A Gem from Jewell Island

Father’s Day weekend this year, 2011, my son and I went with a group boys from Cornerstone Baptist Church and their fathers, our cook, our guide and devotional speaker.  We portaged out to Jewell Island in a small boat carrying tents, our other  gear, cases of water, coolers of food, and of course all the happy campers.  The boat was small enough we had to make several trips back and forth from the Harpswell dock to the island where we moved to an even smaller boat and rowed to shore. 

The first night we set up camp for the evening and were planning to meet the island caretaker Vinnie in the morning to get some ‘marching orders’.  He had several projects that we were going to work on.  By the end of the weekend we cleared several trails of bramble, cleaned up litter on the beach fronts, repaired a washed out privy access and a washed out trail.  We also had ample time for fellowship and site seeing too; even though we got a lot of work done it was a welcomed rest from the fast paced business of daily life back in civilization.

Jewell Island was acquired by the government during the war to set up a watch at the bay.  It is the furthest island from the mainland and was a perfect place to watch for ships, submarines, and other approaching hostiles.  There are ruins of towers, barracks, gunneries, and tunnels all of which are quite interesting to explore.  There was never any real ‘action’ that took place at the island but I had heard that there was a submarine spotted there at one time during the strife between nations.

The 2^nd night on the island,

while we relaxed around the fire after dinner

and were waiting to go exploring,

we received severe storm warning reports on some of the crew’s handheld devices.  They were predicting large hail, gale force winds, and were telling people for their own safety to take shelter indoors.  Since we had no indoors to take shelter in we were ‘sitting ducks’.  I was a little bit concerned because this was my first weekend camping trip in twenty years that extended into Sunday. (Which certainly isn't my custom, a practice or a habit.) And also I had restrictive view of Hebrews 10:25.  These were probably the sources of my fear.

Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  I had justified to myself that since we were with a group of believers I wasn’t really forsaking the assembling of the saints.  It was just a different group of believers and not our own home church peeps.  And since we were planning a ‘service’ for Sunday morning with hymns, testimonies, and a devotional I decided that I wouldn’t really be missing church either.  But as the reports of approaching adverse weather came in I began to think perhaps I could ‘see the day approaching.’  Not the day of Heb. 10:25 but the day appointed foretold in Heb. 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”

As I looked out over the bay toward Portland I could see the ominous cloud moving from Portland area towards us.  The cloud from Portland and as far back as we could see covered the sky; they seemed to have no end nor break.  I could see a blanket of heavy precipitation threatening to cover the island.

As the clouds moved closer, and the temperature changed from balmy to cold, and as the winds began to churn, I began to pray. It was no ‘now I lay me down to sleep’ prayer either.  That is to say it was no vain repetitious prayer like what I learned as a child to recite before going to bed.  It was the effectual fervent prayer of a want-to-be righteous man.

James 5:16-18 says “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

I don’t remember the exact words I prayed but it was something like.  “Lord search my heart and show me if there be any wicked ways in me.  If at any time I would want You to hear my prayer I want it to be now.”  (I usually pray that… because every time I go to Him I want to be in a right frame.)

 “HimHGod please don’t let this storm come down in full force on these dear folks.  Show Yourself strong on their behalf.  LORD, You parted the Red Sea for Moses when he raised his staff.  You parted the Jordan for Israel when they stepped into the water.  You told us to pray in faith believing.”

 “It would be nothing for You to part these clouds and cause them to pass by.  It would be nothing for You to blow this storm back out to sea.  Please spare my friends from this.  Nevertheless LORD do as You see fit.”

I was praying in earnest, and I was praying believing I thought, but when a swath of clear sky began to break through the darkness I wondered in disbelief.  The clouds seemed to part and the winds let up.  The rain nearly stopped.  The sun peaked through smiling down on our little camp meeting. 

It turned out to be quite a nice evening for exploring. 

Now perhaps the clouds would have parted and passed the island without my little prayer but I am certain this served to increase my faith.  I am convinced that God does very little in our lives apart from prayer.  I am even more convinced that He brings and allows situations in our lives to cause us to pray.

 I am encouraged when I hear of planned prayer meetings where so many of God’s faithful are getting involved; but sometimes our lives are so busy, so full of stuff that often we don’t have time to meet with others for prayer. LORD please help us to find the time, to make the time, to redeem the time, for corporate prayer.

We had a wonderful weekend.  Also now I have taken another look at Hebrew 10:25 a little more closely and my understanding of the verse in its context has changed a bit. Now the Word of God does not change but sometimes our personal ‘take’ on what it actually says is skewed some.  The emphasis here is on entering into God's presence and its effect on our concern for ‘one another’.  Considering one another to provoke unto love and good works (v24) and exhorting one another (v25).  I am glad while on the island we had ample opportunity to do just that.

In all we had four devotionals and we were talking about our walks with the LORD frequently as we worked together,  we broke bread together; we didn’t share in ‘communion’ together but our cook kept us well fed.

As we continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and prayer, the LORD added to His church (not more souls then and there) but to our gathering of believers He added brotherly kindness and charity.

He was glorified. 

And we were all encouraged together,

“He must increase, WE must decrease!”

If you are intersted in setting up an outdoor outing... I am sure AJ (Andrew) would love to hear from you.  Just click on his name here, I have attached a link to his home page.