There will be hurricanes this summer that affect Texas through Florida....only they now will be....Gulf Of America hurricanes! Well what's the difference? Meteorologically none. It's just that there is an arrogance about changing the name. Why? And so many of us cheered. Why? What are we saying....'This is our gulf!"? Does anyone feel more pride with the name change? I don't. I feel shame. Great White sharks generally do not go into the Gulf of Mexico. Maybe now that it's the Gulf of America they will?
We do not have prime television cable come into our home....so there is no Hannity or ESPN or anything like that....but I do pay about $10 a month for....FRNDLY....so that I can get The Weather Channel....which I love watching. They have probably made their decision already....I don't know....but if they use the new name when the hurricanes come in it will be odd. It'll be like saying...."We will bow to the emperor."
I have one experience in the....Gulf Of Mexico....that I would like to relate. It was in the Spring of 1983....and I was a new Christian....so new that when my wife and I went on a cruise....I didn't even take a Bible along with me....but I did take books and other Christian materials. I even did some....witnessing....to some Russian sailors....male and female....from a Russian bauxite ship docked at Jamaica.
So we were headed home from our last port-o-call in Cozumel....and there was a storm at sea as we entered the gulf near the west end of Cuba. Now this wasn't a giant cruise ship like today....and it rocked so much from side to side that one could do absolutely nothing on deck....so my wife and I bounced from one side of the corridor to the other on the walk back to our cabin.
There were two single beds in this interior cabin....and it was early. A cup of water was sliding off the bedside table and I caught it in time....and opened the table drawer....and there was a Gideon Bible!
Not knowing much about God's Word at the time....I did something I would never recommend....but to a new believer God showed His mercy. I randomly opened the Bible and randomly put my finger on the page, It was the 93rd Psalm. I do not know what translation that the Gideons used....but the NKJV reads like this....what I read....as the ship rocked back and forth on the waves.....
"The LORD reigns,
He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD is clothed,
He has girded Himself with strength
Surely the world is established,
so that it cannot be moved.
Your throne is established from old;
You are from everlasting.
The floods have lifted up, O LORD,
The floods lift up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
The LORD on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea.
Your testimonies are very sure;
Holiness adorns Your house,
O LORD, forever.
There is a gulf between Abraham's bosom and Hades....Luke 16 tells us of this. It is not made of water....for there is nothing there....and there is no bridge....so it would behoove anyone and everyone....not to let this day pass without looking to Jesus and maybe say something like this....Lord...."I believe....help my unbelief!"
I have to go now for it is late in the evening. It has been a busy day.....and I have not read from God's Word as of yet. I did not start daily reading in that storm at sea....but I have since.
note: Mark 9:24
