{"id":266,"date":"2014-02-19T12:04:17","date_gmt":"2014-02-19T12:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/faithsearch.org\/blogs\/rw\/?p=266"},"modified":"2015-11-20T14:39:25","modified_gmt":"2015-11-20T14:39:25","slug":"2014-benefit-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.wattmans.com\/blog\/ministry\/2014-benefit-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"2014 Benefit Theme"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"2014<\/a>

2014 Benefit Theme<\/p><\/div>\n

Each year, we seek the Lord for direction in choosing our annual Benefit Dinner’s theme<\/strong>. Sometimes we struggle to discern a direction at all; others we can’t decide among multiple options. Eventually, God does what only He can do: builds unity out of uncertainty; anticipation from anxiety; peace from panic.<\/p>\n

Each time we recognize with the acuity of hindsight that He has carefully and precisely\u00a0woven the circumstances, the timing, and our hearts, to bring us to a beautiful place. This year is yet another opportunity for praise. Our theme this year is taken from Luke 5:5-8<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

“As you say… Lord!”<\/h1>\n

Dr. Bierle<\/strong> had mentioned a “launch” theme–as we launch new initiatives for the future. Independently of this, our regular office devotions were led by associate evangelist Reuben David<\/strong>, who spoke from Luke 5:1-11<\/strong>, with exhortation to “launch out into the deep and let our nets down for the catch.”<\/em><\/p>\n

This year, FaithSearch<\/strong><\/em> is sponsoring a tour of the Holy Land, featuring a firsthand examination of the evidence for the New Testament, as presented in FaithSearch<\/strong><\/em> Discovery<\/strong>. The tour will include a visit to the Sea of Galilee, where the events of Luke 5 took place. The book Surprised by Faith<\/em>, as well as the FaithSearch<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Discovery\u00a0presentation, feature an illustration from this passage as well. This key aspect of the presentation has historical significance for our ministry.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Path to Faith illustration<\/p><\/div>\n

The “Path of Faith”<\/strong> highlights the transformation of Peter’s recognition of Jesus from “master” or teacher; to his falling at His feet to worship Him as Lord<\/strong>. As John the baptist said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease”<\/em>\u00a0(John 3:30<\/strong>). This movement from pride–Peter was, after all, the professional fisherman; what did Jesus know of nets and fish?–to humility, is one we must all eventually follow.<\/p>\n

As we prayed and discussed the selection for our theme, these thoughts swirled and echoed within our hearts. What’s even more, upon reflection, we realized that our ministry had, at several key times in our history, taken direction from the Lord metaphorically to “cast our nets on the other side of the boat”<\/em> and experienced God’s blessing as a result:<\/p>\n