Launch out into the Deep

By Eld.J.W. Aikens and Eld.J.W. Aikens Sr.

The Launch Out project is the beginning of the process to get you to look at life
in the shallow waters of life and decide if that is where you choose to remain or if you in fact
desire a more exciting and fulfilling life now and life eternal as your goal. Launch out into the deep. Its not just for today but for generations to come.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 3, 2009
• ISBN: 9781465326539

Eld.J.W. Aikens

J.W. Aikens was born and raised New York city during the mid 50’s, in the midst of public housing and poverty. There were many struggles during that time and a constant battle to choose which direction your life would go. Inner city crime, the lack of quality education and opportunities for minorities made everyday life a challenge. The only positive infl uence in our life during those times was the Church, and what we learned about life there. The lessons learned during those early years and the many temptations that came with the struggles of that era along with the choices I’ve made defi ne who I am and where I am in my life. (naturally and spiritually) One thing I have learned over the years is that we each have a choice in our life. We can choose to remain in our present condition or our current state of being or we can launch out and make some changes in our life. Now that my children are older I have decided that now is the time to get this message out and remind people everywhere that you do have a choice and the opportunities are out there for change. With the right foundation and spiritual guidance the best that life has to offer is within your reach. The spiritual message for this life is the choice is yours, and the question I have for you is, what are you doing about it?

Book preview

Launch Out

Into The Deep

Eld. J.W. Aikens, Sr.

Copyright © 2009 by Eld. J.W. Aikens, Sr.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in

any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission

in writing from the copyright owner.

Unless otherwise indicated; all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James

Version of the Holy Bible

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

55169

Contents

~ Prologue ~

Part 1

~ Motivated ~

~ Setting Goals ~

~ Empower Yourself ~

Part 2

~ Your Family Life ~

~ Your Financial Destiny ~

~ Your Spiritual Awakening ~

Part 3

~ What God Requires ~

~ A Sense of Urgency ~

~ Perseverance ~

Part 4

~ Beyond the Dead End ~

~ Prepared for the Overflow ~

~ Fuel for your Journey ~

~ Conclusion of the Whole Matter ~

~ Launch out into The Deep ~

Acknowledgements

To my lovely wife, Rachel

Thank you for your love, your loyal support and your understanding

You are my Soul Mate

To my children; Danielle, James Jr. Jessica, Aaron, Tempestt’, Raven-Samone and Rachel Nicole’

I have seen families that do not get along so well and that is

probably because of the generation gap. But no difference

in age can undo what God has don for us. I have a special

relationship with each one of you. I love the time we spend

together; especially our Friday nights. Do I have a favorite?

Actually I do. Our family unit; that’s my favorite. I Love each one of you.

To my grandchildren; Kayla, Dominique, Jayden,

Kimora, Kaeton, and Adam; Pop-Pop loves you.

To my sisters Joyce and Roberta and my brother Mike.

The love we continue to show for each other

year after year speaks for itself.

I didn’t forget you Paula; I love you too

To my Spiritual family at HCCG

Life sometimes has a lot of strange twists and

turns. Things happen that we will not always understand.

But with God as our foundation and Love as the

glue that holds us together, we press

on until understanding comes.

My prayers are always with you.

Launch Out Into The Deep

~ Prologue ~

Have you ever wondered; what am I doing here? Or what is my purpose for being here? Is there more to life? Is there more out there for me or is this it? From time to time I have thought about those very things. I have questioned my existence and my purpose for being here. And while seeking answers for those questions it took me back for another look into our history. I found out that in the beginning when man was created he was provided with everything he needed. God gave man authority and dominion over the earth and over all the other things and creatures that he created. The man also had eternal life and was created to forever praise and worship God. And as long as man obeyed God he would remain in God’s divine favor. But disobedience entered into the world and because of it everything changed. Men and women were removed from that special place in God and lost their place in paradise. They also lost that divine authority and dominion. And God placed a death sentence on all mankind. Men and women became sinful, evil and corrupt. But because of the love that God still has for us he looked down from Heaven and saw our condition and knew we needed a savior. God sent his son Jesus to redeem us and to restore mankind. Jesus came and told us that we were living beneath our privilege. He showed us how to get back on track with Gods’ divine plan for mankind. During his ministry here on earth, Jesus showed signs and wonders.

He opened the eyes of the blind. He healed the sick and through God he worked miracles for all to see. One day during his ministry and missionary work, Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; teaching the people the word of God. A multitude of people gathered around him to hear this word. He saw at the waters’ edge two ships left there by the fishermen who were washing their nets. For they had been out there all night trying to catch fish. They were skilled at their craft; but on this night they caught nothing and had given up. Jesus entered onto one of the ships, the one belonging to Simon Peter. He asked Simon to pull out a little from the shore so all the people could see him as he continued to teach from the deck of the ship. When he had finished speaking, he told Simon, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. Simon answered, Master we have been out here all night and have not caught anything; nevertheless at your word we will go and let down our nets. When they had done so they began to catch such a large amount of fish that their nets began to break. They signaled the fishermen on the other ship to come and help them. The other fishermen came and they filled both ships. After a while both ships began to sink from the weight of the abundance of fish. Simon Peter and the fishermen that were with him were astonished. Even though they tried all night and failed to catch anything; they found out that there is no failure when you trust and obey Jesus. Jesus then told them come and follow me, I will make you fishers of men. So they pulled their ships to the land, left everything and followed Jesus.

Part 1

Forgetting Those Things That Are Behind Me

~ Motivated ~

In reading the word of God and getting an understanding of what Jesus taught about life, while also looking at the works and miracles that he performed during his ministry here on earth made me re-examine myself. I took a closer look at my life situation and where I was in my life naturally as well as spiritually. I was really blessed by the miracle of the abundance of fish. Looking at the events that had taken place that day a few things caught my attention and also inspired me. Jesus was teaching a group of people about righteousness and the ways of holiness. Soon a great multitude of people gathered around him. Jesus realized that while standing in the middle of such a large crowd everyone could not see him; but he also knew that everyone needed to hear this message. He looked over toward the waters’ edge and saw two ships that had docked and also noticed that the fishermen were washing their nets. They were out all night trying to catch fish but failed to catch anything and had given up for the day.

Jesus then made his way through the crowd and entered onto one of the ships. He asked and received permission to continue his teaching from the deck of the ship where all the people could see and hear this great message about life. When he finished his message he told Simon Peter; the captain of the ship to sail out to the deep waters and drop their nets for a catch. Jesus chose fishermen for this task because they will usually keep trying until they catch something. They do not give up easily. But on this particular day; after they had been out all night and caught nothing they were in the process of washing their nets. They had no doubt given up and were ready to go home empty handed. Simon Peter explained their situation and their failure to catch anything to Jesus (who already knew their situation) I for one can relate to how Simon and the other fishermen felt because I have done that same thing so many times myself.

When I would begin a project or think about starting a business and things did not go the way I planned or it looked like it was not working out; I would give up and make all kind of excuses. But Jesus simply told them that they had been in the shallow water all night and there was nothing in the shallow. He told them to go out to the deeper waters and try again. Simon Peter (who at that point still had some doubt) said at your word Lord we will do it. They sailed out to the deeper waters and dropped their nets. What happened next made believers of them all. Because they obeyed the voice of the Lord the fish kept coming and coming until they finally had to say no more; we do not have enough room for such a great blessing. When they saw failure and was in the process of giving up the voice of the Lord directed them to an abundance of blessing. No failure is final when we trust in Jesus. Not only were Simon Peter and the fishermen that were with him amazed but the multitude of people who Jesus had ministered to also witnessed this great miracle and saw how things turned around when they obeyed his voice.

This also motivated me; because when failure had taken its toll on them and they were about to give up Jesus came right on time and turned that situation around. At the instruction of Jesus they went from failure to such an