OK – back in the saddle again…

But first, one more vacation blog. My dive master’s name was a Hebrew name. On one of the last dives I asked him if he knew the story behind his name.  He knew the Bible story.  I reminded him of the high calling on the life of the man he was named after. He confided in me that he went to church as a youth but had too many questions.

Then he said it was funny I had asked, as his mom had been asking him to go to church with her. Well, we know I was just probably being an answer to prayers his mother was praying. I reminded him that the 5th command promises a long life to those that honor their parents, so he should go to honor her.  He added, “And get some of those questions answered.”  I agreed.

Then he told me he had found peace in diving and seeing God’s creation underwater. I told him about Romans 1:20. Of course the Bible is a much clearer revelation and something we are less likely to misinterpret.  So say a prayer for this young man, that he follows through and does get those answers. I want to be more aware of those divine appointments and have my ear open to the Lord to know just what He would say to them at that point in their journey.

Tomorrow we’ll be back into the daily blog routine and have the answers to the questions on the last 6 commands.

I’ll try to include some dive pictures when my daughter gets some time to send them to me. Diving is a peaceful experience for me too. Watching the world underwater around a reef is so fascinating. The variety of shapes and colors is incredible. It’s like a bunch of worlds all thrown together. Why does the balloon fish hide in front of a giant moray eel? Why don’t those little nurseries of baby fish get gobbled up? How does that reef shark breathe while laying so still for so long? How does the octopus change color? How do dolphins sleep? It’s all so amazing. I’m looking forward to watching that Disney movie on the Oceans.

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I think we are in a vacation rut. We keep going back to the Mayan Riviera as the prices on the all-inclusive packages are just too good to compare with anything else. It’s very safe in this area. The diving is pretty good, and that is what I enjoy most.

We met our grandkids who came a few days before us. They had fun in the kids water park at the resort and on the beach. We also took a day to go snorkeling at Xel Ha. They enjoyed that the most.

This time we stayed at Sandos Caracoal. The staff is fantastic, but since we’ve stayed at a number of other places over the years, this was kind of a step down for us spoiled Americans. There was really no snorkeling from the beach here. The water is too shallow and murky. It’s a great kids beach though. The food at the specialty restaurants was pretty good but the regular buffet was not quite as good as other places we’ve stayed. The power went out twice in our room and without air, this time of year is very hot and muggy. They finally discovered the fan in the bathroom was shorting out so they disabled it. We paid a little more and upgraded to the select club which was definitely worth it. They have internet which I’m using, separate beach area with cool beach beds with shade, and an extra pool and dining area with great service.

Most of the resort is under construction. If we’d have known that we would have chosen Barcelo Palace instead. It has the kids water park, better food and snorkeling, but the total price is a little more.

Best part of the vacation is quality time with the grandkids! The Wallace boys both got their swimming skills vastly improved.  Best of all was reading a very timely book by John Bevere, Under Cover.  It is about authority, something we Americans have such a hard time with. I rarely find a book that is all based on Scripture that teaches me new insights. This one did. I couldn’t stop reading it and will definitely recommend it to the elders and several leaders in the church.  I’ll probably do a sermon or two on it so it will show up later in the blogs – that is, the main points in sermon form.

I also really enjoyed the dive at Sabalos.  Got to see a couple sharks, lots of speckled morays, nice big sea turtle, big crab, and a good variety of tropical fish. I got bit several times by a little tropical fish protecting its nest. I should end the trip with a total of 70 dives, 8 on this trip, a total of over 2 days under water!

Worst part, Montezuma did get his revenge on 5 of us, which wiped us out for a few days. It is very hot and humid and the resort is built around a cenote, or maybe it’s more like a swamp. It’s cool to see the fresh water turtles but not the mosquitoes.  But who can really complain when you are enjoying the Caribbean with grandkids and diving?  Too blessed! Thankful indeed!

At certain times of the year you can get these nice resorts on the beach  for around $100 a day per person which includes all your meals, nice room, airfare and ground transportation. You don’t need to tip as it is supposedly included, but we do. Other than that you can lock your wallet in the room safe. Great service, entertainment, and chance to meet people from all over the world included.

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Continued from yesterday:

Jesus is the Passover lamb of which we partake. No wonder He said that unless we eat His flesh and drink His blood we do not have life. (John 6:54[notes1] ) He is the word made flesh. (John 1:14[notes2] ) If we have entered that blood stained door, we will partake of the Lamb who shed His blood for us. We will be hungry for His word and Spirit. We will be freed from the bondage of this world symbolized by leaven.

And so the Apostle Paul tells us, ⁷ Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) We know the truth and the truth has set us free. (John 17:17[notes3] )

Now as a great mixed multitude (talk about unbiased toward ethnicity! Revelation 5:9-10[notes4] ) we leave our tools of slavery behind and we are free. We get up to leave and join the crowd (Hebrews 12:1[notes5] ) of those who follow the Shepherd, not the shepherd Moses. He was just a picture of the One to come. Our shepherd is the Great Shepherd, Jesus. He’s the Shepherd, the door, the lamb that was slain, and the blood upon the door. He leads us out of the world into the freedom of the Spirit.

In the time between our choice of Jesus as the Lamb and the fullness of what His sacrifice means to us, we become increasingly attached to Him. Our hearts are broken at the price He had to pay for our sin. That’s why it is with great gratitude that we leave the bondage of the world behind, forsaking sin, and walking in the freedom of the Spirit. His rod and staff comfort us, for we’ve seen the power of His judgments on the false gods of the world. (Psalm 23:4[notes6] ) We know it is this power that will lead us through the wilderness of life and to the Promised Land.

The Exodus is the story of every follower of Jesus. It is a blueprint for the ages to follow. It foreshadows the Great Tribulation. Because our hearts are circumcised (Deuteronomy 30:6[notes7] ), we have been grafted into Israel. (Romans 11:17[notes8] ) We’ve entered that blood stained door. We’ve gotten rid of the sin represented by leaven, and we partake of the Passover Lamb. We are freed! All glory to God!

54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

[notes2] John 1:14 (ESV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

[notes3] John 17:17 (ESV)

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

[notes4] Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV)

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

[notes5] Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

[notes6] Psalms 23:4 (ESV)

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

[notes7] Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV)

6 And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

[notes8] Romans 11:17 (ESV)

17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

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