Welcome to Deer Park First Baptist Church

Max Lucado tells the story of an old man walking down a Florida beach. The sun is setting low like a big orange ball on the horizon. The waves slap the sand. The smell of salt water fills the air. Not much sunlight left, just enough for a few joggers and strollers. The old gentleman is alone.

He carries with him a bucket of shrimp. It is not for him. It is not for the fish. It is for the sea gulls. He walks out onto the isolated pier and begins his weekly ritual. He stands and waits as the sky becomes a mass of dancing dots. He spends a half hour or so surrounded by the birds until his bucket is empty. You see the old man on the pier could not go a week without saying “thank you”.

His name was Eddie Rickenbacker. He was commanded to deliver a message to General Douglas MacArthur. With a handpicked crew in a B-17 known as a “Flying Fortress,” he set off across the South Pacific with his hand picked crew. Somewhere the crew became lost, the fuel ran out and the plane went down. In a life raft the eight survivors battled weather, sharks, and the sun. After eight days at sea their rations were gone. It would take a miracle for them to survive.

Then a miracle occurred. After prayer and an afternoon devotional service, Rickenbacker was dozing with his hat over his eyes. He suddenly felt something touch him. He later would say that he knew it was a sea gull. The gull meant food…if he could catch it. And catch it, he did. The flesh was eaten, the intestines were used as fish bait, and the crew survived!
What was that sea gull doing hundreds of miles away from land? Only God knows. As a result every week this old captain walked to the pier with his bucket full of shrimp and his heart full of thanks.

We would be wise to do the same. We’ve much in common with Rickenbacker. We, too, were saved by a sacrificial visitor. We, too, were rescued by one who journeyed far from only God knows where. And we, too, have every reason to look to the heavens and worship.
As we approach Easter Sunday, I hope you will set aside some time to read afresh and anew the story of the death and resurrection of Christ. I hope you will reflect on the incredible sacrifice that was made for you on that day. It is my prayer that your heart might be filled with joy and overflow with gratitude to the Sacrificial Visitor who gave his life for you!

Pastor Dale