U-505 page 29

U-505 page 29 by ric gustafson

At 11:38 am, a whaleboat is launched over the side of the USS Pillsbury. On board are nine sailors. At the wheel is Coxswain Philip Trusheim. Only 17, Trusheim has a lot of experience operating a whaleboat. As the 22 seat craft heads toward the U-505, it encounters German sailors in life jackets in the water. Trusheim was focusing on getting the nine men of the boarding party to their target. For right now, the German sailors were ignored. Trusheim knew another whaleboat would come to pick them up. 

Thanks to a gutsy maneuver, Trusheim was able to pull the whaleboat next to the U-505's starboard side. Then Seaman First Class Jim Beaver Jr took a bow hook and attached it to the U-505. With the bow hook, Beaver Jr swings himself. He lands on the top deck of the U-505. Then Trusheim steers the whaleboat to the stern of the U-Boat. Then a hook was attached to the stern of the U-505.

Now it was up to the rest of the boarding party.

research help: ' Codename Nemo' by Charles Lachman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

words of Jesus: take nothing

 words of Jesus: take nothing by ric gustafson

Jesus commissioned his disciples to go on their first ministry trip. Luke 9 says take nothing for the road. Jesus gave them specific instructions. They were to take no staff or bread. They were to take no money. They already had what they needed. 

Is Jesus leading you to do something risky?. Like the disciples, we can rely on Jesus's provision and power of his Father. We need to trust Jesus and say yes I will do that.

research help: ' Bible Word Search devotional' by Broad Street Publishing 

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the Nine page 7

 the Nine page 7 by ric gustafson

On October 6 2018, Brett Kavanaugh became an associate Justice of the Supreme Court. More than 150 protesters were arrested that day. 

Kavanaugh was being sworn in as Justice to replace Anthony Kennedy. Kennedy had been nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. Now 81, Kennedy was usually the Court's deciding vote. Conservatives liked his opinions as far as free speech and federalism. Liberals liked his opinions on redefining marriage and protecting abortion.

Some well funded liberal groups did not want Kavanaugh sworn in. These groups tried to disrupt every step of the process. Protesters blocked hallways and occupied offices. They shut down Senate office buildings. They harassed Senators. They interrupted Judiciary Committee hearings. In the end. Kavanaugh was confirmed anyway. 

Hearing all of this commotion in chambers at the front of the building facing the Capitol was Justice Samuel Alito.

research help: ' Alito' by Mollie Hemingway

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

U-505 page 28

 U-505 page 28 by ric gustafson

Quietly, Skipper Lange opened the hatch. He stepped onto the bridge. Behind him was Executive Officer Paul Meyer. Behind Meyer were the watch officers. Behind the officers were the enlisted sailors. Each of them were holding a life preserver.

Still wearing his pajamas, Lange squints at the bright sunlight. All of a sudden, a plane strafes the deck of the U-505. Lange is hit in his legs and knees and right eyelid. Meyer is also wounded with a scalp wound. Blood is now streaming down his face. 

Before losing consciousness, Lange shouts out " sink the boat". 

With Skipper Lange and Meyer wounded, it is up to Chief Engineer Josef Hauser to set the demolition charges in the U-505.The charges are small tiny bombs. They are difficult to locate and dangerous to set. They are famous for being unreliable.

The last one on board the U-505 was Goebeler. To sink the boat, he opens up the sea strainer. Ocean water begins to fill up the boat. Goebeler evacuated the boat. He jumps into the ocean. He gets into the liferaft with the others.

research help: ' Codename Nemo' by Charles Lachman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

the miracle on Titanic page 5

 the miracle on Titanic page 5 by ric gustafson

" Good morning Mr Boxhall".

The fourth officer was standing on the railing to the bridge. He turned and saw the smiling face of Captain E J Smith.

Boxhall grinned. " A grand morning it is".

An Afghan hound was by the Captain's side. " Have you been working on our course?".

" Aye Sir". They walked into the bridge. They stopped at a large map. " I have us on more of a southerly route to avoid ice fields".

" That 's fine for right now".

Captain Smith walked over to the wireless operator room. He knocked. A young man opened the door. He was standing by something Captain Smith had never seen before.

" Come in Captain. I'm Jack Phillips". He shook the Captain's hand. " Mr Bride and myself will be in charge of the Marconi wireless".

" Mr Phillips, what is the range of this wonderful new apparatus?".

" Four hundred miles by day Captain".

" Good".

research help: ' Queen of the Waves' by Janice Thompson

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

words of Jesus: release your worries

 words of Jesus: release your worries by ric gustafson

We cannot escape the trouble of this world. But our hearts need to be close to the one who can carry our burdens. John 14 says let not your hearts be troubled. Jesus is full of mercy, grace and compassion. Jesus is a faithful friend. He gives us safety like a parent to a child. 

What is troubling your heart?. Jesus says do not surrender to fear. Jesus says surrender yourselves to me. Jesus will provide for our needs. Jesus says trust me. We need to take him at his word. 

Why?. Because Jesus loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' Bible Word Search devotional' by Broad Street Publishing

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

John and Caroline page 1

 John and Caroline page 1 by ric gustafson

On May 19 1994, 33 year old John Kennedy Jr was looking at a telescope. His mother had bought it for him when he was a child. It sat in the same corner of the large square drawing room. John loved this room. The wide windows showed an exquisite view of the city. In the room were red and gold silk drapes. Stacks of books filled the room. 

But his mother's home was not warm and loving any more. John had been crying. His mother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis had just passed away one hour earlier.

John knew this day was coming. It came quickly. His mother was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in January. For Jackie, those last months she wanted to spend time with her family. 

John and his sister Caroline had traits from both of their parents. Like his father, John was good looking and had self confidence. Caroline was not comfortable with direct eye contact. Especially with reporters. Like a man in politics, John could command a room. 

After his speech at the Democratic National Convention in July 1988 to introduce his uncle Ted Kennedy, people started thinking John might be the next heir to the Kennedy throne.

research help: ' The Kennedy Heirs' by J Randy Taraborrelli

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric