Author: The Flying Dutchman

I am a man who loves Christ, loves my wife, loves my family, loves my church, and loves aviation. In that order.

Merry Christmas

On By The Flying DutchmanIn FaithLeave a comment

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:1-5 NASB

Or put another way…

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity. The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.

John 1:1-5 God’s Word

Merry Christmas.

MySpace or Their Space?

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion3 Comments

Last night I listened at our church men’s meeting to a man lamenting about what he found on MySpace. He had heard about MySpace and decided to check it out. On a whim he looked up some kids from his old church. As you may have already guessed he was shocked by what he found. One of those he looked up was a youth minister in training but on his MySpace site he had vile language and images and links that where at best questionable, at worst pornographic.

There followed a spirited discussion with a church elder who played devil’s (sic) advocate. His position, and it is an understandable and reasonable one, is that any technology can be used for good or evil. However, he did not come close to condoning what was found on those horrible web pages.

I can understand both positions. For instance, what about renting space in a building? If you are going to open a Bible bookstore, would you want to rent a space in a building that also houses an adult video store? Probably not. But how far do you go with something like this? If the Post Office rents a PO box to me, but also to that same adult video store, do I rent the PO box? Most people don’t worry about things like that but I do. And so does Carl, the gentleman I spoke of ealier, God bless him.

I originally started my blog on MySpace. But as I looked around I was shocked by what I saw. It wasn’t just kids expressing themselves. There are countless pages by girls who profess a belief in God, but on the same page have pictures of themselves barely dressed in provocative poses. There are countless pages of singles looking to “hook up” with someone…anyone. There are swingers. There are occultists. There are witches. There are prostitutes. There are young men who post the most vile, female-debasing, authority-hating, rhetoric I have ever had the displeasure of reading. And now, there are murderers on MySpace. John 8:44

I had to ask myself, do I really want to be associated with this? I closed out my MySpace web page and brought it here to Blogger. But I see many of the same things here on Blogger. They do a better job of removing questionable content to be sure. But again, how far do you take it? I also have a website, AirPrayer.com. Do the servers that host it also host pornographic websistes? I don’t know for sure but my gut tells me that probably they do.

So what am I to do? So what is any Christian who has a presence on the Internet to do? I think we need to excercise due dilligence when setting up a web site or choosing a provider. I am challenging myself and anyone who reads this to not turn a blind eye to where you set up shop. You wouldn’t open a business in a building that had a porn video store in it. Don’t set up your web presence on a site that carries evil, un-Godly content. As for myself I’m going to begin a search for a Christian web hosting provider to transfer my web site to. Since I know Google owns Blogger, and that Google does a fairly decent job of keeping pornography off of Blogger, I’ll keep my blog here for now.

I challenge all Christian web users, take a stand. Don’t be part of an establishment that helps to further evil behavior. Do some research. Find out if your hosting provider hosts pornographic sites. If it does, move your site. Take your business to a “building” that doesn’t rent to pornographers. Maybe even build next door to a church?

Age of wonder

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith, OpinionLeave a comment

Sometimes I feel older than I am. Actually, I’ve always felt old. My mother used to tell me that I was born about 40 years old. I was always very sensible, yet humorous. Maybe God has just made me with an appreciation for how short our time is on this planet. Be sensible. Be full of laughter but be ready because our Lord is coming.

Well, there it is. Nothing deep or life-changing this time.

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

On By The Flying DutchmanIn FaithLeave a comment

My wife and I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe this past weekend. It still disturbs me to this day that C.S. Lewis chose to cast creatures from English and Roman mythology as the supporting characters in his story. Be that as it may, the special effects in the movie where spectacular. Centaurs and Griffins moved exactly as I imagined they would. The child actors did a wonderful job, espcially the girl that played Lucy. She was adorable!

However, Aslan really stole the whole movie as, I suppose, he should have. They did a superb job showing him as a powerful, yet loving and gentle creature. The way they made his countenance change when he became angry sent chills down my spine. Patient in love and mercy to those whom he loves, quick in anger and judgement toward those who hate him.

Remind you of anyone? If you’re a Christian you’ve been taught from a young age how C.S. Lewis put many Christian parallels in his Narnia series. I’ve been taught the same things: betrayal, sacrifice, resurrection. However, after seeing the movie, I can’t imagine a better parallel to our Lord Jesus Christ. As with Aslan but to a infinitely greater degree our Lord Jesus is strong, loving, patient, and does not tolerate evil. I am so glad I will never see our Christ’s face change as Aslan’s did. I am so grateful that I have been chosen to receive His grace and mercy. Only our adversary and his followers will see that look full of anger and judgment. Pity anyone who is not behind our Lord Jesus Christ on that terrifying and glorious day.

Are you still trapped in your sins? Do you feel the Lord changing your heart? That tug of conscience that makes you feel bad when you do wrong? Your sin will not allow you to enjoy our Lord and our Lord will not allow you to enjoy your sin. Don’t spend your life in misery. Give in to the Lord, do not resist! In the first place, God will ultimately win. In the second place, you will regret the many years you spent running from our Lord. Don’t waste the precious years we’re given! The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is coming swiftly; He will not delay. Nor will He delay His judgement. Come! Stand with us behind our King, be victorious, live forever!

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

Son beams

On By The Flying DutchmanIn FaithLeave a comment

Every once in a while my wife pulls these little gems out of thin air. For instance, we were talking the other night before going to sleep. I told her that I used to know a man who liked being around Christians. He even wanted his children to be Christians. However, he didn’t want to be a Christian. He didn’t want to live by “those rules.” Even though in reality he did live by almost every Biblical rule I can think of.

My wife said that he’s so lost; he acknowledges the sunbeams but not the sun. How true. How many people want to be around Christians? How many people like what we stand for, like our moral life, like our work ethic? Yet the refuse to acknowledge the source of all that good behavior they so admire.

*Sigh.*

Boy are they in for a shock one day.

Adonai, I acknowledge you before all men!

He is my son

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith, Opinion1 Comment

This evening my wife was sharing the concerns that some parents have about their autistic children with regard to their salvation. I took this as an indirect way of telling me that she was somewhat concerned about our autistic son’s salvation. I called our son in and asked him if he believed in God. “Yes.” Came the terse answer. I went on to ask him if he believed in Jesus. “Yes.” I asked him what Jesus did for us. “Jesus died for me.” Came the answer. I thanked him and sent him back to bed. My wife’s misty eyes spoke volumes.

It took some time for me to accept my son’s autism. But once I had I spent very little time wondering about what could have been or being jealous of other men’s sons. My son, is my son. I love him and would have him no other way. I see other men training their sons for business, sending them to colleges, preparing them for ministry or prestigious careers. My son will never have the intellect the others have nor will he be able to achieve what the other men’s sons will acheive.

What my son has though is beyond value. He posseses a complete and unquestioning faith in God. I am more proud of him that I can say. If the Lord wills and my son is able to move out on his own, hold down a steady job, and take care of himself (and I have little doubt about this) then he will have achieved and overcome far more than any other man’s son.

He is my son. I am proud of him.

Man of sorrow, man of joy

On By The Flying DutchmanIn FaithLeave a comment

Every time I talk to the man of sorrow I feel an abiding sadness for him. I must because he cannot feel it for himself. He’s slowly crawling toward the grave. His words, not mine. Christmas is just another day for him. He buys presents for the children but that’s about it. I tell him how sad that is. He can’t understand. In my sadness for him I can’t help but feel joy for myself. What a wonderful God! He has placed me in such a joyful state. I have a wonderful wife and children. I am gaining a deeper appreciation for every new day. God has rescued me from my sin and my saddness. As long as I live, as long as I love, worship, and obey Him, I shall forever remain a man of joy.

Therefore, if God wants to be kind to anyone, he will be. If he wants to make someone stubborn, he will. You may ask me, “Why does God still find fault with anyone? Who can resist whatever God wants to do?”Who do you think you are to talk back to God like that? Can an object that was made say to its maker, “Why did you make me like this?”

A potter has the right to do whatever he wants with his clay. He can make something for a special occasion or something for everyday use from the same lump of clay. If God wants to demonstrate his anger and reveal his power, he can do it. But can’t he be extremely patient with people who are objects of his anger because they are headed for destruction? Can’t God also reveal the riches of his glory to people who are objects of his mercy and who he had already prepared for glory?

Romans 9:18-23
God’s Word Translation

After the MRI

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Opinion2 Comments

*Sigh*

The headaches have finally stopped. I realize now I don’t have enough compassion for people who suffer chronic pain. I must ask God how to help me rectify that. Although we’re off to a good start with two weeks of headaches capped off by a 4 day migrane.

I had an MRI done this morning. And now…

We wait.

I flew later in the morning. Tom joined me for a quick flight for fuel and sight-seeing. He in his plane and I in mine. I was happy for the company of a Godly man like Tom. I was happy to be up in the air again. Riding my aluminum bird upon the breath of God gives me an abiding appreciation for His creation.

Even when I can’t fly

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, FaithLeave a comment

I just love going out to the airport on Saturday mornings. Even when I can’t fly. This Saturday morning I woke up to our Tule fog. It’s infamous here in California’s huge Central Valley. It forms after we’ve had a good rain and the sun has had a chance to shine for a couple of days. The air is cold, the ground is warmed by the sun, and then we get fog as thick as molasses.

I drove out to the aiport through our valley’s rapidly dissapearing orchards. The golden leaves on the ground seem to glow with an inward light in the fog. If they were mine I would like to walk through those orchards breathing in the cold moist air bathed in a golden light.

Once out there I met up with the other members of my local EAA Chapter. The EAA is the Experimental Aircraft Association. An association of people who are interested in building aircraft. I became interested in EAA when I started building my own airplane. Our local chapter is full of mostly retired men. Older gents who have seen much of life. Many of them are Christian. Most are not building airplanes. They are just guys who want somewhere to go and something to do. Our local EAA chapter offers just that. When I arrived I had a plate of warm pancakes and rubbery eggs handed to me. We have a fellowship breakfast before our regular meeting. Most times the breakfast takes longer than the actual meeting.

I eat my breakfast and listen to all the chatter. We are in a cold, drafty hangar that the old guys who need a place to go and something to do built. It’s a good place to be. Warm and welcoming despite the cold foggy drafts from outside. Outside this hangar most have little in common. But in this place we are brothers who share a common love of Our Father’s sky. I spoke with some friends I haven’t seen for a couple of months. We share what’s been happening in our lives.

I share that I’ve been having hiddeous headaches. I get fatherly advice from 5 different men. I used to hate that. As I get older it makes me feel very good inside to have advice offered to me. It’s really the only acceptable way men have to show love for each other. When one of my fellow chapter members tells me how to get rid of headaches he’s really saying, “I care about you, I want you to live a long life, I want you to return to the sky with me.”

Thank you, brother.

We finish breakfast and have our meeting. There is some minor quibbling over meeting dates and times. Should they be changed? Should they not? Nothing of any importance. Most just want to feel like their opinions matter, that they matter. Yes, brother, you matter. You are needed and important. Tell me what you need to say.

The meeting is soon over with all issues resolved quickly. We then start working seeding an area in front of our hangar so we have a nice lawn next Spring. I help run pipe along the fence about 1/4 mile to a well so we can water our grass and plants. Somewhere to go and something to do.

I show a gentleman who is about to retire my airplane. He wants something to do after he retires. My plane is unpainted. Bits of primer here and there. Not painted in the two years I’ve finished it. I feel I must apologize for it’s appearance. He cuts me off telling me that the plane is beautiful. I see the look on his face. I see the look on his face. I know that look. The look of a dreamer, dreaming of the day when he can soar the heights in a machine he constructed. There is no deception in his voice. To him the plane truly is beautiful. I offer to give him a ride on the next sunny day we meet.

The work is long done. We all still stand around and talk airplanes. Some begin to drift away and head back home. I linger. The sun has finally broken out. I stand and smell the wind that has started to kick up. I can smell the acrid smoke from burn piles in the distance. I can hear the cattle at the ranch next door. I hear an airplane departing on his way to adventure. It doesn’t matter where. Every flight is an adventure.

I just love this airport. Even when I can’t fly.