Farewell, Captain Phil Harris (Deadliest Catch and Jesus)

Jul

Farewell, Captain Phil Harris (Deadliest Catch and Jesus)

Posted on July 14th, 2010 in Church Life, Events, Faith by Fred McKinnon

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Wednesday, July 14 2010

Last night, millions of viewers said “farewell” to a guy named Captain Phil Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie. Although he passed away in February 2010, the rest of us experienced his passing via the “reality TV show”, “Deadliest Catch“.

I’m not sure when I got hooked on this show … and I don’t quite understand why I will watch the same thing (cussing, smoking, throwing hooks, and pulling in crab pots) for hours upon hours. I’m intrigued by the personalities. Overwhelmed by the work. Energized by the risk. Captivated by the rewards.

Captain Phil was quite the case. Supposedly, he was the exact same kind of person “off the camera” as “on the camera” … the same guy before and after their “fame” from being on TV.

Captain Phil … he smoked like a train, cussed like a sailor (oh, wait, essentially, he was a sailor, or a fisherman, at least!) … fought with his crew, fought with his kids … yet, was clearly a compassionate, loving man. My wife and I were in tears as he loved his boys, showed them deep affection, and told them the four words that EVERY BOY WANTS TO HEAR FROM THEIR FATHERS:

“I’m Proud Of You”.

So … why this eulogy over a guy I never met? I’ll tell you – Captain Phil represents something very powerful to me. He represents the kind of guy that Jesus sought out to be His disciples.

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:18-19, ESV, YouVersion.Com)

We hear all the stories of how Simon Peter must have been. We infer from the stories in the Bible that Peter was rough, tough .. I bet he had quite the mouth on him. I bet he could fight with the best of them, and could beat anybody in poker.

I bet when Simon Peter dropped his nets and followed Jesus … that his personality, and perhaps, even his habits, didn’t change overnight.

He wasn’t in a suit.
He wasn’t carrying His Bible in a leather case with a cross on it.
He wasn’t speaking King James.
He probably wasn’t clean shaven and polished.

He was ROUGH around the EDGES.

Jesus wanted Him. Jesus called Him. Of all the righteous, religious, uppity-fancy people walking the earth … and Jesus chose people like Simon Peter … like the tax collectors … the prostitutes … and yes, people like Captain Phil.

Did Captain Phil know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior? Well, I doubt any of us can answer that for sure. Before you fire off your comments about how a Christian would never use that language, just stop and consider what I’ve written above. Maybe you don’t smoke and cuss … but those are outward expressions of a sinful nature (and perhaps, just culture and physical addictions) … and I bet if you wrote down your less-visible “inward” sins … you’d back down …

All I can say is … I hope he did … ’cause I’d like to go fishing with him in heaven.

Farewell, Captain Phil Harris.

http://shawnw.org shawnw

Great write-up Fred!

http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

Thanks, Shawn – were you a fan?

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http://www.robmckinnon.net Robert McKinnon

Captain Phil was one of my favorites. It was always a toss-up between him and Sig. I’m gonna miss him. And I hope we are on the same fishing trip in heaven with him, bro. He’d probably show us BOTH up.

And as far as his eternal security? I’m with you. I’d never hazard a guess. The look on that man’s face in the end . . . looked peaceful to me.

I choose to believe that (in the end – at least) he chose well. We’ll see.
http://lifewithjding.com Ingrid

Love this! Thanks for putting a “face” with a disciple.
http://4evrhis.wordpress.com Darla

you know, on each and every time we watched and watch this show, i often think about how Jesus loves them, and called people like him to walk along side and to teach his ways and sent them out as his ambassadors.

I love real authentic people, and i am believing Jesus does too!

Thanks for this post

http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

Darla,
That’s so awesome that you made the connection. For me, I never even thought about it until I heard a sermon about it at a church in Kansas City!

http://journeyofaworshipper.blogspot.com/ Ryan Rotman

Fred,

This is a great post. I also watched the episodes last night. I haven’t followed it all the seasons, but I’ve watched an episode here and there when there’s nothing else on. I caught part of it when the large storm came upon them and the seas were huge and they look out and say something like “If you don’t believe in God….then pointing out to the waves”. I have a feeling they were saying it out of fear, but it sounds like they realize there is something bigger out there than themselves. I found myself praying for them that they would find the One that can calm the seas. They don’t have to be afraid. And I would have to agree, amongst all the harshness, you could tell he loved his boys and that the other captains were fond of him as well. Even when the younger son came to the realization of needing rehab, he came to his dad and his dad said he was proud of him. That’s the true picture of a father loving his son, no matter what is going on. Just like our Father loving us.
jamie

nice freddy mercury, i am glad that you made this connection and shared it with us, the more i think about it the more i agree with you, i’ll admit i teared up watching the farwell, i have been a huge fan of phil for the last 4 years and have maybe seen every episode, he was my favorite capt. by far, i loved watching him interact with his kids and teach them life lessons. My heart broke a few episodes ago when hio son spilled the beans about his addiction and Capt. Phil loved him through it. I got the strange feeling that Phil was smiling last night knowing that he taught his boys well. Great write up freddy!
http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

My day is now complete … the Jaime commented on my blog. At last.
http://Twitter courtney

Thank you for the wonderful comparison of Phil! I to want to believe he went to heaven and one day I can watch him there enjoying fishing with his family and friends!!! I thought during the last episode that he was going back to heaven by the fact that the rough seas were him leaving and returning home to heaven were he belonges! Many may think he was a salty cursing man but down under Phil had a heart of gold and I am joyful someone besides me can see that.
http://www.myspace.com/thegunsofnevada Adumb

I gotta say that when I first heard about what this write up was about I was sure it was going to be really stupid. Once I read it my opinion was changed dramatically. This is coming from an atheist too! Nice story, thanks for making me smile.

http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

Hey, thanks a ton for the comment and visiting. From the perspective of an atheist, I can imagine how the title probably made you think “oh brother” … but I’m glad you enjoyed it!

bob palmatier

lincoln brewster’s step dad and step brothers used to run the time bandit
mtucker

I was watching this the other night and couldn’t finish it because a an appointment. Great analogy of Peter and others. I wonder if Jesus picked them to be fishers of men because sometimes that is the deadliest catch.
PFT

ever christian has dropped the f bomb at least once….its a sinful nature…yah can’t help it. But God so love the world that he sent his son jesus for all man kind….and guess what..that f bomb was forgiven before you came into the world….so stop holding yourself down and feeling condemned. There is no condemnation at the cross….so be free, and tell yourself i’m forgiven. Yes, Phil cussed but Jesus loved him. And now matter where you are in life, whether you cuss, God loves you. However, stop cussing, for your own sake. God bless
judy

I appreciated your comments about Captain Phil, he was rough around the edges, but he loved his kids..yes, I agree that it was men like Captain Phil, that Jesus chose to be his disciples. Isn’t funny though, in our minds we picture these clean, well groomed men and well- behaved men. Were they? No and that is why God chose them.

‘m still amazed that God chose me and He can change any life.

Thanks for sharing.. it made me cried.
judy
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5LFCWYAT7YNSUJG2RUXYHRB5A4 William

I agree whole heartedly the one stewardship Phil had was to his family extended and sons alike make no mistake if you work that closely with someone they become family he loved his boys but he loved his crew and he will be missed.

FredMcKinnon.Com

Farewell, Captain Phil Harris (Deadliest Catch and Jesus)

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