full circle

The First Disciples 

1 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon,“Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

~Luke 5:1-11~

He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, 

as of old, by the lake side, 

He came to those men who knew Him not. 

He speaks to us the same word: “Follow thou me!”

 and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. 

He commands. 

And to those who obey Him, 

whether they be wise or simple, 

He will reveal Himself in the toils, 

the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, 

and, as an ineffable mystery, 

they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.

~Albert Schweitzer~

Concluding paragraph based on Luke 5:1-11

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


When You call, do we answer...
Are you really all that we need, or just a glib answer...

I'll do as you say & let down the nets...
leave everything I love, and want, and miss...

You call because You know best,
You fix because You Love & know what's broken





I'll answer now, not later...
Who knows when the call to return home will come?

I remember our hug at youth camp,
the feeling of that tube in your chest,
and the sight of you, ministering powerfully, even though in pain
Goodbye Peter Zheng

[You] have fought the good fight,
[You] have finished the course,
[You] have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

See you