A Pastoral Word. . .
Pastor Mark Adams
January 12, 2023
One hundred years ago (1922), a Minnesota man named Ralph Samuelson went to a local lumberyard. Most people would have said that Samuelson found two ordinary eight-foot-long pine boards. But Samuelson had a more creative idea. When he looked at those boards, he saw two water skis.
And that led to his invention of---waterskiing.
Samuelson lived in Minnesota and wondered if you could ski on water the way you could on snow. At 18, he made his own skis and had his brother pull him behind his boat. He unsuccessfully tried snow skis and barrel staves before realizing that he needed something that covered more surface area on the water.
That’s when Samuelson spotted two eight-foot-long, nine-inch-wide pine boards.
Using his mother’s wash boiler, he softened one end of each board, then clamped the tips with vises so they would curve upwards. He affixed leather straps to hold his feet in place and acquired 100 feet of window sash cord to use as a tow rope. Finally, he hired a blacksmith to make a small iron ring to serve as the rope’s handle.
Samuelson tried several different approaches.
In most of his attempts, he started with his skis level with or below the water line; but by the time his brother got the boat going, Samuelson was sinking. Finally, he tried raising the tips of the skis out of the water while he leaned back—and it worked.
As his brother steered the boat, Samuelson cruised along behind him. To this day, this is still the position that water skiers assume. Samuelson began performing tricks on his skis and crowds as large as 1,000 people came out to watch him.
As we learned last August, each and every Christian has at least ONE spiritual gift---a God-given insight or talent or ability that is meant to be used in a local church---like Redland. If each of us were using their spiritual gifts, the Nominating Committee would have no problem finding people to do all the things God calls us to do---including finding someone to chair this committee.
In this new year; let’s all imitate Samuelson, who had a unique idea and the giftedness to make it work. Help Redland’s committees and ministry programs to be fully staffed---so that all the things God calls and gifts us to do can and will happen.
As Paul puts it in 2 Timothy 1:6 – “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.”
Keep the SON in your eyes!
Mark
And that led to his invention of---waterskiing.
Samuelson lived in Minnesota and wondered if you could ski on water the way you could on snow. At 18, he made his own skis and had his brother pull him behind his boat. He unsuccessfully tried snow skis and barrel staves before realizing that he needed something that covered more surface area on the water.
That’s when Samuelson spotted two eight-foot-long, nine-inch-wide pine boards.
Using his mother’s wash boiler, he softened one end of each board, then clamped the tips with vises so they would curve upwards. He affixed leather straps to hold his feet in place and acquired 100 feet of window sash cord to use as a tow rope. Finally, he hired a blacksmith to make a small iron ring to serve as the rope’s handle.
Samuelson tried several different approaches.
In most of his attempts, he started with his skis level with or below the water line; but by the time his brother got the boat going, Samuelson was sinking. Finally, he tried raising the tips of the skis out of the water while he leaned back—and it worked.
As his brother steered the boat, Samuelson cruised along behind him. To this day, this is still the position that water skiers assume. Samuelson began performing tricks on his skis and crowds as large as 1,000 people came out to watch him.
As we learned last August, each and every Christian has at least ONE spiritual gift---a God-given insight or talent or ability that is meant to be used in a local church---like Redland. If each of us were using their spiritual gifts, the Nominating Committee would have no problem finding people to do all the things God calls us to do---including finding someone to chair this committee.
In this new year; let’s all imitate Samuelson, who had a unique idea and the giftedness to make it work. Help Redland’s committees and ministry programs to be fully staffed---so that all the things God calls and gifts us to do can and will happen.
As Paul puts it in 2 Timothy 1:6 – “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.”
Keep the SON in your eyes!
Mark
Posted in A Pastoral Word
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
April
May
August
September
October
2023
February
March
Tool Round-Up on March 12Easter Offering – Day 1Easter Offering – Day 2Easter Offering – Day 3Easter Offering – Day 4Easter Offering – Day 5Spring Church Work Day - April 1March 9, 2023Easter Offering – Day 6Community Easter Egg Hunt - April 8Easter Offering – Day 7Easter Offering – Day 8Churchwide Summer Mission Trip - July 29-Aug 4March 23, 2023Adams Retirement Celebration April 15-16, 2023Parent and Child Dedication - May 14
Categories
Tags
52 VERSES
Adult Ministry
Bible
Children's Ministry
Crew Young Adults Ministry
Daily Devotional
Easter Offering
Easter
FAMILY
FIGHT
Family Ministry
Fellowship
Kenny Luck
Ladies
Missions
Music and Worship Ministry
Recreation Ministry
Right Now Media
Sacred Rhythms
Sermon MInistry
Study
Thriving in Babylon
Women
Youth Ministry
anxiety
couples
discipleship
faithtalks
finances
grace groups
make disciples
marriage
parenting
retreat
trainint
weekend to remember