The Dead Sea

Recently, while i was travelling around the division, someone asked me why they call the Dead Sea the Dead Sea. For the life of me i can't remember who it was though, so if you're reading this post, and it was you who asked me the question, here is the answer:

After some discussion with others and a quick check of that encyclopedia that has info on just about everything, Wikepedia, it turns out that the Dead Sea has an incredibly high salinity level, approximately 30% making it the second most salty body of water and almost impossible for life to exist in it's waters. The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest place on the planet not covered by water or ice at 418 metres below sea level. The Dead Sea is also the terminus for several rivers, the most significant being the Jordan River. The Dead Sea does not flow out to any thing, it is the final destination for the water from the rivers and their tributaries.

Coincidentally, while in a meeting yesterday i heard the dead sea used in an interesting analogy. We were talking about the role of the church, and how in some places the church is much like the Dead Sea. Some churches appear to be the final resting place for much activity. People come to church, come to faith and come to do nothing in the church. It appears there is a mentality that once you are a member of the church there is no further need for activity. It was suggested to those of us gathered that, perhaps, instead of our churches being like the Dead Sea, our churches should be like a spring or catchment area instead. That instead of the church being the final destination, the church should act like a catchment that collects water and focuses it and sends it out to the sea/ocean. The new people we see coming to our churches are like the rain, sent from God, which the church collects and channels into doing things. And as these people are sent into the world we see change coming, areas once barren and dry are reinvigorated with new life, life is given and change occurs.

It's an interesting thought isn't it.

It's amazing what happens when a thought process is changed.