“We are going to be in the Hudson.”
Those were the last words that the air traffic controllers would hear from US Airways flight 1549.
\ Until that point, everything had been routine. The lift off from New York’s LaGuardia airport was uneventful and the aircraft was gaining altitude. Approximately two minutes later, at 3,200 feet (980 m) the airliner flew into a flock of “Canada Geese”. Moments later, Captain Chesley Sullenburger made his first distress call stating, "Hit birds. We lost thrust in both engines. Returning back towards LaGuardia."
As the Captain turned the airliner back in a southbound direction, it soon became obvious that they did not have the altitude or the air speed to make it back to the airport. Sullenburger asked if there was another option. Air traffic control responded that “Teterboro” airport in New Jersey was to his right.
As the plane passed over the “George Washington bridge” (at a height of less than 1000 feet), Captain Sullenburger was told that he was cleared for landing at Teterboro. He responded, “We can’t do it. We are gonna be in the Hudson”.
To me, one of the most interesting parts of this whole event is listening to the Captain as this unfolded. He sounds completely calm and in control throughout the entire ordeal (To hear the tape of the flight, go to “Wikipedia” and search for “Miracle on the Hudson”). Even when he states that they are going to ditch the plane in the river, there is not a trace of panic in his voice.
Later, when reporters asked him what he was thinking as he said those words, Sullenburger responded, “I was thinking, ‘I can do this’”. When asked to elaborate, he explained that all pilots are trained to deal with emergencies, including water landings. He simply recalled what he had been taught and put it to use.
In other words, he was prepared for the crisis long before the crisis came.
I do not know what you are going through right now. Maybe you are in a time of crisis and you are trying to “land your plane”. If that is true, I pray that you remember where your hope, help and strength can be found.
If, however, things are good right now, may I remind you that this is no time be lazy about Spiritual things. Rather, this is the time to be praying, reading, learning and developing a relationship with the Lord.
Now is the time to prepare for whatever is to come, so that you too can say, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 3:13).
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Centralia Effect
Founded in 1854, Centralia, Pennsylvania looked poised to have a good future. Nestled in a valley surrounded by tree-covered hills, Centralia was close to a good water source and an abundance of coal. People moved in, industry sprung up and the little town was on its way.
Then in May of 1962, everything changed. One story states that the town wanted to clean up the local landfill, so they hired five fire fighters so go set the dump on fire. Unfortunately, the fire not only burned the garbage, but also a coal seam that ran under the dump. Whether the fire fighter were unable to deal with the coal fire, or whether they thought it would just burn itself out is unclear. What became clear, though, was that the fire was going to be heard form again.
Seventeen years later, in 1979, the owner of the local gas station was checking the level of fuel in his underground tank. When he brought the stick back out, it seemed warm, so he lowered a thermometer into the tank. To his shock, the thermometer read 77.8 degrees Celsius (172 degrees Fahrenheit). The underground coal seam fire had quietly spread from the dump six miles away and was now under the town of Centralia. Soon people started reporting health problems due to the high levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the air. In 1981, when twelve year old Todd Domboski almost fell into a four foot wide by 150 foot deep sinkhole that opened up in his backyard, the state was forced to act. Residents were given buyout offers and, within a very short time, Centralia became a ghost town. The town that once boasted several thousand residents has only nine today.
The story of Centralia is a good reminder for us: Deal with things quickly! Sin often lives in the unseen, “underground” part of our lives. Left unattended, those underground sins can cause huge problems.
The truth is that, “Our secrets are our steering wheel”. If we allow unrighteous things to lurk below the surface, if we constantly say, “Well that does not really matter”, those thoughts and those attitudes will eventually take us somewhere that we do not want to be.
The fire under Centralia has been burning for forty-seven years and experts believe that it will burn for at least another 250 years. The time to stop the fire was before it got going.
The same is true spiritually. It is always best to bring our sins out in the open and deal with them as quickly as possible. Leaving them “underground” and hoping they will just go away almost never works.
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).
Then in May of 1962, everything changed. One story states that the town wanted to clean up the local landfill, so they hired five fire fighters so go set the dump on fire. Unfortunately, the fire not only burned the garbage, but also a coal seam that ran under the dump. Whether the fire fighter were unable to deal with the coal fire, or whether they thought it would just burn itself out is unclear. What became clear, though, was that the fire was going to be heard form again.
Seventeen years later, in 1979, the owner of the local gas station was checking the level of fuel in his underground tank. When he brought the stick back out, it seemed warm, so he lowered a thermometer into the tank. To his shock, the thermometer read 77.8 degrees Celsius (172 degrees Fahrenheit). The underground coal seam fire had quietly spread from the dump six miles away and was now under the town of Centralia. Soon people started reporting health problems due to the high levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide in the air. In 1981, when twelve year old Todd Domboski almost fell into a four foot wide by 150 foot deep sinkhole that opened up in his backyard, the state was forced to act. Residents were given buyout offers and, within a very short time, Centralia became a ghost town. The town that once boasted several thousand residents has only nine today.
The story of Centralia is a good reminder for us: Deal with things quickly! Sin often lives in the unseen, “underground” part of our lives. Left unattended, those underground sins can cause huge problems.
The truth is that, “Our secrets are our steering wheel”. If we allow unrighteous things to lurk below the surface, if we constantly say, “Well that does not really matter”, those thoughts and those attitudes will eventually take us somewhere that we do not want to be.
The fire under Centralia has been burning for forty-seven years and experts believe that it will burn for at least another 250 years. The time to stop the fire was before it got going.
The same is true spiritually. It is always best to bring our sins out in the open and deal with them as quickly as possible. Leaving them “underground” and hoping they will just go away almost never works.
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away” (Hebrews 2:1).
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Don’t Go Alone
On Friday night, I was in “enemy territory”; namely the “Weyburn Colosseum”.
The Bruins were playing the Red Wings in the first half of a “home and home” series, so two of my buddies and I decided to head up there and catch the game.
For a while, we tried to be inconspicuous. None of us wore Bruins’ gear or “black and gold” clothing. In fact, I don’t think any of us even had the name “Estevan” on any of our stuff. Just by looking at us, no one would know where we were from.
That was not the case for 90% of the people at the game, though. Everywhere we looked, we saw people wearing “Red Wings” hats, jerseys and coats. We even saw a few “Red Wings” face painted kids. As these folks filed in, my two buddies and I mostly just stayed to ourselves.
Then something happened that changed our attitude. We began seeing people we knew. “Bruins” hats, jerseys and coats filled the lobby. In fact, after a while there were enough “Estevanites” to fill up an entire section or two in the rink. As part of that larger group, we went from hiding in the corner, to yelling, hollering and cheered loudly for the Bruins. In fact, it was sort of fun to be so outnumbered, but cheering anyway.
Had I been there by myself, I would still have enjoyed the game, but I doubt that I would have cheered quite so loudly. However, in a large group it was easy to be bold. Sometimes, all you need is a little support.
To me, that idea of “support” is one of the best reasons to be involved in a local church. There is something beneficial about being with others who see things from the same perspective. Strength and courage can be found when we are with people who are going the same way and who are trying to do the same things.
If you could use some encouragement and a group with whom to share your spiritual journey, please know that you will always be welcome here.
“Strength in numbers” is not only true at hockey games, but in Spiritual things as well.
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
The Bruins were playing the Red Wings in the first half of a “home and home” series, so two of my buddies and I decided to head up there and catch the game.
For a while, we tried to be inconspicuous. None of us wore Bruins’ gear or “black and gold” clothing. In fact, I don’t think any of us even had the name “Estevan” on any of our stuff. Just by looking at us, no one would know where we were from.
That was not the case for 90% of the people at the game, though. Everywhere we looked, we saw people wearing “Red Wings” hats, jerseys and coats. We even saw a few “Red Wings” face painted kids. As these folks filed in, my two buddies and I mostly just stayed to ourselves.
Then something happened that changed our attitude. We began seeing people we knew. “Bruins” hats, jerseys and coats filled the lobby. In fact, after a while there were enough “Estevanites” to fill up an entire section or two in the rink. As part of that larger group, we went from hiding in the corner, to yelling, hollering and cheered loudly for the Bruins. In fact, it was sort of fun to be so outnumbered, but cheering anyway.
Had I been there by myself, I would still have enjoyed the game, but I doubt that I would have cheered quite so loudly. However, in a large group it was easy to be bold. Sometimes, all you need is a little support.
To me, that idea of “support” is one of the best reasons to be involved in a local church. There is something beneficial about being with others who see things from the same perspective. Strength and courage can be found when we are with people who are going the same way and who are trying to do the same things.
If you could use some encouragement and a group with whom to share your spiritual journey, please know that you will always be welcome here.
“Strength in numbers” is not only true at hockey games, but in Spiritual things as well.
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
Monday, November 9, 2009
Real Faith Should Make a Real Difference
A few years ago, an acquaintance of mine found out that his company wanted to relocate him to Scotland, so he and his wife packed up and moved.
About six months later, a mutual friend received this report from them: “Scotland is great! There is a Wal-Mart right down the street from us!”
Technically, they were living in Scotland. In reality, they were just living like Canadians in a different place. Rather than immersing themselves in the culture and in a different worldview, they shopped at Wal-mart in Edinburgh.
That story makes me wonder, “Is it possible to do the same thing in spiritually?”
In other words, can we really say we are living in the “kingdom of God” if we are never challenged and if we never change? Am I really experiencing kingdom life if I am I still the same person I have always been (I just happen to go to church now)?
As you think about that, consider this passage. “Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’" (Luke 21:1-4).
Why does Jesus commend this woman’s actions?
Certainly, from a practical point of view, it is not smart. Who gives away the last two coins that they have to live on? From a financial point of view, it is not a significant gift. The amount she gave would come to less than a penny today. What is it about this act that caught Jesus’ attention?
Could it be that real faith requires us to take real risks once in a while? Is it possible that, by doing what she did, this woman showed that she was living by spiritual principles and not just her own “common sense”?
Now, please understand, I am not advocating (nor is Jesus teaching) that faith should make us stupid and irresponsible. However, what good is a faith that never causes us to do anything that we would not do otherwise?
According to Jesus (in this and many other passages), people in God’s kingdom ought to see things from a different perspective, value different things and live in a different way.
Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight”.
Which one do you live by?
The first one leads to real life in God’s kingdom.
The other is just shopping at Wal-mart in a different country.
About six months later, a mutual friend received this report from them: “Scotland is great! There is a Wal-Mart right down the street from us!”
Technically, they were living in Scotland. In reality, they were just living like Canadians in a different place. Rather than immersing themselves in the culture and in a different worldview, they shopped at Wal-mart in Edinburgh.
That story makes me wonder, “Is it possible to do the same thing in spiritually?”
In other words, can we really say we are living in the “kingdom of God” if we are never challenged and if we never change? Am I really experiencing kingdom life if I am I still the same person I have always been (I just happen to go to church now)?
As you think about that, consider this passage. “Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’" (Luke 21:1-4).
Why does Jesus commend this woman’s actions?
Certainly, from a practical point of view, it is not smart. Who gives away the last two coins that they have to live on? From a financial point of view, it is not a significant gift. The amount she gave would come to less than a penny today. What is it about this act that caught Jesus’ attention?
Could it be that real faith requires us to take real risks once in a while? Is it possible that, by doing what she did, this woman showed that she was living by spiritual principles and not just her own “common sense”?
Now, please understand, I am not advocating (nor is Jesus teaching) that faith should make us stupid and irresponsible. However, what good is a faith that never causes us to do anything that we would not do otherwise?
According to Jesus (in this and many other passages), people in God’s kingdom ought to see things from a different perspective, value different things and live in a different way.
Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “We live by faith, not by sight”.
Which one do you live by?
The first one leads to real life in God’s kingdom.
The other is just shopping at Wal-mart in a different country.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Banquet
Last Wednesday I was invited to “Government House” in Regina to watch Jasmine Erickson, a young lady who grew up in our congregation, receive a “Saskatchewan Youth Award”.
When the organizing committee needed someone to say “grace” at the meal, they asked if Jasmine would like “her minister” to give the blessing. Graciously, she said “yes”, so I got a phone call asking if I would be available to attend the ceremony.
The evening was formal, but comfortable all at the same time. I was introduced to several political leaders and had a nice chat with the Premier and the Lieutenant Governor. The meal was delicious (If you are invited to a formal dinner at Government House, go hungry…Yum!). I was inspired and encouraged as I listened to what these young people had accomplished. It was a special night.
Now, I did not attend that banquet on my own merit. I did nothing to garner any special recognition that night. No one nominated me to receive an award for something that I had accomplished. On my own, I would never have made it past the front door.
Fortunately, though, I know Jasmine and, based on that relationship, I received an invitation. Jasmine did something special and, because I am close to her, I was able to participate in her celebration.
When rightly understood, that is a good parallel to the gospel message. Jesus has done the work. It is his sacrifice and God’s loving offer to “come home” that has opened the door for us. We are not invited to the heavenly banquet based on our merits, but on Christ’s. God kingdom is not for those who have worked their way in (as if that were even possible); rather it is for those who have a relationship with Jesus.
Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb [Jesus].”
Anyone can attend that heavenly celebration.
All it takes is a relationship with the one for whom the banquet is given.
When the organizing committee needed someone to say “grace” at the meal, they asked if Jasmine would like “her minister” to give the blessing. Graciously, she said “yes”, so I got a phone call asking if I would be available to attend the ceremony.
The evening was formal, but comfortable all at the same time. I was introduced to several political leaders and had a nice chat with the Premier and the Lieutenant Governor. The meal was delicious (If you are invited to a formal dinner at Government House, go hungry…Yum!). I was inspired and encouraged as I listened to what these young people had accomplished. It was a special night.
Now, I did not attend that banquet on my own merit. I did nothing to garner any special recognition that night. No one nominated me to receive an award for something that I had accomplished. On my own, I would never have made it past the front door.
Fortunately, though, I know Jasmine and, based on that relationship, I received an invitation. Jasmine did something special and, because I am close to her, I was able to participate in her celebration.
When rightly understood, that is a good parallel to the gospel message. Jesus has done the work. It is his sacrifice and God’s loving offer to “come home” that has opened the door for us. We are not invited to the heavenly banquet based on our merits, but on Christ’s. God kingdom is not for those who have worked their way in (as if that were even possible); rather it is for those who have a relationship with Jesus.
Revelation 19:9 says, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb [Jesus].”
Anyone can attend that heavenly celebration.
All it takes is a relationship with the one for whom the banquet is given.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A Life Worth Living
Willie McMillan passed away yesterday. He was 95 years old.
You will not hear about his death on the news, but you probably should have. He was someone worth knowing.
I first met Willie in 1987 when I did a summer internship with the “Wawota Church of Christ”. He and his wife of 72 years, Marie, lived on a small farm on the edge of Moose Mountain Provincial Park. They did not have many material things, but they were happy and hospitable.
Even though he outlived most of his contemporaries, when word got out yesterday that he was gone, the tributes started pouring in. “Facebook” was filled with people’s favorite memories of Willie as young and old recalled the impact that he had on their lives. Words like; like, nice, fun, forgiving, humble, generous and friendly filled the computer screen. He was described as a “Godly man”, a “great example” and “a blessing”. Maybe the most telling thing was that most of the tributes did not refer to “Willie McMillan” but rather “Grandpa McMillan”.
Not surprisingly, no one mentioned the nice car Willie had in 1963 (if he had one). No one talked about the size of his bank account. No one spoke about how much land he owned, how well known he was or what his house looked like.
People did remember the fact that he went out of his way to encourage them. They remembered his faithfulness to his wife and to his beliefs. People remembered that they could count on him. People remembered how well he treated them.
Interestingly, in the twenty plus years that I knew Willie, I never remember him giving a sermon in church, or saying anything in front of a large group. Willie was a quiet and gentle man. He was not one that liked the spotlight and yet he still influenced the people around him. His actions spoke louder than his words.
Thinking about his legacy has reminded me to live in such a way that, in the end, I will have made a difference too.
What about you? When you get to the end of this life, what do you want people to say about you? What do you want them to remember? What are you living for right now? What will your legacy be?
As “Grandpa McMillan’s” life reminded me today, those are questions worth some thought.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
You will not hear about his death on the news, but you probably should have. He was someone worth knowing.
I first met Willie in 1987 when I did a summer internship with the “Wawota Church of Christ”. He and his wife of 72 years, Marie, lived on a small farm on the edge of Moose Mountain Provincial Park. They did not have many material things, but they were happy and hospitable.
Even though he outlived most of his contemporaries, when word got out yesterday that he was gone, the tributes started pouring in. “Facebook” was filled with people’s favorite memories of Willie as young and old recalled the impact that he had on their lives. Words like; like, nice, fun, forgiving, humble, generous and friendly filled the computer screen. He was described as a “Godly man”, a “great example” and “a blessing”. Maybe the most telling thing was that most of the tributes did not refer to “Willie McMillan” but rather “Grandpa McMillan”.
Not surprisingly, no one mentioned the nice car Willie had in 1963 (if he had one). No one talked about the size of his bank account. No one spoke about how much land he owned, how well known he was or what his house looked like.
People did remember the fact that he went out of his way to encourage them. They remembered his faithfulness to his wife and to his beliefs. People remembered that they could count on him. People remembered how well he treated them.
Interestingly, in the twenty plus years that I knew Willie, I never remember him giving a sermon in church, or saying anything in front of a large group. Willie was a quiet and gentle man. He was not one that liked the spotlight and yet he still influenced the people around him. His actions spoke louder than his words.
Thinking about his legacy has reminded me to live in such a way that, in the end, I will have made a difference too.
What about you? When you get to the end of this life, what do you want people to say about you? What do you want them to remember? What are you living for right now? What will your legacy be?
As “Grandpa McMillan’s” life reminded me today, those are questions worth some thought.
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Thanksgiving Thinking
“If Jesus Christ is to regenerate me [make me new or different], what is the problem He is up against? I am not holy, nor likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is to tell me I must be holy, His teaching plants despair. But if Jesus Christ is a Regenerator, One Who can put into me His … holiness, then I begin to see what He is driving at when He says that I have to be holy. Redemption means that Jesus Christ can put into any man the… disposition that was in Himself…. The moral transaction on my part is agreement with God's verdict on sin in the Cross of Jesus Christ” (Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for his Highest”).
That quote is deeper than many of the things that you will normally find in this article, but it is worth some thought.
What is our faith about and what is it based on?
Is it about trying harder? Is it based on me being perfect and holy? If it is, then I am in big trouble! As Chambers says, “I am not holy, nor likely to be”. Faith cannot be about me remaking myself (as it is often taught). If it is, then none of us has any hope at all.
What if the new life that God wants me to live is not something that I have to struggle to create, but is rather something that he gives?
Granted, that is an unusual thought. Most of us are conditioned to think that we have to work for any good thing that we receive and that we have to earn blessings and forgiveness.
However, the gospel says, “You are not perfect, but God has provided a way to fix that and make things better”.
To quote it exactly: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified [made right, brought into line] freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).
This Thanksgiving weekend, when you are thinking about all the good things in your life, may you also be thankful for the greatest gift of all: The chance to live a new life based on God’s goodness and not your own.
That quote is deeper than many of the things that you will normally find in this article, but it is worth some thought.
What is our faith about and what is it based on?
Is it about trying harder? Is it based on me being perfect and holy? If it is, then I am in big trouble! As Chambers says, “I am not holy, nor likely to be”. Faith cannot be about me remaking myself (as it is often taught). If it is, then none of us has any hope at all.
What if the new life that God wants me to live is not something that I have to struggle to create, but is rather something that he gives?
Granted, that is an unusual thought. Most of us are conditioned to think that we have to work for any good thing that we receive and that we have to earn blessings and forgiveness.
However, the gospel says, “You are not perfect, but God has provided a way to fix that and make things better”.
To quote it exactly: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and all are justified [made right, brought into line] freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).
This Thanksgiving weekend, when you are thinking about all the good things in your life, may you also be thankful for the greatest gift of all: The chance to live a new life based on God’s goodness and not your own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
