Anchor versus no anchor….

 Anchor versus no anchor…

One of my older grandsons was invited to go fishing with a friend…the escapade turned into a Patrick McManus worthy story…from the boating landing to the motor, the lost anchor to hauling the boat back onto the trailer…without ever dropping a line  into the  fast flowing river for the elusive fish…giving up  after losing the anchor….

“anchor

: a reliable or principal support : MAINSTAY

: something that serves to hold an object firmly, 

: a refuge…”

Merriam Webster 

 I brought this up after the pastor referred to our anchor in church yesterday…

Another story found in the book of Acts with Paul in a massive storm at sea and the sailors use of anchors…

1. They brought it aboard to sail along.

2. They lowered it to slow the ship…

3. They dropped four to keep from dashing against the rocks..

4. They finally severed from them to make a run for it to the nearby land…

The anchor was the ship’s source of support, holding them firmly until they finally let go…something very hard for the sailors to do…

We don’t want to let go of our anchor…and Jesus, our anchor, does not let go…He is our refuge, a very present help…He frees us from the storms of life,  from abyss of darkness…He alone saves…

Thank YOU…

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 

so the men hoisted it aboard. 

Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 

We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 

On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 

After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 

But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 

Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” 

On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 

Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 

Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 

Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 

After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. 

Then he broke it and began to eat. 

They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 

Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. 

Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 

The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 

But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. 

He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 

The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

Acts.27.13,Acts.27.17,Acts.27.18,Acts.27.19,Acts.27.20,Acts.27.21,Acts.27.22,Acts.27.23,Acts.27.24,Acts.27.25,Acts.27.26,Acts.27.27,Acts.27.29,Acts.27.33,Acts.27.34,Acts.27.35,Acts.27.36,Acts.27.37,Acts.27.39,Acts.27.40,Acts.27.42,Acts.27.43,Acts.27.44

Finally reaching Rome after the sea mishaps…

 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts.28.30-31

Paul didn’t miss a beat, no matter where he went or the circumstances he lived in, he taught about the Lord Jesus Christ….boat bound, housebound, prison bound…

 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf….. 

Heb.6.19-20a

Soul anchor…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbSyEM66FYQ

https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/anchor/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-anchors/

https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/august/what-is-origin-of-anchor-as-christian-symbol-and-why-do-we.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT2f9gpfe4w

(Patrick McManus was a prolific Idaho writer. We read his books to our children and they have read them to their children…we attended his presentations with his friend Tim Behrens. Our faces hurt because we laughed so much…

His stories are still worthy of family and individual reading…they span generations and add smiles to your life..

“McManus also wrote five separate, distinct one-man comedies for his indentured actor, Tim Behrens. Tim has toured these shows to 21 states and two provinces in more than 1600 performances since 1992. They are: A Fine and Pleasant Misery; McManus In Love; Pot Luck; Poor Again...Dagnabbit!; and Scrambled McManus.”)

One short story…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9B7YHr9DpA

https://www.outdoorlife.com/17-hilarious-pat-mcmanus-quotes-about-outdoors/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/26847.Patrick_F_McManus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_F._McManus