The jet above, actually one like it, would have been my bird. Back in college, I signed up for the Navy ROTC, to fly as the backseat RIO in an F-4. They approved my app, sent the paperwork to DC for final signatures, and somehow lost it. By the time they discovered their mistake and asked me to resubmit, life changed and I declined. But I toured the Palm Springs Air Museum last week, and seeing this jet resurrected some memories, along with a lesson for the church in a now secular society
Read MoreAwaiting the Seasons
Ever look back on the “good old days?” Were yours as good as you remember, or has time improved them? Or were your good old days something you impatiently awaited, and they came so slowly? Sometimes the best seasons of our lives still lie before us, but how can we tell?
Read MorePuke and Rally
The Air Force Thunderbirds often take media people or celebs on PR flights in their jets. You likely won’t recognize Gerard Butler in the pic above, taking an in flight selfie. A family friend who has worked with them says it’s 50-50 if the media flyer will puke, so they prep them on how to avoid it, and then share their slogan: Puke and Rally. Or, if you feel like it’s gonna happen, grab the bag and...
Read MoreHow Big is Your God?
Each bike trip seems to develop its own spiritual impact. One year my prayer and worship led to some conclusions about doing ministry. Another astounded me with the beauty of the northwest and Glacier National Park. Some deliver great times with long time friends and fellow followers of Jesus. This year changed the pattern. We rode 3800 miles in eight states, from near sea level to over 10,000 ft. What most struck me was what creation reveals about the Creator, and I still struggle to integrate it. Here’s why...
Read MoreLove is a Feeling. Really?
“Love is a feeling you feel when you feel you’ve never felt that feeling before.” I first heard that from marriage counselor and author, Norm Wright. And while slightly over the top, it does reflect our society, doesn’t it? We go by feelings, by our gut. That’s why the pic above means so much. The morning in Idaho started off pretty chilly, and we geared up for cold weather, including insulated pants. Insulated pants that you can only remove with great difficulty and flexibility, particularly if you keep your boots on. But taking your boots off on a dirt side of the road merely brings more difficulty. And dirt on your sox. So, as the day warmed...
Read MoreJust Don't Say No...To Temptation
May I assume the headline got your attention? Here’s the back story. On a recent fishing trip I had a conversation with a fellow fisherman who turned out to be a fellow follower of a guy who knew a lot of fishermen. He acknowledged a struggle with alcohol overconsumption, “It’s so hard to say no. The angel on one shoulder says ‘Just say no,’ and the demon perched on the others says ‘Just say yes.’” So, in a flash of either idiocy or brilliance, I responded, “Just don’t say no…to temptation.” His look likely appeared like yours at reading the headline. But...
Read MoreRandom Musings about Mortality
The pic above, looking toward the mountains east of Temecula, was the best part of my hospital stay. The day before began with checking out emails on my laptop, when some lightheadedness began. No necessary link here, folks! Then I headed to the kitchen for a restorative cup of coffee, and my body veered to the left when I wanted to go right. A bit suspicious, I tried to walk the straight grout line on the tile—same result. So I did a quick mirror test for stroke signs, good. Next I stood on one leg and balanced, or tried to. Not good. As much as I resisted my own idea, I asked Sheila...
Read MoreFish by Faith, not Sight
Take a look at the pic above. A close one, and focus at the middle of the pool just below the horizontal line of white water, just below the good sized rock. See any trout? Peer more closely, but you won’t see any. But trout are swimming in that water. I know, because I pulled one out of there a few weeks ago.At least 90% of the trout I catch I never see, until ...
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