenced by John the Baptist but now; here was this strange man with His strange ways and they couldn't get enough of Him or the things He said and the things He did. When Jesus said come; they went!

They left their nets still needing to be mended. They left their families to follow a man they had just met. They did not know what was ahead, but they felt strongly that they must follow Him. And follow Him is what they did! Then Jesus told His disciples; "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 15:24-25 The true Christian is dead to the world, to the old life and to the old self. he is alive to God and Christ. This is part of every moment of the Christian. This if a life-principle! Why is it so hard to follow? Why is it? By Jane Ann Crenshaw 8/27/09