Make every effort to add to your faith. – 2 Peter 1:5 (2 Peter 1:5-11)

A good many be faithful ter thar ideas ’bout tha Son, but only a few actually be faithful ter tha Son. In our moments of questioning, tha Son asks, “Do ya want ter leave too?” (John 6:66-68) Faith be not committed ter facts. Faith be committed ter a person.

If we want ter be close as a soul mate with tha Son, it ‘ill mean refusing ter do or even think certain things. Think on tha character of tha Son and seek his qualities. If ya lack even one, ya be near-sighted and blind. Clean yer specs. Clean yer mind. Be washed clean in tha blood of tha Son. Thar kin be no higher honor than ter stand tha midnight watch with tha Son while ya await his rising.

Now if ya count yer self as a mate with tha Son, then make yer calling sure and secure and add ter yer faith:

• Goodness
• Self control
• Perseverance
• A likeness ter Skipper
• Brotherly kindness
• Love

Such qualities be tha stripes of them who sail with Skip. Do this and ya ‘ill be effective and productive in all ya do.

If ya sail with tha Son, ya ‘ill be regarded as a daydreamer and worse.  But ya ‘ill also be called his friend, brother-sister, and disciple. And thar kin be no greater honor than that.

Escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. – 2 Peter 1:4 (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he ‘as called us by his own glory. Think on that a wee bit. Of all tha folks Skip could ‘ave called ter be in his crew, he called us. Now fer we go thinking it be because we got special skills and experience and ‘ave tha right heart and all, keep this in mind: nary a feller or lass ‘ill ever measure up ter Skip’s standards. All who ever tried ter live up ter his Code of Conduct kin attest ter that fact. So when Skip calls us, it be by his own glory and fer his own glory. Skip counts us a glorious. Whatever ya done in tha past, that be behind ya. Skip only sees ya as glorious and worthy ter be in his crew. Live in that glory.

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he ‘as called us in ter his goodness. Think on that a wee bit. All sorts of folks think they know what goodness looks like, but Skip be the standard of goodness. When he called us in ter his goodness we shed our ideas of good and take on his. If we not be sure what Skip’s goodness looks like, we only need ter study his Code of Conduct and tha life of his Son when he walked on land as a lubber. None be good except Skip. Make it yer task ter study his ways. Then ask his Holy Ghost of Truth ter change ya in ter tha goodness of Skip. If he ‘as called ya in ter his goodness, he ‘ill exchange yer badness fer his goodness.

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he ‘as called us in called us ter escape tha corruption in tha world. Think on that a wee bit. While others be dishonest or fraudulent or conduct themselves in ways that chase power, often involving bribes and coercion, them in Skip’s crew be acting with integrity, pure thoughts, and dealing in honest words and deeds. Deceit and manipulation be tha birth mates of then who change words and expressions ter mean a thing not intended in its original use. Ya see this all tha time with some folks. They ‘ill twist Skip’s words, or tha words of upright folks in a way tha be erroneous or perverted. Make it yer tasks ter read tha water, watch tha weather, scan tha horizon, and stear clear of tha snares of such folks who be under tha power of tha devil. Tha devil rules tha kingdom of tha air—squalls, storms, calms, all manner of winds that make it hard ter keep on course—but Skip commands them who be sailing in his fleet.We kin not control ill winds but with Skip’s strength, stamina, and Spirit we kin control how we respond ter ill winds

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he ‘as called us ter reject evil desires. Think on that a wee bit. Skip ‘as given us that power ter reject both evil and tha desire fer evil. Tha devil ‘ill try ter trick us in ter thinking we doth not ‘ave any control over our desires of tha flesh or evil thoughts. Don’ ya believe it. Many a mate ‘as lost thar soul ter Davy Jones fer believing that lying scoundrel and his pack of fibs. Once ya sign on with Skip ya ‘ave tha power to reject evil. Not on yer on, mind ya, but when ya reject evil in tha name of and under tha authority of the Son, tha devil and his horde of demons hast ter flee. They got no choice.

Reject evil, mean it, and live like ya mean it. 

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life. – 2 Peter 1:3 (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he gives us his divine power. Think on that a wee bit. Skip gives those in his crew tha power ter (Matthew 10:8) cast out demons, heal tha sick, raise the dead,  (2 Chronicles 7:13-22) shut up the heavens so that thar be no rain, command pests ter devour tha land and send plagues among folks.

Now this power not be fer our benefit but fer tha glory of Skip in order that all ‘ill turn and be saved of thar sins. Some get healed and kin not stop talking ’bout what a miracle Skip did in thar life. Others get heal, then shrug like it no big deal ter get back thar sight, hearing, or be able ter walk and run. Regardless, tha transformation be a display of Skip’s power working through his crew.

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he gives us his likeness. Think on that a wee bit. Skip gives those in his crew tha ability ter look like him. Now Skip be spirit and all folks be made in his image, so tha likeness Peter be professing here be of a kind that reflects tha character of Skip, not his physical appearance.

Ter be sure, most folks ‘ave a bit of Skip’s character in ’em. Skip be love. If a feller be able ter love his neighbor, that be tha result of Skip’s likeness working in him. Tha knowledge of Skipper that gives us his likeness be of a sort that shows humility, a willingness ter help others, ter serve others, ter sacrifice our comfort, our desires, our position fer tha benefit of others. This be what tha Son did when he left his post in heaven and allowed himself ter be bound in tha body of a man and get kilt fer us. Only a feller or lass who be filled up true with Skip’s Holy Ghost of Truth kin carry on in the full likeness of Skip. And yet, this be ours if only we ‘ill ask Skipper and submit ter tha work of his Holy Ghost of Truth.

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, he gives us ever thing we need fer life. Think on that a wee bit. Skip gives those in his crew ever thing we need fer carrying out tha tasks assigned ter us. Oh at first it may not seem like we have ever tool fer tha task. In fact, thar be times when it appears we hain’t nary got a pot ter boil in. But if ya truly be in Skip’s crew, he ‘ill always give ya jest what ya need at tha right time ter get tha work done. Problem be, what we think we need and what Skip knows we need often be ‘as far apart as tha east is from tha west. Folks tend ter fixate on things. Skip fixates on faith. Them who gots faith in Skipper ‘ill always have enough and more.

We ‘ave Skipper’s divine power: not fer our benefit, but fer others. We ‘ave Skipper’s divine likeness: not so we kin boast ’bout our self, but so we kin boast ’bout Skip and his love. We ‘ave Skipper’s cargo fer carrying out ever task while we sail through this life.

Skipper’s holy spirit of truth be another name fer skipper working and living in folks here and now. When ya be born again with Skipper’s Holy Ghost of Truth ya received tha very life of tha risen Son himself. Our new-born destiny be ter bring many as we kin in ter Skip’s crew.  (Hebrews 2:10). Fulfilling yer destiny brings glory ter Skip, a smile on yer face, and joy ter them who be rescued from tha sea of sin.

Make it yer task ter keep watch at all times in all sorts of weather so ya kin toss a line ter them lost on tha dark and stormy seas of life.

Through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ we have received a precious faith. –  2 Peter 1:1 (2 Peter 1:1-2)

Through tha righteousness of Skipper we ‘ave received a precious faith. Think on that a wee bit. Tha faith ya ‘ave be a thing that come ter ya from Skip, not of yer own doing. It be Skip who give ya tha faith ter hang with him through squalls and fair winds, dead calms and dead-of-night watches. Ne’re go thinking ya ginned up tha faith ya ‘ave be from yer own doing. Like all such blessings, yer faith come from tha storehouse of Skip’s righteousness.

Through tha righteousness of tha Son we receive Skipper’s very great and precious promises. Think on that a wee bit. Tha very promises of Skip which his holy people counted as better than any treasure a feller could find, now be ours. In Skip’s Code be all manner of promises. Some ‘as conditions and all promises be under tha authority of Skip. But like new found treasure chest desperate mates stumbled upon on a beach, tha great and powerful promises of Skip be ours. Like all such blessings, these promises come from tha storehouse of Skip’s righteousness.

Through tha knowledge of Skipper, his grace be ours in abundance. Think on that a wee bit. Tha grace we receive when we come up a little short of tha mark be from Skip. It be Skip who covers our tab when our pockets hold nothing but sand and shells. Like all such blessings, this grace comes from tha storehouse of Skip’s righteousness.

Through tha knowledge of tha Son, his peace be yers in abundance. Peace be cargo a good many seek but only a few find. Why I dare say most folks live with a good deal of angst. Fact be, them who be in Skip ‘ill often ‘ave a sort of peace about ’em that other folks kin not understand. When tough times come, when pain beats down a soul, when tha youngins run off with tha wrong crew, them who be in Skip ‘ill ‘ave a sort of calm none other kin claim. It be like standing on tha helm with a smile on yer face whilsts a hurricane bears down. A peace like this kin only come from Skip. Like all such blessings, this peace comes from tha storehouse of Skip’s righteousness.

• Skip’s faith
• Skip’s promises
• Skip’s grace
• Skip’s peace

All this be ours fer simply signing on as Skipper’s crew. Most lubbers on land and sea kin never figure out how come it is that them in Skip’s fleet hold him and tha Son in such high regard. Such loyalty be a holy miracle passed ter us from Skip.

Holy and precious be this treasure. Such a find be a thing ter die fer and we ‘ave it without so much as shedding a drop of blood. Tha Son took care of that.

Make it yer task ter live out yer faith, stand on Skip’s promises, show Skip’s grace ter all, and as much as it depends on ya, be at peace with all fellers and lasses through Skip’s glorious power.