CRUISE SHIPS AND BATTLE SHIPS

    The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”  MATTHEW 8:27

     Sunday, our first day at sea, was set aside by God to be the beginning of the best cruise I had ever been on. Arising early (Bill Berryish) to catch the sunrise, I encountered my first new found friends as they sat having coffee on the Lido deck.  While I was reading my daily devotion (GO FOR THE GREEN, Jeff Hopper) and preparing for my morning quiet time with the LORD, I looked around the mostly empty tables and my eyes stopped on a couple a few tables over. The strangest thing happened next.  I thought, in my minds eyes, I could see myself standing beside their table, talking with them.  I shrugged that off and went back to my reading. 
     Something inside kept saying, “Go and talk with them.” Reluctantly, I stood, picked up my coffee cup and began to make my way toward their table.  I spoke a greeting as I approached; they smiled, returning the greeting.  I asked where they were from, we exchanged other queries and they invited me to sit with them. Steve, Anita (Birmingham) and I exchanged home towns, cruise histories and other conversational pleasantries. Eventually, we got around to my telling them about our small-mega church, why I began going there and me finding forgiveness on the floor of my counselor-pastors study (Bill Bellican).  We had church there on the Lido deck. 
     I asked if I could pray for them (Ernie Frey), their faces lit up and their mouths said yes.  I prayed for them and for the mysteries of God’s ways and his spirit’s guidance which brought us together.  I walked away from that encounter with many mixed emotions and messages tumbling around in my brain and in my heart of hearts. At breakfast, I shared the experience with Kat, Dwight and Elizabeth and we all agreed it was a great way to begin a Sunday morning.  At the time I didn’t know it was just the beginning of a cruise which would have more experiences such as that day after day.
     The cruise was more than memorable because the winds and rains buffeting the ship canceled most of the land excursions. However, my plans were not the same as those of God. The scriptures became ‘light unto my feet’ (Steve Banister) and strangers preordained to become friends found their way into the garden pathways of my life (Al Rome).
     Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. GENESIS 1:2