The Most Incredible Experience on Earth

The shark just came out of nowhere. We were 50 miles out of Key West with 3 speared fish tied to our waist as we came to the surface. The ominous shape of a large hammerhead shark rose out of the blue water and began to circle while waited for the boat to come get us from more than a quarter mile away. It was obvious the blood from the fish attracted the predator. My heart raced while my worst fears were right in front me.


The wait was only minutes but seemed like an eternity bobbing on the surface. My dive buddy and I were back to back keeping one eye on the shark and one for the rescue party. The dive boat quickly snatched us up from the crystal blue waters leaving the 10 foot hammerhead to drift away from where it came. While a number of years ago, it was an experience I won't soon forget. It makes for great story telling as many have not been face to face with a shark like that. Here 's the odd thing, it wasn't even close to the most incredible experiences of my life.

Another example of an incredible experience was in 2004 where I caught a wave surfing in Costa Rica that was more than a half mile long. We captured it on video surfing a river mouth spot called Boca Barranca that on occasion had a saltwater crocodile in the lineup. I have watched the video dozens of times remembering the rush of the wave, the fatigue in my legs and arms, and the elation when it was done. I feel blessed to have been afforded a trip like that and yet again it is still no where near the greatest experiences on earth.

Growing up an outdoors-man and ocean fanatic there have been so many amazing days in God's creation that I have been blessed to experience but there is one that tops them all. It is one that moves you from the moment you are in to remembering the One that created it all. The greatest experience on Earth for me is that of worship.

So now your thinking, "you are one of those religious people"'. I  would say emphatically, yes, I have come to experience what I wish for everyone who continues to search for meaning and happiness in this world. The truth is no amount of money can buy it, no shark can scare it into you, no earthly rush can stir it within you. Yet so many turn away from the one thing that can bring peace and a transformed life and that is a relationship with God through his son Jesus.

I once had a friend that years before who took his own life said to me, "that if God really exists he needs to come down and talk with me face to face." I only wish I had been better prepared to help him like I am today. The truth is, we can do something better than that. We can invite God to live in us everyday, cleanse us of our past sin,  guide our steps, and not fear our future like millions do everyday. I am happy to share my testimony with anyone who is searching to fill that God shaped hole that cannot be filled with anything else.

For those that believe in Christ but regularly avoid church I want to encourage to you experience worship through a new set of eyes. It is not about how entertained we are in worship at our churches, or how well the sermon was presented. (Certainly if the teachings of your church are not biblically centered I would encourage you to experience one that is). But, rather the real challenge to the  most incredible experience on earth is a matter of the heart. Worship is not about what the church brings to you but what you bring to God as a part of His church. Worship is a gift on our part. I have seen so many people walk away from the church saying they can worship when and how they want. It is true God is with us wherever we go as believers, but there is something missed when we don't gather as a body.

In this past decade there have been many a Sunday where tears streamed down my face from the act

of worship, being in the presence of believers and my hands raised to God. Yeah, I am that guy

too. If that makes you uncomfortable, think about  the crazy things people scream and do for NFL

games which is deemed socially acceptable, but you raise your hands in church in respect of the Creator of the Universe and that would seem down right nuts to some. While the blue Detroit Lions guy gets a lot of attention and football is fun, it is not even on the same scale as a day with God surrounded by friends and family that are all there to worship. My favorite days are some of the father/son and father/ daughter camps I have been to over the years like Camp Shamineau in MN where hundreds of us gather for time with our kids. When we meet for chapel and all sing our hearts out to our God there is nothing like it on earth.

Collossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

I am not sure what your journey with God and the Sabbath have been but here are some things that I have lost precious days to. Looking back I would have traded knowing what I know now. See if my past list of reasons hits home:

• Travel sports with our kids
• Hobbies like golf, fishing, surfing, etc
• Cabin on the lake or second homes vacations where we did not worship that week 
• Another day to catch up on work
• Home improvement 
• Lawn and garden 
• I just don't feel like going
• Sleep

It seems the more I age and grow in my faith, the more I have to challenge myself to how I was prioritizing over the years. If you are feeling pressure by my list, don't.  I am guilty of them all. What I am saying is I have come to find out how much I was missing and want the same for you. Nothing is better than worshiping the God who created us and his Son Jesus who died for our salvation.

If you struggle to find that experience or never been invited to place that feel God's presence in worship let me invite you to my church in the Columbus, OH area.

My family and I attend the 10 AM worship weekly at Grace Polaris Church 8225 Worthington-Galena Rd. Worthington, OH 43085

• We would be happy to meet you there at the front and save you a seat for an opportunity to open your heart up to the most incredible experience on earth. Just leave a comment on this blog and we will make arrangements to meet you.  

As always in my blogs here are a few practical things I have come to understand over the years you can do to bring an act of worship:


Slow down: Don't try to park on the edge of the road so you can be the first out of the service. The foyer of the church was designed in many cases as a place to fellowship.  For years I made that mistake where I rushed home and missed out.

Sing Out Loud: I have heard frogs sing better than me but you will hear my voice among those crying out. It is an gift back to God. This part for me is where there have literally been  tears in praise to my God. If that wigs you out, let me tell you, it is the best feeling there is. No-one has ever judged me for that.

Use Your Gifts: If your church has multiple services like ours, serve at one and attend the other. You may not play an instrument or sing, but your talents can be used somewhere. When we lived in NC and I did not know where to start in serving so I used to set up chairs with 4 other guys before service each Sunday. The worship band would always be practicing while we were working and became my own personal worship session. I want to send a shout out and thank you  out to Triangle Community Church there in Raleigh, NC and Friendship Community Church in Shakopee, MN. We miss you all.

• Psalm 150:1-6 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

Give Thanks in Prayer: No matter your circumstance bring your cares before the Lord, thank Him for the day and for Christ who ransomed us away.

If you find yourself not able to attend service on a regular basis I would share with you my life verse from the book of Colossians that reminds us how we are to live in the world as believers.

Colossians 3:17New International Version (NIV)

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.