In the END, we are OK!

My Belief

My family had a bit of a brush with death this week. As you all know, I am an airline pilot and from time to time my wife does this wonderful thing where she drops me off at the airport so I don’t have to take public transportation. She did this very thing for me this week. After I had gone through security and was waiting for my plane to arrive she gave me a phone call and told me that she had just had a horrifying experience. As she was driving down the road away from the airport a massive deer charged toward her car on a direct collision course to smash through the passengers side window. My wife was terrified! She said there was nothing she could have done. There was no time to speed up, slow down, or swerve. Miraculously, the deer stopped only inches from hitting the car. My wife told me in our conversation that God was really watching out for her that night and we both prayed to thank God for His mercy to our family.

In light of this, I think of several other things I have heard about this week. The mega million lottery took place with the winners sharing an estimated half a billion dollars.  While this seems like an awesome positive thing to happen to a person, I find it amazing that the Word of God says it is not. I have read countless stories by simply “googling” lottery winners who say the money has wrecked their lives. In many cases the winners go broke, are killed, commit suicide, or are cheated by all their family and friends.

During Easter services my pastor talked about famous people who have reached the height of earthly success only to end in tragedy. Hollywood is full of these stories. Elvis, Lindsey Lohan, Michael Jackson, and on and on and on… Madonna has been quoted as saying, “Being rich and famous is NOT all it is cracked up to be”.

My point in all of this, is that in this world it is easy to get on the treadmill of success. The thought that if I could only get this, do this, be that, or have it all, then I WOULD BE HAPPY. This is the mindset in our world today and the evidence is quiet to the contrary. If you had it all how much of it would you trade or give up on your last day to continue living? There is nothing in this world that will bring people peace, joy and happiness. The only thing that has been proven to do that is a relationship with Jesus Christ. No one knows when a deer is going to come smashing through the window of our cars, but if we embrace Jesus we will be ready when it does.

Scripture

Matthew 16:26

²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matthew 6:25-27

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?

Application for Life

I struggle with this same dilemma in my own life at times. Being a pilot is a very competitive business and we are all trying to become the Captain on the biggest jet at the best airline. Well regardless of what jet you are on, or what airline you work for, we all fly in and out of the same airports, stay in the same hotels in the same cities, and ride the same employee shuttle busses. The guys with the best jobs in the best jets, at the best airlines are no more happy than anyone else. All the stuff they have does not satisfy their lives. Only Jesus brings that contentment and joy that I need and have in my own life.

Annoying People

My Belief

There are a few people in my life that really annoy me! For example: I find it annoying that some of the people at my church act like they are performing INSTEAD of leading worship. I find it annoying that some people in my life seem like they are playing church INSTEAD of having a heart for people and I find it annoying how many people in my job are just nasty and bitter about everything. In my mind I am GLAD I am not like those people!

Obviously this attitude is not inline with the mind and heart of God and He has convicted me about these thoughts. He is helping me to bring my thinking in line with His will. I had a thought a few weeks ago while I was at church one Sunday. I was  watching the person on stage put on a SHOW and leave the audience sitting quiet while continuing to loudly wale on. I thought to myself, no matter what they are doing, Jesus loves that person the same as he loves me. It is just wrong for me to think badly about that person because they are a sinner the same as me. I am a sinner and Jesus loves me. Instead I need to pray for them and pray for myself. Jesus came to serve people who eventually stuck him on a tree. I think I can change my thinking to serve people instead of letting them annoy me.

Scripture

1 John 2:2² He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Application for life

People are all that matter to God. All of creation is set up for his glory and in the Bible He says we are the apex of that creation because we are created in His image. I'm praying the Lord helps me see people the way He sees them. He sees past my flaws and has covered me in the BLOOD of JESUS and so I will try to see past everyone else's.

Struggle

My Belief

I find it amazing and encouraging that so many powerful men of God in the Bible could screw up so bad! For example: David was the "man after Gods own heart", Noah spoke directly with God and watched the entire world perish, and Moses was given a direct command by God to lead Israel. Each of these men had an important connection with the creator and each of them failed in a big way. David had sex with a married woman and indirectly killed her husband on purpose, Noah and his family were the only ones left on earth and he got drunk and performed some sort of debauchery in his tent after the flood, and Moses willfully disobeyed a direct order from God after being delivered out of Egypt.

Even the best men alive STRUGGLES with a raging sin to rebel against God. This evil Sin lives in every Christian or non Christian alive and it is definitely alive and well inside of me. The difference between believers and non believers is  Struggle against this sin. This struggle is a wonderful reminder to me! This is proof of the Holy Spirit in a life engaging a conscious and pushing a person against their natural desire to turn from God. Paul described it best all through out Romans when he said he does what he does not want to do and his sinful flesh rebels against God. His heart desires to obey God but he finds himself battling to stop himself from doing wrong. This gives me great hope because I know God is working in my life. I fight sin every day and my heart breaks when I fail. I am happy to know that I am in good company though when I do fail. Better men and women of God than me faced the same sin. It also saddens me to know some of my friends who profess Jesus have no trouble sinning at all. They are the first to delight in jumping into drunkenness or a bed with just about anyone and does not appear to bother them at all. They are proud of their sin. There is no struggle because there is no Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit there is no salvation.

Scripture

Romans 7:15

¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Application for Life

Just like Paul I continue to evaluate my walk with the Lord and war against my own sinful flesh. Just like David I continue to study Gods word so I may not sin against Him. Thank you Jesus that you have given me the helper to convict me of my sin that I may continue to be refined. I pray to overcome my flesh and look forward to the day that I will trade my sinful body for a sinless one!

Watching

My Belief

I find myself watching the news all the time. I feel a strong need to stay informed on current events and global politics. The reason I feel this way is simple. I'm watching for Jesus. It is amazing how the worlds story is unfolding exactly as the Bible has said for thousands of years. This last week alone it appears that Russia is forming an alliance with Iran which is what most Biblical scholars believe is spoken about in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Our own US secretary of defense Leon Panetta said he was fearful that Israel is backed into a corner and may preemptively strike Iran in the next coming months. This was further confirmed by Israel's defense chief, Ahude Bayrak, who basically said they are seriously considering Military force. The European Union told America that if Israel strikes then the US needs to condemn Israel! This is exactly what the Bible talks about. It says that Israel will be a cup of wrath for all the nations. Israel will be isolated and attacked. I feel like every time I turn on the news I am watching the Bible unfold before my eyes.

It is also amazing to see that there have been so many middle east dictators fall in the last few years. The vacancy of power is everywhere. There are now no strong governments in control of Libya, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, or Tunisia. That is perfect for the Antichrist to come as a charismatic leader and consolidate power quickly.

Barrack Obama declared that America is no longer a Christian nation and according to the Bible we do not appear to play a big role in the events of the last days. Our economy is failing, our Military is shrinking, and our people are deeply divided against one another. We have departed from our original Judeo-Christian values that made us strong and now it is obvious that there is an all out war in this country on the Christian faith. Atheist are destroying everything for crosses on graves to Christmas trees in December. The Obama administration has issued policy that the catholic church must go against its Biblical values and provide abortions and contraceptives to all in its ministry.

Scripture

Matt 24:42-44

⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Application

I watch the news in amazement of the times that I live in. I believe the Bible and know that things are going to get much worse... The beauty of it is that I also believe the Bible that it says the amazing days of Jesus return are just beyond the storm. I pray God makes me a powerful tool in his hand to share the Gospel with many so they too will see the storm and the light just beyond. Thank you Jesus for your warnings in the Bible and your Love to come  very soon.

Complacency Kills

My Belief

As a pilot I know that complacency is one of the biggest safety concerns we have facing us. When you fly to same cities multiple times in a month, run the same checklists every day, and essentially do the same things over and over again things are bound to become a bit routine. Things can become so routine that normal safe procedures begin to be over looked. Many times guys have said the same checklist so many times that the have it memorized and start reciting it from memory. At times people have taxied or flown the same procedure so many times that the feel that referencing the charts are no longer needed. This can become dangerous and set pilots up for big mistakes. This type of behavior can result in missing an important step on a checklist or route. We discuss cases of this happening in recurrent training every year. There is a good diagram that depicts this behavior. It is 3 circles inside of one another. The smallest circle in the middle is the green safe zone where complacency is held at bay and safety is at its highest point. The middle ring is where the pilot has drifted away from safety into the amber colored caution ring. When he continues to get away with his complacent behavior it becomes “safe” in his mind. This has become his new normal and his future drifting will be from this point. The last ring is the red danger ring. The pilot has drifted from his deviant behavior to a point where a big mistake is now imminent and safety will be compromised.

These 3 rings apply perfectly to my walk with the Lord Jesus. My green middle ring is where I am walking closely with God. I am taking time each day to read the Word, pray, and worship God. As life becomes hectic I tend to drift to a point in the outer caution ring where I don’t read regularly and I give God a “quickie” prayer. I tell myself in my head at some point later in the day I will “get around” to God. It is almost inevitable that I will drift into the last danger ring with this type of behavior. I will drift into a ring where I don’t pray, and I don’t walk with God and I am set up for failure. A failure where I will SIN against my God. In doing so I am sure to hurt myself and the ones around me. This will be a painful process that could be avoided if I would just stay on the straight and narrow in the safe center ring.

Hopefully when pilots make mistakes they are not so big that there can not be a period of reprimand and retraining. This will root them firmly back in the green safe ring. God does the same thing with me when I fail. He humbles me and brings me to my knees. I have no where to go but the foot of the cross and ask for forgiveness. God has always been faithful to pick me up and dust me off. He brings me back into a safe “green circle” walk with him. Thank you God that you are Faithful even when I am not.

Scripture

James 4:8⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Matthew 7:14¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Application

I strive to be faithful to God. I want the Holy Spirit to continue leading me into better and better habits. Habits that will keep me out of dangerous sin and into a healthy walk with the Lord. I am trying to surround myself with Godly people who will help me stay firm in my walk so that I may be a powerful tool for the Lord. I think of so many people in the Bible like David and Samson who drifted into danger and paid a painful price. Lord please help me to stay in a safe walk with you.

A Call for Advice

My Belief

A good buddy of mine who also works for the airline recently called me for advice. He is a good "country" guy who is a conservative politically and a Christian in terms of his faith. The crew that he was working with was pretty much the extreme polar opposite of my friend. One in particular was an angry black man who was an atheist and a flaming homosexual. To say the combination between my friend and him were as oil and water would be a drastic understatement. This angry man learned along the course of the trip the beliefs of my friend and was inclined to let him "have it". He would say things like Christianity is the reason for slavery throughout history  and president Obama is the only "savior" the world really has. Needless to say this was killing my friend. He called me up and said, "what should I do with this guy?". He had tried debating with him a bit only to have the guy become more entrenched in his position.

My advice to my friend was to just be as friendly as possible to the guy. My friend did not like that answer very much. He said he called me for a real solution and that is all I have for him. The reason is this. Jesus did not call us debate and vigorously prove Him to everyone. He told us to LOVE and serve everyone. My friend had already shared his position of faith and the guy was not interested. So what else is there for him to do other than to be kind to the unkind and loving to the un-loveable. This was Jesus greatest command. To love the Lord your God with all of our heart and soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself. When one analyzes what Jesus was saying by the term "neighbor", he was talking about everyone on the planet .             He also said a soft answer turns away wrath, and to turn the other cheek. Peter said to be prepared to give an account of the hope that you have with gentleness and respect. All of this points to one thing. We are love and be love in a world that does not want love. This is why Jesus said that God is love and love has come into the world.

Scripture

Matthew 5:43-48

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 22:36-40

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[a] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[b] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Application

I made it my new years resolution to stop talking trash about people. I like to say things like the Cowboys suck, or a particular airline is horrible or the work groups in certain cities are awful etc... While most of this is just in jest it does not show love. It tears down and does not build up. I am praying and trying to change this in myself to conform to the will of Christ. I am going to try to even be kind to people who don't like me or people I have not liked in the past. I am going to try and be love to in everything just like Jesus is love to me. Even when I am just joking around.

I GOT MINE!

My Belief

Pilots are notoriously selfish people. Most of our lives are structured to make us just that. We work with thousands of other crewmembers that we may never see again causing us to have shallow friendships. We can aggressively manipulate our own schedules, sometimes to the detriment of a more junior pilot. In fact the quality of our careers is based entirely on our own individual seniority with an airline. This tends to create an "I got mine" attitude amongst many members of our ranks. If they are in a good position they simply don't care about any other colleague's that are not.

I sort of realize that at times I have caught myself having this same attitude about people who don't believe in Jesus. Most of the time I have a big heart toward people and I really genuinely hope and pray the will come into a saving knowledge of the gospel, but every now and then I catch myself in and evil thought. I imagine it may be a thought similar to what Jonah had when God told him to go preach in Nineveh. At times I have caught myself thinking "well forget 'em if they don't repent because I've got mine!" You know who I am talking about. The nasty person who hates everyone, or the entrenched atheist. I've had a momentary thought about the Mormon I have shared the true gospel with who is steadfast in his cult. 99% of the time I feel so sad that these people have a horrible fate awaiting them if they don't turn, but every now and then I think "whatever because I am saved by grace and so I've got mine".
This is a horrible thought and one I have to repent before the Lord for and conform to the Will of Christ. Think about what Jesus did! Even when he was nailed to the cross, He exclaimed "forgive them father for they know not what they do". This is powerful! Even when he was beaten and killed He loved the nastiest amount us. I will make it my mission to do the same. I will trap my wayward thoughts and conform them to the mind of Christ. I don't want anyone to ever suffer the fate that the Bible describes as hell. Help me Lord to love everyone the way you have Loved me.

Scripture

Luke 23:34

New International Version (NIV)

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Application

I am praying that I will make 99% become 100%! That I will seek the help of the Holt Spirit the continue the work he has begun in me. That there will be no wrong that I can not forgive and no person that I cannot love. Jesus died for all and I pray that all will hear and repent. The worst among us deserve the same awful fate in Hell that I deserve. Jesus has pardoned me with grace, and I will pray the same for everyone I meet.