Trust the Instruments

by Larry Stallard

Most of us who flew for the 225^th Aviation Company never had to actually experience something that did often intrude upon our thoughts.  What would it be like to be shot down and have to parachute into the triple canopy jungle?  Then, if one made it safely to the ground, to deal with enemy soldiers or wild creatures?  As the much loved British writer, C.S. Lewis, observed, “It is not given us to know what might have been.”  As so we can be grateful and appreciate the Devine Providence at work then and now in our lives.

One priceless life-lesson hammered again and again into my thinking came from flying experiences, and especially so with Mohawk missions during the tour in RVN.  That is to always trust the instruments.  Those soldiers who maintained our aircraft and equipment did a wonderful job in giving us pilots strong confidence in our Mohawks.  They wanted the equipment to always work at its peak performance.  That helped us to trust the instruments.  No feelings, not preferences, not second guesses.  Always, the instruments.  That saved the day for me on every flight.

That life-lesson arising from flying on instruments (IFR) has a parallel in the life of faith.  In our spiritual life we cannon go by subjective feelings, personal preferences, or changing ideas of people.  Our Creator and Lord has made it crystal clear that in order to successfully live our spiritual lives of faith, we must trust His greatest and absolutely reliable instrument, His Word the Bible.  This alone will assure us of making a safe and secure Life-Flight to that ultimate destination the Bible reveals as heaven.

Are we trusting the instruments?  Reflect upon the totally trustworthy truths of the Book of Life, and press on in the adventurous, challenging and eternally significant life of faith. 

(Larry was a pilot with the 225^th in 1970.  He is now retired and now lives with his wonderful wife Jan in Tennessee where he is the former pastor of Edgemont Presbyterian Church in Bristol.)

   

"How Great Thou Art"

Our friend Larry Stallard sent one-man quartet singing “How Great Thou Art” this to me a couple of days ago and I thought you’d all like to see and listen to it also.  He wrote “I sure wasn't expecting this!!!  Amazing what folks are able to do these days with computers!!”

Take 5 minutes and listen and watch and enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=dxCRIF0m79w&feature=related

More "High Flight"

Our friend Jim Thomas wrote to me recently:

"In the 225th History someone added to the High Flight poem,

        Take me Oh Lord, if it be thy will, for I am ready.

I've always found strength in the addition of that last line. Any idea who made the addition? I'm sure it has touched more than me."

Thanks Jim!

My Adventure After Surgery!

As you might be aware from reading my other blog The 225^th Observer, I am now in my 4^th week of recovery from having a robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.  You can go to the Observer to see the whole journey so far, but I wanted to elaborate a little more on the spiritual side of what I have chosen to call “my adventure.”  The recovery is going well, and I think I am on track to return to work at Seattle Children’s Hospital first week of April.

I really became a believer in Jesus Christ in August 1971 having returned the previous year from duty as a soldier in Vietnam, although I was introduced to him while I was in high school in 1964.  To make a very long story short, I went through all the motions of being a Christian for a long time afterward, but not actually believing deep down that anything was different or better as a result of making that commitment.

Fast-forward to September 2011 and the diagnosis that I had prostate cancer, because of a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test that my doctor ordered.  As I wrote in a blog posting, the “c” word is a devastating diagnosis for anyone who has experienced it.  The diagnosis of having Type 2 diabetes a couple of years previous in a way prepared me for the cancer news.  I had decided then that I had to change my life style to adjust to not eating all the things I loved that were not good for a diabetic.  At that time I asked God to help me adjust; he did just that; he helped me and continues to do so.

I wrote earlier that there were 2 important “c” words in my life:  the little “c” word is “cancer” and the big “C” word is “Christ.”  Well, when the little “c” word reared its ugly head I decided that no matter the outcome, God was in control of my life…I needed, however, to acknowledge that fact and actually believe it.  I have really believed, and still do, that Jesus Christ (the big “C” word!) is in the middle of this part of my adventure.  He has made this evident in any number of ways:  through music I have heard on the radio and at church; in scripture that I have come face-to-face with unexpectedly; with so many people praying for me and encouraging me as I went into surgery and during my recovery (how can I thank you all?!).

Regarding music…after the biopsy revealed that I in fact had prostate cancer, I was in the car and heard Laura Story’s song “Blessings”.  The chorus says “'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops /
 What if Your healing comes through tears /
 What if a thousand sleepless nights 
Are what it takes to know You’re near 
/ What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise.”  I heard those words as if they were written for me, and my eyes welled up to the point that I had to stop and wipe them so I could drive.  I believe that my trials really have been God’s mercies in disguise!

In church on March 4^th we sang a new song (at least new to me) called “A Mighty Fortress” by Christy Nockels.  The lyrics say in part

Our God is, a consuming fire,

A burning holy Flame, with glory and freedom

Our God is, the only righteous judge,

Ruling over us with kindness and wisdom

We will keep our eyes on You

We will keep our eyes on You

He is ruling over me with kindness and wisdom, and day-by-day I am trying to keep my eyes on him more than ever before.

Psalms 91 has crossed my path several times since January.  I have been amazed how many times this particular passage has caught my attention since then!  Take a moment and click on the link and see what great encouragement and promise God gives us in this Psalm!

And there have been so many people around the country who have been praying for Karin and me.  I have no idea who has prayed, but I have been so encouraged that people care so much for us!

On the Sunday after we found out that I had cancer, I went up to our pastor after church and said “Phil, God has given me the greatest opportunity!”  “Tell me about it” he said.  “I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.”  He literally took a step back with a shocked expression on his face.  And I continued “This is the greatest chance I have to tell people about Jesus and the difference he has made in my life!” 

And I have taken this opportunity to heart, not holding back like I did for the first four decades of my new life in Christ.  Many years ago I was introduced to the Four Spiritual Laws that are not laws per se (life as a Christian is not a life of laws), but rather principles that are true.

#1 God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

#2 Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life.

#3 Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. 
Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life.

#4 We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ I encourage you at least investigate who he is (the Gospel of John is a great place to start).  Or feel free to contact me by phone or email.

These are only two of those mercies that have come as a result of this trial in my life; being blessed by others and freedom to share the Good News of Jesus with others.  May God bless you this week!