One More Year

Newsflash!!! Another year comes to an end. Even if you live in a cave, the passing of days can't be missed. With a new year a lot of folks are taking time to reflect on the past year and changes to make in this new year. Reflection is always good. I am glad people use this time of year to evaluate and look for ways to improve themselves in the coming year.

Enjoy the new year and any you make in your life.
Blessings

A Little Different Theme

This is a variation of a list I found on Deb's Creative Soul blog. The list is not all inclusive but has some interesting twists to it. My variation to her's was to only list things I have done. (I had to change a few to be applicable to me.)
It would be interesting to hear all of these you can mark off. If you answer on your own blog, put a link in the comments below so we can read and enjoy.

1. Brought someone to know Christ

2. Started your own blog

3. Played in a band

4. Been to Happy, Texas

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland/world

8. Slept under the stars

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Driven a house boat
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm from 30,000 ft
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Never had food poisoning
17. Seen Central Park from the top of the Empire State Bldg.

18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a calf
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run/walk a 5K
28. Stood in the Acropolis and on Mars hill in Athens
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Ridden in an Ox cart
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen two oceans at once (Atlantic/Pacific)
36. Taught yourself a new language (Still a work in progress)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone Repelling off a cliff
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Drove in Rome !!!!
42. Skied the Alps
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Driven an ambulance
47. Had a professional portrait created
48. Hand cranked homemade ice cream
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been on TV
56. Visited the Taj Mahal
57. Started a business
58. Made a stop in Iceland
59. Taken a 'Norway in a Nutshell' tour
60. Served a meal to missionaries
61. Bought Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Sent flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Swam with Sting Rays at Sting Ray City
66. Visited D-Day beaches and Cemeteries
67. Bounced a check
68. Drove on the wrong (English) side of the road
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Built a piece of furniture
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured Cape Canaveral (Kennedy)
75. Been laid off from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London and Copenhagen
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Written a manual
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in the Roman Forum
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the Smithsonian
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life, (Every time people fly with me?)
90. Driven on the Le Mons race track.
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a Cheese of the Month club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Flown a plane
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Dipped your toes in the Great Salt Lake
97. Made a steer from a bull
98. Kissed the Blarney Stone
99. Been stung by a bee.

There are many more things to do and places to go.
Blessings

Winter Is Here!!!

Well if you are North of the equator this is officially winter season. Brrrr.

Having had the opportunity to be in Alaska, Canada, and Finland during winter through the years makes me appreciate living in a warmer climate. And now that I am acclimated the cold is even colder. I would rather mow the yard around Thanksgiving and put up Christmas decorations in t-shirts than wear parkas for months. I don't mind visiting the frozen tundra of Amarillo, Texas and parts north, but getting back down south is where I would rather be.

It is good some people want to live North of my latitude. I appreciated their choice. It is always interesting to see these 'natives of the north' out in shorts and t-shirts when the temperatures warm up just a few degrees no matter how cold it is.

Blessings, especially to anyone in the cold.

Merry? Christmas

Following some thoughts from the last blog, I want to bring to mind a few points to ponder.

Although these are the holidays and are supposed to be filled with cheer, life does not stop and let everyone take a break. Life keeps on going with births, deaths, sickness, loneliness. Change is stressful - even happy changes are loaded with stress. People have to deal with a sick child, a death in the family, or this is the first Christmas without Grandma, Dad, Mom... The tension of the once a year 'Will we be able to get along this time?' holiday visits. As you go about spreading your Christmas cheer, (and you should), be cognizant of how other people are doing. If you are aware of someone's 'life' share with them empathy and love. Encourage them and empower them, letting them know they are in your prayers.

May the 'Peace on earth' emanate from the peace Jesus offers and the 'Joy' you spread be the deep abiding joy based on being in Jesus.

Blessings with tidings of good cheer.

Blessings & Treasures

I love the way Thanksgiving and Christmas line up on the calendar. As we come to the end of the year, first we take stock of everything and give thanks. Realizing how truly blessed we are even in 'hard times'. Some years are easier, some harder. Regardless of your comfort level right now there are so many, many, many reasons to offer thanks and praise to God.

As we move from the humbling contemplation of how truly blessed we are, Christmas opens the door to intriguing opportunities. We look outside ourselves and find ways to see others and their needs. Our paradigm shifts from self to neighbor. We see physical needs and want to share our wealth to help them out.

Scott Raab, (http://ravenraab.blogspot.com), a missionary in Belgium and the Netherlands had a youth weekend where the youth put into practice their lessons on sharing. They spent time filling and decorating shoe boxes with gifts for those who don't usually receive them. After they were done filling the shoe boxes they spent some time reflecting on the weekend and thinking about what is really important to them. One of Scott's questions was. "Jesus says:Your heart will be where your treasure is. What are we really holding as our treasure?"
An inspiring thought, Scott.

This Christmas season, as we share physical gifts in the spirit of Christmas and brighten other peoples day, may we also share Jesus and brighten their life.

Blessings

The Ripple Effect

On the farm we had stock tanks and ponds for the cattle to drink from. They varied from a metal tank a few feet across to a pond a few yards in width. One thing common to all ponds is on a calm day the surface would be smooth as glass. Being a young whipper snapper, it wouldn't take long for me to find a rock to throw. Breaking the serene mirror with a toss was always a treat. And almost as much fun as throwing the rock, was watching the ripples created on the water. First you had the rings emminating out from the center. Then as they reached the edge they would bounce back intercepting the original ripples. The reflected ripples were not as strong, but they were still created by one rock.

There are several thoughts to be drawn from this simple act of a young boy.

• No matter where or who you are, by existing you are being a rock in the pond of life.
• You are sending out ripples as you connect with this world.
• Each choice you make determines what is in the ripple created.
• You have no control of a ripple once it is in motion.
• Often the ripple will return back to you reflected off someone, something it comes in contact with.

Blessings.

Folks, We Are Different!

Here is a question for you. How many of you have had grocery store metal can pickled beets on a lettuce and tomato salad? Me neither, until lunch yesterday. (Different, added some twang.) I believe that is what you would call a cultural difference.

Cultural differences abound, especially in food. Let's look at Chicken Fried steak - 1. Dipped in flour or corn meal? 2. White gravy or brown gravy? And some are asking 'Chicken Fried'? steak with a raised eyebrow.

Folks, we are different! Often, with a capital 'D'.

It is good to be different. Although, we need to be careful as we find diffences in others. Because we cannot see all the 'culture' created variations, we shouldn't use other men as measuring sticks to determine our level of growth. We need to look at the mirror of God's word to evaluate our status. It is not the choices others make, BUT the choices we make.

Be different. Make informed choices.

Blessings,

In Case You Haven't Heard

Unless you have been in a cave or marooned on an island you have probably heard a word or two of economic gloom and doom. I am not an economist! I don't know what is in store for 'Wall Street' or 'Main Street'.

But, as you hear all these things, keep them in perspective. What is truly important?

Your relationship to God and man.

Whether times are easy or hard remember to love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

Blessings

Are we having FUN yet?

Today a 35 year old friend said this last summer was not exactly easy. It was an awakening for her.

Her grandmother was no longer the spry and active person she had known for so many years. There really is an end to life.

Also, she saw a ‘reality’ show on TV where a drinking-partying young man came to the realization, “This (lifesyle) isn’t fun anymore and if it is not fun what is the point?”

She had never thought of ‘having fun’ as being the criteria for living life. She had gone to school, held jobs and worked for several years. Even done a little partying of her own. We talked for awhile and found that the word ‘fun’ can have very different connotations. Fun changes from toddler to teen, teen to twenties and so forth. Satisfying or fulfilling may be ‘fun’ as we become more mature. And fun is more of a by-product of accomplishment. Some people get stuck in a certain ‘age’ of fun even though they grow older.

The distillation of what is truly important was starting to dawn on her. Getting her to include God is the next step.

Blessings as you find 'FUN' in your life.

Refresh Time

As a pilot, every six months you go to the simulator for a period of training and testing. Evaluating how we normally complete tasks and refreshing the plan of action for different situations and emergencies that could arise.

As Christians occasionally we need to get out of our daily routine, evaluate how we have been handling daily routine and refresh ourselves on how we should react in an unusual or extreme situation. How have you been reacting when you get cut off in traffic? How are you going to react when the car gets wrecked? What do you say and do when you get dealt a really hard blow? How are you planning to handle that job promotion?

You come up with the questions and then fill in the answers.

Prep time will pay off big dividends! You can make sure you are handling everyday life in an appropriate manner. You won't have to be making big decisions on the fly in the heat of the battle. You will already have a plan in mind and only have to make small corrections to come up with a successful outcome to any situation.

Blessings...

Love One Another

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7

This verse came up on my Facebook page today. An inspiring verse! I put it here to remind us to love.

Blessings

Resting on my Laurels

'rest on (one's) laurels'
To rely on one's past achievements instead of working to maintain or advance one's status or reputation.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/laurels

Boy it is easy to do. 'I've worked hard to get here...I deserve a rest.' 'Look how much I have improved.' It is great to take a break and smell the roses, listen to nature, and walk in the garden with God. You can be refreshed in being quiet. aaahhhhhhhhh

The problem begins when the rest becomes a stay. We take our eyes off the long term goal and settle into atrophy. BTDT (Been there done that.) Usually the more I in my statements the longer the stay. Looking outside of myself the perspective changes, God and others become the focus again.

I want to encourage you to seek ways to improve yourself, especially your relationship with the Almighty. Spend time in his word, in prayer, meditaion, song, and service. As God and others become our focus we get off 'high center' and begin to move forward.

Blessings

Heartbeats

Once upon a time, well almost that long ago. Some of us pilot people were discussing exercising, you know running vs walking and all the benefits. We didn't come up with any definitive answers but I was exposed to some different opinions.

One gentleman explained his viewpoint on exercising like this: "I figure my heart has so many beats in it then I die. So anytime I speed up my heart rate I am wasting beats I will need later." Interesting logic, don't you think.

His opinion exposes a powerful point. We have a limited number of heartbeats.

That begs the question what am I doing with my heartbeats.

I admit I have squandered way to many. And in my 'perfection' I will waste many more.

BUT, I am being more deliberate about how I deplete my heartbeats. And with God's help some will glorify Him and benefit others.

Blessings as you manage your heartbeats.

Infinity - Eternity

2+2=4
Never changing always the same. Forever and ever.
Math can be so exact.
But, not always! Explain infinity. No stopping, going forever and ever.
Not so exact.
Our finite minds have a lot of trouble grasping the concept of infinity.

God knows about infinity.
He knows about eternity.
That is why God gave up Jesus.
He desires us to spend eternity with him.

But, He left the choice up to us.
We get to choose who we spend eternity with, God or Satan.

Who are you choosing?

Blessings!

Getting 'Let Off the Hook'

Y'all remember the story in Matthew 28 about the fellow who owed lots and lots and lots of money. How he and his wife and children and all he had were to be sold to repay the debt.

• Ouch! Selling all you have.
• Ouch!! Having to be sold into slavery.
• Ouch!!! Being responsible for your wife and children on the auction block of slavery to pay your debts.
• Talk about ultimate bankruptcy.
  

He begged for patience so he could repay the debt. (Everyone knew he could not ever come close to paying that amount.)

Wow!!! The debt was cancelled and he was let go.

He was 'let off the hook'.

• Debt cancelled.
• No guilt.
• No shame.
• Clean slate.
• What a great day.
• What a great feeling.
  

Chew on that for a minute.


Blessings,

Eight things about me.

I am old enough to know better.

I learned to like coconut meringue pie and steak without sauce from my dad and lemon meringue pie and Italian cooking from Deb.

I have never known, not enjoying flying.

I still enjoy roller coasters.

There is something soothing about reading the Bible.

Working together with Deb has always been one of my greatest pleasures.

One of the greatest smiles you will ever see is when you truly compliment and encourage someone.

Being on God’s time is often hard and uncomfortable … until I let go.


Blessings.

Wah, Wah, Wah

One of the jokes management tells about pilots is "if their lips are moving they're whining". It is all to easy to get caught up in the mob mentality and one upsmanship when someone starts complaining.



No organization is perfect! The problem with organizations is they are made up of people. Last time I checked there has only been one perfect person here on earth. So there are lots of things to complain, whine and moan about. It is so easy to get caught up in a gripefest whirlwind with others.



The hard part is stopping that snowball before it becomes an avalanche. You can be the one to break the cycle. Just bring up a positive point. Not argumentative but one of those 'have you considered this' type of questions. Or, 'they really made an effort to handle that situation well'.



We can undermine our relationships in the same manner. Do we think of the positive things our friends do? Or, do we constantly dwell on the negative unpleasant actions.



I dare you to be the one to stand up! Break the cycle!

Make a positive point about your oraganization.

Make a positive point about your children.

Make a positive point about your spouse.

Make a positive point about God.



Blessings,

Extremes

Just got back from a week in Canada. Vancouver was ok, snow and rain highs in the 30's f. Edmonton was a little, no, a lot different. It was clear but the high in Edmonton was a -13 f with a low of -29 f. Yes that was 29 degrees below zero. As one of the crew said you don't live in that kind of weather you survive it. Calgary was a little warmer, when we left it was -5 degrees. The temperature in Dallas upon arrival was 75 degrees. So we gained 80 degrees in about three hours. Glad to be back in the warm!

Cold extremes are hard on equipment. Any drip you have in warm weather becomes a leak when the cold contracts everything. Batteries get real weak and oil very thick. You have to make preparations to survive the cold weather.

Life is a lot like that. Preparations need to be made so you can survive the extremes. Extremes are the parts of life that happen to other people. Cancer, job loss, death. The things that test your relationship to God.

Preperations:

1. Spend time in His word, listening.

2. Spend time in prayer, sharing your heart.

3. Spend time with a 'strong believer', sharing and growing your faith.

Books are written on each of these tasks. So they may be simple but they can be so rich and rewarding as you delve deeper into them.

Blessings.

It's Branding Time

How many 'irons' do you have in the fire?

The number can be staggering. But, what is really important is which iron your getting out of the fire. Hmmmm. The branding iron was put into the fire to heat it, to get it ready for use. If the iron was not hot enough it did not work. You needed to grab the hottest iron to get the job done right.

You need to to know which iron is ready, so you can complete the task satisfactorily. Take care to tend the fire and organize your irons, so you have the right iron hot and ready.

Blessings