From the Desk of Pastor S Geoffrey Monts

The “SKY” was full of black clouds.

sgmonts — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 04:00:31 +0000

I’ll begin by saying that I have sailed on cruise ships a total of 7 times before boarding NCL’s Sky on Monday, April 18, 2011. I believe that the number of times shows that I’m not a novice at this type of vacationing.

I will first say that the ladies at the NCL counter at check-in bent over backwards for our family. In my haste to get moving on our vacation I omitted to bring the boys (AGM & JGM) birth certificates with me. Needless to say i was in the doghouse. We were able to get copies sent to us so that everyone could board the ship with plenty of time left. I will in the future when vacationing be sure to make list. Other than my obvious screw up the boarding was flawless.

Upon boarding NCL Sky, I was not at all impressed. There was no one there to greet us or direct us as to where our stateroom was located. The Atrium in deck 5 was uneventful and lacked the luster that I am used to onboard a vessel that just had a multi-million dollar make over. We (party of 6) eventually found our staterooms. We were located in room 6308 and 6309, both interior staterooms located on deck 6A located between deck 7 and deck 6 in the bow of the ship. The cabin was just what I expected for an interior cabin, simple, no frills room with a shower, a sink, a toilet and not enough storage space or hangers for 3 people.

Well this was my first experience with “FREESTYLE” Cruising, and I did not like it at all. Due to the lack of assistance I think FREESTYLE Cruising is just a front to force the guest of NCL to pay their sub-par crew members $12.00 a day in forced gratuity.

During our 4 day cruise on more than one occasion when I questioned an employee about a policy or procedure it seemed as if they did not know or generally were not interested in dealing with my request. Example: I purchased a Soda Package, when I arrived back to my stateroom, there was coupon for a soda package. When inquiring at the CSR desk for a refund, I was sent to the Coffee Bar. I went to the Coffee Bar, and was sent back to the CSR desk! Please! No one was empowered to make a simple decision. (After two days it was removed). Because we had children with us we did not use the man dining rooms two of the 4 nights. The other two nights were a pure service disaster. Day one, given a table by the hostess, the waiter came over (still do not know who served me) and rushed us into ordering because it was late and he wanted to set up the dining room for breakfast. How do i know because of the stacks of breakfast dishes on the table next to us.

2nd night: We and 14 others in my party went to the Crossings to have a family dinner with my 70 year old mother(this was the purpose of the spring break cruise, her 70th birthday celebration). Normally we would not show up to a restaurant with 14 people without a reservation, but we were told that we could not make reservations at Crossings. The center table, a large oval table that was more than adequate for our group, was empty…phew relief! We could sit down and everyone could be together. NOT!!! The table was reserved!! HUH?? I thought it could not be reserved. Our party was told that a group came in 45 minuets early and reserved the table for 7pm. From reading NCL policy all reservations for the “Specialty” restaurants would be held for 15 minuets and then they will be cancelled. Why is it that this table was held for a group for over 2 hours? Our only explanation was I am sorry it is reserved. We were offered a bottle of Champagne for our trouble. I told the F&B director NO THANKS we did not want the Champagne, but the cruise line could pay for the $46.00 cake that I purchased for my mother’s celebration. The F&B director agreed to this. Pardon the pun, but that was the icing on the cake…we sat and watched part of the family finish meals while other had not yet received their appetizers. This was some of the worse service that I have ever received on a cruise ship….Oh yeah, I still do not know the waiter’s name that served us the 2nd night…I guess since he already had my tip it did not matter what his name is.

As for my experience on NCL’s Sky…It will be the very last on any NCL ship.

SN: JGM, (6yo) did love the Kid’s Korner. And both my wife and I love the walking/Jogging trail…free of random people watching so those of us who wanted to walk were able to.

I am finished with NCL. I will stick with www.RCCL.com and it’s sister companies. www.Celebrity.com & AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES.

Thanks for reading.

October 18, 2009

sgmonts — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:09:14 +0000

I keep hearing this vanity, vanity all is vanity.

Day two in my search has been a wonderful experience. I feel a release in my spirit. Re-Lease (An additional lease) My life is not over, it is being re-leased.

I have not had much quiet time today. I was up early about two am spending time with final preparations of the days sermon and in prayer. Today one of my newest friends had a birthday. I thank God for friends because often friends help you see God. I am laying down now. My day calls for an early start. I am excited about this jouney.

Humbly

Pastor S Geoffrey Monts

Kingdom Life Tabernacle

Chester, VA

www.kingdomlifetabernacle.org

Increase My Faith

sgmonts — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:21:11 +0000

Today I preached a sermond entitled, “Increas My Faith!”. The main scripture was taken from Luke 17:5-6. God told us that we are not to look for mustard tree faith, but mustard seed faith. The interesting thing about the mustard seed it is about the size of a period in size 9 font. THAT IS SMALL! So God says have small faith and if you develop it, it will become mustard tree faith. Then he told us that often times our faith can not grow or be developed because we dig it up, looking to see if we planted it or not. How crazy is that? the seed is so small by the time you have dug up the pot you have tossed your seed into your neighbor’s yard and they are experiencing the benefits of your faith SEED! The other reason is that often we do not take time to cultivate the seed. Children we must take time to cultivate the seed of faith that is in us, it will not grow if we let it become dry. How do you cultivate your faith seed? You spend time in the Word, In Worship and In Prayer. There must be Koinania with God, THERE MUST BE FELLOWSHIP. I am a strong believer that the longer you stay in the Presence of the King you have the ability to withstand any challenge thrown in your life.

Let me give you this last tidbit, that God share with us today. Faith is a SEED, and the Word is a SEED and if you plant it, it will grow.

Blessings,
Pastor S Geoffrey Monts
Kingdom Life Tabernacle
Chester, VA
www.KingdomLifeTabernacle.org

October 17, 2009

sgmonts — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:05:52 +0000

Saturday, October 17, 2009

30 Days to a Deeper Relationship

Day One

Have you ever heard God call you from the deep? This is where I am. I hear him, but I am on the surface of my situation looking for a God that is Deep Waters. Honestly I am battling fear. Yes I know that fear is the opposite and nemesis of faith. I have also learned that you can not have FAITH with out experiencing FEAR at some point. Today I have faced my fear and I am no longer afraid of what the enemy “SAYS” he can do to me. Today I have decided to launch into deep waters and find my God, my King again.

Minister Fred Hammond penned these words:

Seems like spent this whole life of mine, searching and searching trying to find a life filled with love that you already gave, because of my searching, pulled me away. Found all the heartache, found all the pain, found all the drama, found all the shame. But my search will not end, no my search will not end, Until I find myself lost in you again, no my search will not end until I find myself Lost in you again Jesus. ©2009 Love Unstoppable.

It is no wonder that sometimes our search for the King of Kings will take us around the world, only to find out that he has been right there on our entire search.

It is not that I do not know God, it is that I want to know Him in a deeper way, I want our RELATIONSHIP to flourish, I want a greater desire to commune with him. NO MORE DISTRACTIONS. I know that God speaks to me and I know that He will help me to “find the time” to seek Him. How do I know, He woke me up at 2:30am to pen this blog.

What I am sensing in my spirit and in my flesh is that I am tired of trying to do it my way. I guess many have experienced this in their lives. Unlike many, but not all, I have an answer it is a vibrant, relevant, growing, fruitful RELATIONSHIP with Jehovah God, the King of Kings. Over the next 30 days I will journal my personal experience in the presence of God, and I go a little deeper into the God of my Salvation. I am hungry, and I am thirsty.

Ps 42

As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

In conclusion, I have looked for answers in man, and have held them in high esteem. I have looked for answer in family, and found their advice to be helpful. I have looked for answers in Sean Geoffrey Monts, and found my searching only brings me back to one thing. I can not do this on my own (I am tearing up because I am realizing my inabilities and my smallness in the presence of an almighty God), I need and must have God to do it.

Come with me I seek and find a Deeper Relationship In 30 Days: today I focus on my inabilities and His ability to live the God life through me.