Message from Sunday, May 10, 2026

“40 Degrees, 48 Minutes South; 74 Degrees, 58 Minutes East” Mark 6:45-51; 1 Peter 5:7

Message by Pastor Walt Jones

Sometimes, authors, poets and pastors use the colorful imagery of life being like a journey on the open sea. Sometimes that journey is peaceful and sometimes it’s tempestuous.  Whether we’re sailors or not, we all understand the imagery. And likewise, I suspect we all hope for smooth  sailing and calm seas in life. But I also suspect, if we are honest, we    recognize that frequently in life, that will not be the case. In those cases, how good it is to know that we can trust what many of us have learned over and over from our moms over the years, that we can “cast all our anxiety on Him because He cares for us.” [1 Peter 5:7]

In “40 Degrees, 48 Minutes South; 74 Degrees, 58 Minutes East” we learn and are reminded again of the ever faithful, all-sustaining  presence of the Lord for our lives, come what may.   As we sail through this moment in our individual and corporate lives as a church, may we each come to know for ourselves the One who is the anchor of our faith and the hope for our lives…Christ Jesus.

1. Think about this: IF Jesus recognized the need to be in prayer and connected with His Father… dare we in our lives do anything less now?

2. The mental image that’s crucial for us to see and remember here is that HE went out to THEM. Don’t miss seeing the direction here!

3. IMMEDIATELY… (How precious)  He said, “Take courage,  [have   courage] It’s Me!  Don’t be afraid.  I’ve got your back!”

4. Here is the point of the whole passage.  It’s twofold:  1^st Storms come in life to us all.  And 2^nd  In those stormy times of life, Jesus comes to His own…out of His unfailing love.

5. No matter who or where we are… whether its 40 Degrees, 48 Minutes South; 74 Degrees, 58 Minutes East… or right here in this sanctuary, right here, right now… Jesus is here.  When we’re trapped, hurt, lost,  lonely or discouraged… Jesus knows… and Jesus cares!