Ship Ahoy!

Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen
All Rights Reserved       

APOLOGY: NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON MARY J. CARTWRIGHT, CO-AUTHOR OF SHIP AHOY!

You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late.

-          Thomas Fuller, 1608-1661.

   History teaches us that no man is island, and that sooner or later we all may need help … desperately.  Tales of shipwreck-at-sea unfortunately abound: the Titanic; the Mary Deare; the Nova Scotia; the Carpathia; the Estonia etc. The story of Captain Eddie Rickenbacker’s 24 days adrift at sea with six of his mates during WWII, as encapsulated in his book, Seven Came Through, still thrills history-buffs today. 

   In the post ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ on this blog the story of Peter Snyman served as a poignant reminder of his harrowing escape when the Nova Scotia was sunk by the German submarine commander, Robert Gysae of U-Boat U-177, off the coast of East Africa during WWII. Peter Snyman went on to survive not only some of the most famous WWII battles in North Africa, but also the sinking of the Nova Scotia and some of the deadliest shark attacks at sea in the annals of WWII. (AFRIKAANS readers: Click here for the Afrikaans version of the story).

    However, your shipwreck may not have been at sea … it may have been a business or private bankruptcy, a debilitating car crash, a serious illness, or a devastating divorce. Rest assured, the Old Ship of Zion still sails the stormy seas of life to pick up the traumatized survivors, comfort them and keep them safe until we all one day sail into that tranquil and eternal harbour of God’s promised Peace and Rest.  Patience Strong writes: “Trouble, like bad weather, cannot last forever.” God is the ‘Father of Lights’, not the ‘Father of Darkness’
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Ship Ahoy!

(Mary J. Cartwright, Late 19th Century /D.B. Towner, 1850-1919)

I was drifting away on life’s pitiless sea,

And the angry waves threatened my ruin to be,

When away at my side, there I dimly descried

A stately old vessel, and loudly I cried:

“Ship ahoy!” Ship ahoy!”

And loudly I cried: “Ship ahoy!”

‘Twas the old ship of Zion, thus sailing along,

All aboard her seemed joyous, I heard their sweet song;

And the Captain’s kind ear, ever ready to hear,

Caught my wail of distress, as I cried out in fear:

“Ship ahoy!” Ship ahoy!”

As I cried out in fear: “Ship ahoy!”

The good Captain commanded a boat to be low’red,

And with tender compassion He took me on board;

And I’m happy today, all my sins washed away

In the blood of my Savior, and now I can say:

“Bless the Lord!” Bless the Lord”

From my soul I can say: “Bless the Lord!”

O soul. Sinking down ‘neath sin’s merciless wave,

The strong arm of our Captain is mighty to save;

Then trust Him today, no longer delay,

Board the old ship of Zion, and shout on your way:
“Jesus saves!” Jesus saves!”

Shout and sing on your way: “Jesus saves!”

  

Piet Stassen

eLiterature/eLiteratuur:

1. Scribd Publishing Site:  www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
2. eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)  
3. eBook:  'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
4. eBook: 'Meditations & Contemplations: A Reader For Both Atheists And Creationists' (ENGLISH)
5. eBook: 'Conservation, Rhino Poaching And Hypocrisy' (ENGLISH)
6. eBook: 'Why Darwinism ('Evolution') Does Not Make Sense' (ENGLISH)
7. eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
8. eBoek:  'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
9. eBoek:  'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
10. eBoek:  'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
11. eTracts, Christian (Free, Downloadable):  Free, downloadable Christian eTracts for free distribution (ENGLISH)
12. eTraktate, Christelik (Gratis, Aflaaibaar): Gratis, aflaaibabre Christelike Traktate vir gratis verspreiding (AFRIKAANS)

Bibliography

1.  Andrews, Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London. MarineInsight. Accessed At <http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/life-at-sea/maritime-history/10-famous-shipwrecks-in-the-world/> [online] 2013.

2.  Hymnary.Org 'Daniel B. Towner’. Accessed At <http://www.hymnary.org/tune/moody_towner> [online] 2013.
3.  TekkieRaces. 'Pieter Snyman'. Accessed at www.tekkieraces.co.za/springbok/2008/inhoud/pieter_snyman.pdf.) [online] 2013.
4.  Wikipedia.Org. ‘Eddie Rickenbacker’. Accessed At <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker.> [online] 2013.