The famous shipwrecked of Shackleton in the cold south pole tundra of Antartica is a famous story of endurance to live. Have you ever heard of this amazing near death story?
I (Sal) was first told of this story from a good friend name Shannon (UMM Class of 02'), who told me about the special display at the Science Museum in St. Paul-Minnesota last summer. I thought about this story again after doing my devotional quiet time the other night in St. Paul (home for Thanksgiving weekend 11/29/03).
Shipwrecked is similar to being backslidden, or falling away from the light of Christ that gives life. I've been there before, like many Christians! It can be compared to being in the "wilderness" or "desert" that the Bible talks about in both the Old Testament (Job losing all what he got, Moses in the dessert, etc...) and New Testament (Jesus in the desert for 40 days, Peter's denying Christ 3x, etc..). It all depends how the individual perceives it and does with it.
Personal Backslidden Stories
After giving my life to Christ in the Spring of 96', I kind of drifted away that summer as I was no longer surrounded by fellowship of Christ's family. I was so glued into my summer job of making money fast! I did attend some weekly Bible studies, but I wasn't solidified with the Truth (see one church)!
Then, I kind of drifted away purposely from other believers a couple years ago after getting "offended" by my local church. After time in season, I was healed as God showed me how we need to avoid "division" (1 Corinthians 1 & 12)in the church-Satan's way of having us believers turn against one another.
Stories from the Bible
"The Parable of the Lost Son
11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.[a]'
22"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
25"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
28"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' ""-Luke 15:11-32
Related Sites:
The Prodigal Son - Jesus Parables
The Prodigal Son. Movie clip from Kenneth E. Bailey's The Lost Son. You can order this video at: http://www.shenango.org/kbluke15.htm. You can also see: http://www.eprodigals.com for more of Jesus parables. "
Story of the Prodigal Son, from allaboutheart
"
The present-day story of the Prodigal Son is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences for a Christian parent. Helplessness can turn to hopelessness and hopelessness can turn to despair. Often, the more a parent tries to return a child to Christ, the more the child runs away from his Christian roots. The �prodigal experience� (the emotionally-charged relationship between a Christian parent and a rebellious child) is a universal challenge to Christian faith..."
...
Lukewarm?
Woe to the Complacent (Amos 6)
" 1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!
2 Go to Calneh and look at it;
go from there to great Hamath,
and then go down to Gath in Philistia.
Are they better off than your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?
3 You put off the evil day
and bring near a reign of terror.
4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory
and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs
and fattened calves. ...
Bible
-Stories
Sycronized-Peter
"The Apostle Peter went through some incredible changes within the years of his life. He boasted of never abdoning Christ, but then denied him three times. Yet it was him who spoke on Pentacost and had a vision that declared that salvation was for all people, both Jews and Gentiles"
the Matrix and Faith
Music
-Pop
Dc Talk - What If I Stumble
"Dc Talk - What If I Stumble"
-Worship
When God Ran -inspired by the parable of the prodigal son
"Inspired my the parableof the prodigal son. "
Phillips, Craig & Dean - When God Ran - Live, from youtube.com
"Inspiring worship hymn by Phillips, Craig & Dean. "
Until I see You Again/Back in His Arms Again/Hold me Jesus
"
Until I see You Again/Back in His Arms Again By Mark Schultz Hold Me Jesus by Rich Mullins Love beyond all reason Jesus'" love is beyond all reason, He loves the broken, he loves the weak, He loves us when times are good, He loves us when times are bad, We yell, we scream, we break, He holds, he comforts, he loves, We lie to ourselves, we lie to God, He still loves us with this love we can't explain, We run, we hide, we're scared, He breaks through the darkness, He still shows us a love we cannot afford, He shows us this love that he cannot express. We need our fathers, we need our mothers, He is there for us day and night When we need to cry he is there, We need our brothers, we need our sisters, He is always there even when everyone else has left¦ Love beyond all reason, His love extends all reasons, No one else can express his love, He loves us no matter what we're going through. We yell and mock his name, We scream, all this isn't fair!" "I don't deserve this!", He has the patient love of a father. Still he waits there patiently, While we yell and scream, Still he holds us in arms, We try to runaway, Still he calls our name, He's calling to us through the storm. We are broken, we have nowhere to turn, Still he waits there patiently, While we go our own way, We get led astray, His light leads us home. We falsely accuse each other, We falsely accuse our father, Still he is there, Waiting patiently, Showing us love beyond all reason, A love we cannot afford, A love he cannot express, A love that flows as deep as it is wide, A love that always forgives, Always protects, Always trusts, Always believes, Always hopes, Always forgets, A love that always forgives our sins, Always protects his children, Always trusts us, Always believes in us, Always hopes in us, Always forgets our mistakes, our past our sin, our shame. No one has the love that he has, The true heart of a father, He loves more than any father could, He's more patient than anyone could know, He will wait for us, no matter how long it takes, He will always be there for us, even if we were to forsake him, He never has never forsaken us, He never will, He always love, His love is beyond all reasoning. Who else could love the broken. Who else could love the weak, And wait so patiently, Who else could give up his life so willingly on the cross, Just so we could be free, just so we could know him, Just so he could love us¦ His love reaches down to us in our deepest hole, His love shines through in our darkest night, His love humbles us when we have pride, His love always draws us back to his heart, There is no one else who could love like he can, Only he has love beyond all reason, He loves us more than we will understand, His love will set us free, His love has no reason, His love needs no reason, It is not our job to question God on his love, But freely accept the love that he pours out on us. When you need a friend, His love will reach out to you, When you are broken, His love will heal you, When you are shameful, His love erases that, When you are in bondage, His love sets you free, Learn to accept his free love, His love is beyond all reason, His love that will never end, His love that will always be there, His love is beyond all reason, His love is beyond all understanding, Beyond all reasoning, Trust in his unfailing love, His love that is beyond all reason. Jesus Love is beyond all reason¦ It's amazing love beyond all reason, Beyond what our minds can comprehend, It's love beyond all reason"
Back in His Arms Again - Mark Schultz
Related Sites:
Christian Lyrics Online
"I believe that He loves you where you are
I believe that you've seen the hands of God
I believe that you'll know it when
You're back in His arms again
I believe that He never let you go
I believe that He's wanting you to know
I believe that He'll lead you 'til
you're back in His arms again "
Prodigal Son - originally sung by Fred Hammond
"Stace "Babydeac" Darden sings "Prodigal Son" originally sung by Fred Hammond during our Church service at Solid Rock Church http://www.solidrockchurch.org. For more videos please visit http://www.babydeac.com. God bless "
-Worship
Light the Fire Again
" MBC Church Retreat"
Teachings
Health
Are you going to finish strong
"Nick Vujicic (born December 4, 1982) is a preacher, a motivational speaker and the director of Life Without Limbs, an organization for the physically disabled. His inspirational speeches have gotten him many fans.
The first-born child in his devout Serbian Christian family, Nick Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh. Initially, his parents were devastated. Vujicic was otherwise healthy. "
