I had the opportunity to speak the other night I my churches youth service and It was a very strange experience. I got alot of resistance to the message I brought or I guess I would say there was quite a bit of tension in the room. Some people recieved it while others didn't, but after the service was over I was Physically tired . At any rate I appreciated the opportunity to speak (thanks to the arival of our churches newest member ; ) Go Derek and & Catherine) and I jump at every opportunity I get to do so because I feel a passion to. This is what I spoke about and granted it is not exactly word for word but it's really close.

The Deep End...

Ezekiel 47The River From the Temple 1 The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.3 As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits (1500ft) [a] and then led me through water that was ankle-deep. 4 He measured off another thousand cubits (1500 ft) and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand (1500 ft) and led me through water that was up to the waist. 5 He measured off another thousand(1500 ft){6000ftbut now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross. 6 He asked me, "Son of man, do you see this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river. 7 When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. 8 He said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, [b] where it enters the Sea. [c] When it empties into the Sea, [d] the water there becomes fresh. 9 Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. 10 Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea. [e] 11 But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. 12 Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.

"I just can't get away from this deep end idea though... I know that I am not alone when it comes to this concept or I guess I should say this pull, but its like a river current and I have said this before, it is Unimaginably strong but it will not consume or take you unless you allow it to.I am about to get real with you here.When I was younger I had this out look on life that Ya something out there is bigger than me and I just sensed that, but I didn't want to get caught up in it. Because to me it seemed kinda stupid and (I am being honest when I say that) and lord what would my friends say if I became some Bible thumper. They would disown me. But then the day came for me that I needed there to be something bigger than me to be there. I had made a decision and the consequences were bearing down on me. I will not go in to the details but it was one of those things that after you have done it you knew it was wrong. All this fear welled up inside of me and I couldn't do any thing about it I was scared, disappointed in myself and lower in spirit than I had ever been (with good reason) And I remember I was in my car at my job just praying to God to make everything alright and weeping hard. And I felt a hand own my shoulder but no one was there. From that moment with me a peace came that I had never known. (I found out later that the girl had lied) So that’s when my journey into the river started.I think there are so many people out there that have this sense of "ya there is something bigger than myself out there but do I really want to get involved". Because getting involved means that thing will start to change and that maybe the things that "I" care about will take the back seat to the things that He cares about. "Getting involved" is I think the hardest thing for people to do because it leads them to being Venerable and no one really likes that uncomfortable feeling (i know). It’s a feeling that you’re not in control of the things that are going on. (It’s really very hard for us control freaks). So this kind of brings me to my point in a way. This lack of control that freaks people out is exactly the thing that sets us free. (In a way). When we finally relinquish control to God he gives us a spectacular sense of peace and ease. And not just that, there is no where else you would rather be.
In the scripture,
Here you have a picture of the movement of Gods Glory. Although it just trickles out from underneath the temple the river it creates if immense. Here you have Ezekiel at first wading in it, which is if I may say is what most of us are completely comfortable doing. Wading in the movement of his glory looking for a little bit of feel good God but once things start to get a little strange (which is what God is known best for) its out own the banks we Go. Then we have Ezekiel going a little further in and this time he is knee deep. Now anybody who has waded through a river knows that at around knee deep things start to get a little tense especially if there is movement in the river. And most people would venture to go this far but there true desire is to be on the bank watching the flow. Now we are in dangerous territory. Ezekiel is waist deep in the river and at this point the river is pushing against him one wrong step and he will lose it he will lose all the things he carried into the river with him. Most of us don't like that idea. We have our little bag of things we want to hold on to. Even though some of the things in our little bag are killing us we hold tight to them with all we have, but the thing about being waist deep is that the bank is just a few careful steps away. But what if.... The next part of the scripture paints a powerful picture. Here is Ezekiel no longer standing but trying to swim.

But now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—a river that no one could cross.

What if the next step wasn't a careful one back to bank, but a jump into the deep end with the flow of God? To be caught up with the flow of this river to see its many pathways. To be covered head to toe with the unmistakable presence of God. What would happen to the little bag of things you carried into the river with you? They would be lost to the current. There is one word that comes to my mind to describe this River it’s an old word, Elohim it translates Powerful God.Enock posed the Question what’s holding you back? And I think that’s appropriate here "what is holding you back" .

When I was finished I asked my friend Collin to say what was on his heart or dismiss them. He walked to the front prayed and said a few words. " What if what Travis said is true?" " Whats holding you back? " before we knew it people where coming forward to wanting to junp into the deep end with God. Collin and I looked at one another and our expressions read "wow" in an aw sense. God had moved in the service and touched hearts and I was just glad he allowed Collin and I and anyone else involved to be a part of it.