O, Come And Fish With Me

Not far from here in Lexington a revolution started with what has become know as “The shot heard around the world.” A nervous finger on a trigger, and the American Revolutionary War began.

A revolution: defined in Merriam and Webster as a sudden, radical or complete change. In the years to come, America would no longer be ruled by England. Colonists wanting and willing to think for, and govern, themselves. It happened. And here we are over 200 years later.

The late Pope John Paul II said, “There are no coincidences.” And today, I would invite you to think about that. Your being here, participating in this middle school revolution, is not a coincidence. There is a purpose, as we contemplate getting out of the boat – leaving our complacency behind.

Years ago, way before facebook and twitter, an up and coming Christian rock band, called Scarecrow and Tinmen picked up gigs by word of mouth networking. So the bigger their audience, the better the chance of securing another date. Which translated into promoting their ministry, as well as supporting and feeding their families. Their schedule included a booking at a small working class church in the Carolinas. The venue would bring in a couple of 100 youth. I guess it could be considered a one off. The band would play, it would be good, but there would be, in all probability, no future bookings from this event.

For that same date, an invitation arrived for the band to play at a youth festival that was drawing thousands. From this event the potential for future work would be amazing. But they had this other gig – at the smaller out of the way church.

The story goes, the band leader tried everything to get out of the engagement. Promising to play any other date, refund their marketing costs, redo their mailings, reduce their price... anything. But the Pastor stood firm. The event was planned for the only date available in the parish schedule. There was no wiggle room.

So the band honored the contract, and played. And despite the small stage, bad PA system, and chicken wire all over the place, the event went well.

Then two weeks later, the band leader received a letter from a young girl who had attended the concert. In it she wrote, and I'm paraphrasing, “I'm 13 years old and already I've been in many many very bad relationships. But your concert changed my life. Thank you.”

There are no coincidences. It is God's plan for us to spend this day together; planning, praying and revolting.

Throughout today's entire program think about it, and think about it now as I introduce internationally known singer, song writer, Youth Minister, that band leader, Chris Padgett.