Entry #2—The Ship of Acts 27

My 2nd blog entry is a poem that I wrote @24 years ago.  It is not in “perfect rhyme scheme,” like I like, but hopefully it’s meaning will come across.  It’s meant as an encouragement to Christians on their journey from here to glory.  Hope to hear your comments.  Thanks!

The Ship of Acts 27

The ship of Acts 27
An Alexandrian ship was she
Was going to an important place
It was sailing–to Italy

For the Lord had called the apostle Paul one day in Jerusalem
“You’ve told these Jewish men of me, now you must tell Roman men!”
“Be of good cheer” (God said to Paul), “for in Jerusalem as thou testified of me,
Go thou likewise and do the same at Rome–Rome Italy!”

The day soon came, and the ship set sail, and Paul was on his way
Slowly, so slowly the ship started out; there was many a windy day
YES, Paul and those who were with him (why two hundred seventy and six all together)
Sailed for many a mile and in many a stormy kind of weather

They scarcely attained Phoenix, Fair Havens, and Lasea on the island of Crete
Without the sun or stars for many a day they were in the deep
Now Euroclydon–a tempestuous wind–and the quicksands of Cauda did beat
The winds kept them tossing and turning hither thither, yet through all they’d not admit defeat!

For Paul had told all aboard on the ship
That none of their lives would be lost
He exhorted chief men to abide in the ship
No matter how oft they were tossed

I read of the ship of Acts 27, and I think of another ship
A ship with many a soul aboard; we’re on an important trip
This ship is called the Glorious Church of the True and Living God
We who travel therein are looking to land on “heavenly sod.”

Though sometimes slowly, so slowly we start
Though sometimes tossed with the sea
Like Paul, we know our journeying, Dear Lord
Is that we too might testify of Thee!

We take up our anchors, we loose the rudder bands
(We’re committed to this battling sea)
We hoist up our mainsail–to the wind
Tis victorious sailing through Thee

Help us remember, Lord, your goal for our lives
That we’d attain to your heavenly shore
And may we have been faithful to abide in the ship
Though perhaps many a battle we bore

We’ll thank you, Lord, for showing us how
Through your Word we can all make heaven
When we recall the story of Paul
And the ship of Acts 27!

- Tom Contino (at 21 yrs. old)

Blog Intro (revised) and 1st Poem

 Definition of a blog: 

The Internet defines a “blog” as frequent and regular expression of individual opinions and views on the Web. Another name for it is “Web logs”. However, Web logs are misunderstood as “Web log” (A server’s log files), so blog is a more common term.  I’ve decided to use this blog for religious stuff, fun stuff, poetry, inspirational stories, etc. 

                           

Hi everyone!  Welcome!  I’m finally getting “with the times,” with the help of my brilliant niece Jennifer (15 years old), and have created my very first blog.  My name is Tom.  I’m a 45-yr. old male, single, Apostolic Pentecostal Christian, born and raised in Chicago (the Windy City [perhaps not named so much for its windiness as for its long-winded politicians--HAW!]), and currently reside in the notorious, populous (I believe 33 million now) Golden State of California.  I am from an immediate family of achievers (by earthly standards), and I (as well as all my brothers and sisters [I'm the second oldest of 6 siblings all involved in the Apostolic Pentecostal faith]) did well throughout my school years.  I was double promoted from 2nd to 4th grade (don’t know what’s happened since then—LOL!) in public school and won an award from The American Legion Hall.  I was in the National Honor Society in high school, won the foreign language award for French (I had a good teacher and we “beat out” the German class who previously had had a dynasty on winning the award), and won an award for perfect attendance in my last year.  I was also for 3 out of 4 years tops in English class.  At a 3-year Bible college (Apostolic Bible Institute [ http://www.apostolic.org/]), I graduated as an honor student (had a 4.0 average out of 4.0 during my last year) and earned a Bachelors Degree of Theology in Pentecostal Studies.  Though I’ve written a bit about school and achievement (since it had such an impact on my life), my greatest “crown achievement” has been coming to the Lord and trying to live my life for Him.  I’m still working at that endeavor!  In certain ways, I’ve at times FAILED MISERABLY, but through my weakness, HE’s been made strong, and I’ve been greatly helped!  If I can hear HIM say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” on THAT DAY (I believe in a Judgment Day), then I’ll feel like I’ve REALLY DONE SOMETHING (see Romans 2:7 in the Bible)!  I’ve decided to use this blog for religious stuff, fun stuff, poetry, inspirational stories, etc.  For blog entry #1, I’ve decided to “publish” a short 1^st poem I’d ever written.  I hope to receive many a comment.  Comment one and all!  And so, without further adieu (I know you are all waiting with bated breath–LOL), I submit to you my first poem ever:

THE ICY COLD OF WINTER

The icy cold of winter
Sends shivers up my spine
And I can see the snowflakes falling
Oh, they are so fine

THANK YOU,
-  Tom Contino, 2nd Grade

Comments please!