Dear Friends and Family,

Once upon on a time, in a land far away, I experienced a life event so unbelievable it felt like a fairy tale. Most who hear my story think I’m either joking or delusional. I’m neither.

I once piloted an airplane. No, not one of those little Cessnas. The plane I flew was an Airbus 320. While on a commercial flight with passengers onboard.

Why is this unbelievable? Because I don’t know how to fly a plane. In fact, this was my first time ever in the cockpit of an aircraft.

My inaugural flight (and last thanks to Osama Bin Laden) began midway through the trip, when the pilot and I happened to strike up a conversation in the front of the cabin.

He was a friendly joking sort of guy. So I jokingly told him I always wanted to fly an airplane.

At first, I thought he was kidding when he dragged me into the cockpit. He wasn’t.

He put me in his seat, and began teaching me how to read the control panel and work the sidestick controller.

And then he told me to take control of the plane. I seriously thought he was joking. He wasn’t.

So I did, and gently guided us up and down, banking to the left and then right.

Flying that plane was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life.

And one of the dumbest stunts of my life.

Why do I share this story?

As much fun as this was, my decisions that evening broke innumerable Federal laws.

Which led me to fall short of Roman’s 13:1 NLT, “Everyonemust submit to governing authorities.” 

My actions also failed to, “doit all for glory to God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

And the biggest disappointment of all was – I probably made God roll His eyes in disbelief. 

Yes, I was a Christian back then. But only for an hour or so a week. 

In reality, I was leading a double life, and spending most of my time pursuing what the world tells us to pursue – fame, fortune and fun.

The scriptures say, “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”  ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Based on personal experience and witnessing others, adapting to a new life with Christ does not occur overnight.

Declaring Jesus our Lord is easier said than done.

But taking up our cross daily and following Jesus is so worthwhile. Look at our reward.

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”  ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

My guess is no one has a story quite as crazy as mine.

But I suspect we all have a story.

One from a time in our lives when one foot was in God’s kingdom and the other was not quite there.

Are you grateful that our God is gracious and patient? I am.

Are you grateful enough to give up your pilot’s wings? I am.

Let’s together enjoy our walk with Jesus.

In love always,