4. A Shepherd’s Heart

There was a time not too long ago when the expectations upon the laity were very minimal. Some would even joke that the laity are expected to pray, pay and obey. This is hardly a flattering way to look upon the exalted calling of a disciple of Jesus, especially when you consider the Church of the first Century. Today the doors are wide open up for lay persons to share their witness and spiritual gifts inside and outside our Church. How should a man of God bring compassion to the people he meets? I suggest with a shepherd’s heart. I chose the word shepherd because of the beautiful imagery of Psalm 23, and the words of Jesus found in John 10:1-18. The heart of a shepherd is moved to serve the sheep in whatever way is needed: rest, food and water, guidance, correction, encouragement and protection. Thus the men of the Christian community, guardians of the flock, should pray for a heart like that of Jesus.

It is easy for us to become overwhelmed with the tremendous spiritual needs we find in the Church today. We cannot deny obvious facts: church attendance is down and churches are consolidating; priests are getting older with few candidates in seminaries; vowed religious are very scarce; deficit church budgets are common; the sexual abuse scandals of the clergy have hurt the faith of God’s people, etc. In the midst of all this we hopeful Christians continue to light a candle rather than curse the darkness. When Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was asked by a reporter if she was discouraged that she could not help all the people on the streets of Calcutta she said, “No. I just love them one at a time.” Good advice for all of us.

Disciples are expected to give loving service to the Church and society around them according to model of stewardship: time, treasure and talent. In one season of a person’s life there may be more to give than at another time. But one should always be careful not to ignore family commitments. It is good to pray for wisdom to know the call of God in our lives, and courage to fulfill our promises. There are several key passages in the New Testament which indicate the quality of community life and service that existed in the early Church before the persecutions began. I think these are normative for all times, and worthy of reflection. (Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12 and 13; Ephesians 4:1-16.)

Closing

We are privileged to be called disciples of Jesus Christ. Each of us is unique and we have different talents and functions to fulfill in the Church. Cardinal John Henry Newman put it this way: “God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission; I have a part in a great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.” It is humbling to realize that God relies on us to bring his kingdom to earth. The frame of mind we should have is captured nicely in the prophet Micah 6:8: “This is what the Lord requires of you: to do what is right, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

St. Joseph is the patron saint for the Guardian of the Redeemer Catholic Men’s Fellowship. Though the Gospels portray him as a silent witness, his actions speak volumes about his faith and dependence upon God for what he was asked to do as a husband and foster father. May St. Joseph help us to be better men, better disciples of Jesus, who bring God’s love to a troubled world, one person at a time.

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Recommended Reading:

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, The Cost of Discipleship
Cassaude, Jean-Pierre, Abandonment to Divine Providence
Ciszek, Walter, He Leadeth Me and With God in Russia (autobiography)
Dulles, Cardinal Avery, Models of the Church
Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life
Green, Thomas, When the Well Runs Dry and Darkness in the Marketplace
Kelley, Bennet, Spiritual Direction According to St. Paul of the Cross
Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle

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Many thanks to Fr Michael Salvagna CP for challenging us with this teaching!

2. Living a Disciplined Life

To become a top athlete a person must spend long hours in training to build up stamina, speed, agility and mental toughness. No one faults an individual for spending all that time day after day in order to excel. Why do we expect less of a true follower of Jesus?  If Christians are too busy to devote such quality time to their faith, they are literally too busy. Their priorities need to be readjusted. An essential aspect of ongoing conversion is to examine how we use our time. It really comes down to obedience to the daily call of God. It is too easy to become complacent with our culture of ease and convenience where God gets left over time.  

To develop a life of virtue requires mental, emotional and spiritual toughness. The fruits of the spirit, e.g. patience, joy, humility, perseverance, are sure signs of the presence of God in one’s life. (Gal. 5:22, 23) The Catholic Men’s Fellowship uses the scripture passage “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Prov.27:17) to indicate how by interacting with likeminded men we enhance the witness we give by our words and actions. Joining a spiritual support group keeps us focused on the things that matter in life. Gathering for weekend retreats and other conferences challenge us to put first things first.

The home is a school of virtue, an abode of grace, which requires loving presence on the part of all. When a man is negligent of his role as husband and father the family suffers. God had chosen men to be the spiritual head of their household. There are things which only they can do to enhance the quality of life together. The young learn from the witness of their parents, and they need affirmation, encouragement and direction throughout their lives. It is a fact that families which pray and attend church together have fewer divorces, less problems with their children, and greater tranquility in their home life. The adage is true: “The family that prays together stays together.”

3. Suffering and Persecution

Sickness and suffering are consequences of our sinful human condition, and they are part of everyone’s life. From a Christian perspective, suffering has its rightful place in our spiritual development. Jesus experienced extreme physical torture and death at the hands of evil people, but God brought tremendous good out of it. I am sure the apostles were not happy when Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) Some people are troubled by physical ailments and diseases that sap their strength. Others experience mental and emotional weaknesses often a result of abuse in one’s youth, lack of affirmation, and dysfunctional family life. The cross weighs heavy through grieving, loneliness, rejection, etc. We need courage to accept the crosses in life that we cannot change while working to change what we can.

We believe in the power of redemptive suffering, and the suffering and death of Jesus is our supreme example. St. Paul invites us to unite our suffering to that of Christ for the sake of the Church (see Col. 1:24). It takes deep faith to acknowledge that God has a reason for allowing suffering in our world especially to innocent people. When a cross is not lifted from us we have the assurance that God’s grace will get us through. (See 2 Cor. 12:7-10) A man named Joe wrote to me several times from prison asking for prayers and advice in his terrible ordeal. Gradually he made peace with God through long hours of prayer, and his letters reflected a lot more confidence and courage. He wrote, “I have been through hell these past months, and only through the grace of God and the protection of the angels could I survive…I came to realize that God has a much better plan for me than the road I was traveling before this… Essentially he saved my life and put me on a new path.” Joe grew spiritually through the crucible of suffering.

Discipleship costs us something. It may cost us financial wellbeing, status, reputation, sickness and perhaps even our life. Persecution comes to believers from the world around us that is not open to the light of Christ. Speaking up for justice and morality in our culture of relativism is sure to bring us ridicule and harassment. The pendulum toward free thinking and secularism has swung to the point that celebrities and ordinary people dismiss the laws of God and even flaunt their behavior. Pride, greed, lust, laziness and other vices have their way at all levels of society. It is no surprise, then, that it is a struggle to witness our faith outside the home and sometimes even amid our family and relatives. But it is better to please the Lord than man. One pastor from South Africa summed up his struggles for justice in this manner. We will all appear before God some day and he will ask, “Where are your wounds?” And some will reply, “We have no wounds.” And God will ask, “Wasn’t there anything worth fighting for?”

to be continued…….

There is always big talk in church circles about being culturally relevant.  The question normally surfaces at some point in the conversation (in some form or other), “Why would people come to XYZ Church if it is not appealing?”  Regrettably, many churches have become more of a production than a worship service.

I want to talk more about that issue tomorrow.  But for today, I want us to think about something more foundational than this issue.  And it has everything to do with this current season – the season of Advent – Christmas.

We must never forget that God chose to strip away all glory and majesty, and enter into this world as a lowly peasant.  Entering with no triumphal entry or big parade, but rather quietly in the backstreets of a little town, in a relatively insignificant country.

The model that has been given to us is that we should take the message of the Good News to the people.  It may be uncomfortable.  It may cost us something.  But we are tasked with sharing the Good News of God’s love  by taking it to them where people live.

However, through the years we have adopted a different mentality – we want people to come to us, take up our likes and dislikes, become like us so that they can receive the Good News.  In other words, we have taken the position that our comfort and our security is more important than telling the world that God wants a relationship with them.

Here is my question for you to ponder today, and I would love to hear your feedback:  Do you have a “take it to them” attitude or a “stick it to them” attitude?

On our retreat last month, Fr Michael Salvagna CP presented an excellent teaching on “The Call to Discipleship.”  He has graciously provided us with his notes so that we can share it with you here.  Enjoy!

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In his book, The Models of the Church, Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ, describes five models of the Church: the Church as institution, sacrament, community, herald and servant. In a subsequent article he summarized all of these models under the general heading of disciple. The Church is a community of disciples under the headship of Jesus Christ. In every model of the Church, in every member from the oldest to the youngest, believers are called to be dedicated followers of Jesus.

Baptism makes us members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Most of us were born into the faith and so the decision to become a believer was made for us. As we matured we received the sacraments of reconciliation, Eucharist and confirmation by which our faith matured and we more actively chose to belong to Christ. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God has chosen us, and quite literally we belong to him. “I have called you by name: you are mine.” (Is. 43:1) And yet there is a difference between being a member of the church and a disciple of Jesus. Some Christians are content to go to church when they are hatched, matched and dispatched. That is hardly what God had in mind. True followers of Jesus enter a school of discipleship from which they never graduate.

A disciple places himself/herself under the discipline of the master’s words and deeds. Jesus expects his followers to stay close to him, to pay attention to his words, and thus to be fruitful. (John 15:1-10) The twelve Apostles had the privilege of being in discipleship school with Jesus for about 3 years, and to a lesser degree the Blessed Mother and those who traveled with Jesus. ( Luke 8:1-3; Luke 10:1-2) Jesus was a teacher, friend, confidant, shepherd and healer. There was an intimacy with Jesus that served them well long after the resurrection, and we must seek that same intimacy with Jesus. The teaching authority of the Church also frames the beliefs and practices which endear us to God and to one another. We will consider four elements of discipleship which bond us to our Master. 

1. Personal Prayer

Prayer may be described as our lifeline to God, the foundation of our union with Jesus.  It is a personal relationship with God that has elements of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving and supplication (ACTS). Prayer is a continuous dialog with our Creator and redeemer which entails speaking and listening with our hearts. The intimacy that we develop through prayer allows us to hear the voice of the Shepherd more clearly. Always available to us, the Lord delights when his flock assembles in church for Eucharist and other devotions. Reciting the Liturgy of the Hours is a good method of praying along with the Church at different times of the day. The rosary and Stations of the Cross are other ways of staying connected to God through our Blessed Mother.

But I strongly encourage all to spend time in quiet meditation in the loving presence of God. That is listening at its best. If we are busy saying things to God, when do we listen? The prayer of quiet occurs when we slow down and rest in the comforting embrace of God. You may even imagine the Lord surrounding you by a glowing light. If you become distracted let your eyes fall upon holy objects until you focus again upon the God who loves you. A goal would be to spend an hour a day in public and private prayer devotions.

Reading the Bible and other devotional books, e.g. biographies of the saints, feed our minds and give us inspiration. St. Jerome said that ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Jesus Christ. St. Paul wrote: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16) If you are not in the habit of reading the Bible regularly, I suggest you start with the Gospel of Luke, followed by the Acts of the Apostles. Read short sections and reflect upon their meaning and how they apply to your life. I would not advise reading the Bible cover to cover. You could keep a marker at an Old Testament reading, e.g. the Book of Psalms or Proverbs. But I suggest focusing on the gospels and letters of the New Testament. The Bible is our daily bread, not cake for special occasions.

to be continued…….

I have mentioned this before but one of my favorite spiritual thinkers and authors is Thomas Merton.  I was reading some of his work this morning and was overcome by this passage:

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.  Love is my true identity.  Selflessness is my true self.  Love is my true character.  Love is my name.

If, therefore, I do anything or think anything or say anything or know anything that is not purely for the love of God, it cannot give me peace, or rest, or fulfillment, or joy.

To find love I must enter into the sanctuary where it is hidden, which is the mystery of God.

The book of Genesis tells us that we are all made in the image of God.  But have you thought about the fact that because we are all created in God’s image, that we are created for the purpose of love?  Love for God displayed in how we live, worship and relate to one another?

This short little passage dumbfounded me this morning.  All of life can be boiled down to one word – love.

In this season of the year, (or any season for that matter), don’t let a day go by in which you do not live out the reason for your existence.

Love fully today!

Most of us know the Christmas story well.  We focus our attention on Jesus’ birth at this time of year and it is wonderful to do so.  I was reading an article on the second week of advent earlier this week and the scripture used to begin the article came out of Luke 3.

The verse that has been floating around in my head since reading it is this: “The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.”  Now this word was for John to be the forerunner for Jesus, paving a path for Jesus and the message he would bring.

But what I want you to see today is found in this little verse.  The word came to John where?  In the wilderness!  Earlier in Luke we see that John lived in the desert and wilderness areas of Israel most of his life.  Those who made that choice spent their lives seeking God and what God would have them do.  By living in the wilderness part of their lives, they were freeing themselves of the distractions of life in order to focus.  (Where did Jesus go for 40 days immediately following his baptism?)

The point I am making is this – do you ever find yourself in the wilderness?  Do you ever feel lost and disoriented with life?  Do you ever feel abandoned and forgotten?

It is in the wilderness that we find God.  But the key is to transition our attention from ourselves and the self-pity we may be feeling and place it on God, the creator of all life.  We may dread “wilderness” times in our lives, but both John and Jesus went to the desert.  We can learn something from that fact.

Have you lost your way today?  God has a word for you – just ask.

What is prayer to you?  Is it a chance to meet with God?  Is it an opportunity to pour your heart out to God and ask for help?  Or is it a chance to let God know how much you care?

I hope that prayer for you incorporates all of these things.  But do you ever catch yourself falling into a rut – or worse, bad habits when it comes to prayer?

Oswald Chambers asked a significant question in this regard.  Here is what he had to say,

Is the Son of God praying in me, or am I dictating to Him? . . . Prayer is not getting things from God . . . prayer is getting into perfect communion with God.  If the Son of God is formed in us by regeneration, He will press forward in front of our common sense and change our attitude to the things about which we pray.

How often do we take our laundry bag of needs and desires to God, dump them out and walk away, expecting God to “fix” everything?  I believe prayer has less to do with God meeting our needs and more to do with being formed to God’s will.

The closer we are to God – the stronger that relationship – the more likely our hearts will beat in sync with the Father’s.  When our hearts are beating in rhythm with God’s, then our needs will be put into perspective and doors will open.

So what is prayer to you?

The sky was clear, the winds were light, and my heart was thumping like a ghetto cruiser at a car show.  This was a day that I had been working towards for a long time; this was the day that I would solo the T-6 Texan.  Having completed the pre-flight I climb into the front seat, strap into my parachute and cinch it down tight.  These things were made to save your life with no consideration to comfort.  If it's comfortable then it is probably not on correctly.  With the seat belt fastened I begin to run through the startup procedures in my mind trying hard not to forget any of the steps that Frank has taught me.  Mixture full rich, prop full forward, throttle cracked about an inch.  Boost pump ON and watch the fuel pressure climb…an electric fuel pump sure beats the wobble pump and makes things a bit easier during the startup.  I run the throttle forward and back to 1 inch open…fuel pump OFF.  With my right hand I push the starter button and begin to count propeller blades.  1-2-3-4.  With my left hand I switch the magnetos to the ON position and quickly move it to the throttle.  5-6-7-8 blades.  A cough and puff of smoke are evidence that I am beginning to awaken 600 sleeping horses.  I pump the throttle in an effort to coax them out of their slumber.  More smoke, snorts and grunts as the reluctant thoroughbreds begin to gallop.  I can almost count their steps as each cylinder fires in turn and soon a steady rumble resounds through the countryside.  A quick glance at the oil pressure to ensure she does not get hot under the collar and I switch the alternator to the ON position.  Just off my left wing I see that Frank has successfully awoken his ponies for a ride as well, although he had to do a bit more coaxing as he is commanding a herd of 2,800.  Yes, this is indeed one of the days dreams are made of.  Not only will I be making my first T-6 solo, but I will also be flying formation with Frank in his F4U Corsair.

After waiting for the oil temps to rise to a safe operating temperature I give Frank a thumbs up and we begin to taxi to the active runway.  With the stick full aft I work the standard S-turn taxi and follow Frank to the hold short line and swing the tail, throttle up for a mag check, carb heat, and prop cycle.  All systems check normal and I open the oil cooler to the halfway point.  Frank had warned me not to forget the oil cooler lest I overheat the temps on climb out.  I say a quick prayer: “O Lord don’t let me screw this up” and again give Frank a thumbs up.  We taxi into position and hold for a staggered takeoff.  I sit and watch in childlike amazement as the Corsair begins it roll down the runway…it seems like mere seconds before he is airborne and the gear fold back into the wells.  Frank holds her on the deck while the airspeed increases and he pulls into a tactical climb at the runways end.  Great, as if my first solo was not tense enough, I have to follow that departure…wait, what am I thinking…I get to follow that…oh heck yeah!!!  I begin to ease the throttle forward slowly and smoothly.  The tail begins to fly quickly and about the time I hit 30 inches of manifold pressure the tires release their grip on the earth and I am airborne.  30 inches and 2,000 rpm, boy does this baby want to climb.  Although admittedly not as impressive as the Corsair; to me it felt like a homesick angel.  I quickly push the pressurization lever and raise the gear.  As I head out to the practice area my thoughts turn to what history these wings have seen.  Man what stories they could tell if only they could talk.

Upon reaching the practice area I begin to scan the horizon for Frank.  I am over the field that we designated as our rendezvous point for our formation.  The radio crackles as Frank calls ”tally ho”.  I am at his 11:00 high and closing.  I begin a steady turn and Frank joins on my right wing.  I cannot believe what I am seeing.  I have dreamed of this flights as a kid, but to see it in living color is awe-inspiring.  If only for a moment, I am a Blacksheep and Pappy is my wingman.

After taking a few photos we change positions and Frank takes the lead.  All too quickly it’s time to break formation and head back.  2800 horses can get pretty thirsty if you work them for any length of time.  I peel off to head back to the airport and level off at 3,000 feet…what happens next will live in my memory till the day I die.  Unbeknownst to me, Frank has snuck in on my tail begins a perfect strafing pass.  He comes at me from out of the sun at my 5 o’clock and I swear I can see the guns blazing.  As he passes under me he pulls up and executes a slow victory roll.  WOW…so that is what history looks like.

OK…gotta get my head back on track and quit watching the show…I am part of the show this time so I better not screw it up.  I set up for the overhead as Frank had done before me.  150 mph on initial…cleared for the break at midfield.  Fuel on Left Reserve, seatbelt tight and canopy open to the first notch.  Here comes midfield and “North American 11Fox is in the break”…throttle back to 20 inches and roll wings level onto downwind.  She slows down nicely on the break and at 130 mph I push the pressurization handle and lower the gear…check 2 green and pins showing in the gear window.  120 mph and I am now abeam the numbers; again I push the pressurization handle and now lower the flaps…a lessen that I learned the hard way on a previous flight with Frank is to not forget to re-pressurize the system after dropping the gear or you will land with no flaps.  “North American 11Fox, base to final, gear down & pins in”.  Alright now, almost home…just gotta hold 100 across the fence and ease her down on the rollers.  One last check of the gear and 10 feet, 7 feet, 5 feet, hold it…hold it…3, 2, touchdown…and were flying again…dang it!!!  Stick back…let her settle…oh crap, not that much…quick shot of throttle…plop…easy on the brakes…stick back, keep the feet moving…easy girl…no need to get testy on my now.  Well, you know what they say, any landing you can walk away from…

As I taxi back to the hangar Frank has already shut down the Corsair and I park my steed beside him.  As we discuss my landing and what I did different from my previous greasers to cause the bounce, we both come to the conclusion that is was the due to the lack of weight in the back seat…at least that is what we will blame it on.  Although it is my worst landing yet in the T-6 it is also the one that I am most proud of because it is my first solo landing.  As we push the planes back in the hangar and close the doors I cannot help but smile.  I have achieved two of my dreams:  I have tamed the ”Texan” and joined the dwindling ranks of those who have flown formation with the Corsair…what a great day!!!

Clear Skies & Tailwinds

 A few weeks ago, George Weigel gave this very good talk in Michigan.  Because of the limitations on my reading/listening time, I don’t normally journey into this type of material, i.e., the juxtaposition of Catholicism with the American socio-political landscape.  You’ll undoubtedly enjoy the talk if you’re interested in that stuff.  If I want to grow as an authentic Catholic layman, I should pay more attention to it myself!

Even if you choose not to listen to the entire talk, I encourage you to listen to the beginning of the audio, where Fr John Riccardo introduces George Weigel to the group.  Prior to giving a formal introduction summarizing Mr Weigel’s accomplishments, Fr Riccardo honors him – and he specifically uses the term “honor.”  To honor someone simply means to personally and publicly affirm them for their virtues, their admirable qualities, perhaps even citing specific examples.  In a culture filled with sarcasm and negative humor, it’s a practice we Catholic men would do well to adopt.  Too often we wait until someone has died to honor them adequately.

I’m so loving this!!:

My Mass Kit+Booklet

Kit includes twelve cleanable pieces and a detailed companion booklet contained in a durable, canvas case. Crucifix, Chalice, Thurible, Finger Bowl, 2 Cruets, 2 Candles, Paten (cotton/polyester blend), Corporal & Purificator (cotton cloth), and play Hosts (foam). All other pieces are cotton/polyester blend, carrying case is nylon.

Ages 3-8

MagnifiKid! included while supplies last

In case you didn’t catch that—PLUSH THURIBLE!!

My kids already play church and they steal crucifixes and candles and start co-opting drinking cups, etc.  They would adore this (when they can get it away from us). When ordering, though, we just won’t tell them that our kids are girls…

Most Fridays during Advent and Lent, the official Preacher to the papal household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, preaches a sermon to the Pope and his close associates. This past Friday, Fr Cantalamessa gave his first sermon of this Advent season. Because this is the “Year for Priests,” and because his audience is comprised mostly of those in Holy Orders, his theme this year focuses primarily on the priesthood, but the lay faithful can also gain much from his teaching.

Near the end of his first sermon, he shares this vignette:

One day, an old professor was called as expert to speak on the more efficient planning of their time to the higher cadres of some large North American companies.
He decided then to attempt an experiment. Standing up, he took from under the table a large empty glass. At the same time he also took a dozen large stones like tennis balls that he deposited delicately one by one in the glass until it was full. When no more stones could be added, he asked his pupils: “Do you think the glass is full?” and they all answered “Yes!”
He bent down again and took out from under the table a box full of crushed stones which he poured over the large stones, moving the glass so that the crushed stones could infiltrate between the large stones to the bottom. “Is the glass full this time?”, he asked. Becoming more prudent, the pupils began to understand and answered: “Perhaps not yet.” The old professor bent down again and took out this time a small bag of sand that he poured into the glass. The sand filled the spaces between the stones and the crushed stones. Then he asked again: “Is the glass full now?” And all without hesitation answered: “No!” In fact, the old man took the decanter that was on the table and poured the water into the glass to the brim.
At this point he asked: “What great truth does this experiment show us? The most audacious replied: “This demonstrates that even when our agenda is completely full, with a bit of good will, we can always add some new endeavor, something else to do.” “No,” answered the professor. “What the experiment demonstrates is that if one does not put the large stones first in the glass, one will never succeed in making them go in afterward.” “What are the large stones, the priorities, in our life? The important thing is to put these large stones first in your agenda.”

Wow!

Then he concludes with this prayer of Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard:

“O God, give the Church so many apostles, but revive in their heart an ardent thirst for intimacy with You and at the same time a desire to work for the good of their neighbor. Give all a contemplative activity and an active contemplation.”

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! The alarm sounds so much louder at 05:30 on a Saturday morning than it does during the week, but what a sweet sound it makes. Today is the 3rd Saturday of the month and that means pancakes for breakfast. I ease out of bed, get dressed, kiss my wife goodbye and head to my sons room. Jacob is only 2 ½ , but he loves pancakes almost as much as he loves to fly…combine the 2 elements and it will wake him up faster than a double shot of espresso.

Jacob loading up

The sun begins to rise over the hills as we arrive at the airport to drag our steed from it’s hangar. We begin our walk around and the chilly morning air sends a little shiver through my body. Prop; check…Tires; check…Leading Edge; check…Fuel; clean and free of water…Control surfaces; free and correct. My dutiful co-pilot follows my every move, double checking each item on the pre-flight walk around. He faithfully asks the inevitable question at every item we check. Daddy, why? With all items satisfactory we enter the aircraft and strap in. Master switch: ON…Mixture: FULL…Boost pump: ON…as I lean my head out the window to check for prop clearance my co-pilot beats me to the punch “Keer Pop” he yells, with a grin so big his headset falls down around his chin. As the Maule breaks the morning silence, we turn on the avionics and enter 3M5 into the GPS. “Let’s go to Moontown and get some pancakes daddy!” I wiggle the rudder a bit to lock in the tailwheel and we begin our journey.

Our trip to breakfast usually takes about an hour and (thanks to my co-pilot) is filled with many steep turns, stalls, and floaters…the floaters are Jacobs favorite since he gets to be weightless for a few seconds. Often times we will join up with a few buddies for our breakfast journey and we use the trip to brush up on our formation flying maneuvers. All too quickly we make it to Moontown and enter the increasingly busy pattern to land. After demonstrating the proper soft field landing techniques to Jacob we taxi off the active runway and proceed to park. Breakfast seems to hit just the right spot as we sit around the picnic table and play “name that plane”. I talk shop with other pilots as Jacob finishes his second round of pancakes and then we proceed to walk down the growing flight line for some more hands on education.

Hidden amidst the tailwheels, trikes, amphibs and warbirds are a multitude of questions just waiting to be answered. Daddy, what kind of airplane is that? Why? What is the little wheel on the back for? Why? What makes it fly? Why? Why does it have two wings instead of one? I answer the questions one by one, often repeating the same question multiple times. Upon reaching the end of the current flight line we sit in the shade of an old Stearmans wings and watch the new arrivals as they land. How appropriate that we rest beneath an old trainer as I teach a future pilot.

The phone rings…a call from my wife signals that our kitchen pass will soon expire. The time has come for the men of the house to return home, the ladies have made plans for our afternoon. On the return flight my co-pilot reaches his duty limit…eyes closed and leaning against the window, his headset slowly begins to slide down. It is a quiet trip back to the hangar. This has been a fun trip and a very educational one for both of us…only 4 more weeks until we get to do it again.

Often times I hear light aircraft pilots complain about their insurance company requiring completion of an annual Flight Review or X number of dual hours prior to solo in a new aircraft. Just like my son, I have to ask why? Why are pilots complaining about having an excuse to fly? Many of the pilots who complain about the training requirements are the same ones that I will see at a pancake breakfast or local fly in. If I was a CFI and Jacob was older, he could receive his flight review endorsement each time we head out for pancakes provided we follow a few simple guidelines.

FAR 61.56 states: a flight review consists of a minimum of 1 hour of flight training and 1 hour of ground training. The review must include: (1) A review of the current general operating and flight rules of Part 91; and (2) A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.

Get a little creative. Find a local CFI and offer to pay his way to a fly-in breakfast in exchange for a flight review. Combine free breakfast with free flight time and most any pilot will jump at the chance.   If a fly-in is not your thing, consider getting some tailwheel training or some formal formation training. Both of these areas will greatly improve your situational awareness as well as hone your flying skills. You will learn to anticipate and lead the aircraft to where you want it to go instead of directing its actions as you ride along. Tailwheel training will improve your precision on landings as well as focus your attention during ground handling. Formation training will teach you to plan ahead and to fly very smooth and precise as well as teach you how to pay close attention to detail.

No matter what form of training you choose, it is only as good as the effort that you put into it. Why continue to dread the flight reviews and proficiency checks only to forget what you learned before your next flight? Make the training something to look forward to…plan your next flight review around an upcoming event and enjoy the training. I guarantee you will get much more out of it and you will find yourself looking for more excuses to train.

Every time I take Jacob flying he is learning and asking why. In some ways he is my best little instructor. He reminds me that I should always be asking “why?” as I too am still learning to fly.

Clear Skies & Tailwinds

I was dropping boys at the gym this morning and listening to the radio as I drove to work.  You may have heard the short little thought provoking snippets on @Air1 called @WalktheWay by Jeff Klein and if so, you may have heard this there but it really got me to thinking.

The scenario was painted about a person who decided to write a book about the joys of being single.  His first chapter was inspired while at dinner with friends who had a two year old.  He said his first chapter of his book about the joys of being single would be, “The Joy of Uninterrupted Dinners Without Needing a Shower Afterwards.”

Jeff went on to describe what his friend would title the next few chapters, but his point was that his friend was obviously passionate about being single.  He then asked the question of what our book would look like if we were to write about the joys of following Christ.  I have been pondering that question since.  Would one of my chapters be titled, “The Joy of Eternal Security”?  That would certainly be a chapter at some point.

Maybe a chapter titled, “The Joy of Having Peace.”  That would be a lengthy chapter.  But today, the chapter I would write would be, “The Joy of Being Free.”  The subtitle of the chapter would be, “Free From the World’s Expectations and Free to Be Who God Created Me to Be.”  (Lengthy sub-title)

I am really passionate about the fact that God created me to be me.  That means understanding the big picture of God’s plan and living in it daily.  That is liberating!  There is true joy in knowing that I live for God and not to please others, which I am reminded daily that pleasing everyone else is impossible.

Are you passionate about following Christ!  What would you write about today?

Let me know how you would finish this title:  Chapter 1 . . .

Yesterday, I spent most of the morning at the doctor’s office with my son.  He hasn’t been feeling well most of the week but has been toughing it out.  Yesterday, he woke up and could not stand upright without terrible pain in his stomach.  As soon as the office opened, we headed to see the doctor.

As he was being examined, I watched as the doctor gently pressed on his stomach.  I could see the pain on my son’s face as the doctor examined him.  I wanted so badly to help him but there was nothing I could do.  In that moment, I was reminded, in a very, very small way, the sacrifice that God made for me.

God sent Jesus into this world to show us how to live.  But in walking with us he experienced a lot of pain – even to the point of torture and death.  God watched all of that but chose to let it happen.  I cannot imagine the pain God felt in watching Jesus die.

Jesus was sent as a sacrifice for you and for me.  That is what Christmas is about.  We should celebrate the coming of the Savior, but never forget the sacrifice that was made.  Christmas is coming, but it comes knowing there is an Easter to follow.

In yesterday’s weekly General Audience, Pope Benedict taught us about William of St Thierry, a 12th century Cistercian monk. Our Holy Father summarized William’s vision for the spiritual journey in this paragraph:

To learn to love requires a long and demanding journey, which William articulated in four stages, corresponding to man’s age: infancy, youth, maturity and old age. In this itinerary the person must impose on himself an effective ascesis, a strong control of himself to eliminate every disordered affection, every shadow of egoism, and to unify his life in God, source, goal and force of love, until attaining the summit of the spiritual life, which William defines as “wisdom.” At the conclusion of this ascetic itinerary, one feels great serenity and sweetness. All man’s faculties — intelligence, will, affection — rest in God, known and loved in Christ.

He also affirmed William’s teaching on growing in heartfelt intimacy with our Lord:

…William speaks of this radical vocation of love for God, which is the secret of a successful and happy life, and which he describes as an incessant and growing desire, inspired by God himself in the heart of man…Striking is the fact that William, in speaking of the love of God, attributes notable importance to the emotional dimension. Indeed, dear friends, our heart is made of flesh, and when we love God, who is Love itself, how can we not express in this relationship with the Lord also our most human feelings, such as tenderness, sensitivity, delicacy? The Lord himself, becoming man, wished to love us with a heart of flesh!

If you’re looking for reading material, a book containing some of William’s advice to his brother monks — which the Pope mentions in his talk — is available from Amazon.

The PNCEA online conference, Proclaiming Christ, is now available on CD.  Click here to order.

Proclaiming Christ 2009 CD’s Now Available.

  “For : The Essentials Course Online Worship Course with Dan Wilt“  

The spiritual formation theme for me for this week is – are my spiritual disciplines in line with getting to know more and more of God?  I was so touched by Inner Living Outer Giving by Peter Finch (1).  I shared with some friends my thoughts on this. These disciplines are really teaching me about my spiritual formation as I travel on my spiritual journey.
 
Footwashing – we did this in my home UK church but I thought of it as disgusting but I did it eventually. This article teaches about the humility this brings and the quality of a secret inner life with God. Rather than saying – hey look at what I do, keep the inner devotions strong.
 
Loaves and fishes – the songs and words that I offer up, should be done in a capacity to help set others free rather than ’shine any accomplishments or skills’ I may have.
 
Water walking - I pray that I will learn to be comfortable getting out of my comfy boat and get past the known and familiar zone around me and Finch says – dance the Holy Spirit dance!
 
Cross carrying - I pray I will continually give of myself to others ESPECIALLY when i don’t feel like it.

Raising the dead – there are many people around us – known and unknown – I pray that I will affect others into being lifted out of spiritual death that they will receive fresh new life in Christ and enjoy the freedom that only God, Jesus and HS can bring!!
Can we all honestly and deeply say that in our destiny to be like God, we follow these disciplines? For me, I am not perfect but I know that in Christ I will strive to be like Him. This journey I am on is exciting, can be worrying, seems dangerous, but as long as I am rooted in Him, I will reap the reward of intimacy with my God. I pray, that my goal and motto will also be ‘the change must go deeper than the surface, I must be ploughed up and resown’ (2). 

Do we let Jesus have complete authority in our lives?  Or do we live in ‘the dark night of the soul’ where anxiety and fear dominate, physical pleasure dominates (3). I encourage us all, let God have your imperfections, let go of sin, leave it at the foot of the cross and take pure spiritual delight in Jesus! Amen! Blessings and encouragement to all who read this.

1.Peter Finch, ibid. p141

2. C. S. Lewis, Devotional Classics, ed Foster and Smith (New York:HarperOne,2005), 9 

3. John of the Cross, Devotional Classics, ed Foster and Smith (New York:HarperOne,2005), 35

I used Thomas Merton’s devotional book, A Book of Hours, this morning in my prayer time.  One of the prayers he wrote awoke in me a new desire to remain in God’s presence.

Father, Father, whom we thought so hidden

Somewhere behind the jealous walls of Mars,

Oh how You visit us, at the deep roots of life

With glad reprisals

When is the last time you felt God visited you?  When is the last time you truly yearned for more of God?

Today is the day.   Stop what you are doing right now and pray for God to become real to you in this moment  and throughout the rest of this day.

Father, move among us today!  Wash over us with Your love!

Amen

This post isn’t about one formational moment in my life as much as it is about one of the major ways I have been formed over time:

Leftovers cover the counters and empty plates are gathered and washed. The sound of opening guitar cases and tinkling piano keys begin to fill a room that is standing room only. Songs are played and sung covering decades and multiple genres of music. Everyone participates at one point or another and the focus of the evening: God who holds this family together.

My grandfather takes the lead as he sings old songs that I remember the family singing from my childhood. My aunts and uncles sing songs that were new in their generation. My cousins and I sing more modern worship songs and my grandparents begin to cry as their 14 year old granddaughter leads the group in “Here I Am to Worship.”

The music rang out for hours and I reveled in the blessing of a family who is united in their love and service of Jesus Christ. I thank God for the blessing of my family!

Le 3ème Forum Français de la Finance Islamique qui s’est tenu à Paris, le 9 décembre 2009 a rassemblé un plateau d’acteurs majeurs de la finance islamique mondiale, avec l’objectif de mobiliser de nouveaux moyens de financement alternatif, en faveur des entreprises et des collectivités territoriales françaises.

Le Forum a été l’occasion pour la Chambre de Commerce Franco-Arabe d’annoncer la création de l’Institut Français de Finance Islamique (IFFI) et de l’instauration d’un partenariat privilégié et stratégique entre l’IFFI et la Banque islamique de développement (BID) pour la promotion de la finance islamique en France et dans les pays francophones.

En marge des travaux du Forum, M. Hervé de Charrette, Président de la Chambre de Commerce Franco-Arabe et Président de l’Institut Français de Finance Islamique, a signé avec le Dr. Ahmad Ali, président de la BID, un protocole d’accord de coopération cadre entre l’IFFI et la BID et un autre protocole d’accord technique entre l’IFFI et l’IRTI (Islamic Research and Training Institute) qui dépend de la BID.

Le soutien de la Banque islamique de développement (BID) à la création de l’Institut français de finance islamique constituera, sans doute, un atout majeur à la promotion et au développement de cet institut et lui apportera, à travers son expertise et le savoir-faire de ses cadres, la dynamique nécessaire pour un lancement rapide de ses activités qui visent à former les professionnels, cadres et dirigeants français, et de les familiariser avec les mécanismes de cette nouvelle industrie financière.

Source : Chambre de Commerce Franco-Arabe – Mise à jour 16/12/2009

Institut Français de Finance Islamique

www.institutfrancaisdefinanceislamique.fr

Certes, les sociétés migreront progressivement vers Windows 7, car il semble peu probable que celles dont le parc soit le plus ancien patientent encore jusqu’à la prochaine version du système d’exploitation client de Microsoft, c’est-à-dire Windows 8 (2012). Plutôt que d’attendre le dernier moment pour vous former, la période des fêtes de fin d’année est toujours une bonne occasion pour remettre à jour vos compétences, et il vous faudra bien un peu de temps pour absorber les 412 pages que contient ce guide. Au programme, comment créer sa plateforme de déploiement, comment planifier un déploiement en entreprise, tester la compatibilité des applications, créer ses images disques, migrer les données des utilisateurs, déployer les applications, préparer Windows PE, configurer WDS pour le déploiement industrialisé, configurer l’activation de licence en volume et enfin, utiliser MDT. Ce document n’est pour le moment disponible qu’en anglais. Pour ceux qui ne sont pas vraiment familier avec cette langue, ca risque de piquer un peu les yeux, mais sa lecture reste indispensable pour ne pas vous retrouver à la rue dès le début de l’année 2010.

Lien: Deploying Windows – Essential Guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and Microsoft TechNet