Happy Friday! Travis has graduated!! The jumbotron at Nokia seemed to have his face on it quite a bit when the choir was singing. I am not sure if it was because he was a senior or because he is so handsome (please allow this mother moment), but it was a really wonderful graduation ceremony. The choir sounded wonderful, the orchestra played well, the speeches were kept brief and entertaining and all of the graduates appeared so excited and very happy. Nokia was nearly full of very proud parents, relatives and friends witnessing these young men and women close the chapter of the journey of their youth and begin the journey of their adult life.

Isn’t it interesting that when one journey ends another one is waiting to take its place? The Hebrew nation was led out of Egypt by Moses and it ended their captivity. Their next journey was a journey of faith that led them to the Red Sea. Their choices were simple; cross the sea or go back to Egypt. With Moses as their leader they were able to cross the sea. In their journey they were led by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. God showed Himself to the Israelites in phenomenal acts of fire, cloud and splitting the sea. The Hebrews saw God in action, but they did not have a face to face encounter with the Father. God chose select men with which to have fact to face encounters and His relationships with the nation of Israel were enacted through Abraham, Moses and others.

John 14:5 “Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need.”

The disciples were given the opportunity to be with the Father and yet they did not recognize Him. Phillip, one of the disciples, says this verse to Jesus. Jesus essentially says to Phillip, “Don’t you get it? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Jesus is trying to prepare His disciples for His final journey. But not only His final journey, but the journey we all will make some day. Jesus teaches us to not be afraid of the journey on this side of heaven or on the other side of heaven.

Jesus has taught us that true faith is not in something you have seen, but in believing in someone you have not (visually ) seen. Disciple Phillip is caught a little short in his faith when he says to Jesus, “Just show us the Father. That is all we need.” Casey came into the fulfillment of his faith when his earthly life ended and he began his journey into forever.

Tonight those seniors received pieces of paper stating that they had completed one journey in their lives. Tomorrow they will wake up and hopefully decide to step out on their faith and seek the leading of the Father in the next part of their journey.

May we be as brave as those seniors tonight and begin our next journey in faithful response to the leading of Jesus and as always take joy in the journey.

Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.