“Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters; they have seen the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep.” (Psalm 107:23-24 NASB)
Journal,
I met her in dry dock in Seattle, Washington. The USS Calvert, was the oldest troop transport in the Pacific fleet and one of the most decorated. She was undergoing some needed repairs. This was in 1962. I had spent a year and a half in the Philippines, and now I was to serve as one of Calvert’s radiomen.
What an initiation! On our voyage down the coast to San Diego we met a fierce gale off the coast of Oregon. I watched as her bow disappeared beneath the waves and then rise up again. The old ship would shudder. For me it was electrifying
. For the USS. Calvert it was business as usual. The old ship had seen greater storms than this one. She just kept right on course.
A launch into faithfulness…
I will never forget my year and a half as a radioman on board the USS Calvert. We carried troops throughout the far east, always ready to make assault landings.
Yep, I spent four years in Uncle Sam’s navy. For your curiosity there is an adage which says, ‘Sailors have salt water in their veins.’ If that is the case then I come from a family of salt-water in-your-vein sailors. I sailed the same seas as two of my uncles who served in WWII.
Anyway, some many years later the Lord gave me a dream about a ship. In the dream the Lord directed me to take the ship out from the coastal area and launch into the deep waters. We were to move Christian Challenge completely away from the shallow emotional driven teachings that were making rounds in certain church movements at that time. These teachings appealed to man’s natural nature but did not revolved around a true Christ-honoring walk with the Lord.
Yes, my pulpit knew there was something taking place at Christian Challenge. (This was back in the 8os.) And this is where Christian Challenge began to be restored to her true nature of being a nonsectarian, gospel-centered ministry. Our stewardship from the beginning was to train disciples for service in the vineyard of the Lord. This change in course was the wisest thing we could ever have done.
And the winds keep blowing and blowing. 
Would you believe that making a change in course is a major part of any minister’s walk with the Lord. Even the apostles had to learn to separate misguided teachings from the truth of the new covenant.
Often time we aren’t aware of the bad teachings that we are under until the Lord opens our eyes. And being under bad teachings does not mean a person isn’t saved. But when the light comes it is time for a course adjustment.
Is it easy to make a course adjustment? Not really. These course adjustments often need a separation from those that we truly love and hold dear.
Listen as the Lord gives instructions to the prophet Jeremiah:
“Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘If you return, then I will restore you– Before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman.
“They for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them. Then I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; and though they fight against you, they will not prevail over you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you,’ declares the LORD. ‘So I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.'” (Jer 15:19-21 NASB)
Yes, the winds are still blowing strong. This is why I caution believers not to be taken in by movements or the ‘Lo Christ is here,’ beaconings. Christ Jesus is with you always.
But don’t think it strange. The winds of false teachings and false movements have blown across the church from its infancy. They seem to be growing stronger all the while. Do you feel like you are being battered about by strange winds?
Why do I have this strange notion that someone reading my journal needs to hear this? Perhaps the Lord is calling you to the deep of His faithfulness.
Perhaps now is your turn and your time to find the calm peaceful waters that belong to the covenant of God’s dear Son. The Lord wants to bring you into the safe harbor of His love.
Listen to this instruction from the apostle Paul:
“So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.” (Eph 4:14 AMP)
Guess I need to find a stopping place. I would dearly love to hear from any of my readers who feel the Lord has spoken to them through this journal entry. I would love to hear your story. (You can write me personally if you prefer: Buddy@ChristianChallenge.Org (I will respond.)
In closing, do you feel like you are facing a storm. Please take time to listen to The Isaacs. God wants to speak to your heart. (I dearly love this song. Have used it on prior entries.)
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Buddy
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