Bridges
My topic tonight is about bridges. How many of you crossed a bridge on the way here?? Many of us cross bridges everyday and never give it much thought.
Webster’s defines a bridge in several different ways but I am using the definition of “A structure built over a river, etc., to provide a way across. A thing that provides connection, contact, etc.”
A bridge can be very simple in design consisting of nothing more than a plank spanning a ditch … a tree felled across a stream or creek. The first bridges were probably built like this. I myself have built a few of these bridges. In Canton where I grew up strip mining was the way of removing coal. Dig a big, deep hole in the ground and haul the coal out in huge trucks. This left behind nice clear deep lakes loaded with fish. In one particular area there were three lakes very close together that my friends and I would fish in. We would park our trucks and walk about ½ mile through a cornfield on a regular basis. There was only one slight problem – we had to jump across a creek about 10 feet wide. Sounds pretty easy right … well let me tell you from experience that the water is about waist deep and usually cold. We needed a bridge so we selected a tree ….. Cut it so it would fall the right way and we had a bridge. Crude but effective.
Next came larger wooden bridges and covered bridges able to handle wagons and the first cars. Some of these covered bridges still stand as a reminder today. Many people flock to Indiana in the fall for the covered bridge festival held there each year.
As transportation progressed everything got larger, and heavier. Bridges had to evolve to meet the demand. Newer, stronger materials were used. Steel and concrete replaced wood. Engineers pushed the limits finding ways to span wider and wider distances. This brings us to the bridges of today.
1
When I think of big, modern bridges I think of the Golden Gate in San Francisco. It is the 2nd longest bridge suspension bridge in the world. Only the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York harbor is longer. The Golden Gate is 1 ½ miles long, and took 4 years to build and was finished in 1937. The 2 steel strands used are over 80,000 miles long… enough to encircle the equator 3 times, and each will support 200 million pounds. The towers are over 746 feet high – the tallest in the world and contain enough concrete to construct a 5-foot wide sidewalk from New York City to San Francisco. To withstand the currents, tides, winds reaching 100 miles per hour it has a built in sway of 27 feet.
Imagine what people thought in 1869 when Joshua Norton proposed that this bridge be built. They called him crazy, a lunatic. It wasn’t until Feb. 1933 Joseph B. Strauss came up with a design that would work and the construction was started.
You are probably sitting there wondering about now why is he standing here talking about the Golden Gate bridge. Well for all its strength, engineering, and beauty it is not the greatest bridge ever built. No far from it.
Not 3 feet from any one of you is a very powerful bridge. Some of you even carried a bridge in here with you today. What could it be you ask … it’s the Bible. Yes the Bible is a powerful bridge. It allows us to connect with God through the teaching of his Son Jesus Christ. It provides a way to cross over from this world, this life in to the Kingdom of God. Each and every chapter is a plank, a support beam, a brick. Each strengthening and supporting the other.
Remember Joshua Norton the man who came up with the idea of the Golden Gate Bridge did so in 1869 but it was not until 70 years later that it became a reality. People thought he was insane and mocked him.
2
Lets turn back the clock a few thousand years to the time of John the Baptist. Some people thought he was crazy running around in the desert of Judea preaching the gospel. You see John was a bridge builder. Dressed as Matthew and Mark tell us “John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, eating locust and wild honey – not exactly someone you would trust to build a bridge would you? The man was dressed in animal skins and ate bugs. On top of that me preached about the coming of the messiah. Did people think he was crazy??? You bet they did. Did people mock him?? You know they did. Did this stop John?? You know it did not!! Why because John was a bridge builder.
God sent John to tell the world about the one to come ….. The light. He wandered around in the desert and many came to him to be baptized and confess their sins. He told the people, “Get ready for the Lord. Make straight the path for him.” This worried the leaders and priest of the time because it went against their teachings. So the leaders sent messengers out to John and ask him “Who are you?” Are you Elijah? Are you a prophet? John told them no “The one who comes after me is greater I am because he was alive before I was ever born.” ”I baptize with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” “I am not worthy to untie his sandals.” John was a powerful bridge builder.
In John we discover much about Jesus but we also learn a lot about God. . If you were asked to point out the first description of God found in the Bible where would you look? Well on the basis of time order John 1:1 provided the first hint of who and what God is. “ In the beginning was the one who is called the word. The word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the word.” John is telling us about God … building a bridge.
3
Unlike the other 3 major Gospels John tells of the long conversations Jesus had with people, and why God sent him to the world. He tells of the seven miracles. Jesus turns water into wine; he heals the son of one of the local officials, feeds the 5,000. Each of these miracles is a sign meant to tell us something about Jesus as the Son of God. One of these miracles took place on the Sabbath. This was a violation of the law at the time and the priest and prophets seized the opportunity to try and discredit Jesus. His response to them was simple … one short sentence; “My father has never stopped working, and that is why I keep on working”. Think about that for a moment God never stops working, he never takes a day off, no holidays, no vacations, no sick days, he never stops working. He is always there for us 24 hours and day – 7 days a week, all we have to do is call out to him.
In John we meet the first disciples of Jesus. They were Andrew, Peter (Simon), Phillip and Nathaniel. Andrew, who was the son of Simon Peter, and Simon, who Jesus called Peter, were followers of John. They had been traveling with him preaching and baptizing people in the desert. John told them Jesus was the “Lamb of God” so they left John and traveled with Jesus. Along the way they met Phillip who like Andrew and Peter was from Bethsida. All Jesus had to say was “Come with me” and Phillip dropped everything to follow the Lord. The man left everything to take up the cause and follow Jesus, no questions ask he said yes Lord and off they went. They all traveled on with Jesus and continued to baptize people in the name of Jesus Christ. Andrew, Peter, Phillip, and Nathaneal were all bridge builders.
Jesus was God in the flesh. If any one ask you what God looks like John explains it for us in chapter 1 verse 14. The word came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. John tells us that the Word became a human being and came to live with us. Jesus described himself as the light of the world – if we followed him we would never walk in darkness. If we drink from him we will never thirst. He is the bread that gives life, no one who ever comes to him will hunger again.
Lets skip forward a bit. Jesus knew he would be turned over to the authorities and put to death yet he traveled to Jerusalem anyway.
4
He did so because it was Gods will – not his own. He put everything else aside and did as God directed him to do. This is the same thing Jesus instructs us to do. In all his teachings he ask us to do nothing he himself would not do. He was exposed to temptation, immoral behavior, and sin but he resisted. Satan took Jesus into the desert and tested his faith but he would not waver. Jesus even knew it was Judas who would betray him and told him “Judas go quickly and do what you have to do.” He could have avoided Jerusalem, avoided Judas, and skipped the pain and suffering, skipped the cross – But this was not Gods will.
He was turned over to Pilate for trial and eventually put to death on the cross so all the scriptures could come true, so we could be forgiven our sins. With his blood Jesus build a bridge.
Jesus died and came back to life for us – not for himself: but for you and me – so that we would have a bridge to cross over into the kingdom of Heaven. He paid for our sins with his very life and in doing so constructed the strongest most magnificent bridge any of us will ever cross. And unlike the bridges of today Jesus’ bridge does not need any sway factors built into it because nothing can destroy it. It will withstand the strongest winds, the swiftest current and the highest tide - it is solid because it is built on the rock solid promises of God.
I want to share with you a story I found on the internet while researching this presentation. The author is unknown but the message is clear it made me stop and think.
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver, and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see my beauty.”
Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”
5
Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and the straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches and think of the heavens and God and how close I am to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.”
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree, he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree, a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell this to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When a woodsman came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree, so I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenter’s, he was made into a feed bow for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day a man and woman come to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby on the hay in that feed box made from the first tree. The man wished he could have made a crib for the baby but the manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it held the greatest treasure of all time.
6
Years later, a group of men got into a fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water a great storm arose, and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man and He stood and said, “Peace,” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew he carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally some one came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised into the air to die at the top of the hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as possible.
You see Jesus build the bridge to everlasting life. Using two boards and three nails he built a powerful bridge, and he did it all for us, all he asks of us in return is that we love him and follow his teachings. A small toll to pay for the glory to be found on the other side of the bridge.
The mother/daughter singing duo The Judds had a hit song called ”Love can build a bridge.” It said Love can build a bridge between your heart and mine …. Don’t you think its time. I think we should revise it slightly to be “Faith can built a bridge between your heart and Gods….. Don’t you think it time.
Amen
Bridges
My topic tonight is about bridges. How many of you crossed a bridge on the way here?? Many of us cross bridges everyday and never give it much thought.
Webster’s defines a bridge in several different ways but I am using the definition of “A structure built over a river, etc., to provide a way across. A thing that provides connection, contact, etc.”
A bridge can be very simple in design consisting of nothing more than a plank spanning a ditch … a tree felled across a stream or creek. The first bridges were probably built like this. I myself have built a few of these bridges. In Canton where I grew up strip mining was the way of removing coal. Dig a big, deep hole in the ground and haul the coal out in huge trucks. This left behind nice clear deep lakes loaded with fish. In one particular area there were three lakes very close together that my friends and I would fish in. We would park our trucks and walk about ½ mile through a cornfield on a regular basis. There was only one slight problem – we had to jump across a creek about 10 feet wide. Sounds pretty easy right … well let me tell you from experience that the water is about waist deep and usually cold. We needed a bridge so we selected a tree ….. Cut it so it would fall the right way and we had a bridge. Crude but effective.
Next came larger wooden bridges and covered bridges able to handle wagons and the first cars. Some of these covered bridges still stand as a reminder today. Many people flock to Indiana in the fall for the covered bridge festival held there each year.
As transportation progressed everything got larger, and heavier. Bridges had to evolve to meet the demand. Newer, stronger materials were used. Steel and concrete replaced wood. Engineers pushed the limits finding ways to span wider and wider distances. This brings us to the bridges of today.
When I think of big, modern bridges I think of the Golden Gate in San Francisco. It is the 2nd longest bridge suspension bridge in the world. Only the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York harbor is longer. The Golden Gate is 1 ½ miles long, and took 4 years to build and was finished in 1937. The 2 steel strands used are over 80,000 miles long… enough to encircle the equator 3 times, and each will support 200 million pounds. The towers are over 746 feet high – the tallest in the world and contain enough concrete to construct a 5-foot wide sidewalk from New York City to San Francisco. To withstand the currents, tides, winds reaching 100 miles per hour it has a built in sway of 27 feet.
Imagine what people thought in 1869 when Joshua Norton proposed that this bridge be built. They called him crazy, a lunatic. It wasn’t until Feb. 1933 Joseph B. Strauss came up with a design that would work and the construction was started.
You are probably sitting there wondering about now why is he standing here talking about the Golden Gate bridge. Well for all its strength, engineering, and beauty it is not the greatest bridge ever built. No far from it.
Not 3 feet from any one of you is a very powerful bridge. Some of you even carried a bridge in here with you today. What could it be you ask … it’s the Bible. Yes the Bible is a powerful bridge. It allows us to connect with God through the teaching of his Son Jesus Christ. It provides a way to cross over from this world, this life in to the Kingdom of God. Each and every chapter is a plank, a support beam, a brick. Each strengthening and supporting the other.
Remember Joshua Norton the man who came up with the idea of the Golden Gate Bridge did so in 1869 but it was not until 70 years later that it became a reality. People thought he was insane and mocked him.
Lets turn back the clock a few thousand years to the time of John the Baptist. Some people thought he was crazy running around in the desert of Judea preaching the gospel. You see John was a bridge builder. Dressed as Matthew and Mark tell us “John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, eating locust and wild honey – not exactly someone you would trust to build a bridge would you? The man was dressed in animal skins and ate bugs. On top of that me preached about the coming of the messiah. Did people think he was crazy??? You bet they did. Did people mock him?? You know they did. Did this stop John?? You know it did not!! Why because John was a bridge builder.
God sent John to tell the world about the one to come ….. The light. He wandered around in the desert and many came to him to be baptized and confess their sins. He told the people, “Get ready for the Lord. Make straight the path for him.” This worried the leaders and priest of the time because it went against their teachings. So the leaders sent messengers out to John and ask him “Who are you?” Are you Elijah? Are you a prophet? John told them no “The one who comes after me is greater I am because he was alive before I was ever born.” ”I baptize with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” “I am not worthy to untie his sandals.” John was a powerful bridge builder.
In John we discover much about Jesus but we also learn a lot about God. . If you were asked to point out the first description of God found in the Bible where would you look? Well on the basis of time order John 1:1 provided the first hint of who and what God is. “ In the beginning was the one who is called the word. The word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the word.” John is telling us about God … building a bridge.
Unlike the other 3 major Gospels John tells of the long conversations Jesus had with people, and why God sent him to the world. He tells of the seven miracles. Jesus turns water into wine; he heals the son of one of the local officials, feeds the 5,000. Each of these miracles is a sign meant to tell us something about Jesus as the Son of God. One of these miracles took place on the Sabbath. This was a violation of the law at the time and the priest and prophets seized the opportunity to try and discredit Jesus. His response to them was simple … one short sentence; “My father has never stopped working, and that is why I keep on working”. Think about that for a moment God never stops working, he never takes a day off, no holidays, no vacations, no sick days, he never stops working. He is always there for us 24 hours and day – 7 days a week, all we have to do is call out to him.
In John we meet the first disciples of Jesus. They were Andrew, Peter (Simon), Phillip and Nathaniel. Andrew, who was the son of Simon Peter, and Simon, who Jesus called Peter, were followers of John. They had been traveling with him preaching and baptizing people in the desert. John told them Jesus was the “Lamb of God” so they left John and traveled with Jesus. Along the way they met Phillip who like Andrew and Peter was from Bethsida. All Jesus had to say was “Come with me” and Phillip dropped everything to follow the Lord. The man left everything to take up the cause and follow Jesus, no questions ask he said yes Lord and off they went. They all traveled on with Jesus and continued to baptize people in the name of Jesus Christ. Andrew, Peter, Phillip, and Nathaneal were all bridge builders.
Jesus was God in the flesh. If any one ask you what God looks like John explains it for us in chapter 1 verse 14. The word came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. John tells us that the Word became a human being and came to live with us. Jesus described himself as the light of the world – if we followed him we would never walk in darkness. If we drink from him we will never thirst. He is the bread that gives life, no one who ever comes to him will hunger again.
Lets skip forward a bit. Jesus knew he would be turned over to the authorities and put to death yet he traveled to Jerusalem anyway.
He did so because it was Gods will – not his own. He put everything else aside and did as God directed him to do. This is the same thing Jesus instructs us to do. In all his teachings he ask us to do nothing he himself would not do. He was exposed to temptation, immoral behavior, and sin but he resisted. Satan took Jesus into the desert and tested his faith but he would not waver. Jesus even knew it was Judas who would betray him and told him “Judas go quickly and do what you have to do.” He could have avoided Jerusalem, avoided Judas, and skipped the pain and suffering, skipped the cross – But this was not Gods will.
He was turned over to Pilate for trial and eventually put to death on the cross so all the scriptures could come true, so we could be forgiven our sins. With his blood Jesus build a bridge.
Jesus died and came back to life for us – not for himself: but for you and me – so that we would have a bridge to cross over into the kingdom of Heaven. He paid for our sins with his very life and in doing so constructed the strongest most magnificent bridge any of us will ever cross. And unlike the bridges of today Jesus’ bridge does not need any sway factors built into it because nothing can destroy it. It will withstand the strongest winds, the swiftest current and the highest tide - it is solid because it is built on the rock solid promises of God.
I want to share with you a story I found on the internet while researching this presentation. The author is unknown but the message is clear it made me stop and think.
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, “Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver, and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carvings and everyone would see my beauty.”
Then the second tree said, “Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.”
Finally, the third tree said, “I want to grow to be the tallest and the straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches and think of the heavens and God and how close I am to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.”
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree, he said, “This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,” and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree, a woodsman said, “This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell this to the shipyard.” The second tree was happy because he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When a woodsman came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, “I don’t need anything special from my tree, so I’ll take this one,” and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenter’s, he was made into a feed bow for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day a man and woman come to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby on the hay in that feed box made from the first tree. The man wished he could have made a crib for the baby but the manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got into a fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water a great storm arose, and the tree didn’t think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man and He stood and said, “Peace,” and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew he carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally some one came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised into the air to die at the top of the hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as possible.
You see Jesus build the bridge to everlasting life. Using two boards and three nails he built a powerful bridge, and he did it all for us, all he asks of us in return is that we love him and follow his teachings. A small toll to pay for the glory to be found on the other side of the bridge.
