Summer may just be ready to begin, but it's never too early to start looking ahead to the New Year's Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. The 2016 Rose Parade theme is "Find Your Adventure". Since Jesus is always a guiding light during the challenging times in our adventurous lives, the Lutheran Hour Ministries Float Committee has determined that its 2016 float theme will be "Jesus is the Light of the World". The LHM float will feature a fishing boat with both biblical and modern era disciples of Jesus Christ sitting beneath a lighthouse crowned with the cross of Christ.
The float is inspired by two biblical themes:
First is the call of Jesus to the first disciples in which He called them from their fishing boats to follow Him into a new way of life. That life would take them away from their fishing nets and start them on a great adventure through which they would carry the message of reconciliation with God the Father through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The float's second biblical theme, and the inspiration for the title of the float, comes from John 8:12 (where Jesus says, "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."). As the lighthouse guides boats safely around coastal waters, so too does the light of Jesus guide His followers through their adventures and perils of life. The light of Jesus shines as a beacon of truth into an otherwise dark and fallen world. It reveals the wide expanse of God's love for us.
Jesus' call to follow was not only to gather disciples in His time, but it is a call to each of us to follow Him in our daily lives. We pray that all would see the light of Jesus and that we would share in the peace, comfort, and hope that comes from walking in a life of faith in the Living God.
You can be a part of this year's motorized witnessing tool. Make plans now to help decorate 2016 Rose Parade floats by signing up to be a Petal Pusher at http://volunteer.petalpushers.org. The Petal Pushers include individuals, families, seniors, all types of groups (youth, fellowship, school, senior), and Boy/Girl Scout troops. In fact, anyone 13 years of age and older is invited to participate! Spots are available for Saturday detailing shifts leading up to Christmas (Dec. 5, 12 and 19) or decorating days during the week between Christmas and New Year's (Dec. 26-31). Sign up today!