12 Oct, 2011
Prayers & Pirate's
Pirate's hostages freed after message in bottle
British and U.S. forces freed an Italian cargo ship hijacked by Somali pirates in a dramatic rescue Tuesday after retrieving a message in a bottle tossed by hostages from a porthole alerting ships nearby the crew was safely sealed inside an armored area.
All 23 crew members of the Montecristo cargo ship were brought to safety, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. The 11 pirates were taken into custody. The crew — seven Italians, six Ukrainians and 10 Indians — locked themselves inside an armored area of the vessel when the pirates boarded the ship Monday, Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said. Safe from the pirates threats, the crew continued to navigate the ship.
"The criminals managed to cut off all means of communication, but the 'prisoners' tossed a bottle with a message through a porthole explaining the situation," La Russa told a news conference.
At that point, other ships in the area were aware that the Italian vessel had been boarded by pirates. But the message in the bottle gave an important signal that the crew of the Italian ship was out of harm's way and that a rescue operation could be launched without risking injury.
"Rubber boats circled the Montecristo, while a helicopter hovered above. The pirates surrendered right away, some throwing their weapons in the sea, and were arrested," he said. One crew member sustained a light hand injury, La Russa said.The pirates attacked the ship Monday 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) off Somalia as the crew was hauling scrap iron to Vietnam on a journey that had begun Sept. 20 in Liverpool, England.
Article from AP News. Picture from Google images
"From the ends of the earth i call to you I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against my foe." Psalm 61:2-3
What does today's God's Story Teach us about calling out to God?
The rad thing about this story is there are PIRATES in it, yeah they apparently still exist. The even cooler part is the hostages who where scared and yet filled with some hope, managed to send a message out the window in a bottle!
- The sailors did not know that their message was heard, read, or if it was destroyed.
- The sailors did not know that a rescue mission was on its way
- The sailors only had HOPE and a message in the bottle.
- Yet... the sailors called out in Hope!
Sometimes when we pray we have this picture that we have cast a "hopeless bottle" or "wish" or prayer in the deep blue ocean. Never really believing that God will answer our prayers.
- We do not know if our prayer was heard, read, or if it was not being answer for our own good.
- We do not know the time or place where God will rescue of from our struggle
- We sometimes can only have HOPE that our God hears our Prayers and will answer them in His way and time.
How can I connect today's God's Story to My Story?
- Do you have a wish that you have not turned into a prayer
- Do you have hope that indeed will lead you in your life and dreams
High School and life really is full of opportunities to trust our God to walk with us. Will you trust Him to rescue you from what is happening in your life. Will you step out on a limb and ask God to save you from what you are walking through, ask God to walk with you because your heart is faint. When we ask God to lead he steps up without hesitation. The real question is are you in the way?
- Ask God where in your life do you need him to answer your prayer?
- Ask God to show you where you need to step aside and let Him Lead.
- Ask God to meet you in the areas of life where you are faint.
- Ask God to be your refuge and your strong tower.
How can I connect Today's Story, God's Story, and My Story with Others?
Take sometime and listen as you are hanging out with your friends to thier story. Do they have thoughts of throwing "messages" out into the ocean. Do they seem like no one can help them or that no one is listening.
- Be the friend that shows them there is hope
- Share a story with them where God was your refuge against trouble.
- Ask: What is happening in a tough situation in thier life. And more than anything LISTEN to what they are saying.
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