I splashed Jesus...well, I didn't, but I know someone who did.  I just finished up a day of shooting video at our church studio in Sarasota for a best selling author and the greatest pentecostal church historian ever.  His name is Roberts Liardon (http://www.godsgenerals.com/) and he splashed Jesus.  Sound offensive?  Well maybe your perspective on the nature of Jesus needs a bit of adjustment.

When Roberts was 8 years old he came in from playing baseball outside to finish some required Bible reading his Mom asked him to complete and he had a vision of heaven (detailed in his best-selling book I Saw Heaven).  Part of his account includes a water fight with Jesus.  He told us today about how he met Jesus in this vision and he followed Jesus into the River of Life.  Sounds credible to most Christians so far right?  But...then it happened...with a smile on His face and radiating Joy, Jesus splashed 8 year old Roberts and Roberts did what most 8 year old boys would do.  He splashed the King of kings and Lord of lords right back.

You might think such a scene is better suited for a community pool or a busy day at the beach and not something Jesus would do.  This is where many believers have misunderstood the nature of Christ.  He wants to intimately know us and spend time with us and truly be our friend.  A popular song a couple of year ago was "I Am a Friend of God".  Or several years before that "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  The church has worshipped with these songs for years but has never fully embraced the message so obvious in the lyrics.  Think about it...

Why a water fight in the River of Life?  Well...What quicker way to befriend a rowdy 8 year old?  

At the Harvest church in Sarasota, we believe that Jesus is a friend to the friendless and a father to the orphaned.   It really is as simple as that.  What person struggling through the perils that this world has to offer would ever pass up a chance at a relationship with a God like that?  As the global church, we must embrace an all sufficient Jesus who wants to stop and splash us every once in a while.  If we do that, the rest of the world will come to know him too!

If you are interested in reading more of Roberts Liardon's story please visit his online bookstore at http://www.godsgeneralsbookstore.org/ . 

Pastor Dan Minor