Taking it to the beach... nothing new... something new

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9 ESV) My thoughts go two places today: first, to our group at Beach Haven, NJ, who are in a sense, walking where Jesus walked - on the beach, spreading the Good News of the Gospel. Love and Prayers to them. They are not really doing something new (maybe to them, but not to Jesus). Secondly, Jesus was doing something new in His ministry: using parables in a different way - to see who really cares, who really wants to know and live the truth of the Kingdom. He is sowing the seed. Is it taking root?