Of shepherds and sheep

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith, Opinion10 Comments

I seem to do all my deep thinking in the shower. Recently, I began to think about church leaders and monetary affluence. I recalled the wealthy young ruler when he asked Jesus what he must do to be saved. Jesus recited everything the young man must do to which the young man answered that he had done all that since birth. Jesus then added that he lacked one thing, that he must sell all that he had, give it to the poor, and come follow Jesus. At that point the young ruler walked away with a heavy heart because he had much wealth. For the real, unparaphrased version see Mark 10:17-31.

I thought about the church leaders in all the churches I have ever attended. Of the ones that I can recall, I can’t remember any church leaders who were not affluent. Even in my current church the elders are affluent, though they are effective leaders and Godly men. It makes me wonder, however, when the shepherds live above the sheep, can they really understand the needs of the sheep? Can they really protect them? Can they help them? I have to ask a rhetorical question; at what point does wealth become detrimental to a shepherd?

A pilgrim passing through Vanity Fair

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Faith, OpinionLeave a comment

Well I come to you tonight from the financial district in San Francisco.  I’ll be here three days for training on migrating to Exchange 2003.  Yes, it actually is quite fascinating as a matter of fact.

It’s amazing how incredibly weak I become when I go away, however.  Without my wife I feel a lack of stability and balance.  I am supposed to be family leader.  She is supposed to be the weaker vessel.  This may be so but I feel much weaker than she when I am alone and away from her.  What would become of me if she were ever to leave?  She is a veritable prayer warrior.  I have no idea what she prays or how she asks but God listens to her prayer.  I can only conclude that she prays correctly; in all humility and in accordance with God’s will.  She is my wife and I love her dearly.  I miss you and I’ll be home soon.

“Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.”
Psalms 55:22  God’s Word

I feel like my walk is a complete stumble.  Have I not cast my burden at the foot of the cross?  Has it not slid into the tomb?  Do I try to dig it up again?  Lord, take my burden and bury it so deep I can never find it again.

Crack pictures

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV-47 Comments

I’ve been asked by several people for pictures of the cracking I’m experiencing.  I’ve not been able to get any good pictures of the elevator cracks but I did manage to get pictures of the wing skin cracking.  Here is a pic of those cracks.

Wing skin cracks

McMinville, OR (KMMV)

On By The Flying DutchmanIn Aviation, TravelLeave a comment

 

kmmv

  

I stopped at McMinville a few years ago on my way to Arlington.  This is a flat out great airport!  There is camping on the field with showers.  There is a nice FBO there with pilot food (snacks, candy, microwave stuff, and soda).  But must of all there is the Evergreen Museum across the highway which hosues the Spruce Goose.  The museum folks will even drive over to the airport to pick you up and drop you off.  This is just a great destination if you’ve never been.

More to do, more to do

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV-41 Comment

I can’t stand the fact that those cracks are there on my wing.  I also can’t afford to paint the plane and am planning to polish it.  I can’t polish it with those cracks staring me in the face!!  So, here’s the new plan:

  1. Finish the annual
  2. Fly the plane a little to get it out of my system
  3. Build the new elevators as I have time
  4. When the flying is out of my system, begin drilling out ALL the rivets on the inboard top wing panel and replace that skin.
  5. Polish the entire aircraft

Yes, I’m crazy but I just really can’t stand keeping the plane with those cracks in the wings.  I’m going to hate polishing the plane but I’ll have to do that myself too.  Okay, last plan.  I promise.

Apollo 13 Training

On By The Flying DutchmanIn OpinionLeave a comment

Apollo 13We are implementing a new problem tracking process at my employer, McClatchy Newspapers. The process employs a software application offered by Computer Associates. This application makes extensive use of ITIL. ITIL stands for Information Technology Infrastructure Library and is a set of common terms and processes used to identify incidents and resolutions. To drive home the concept of ITIL they had us engage in an Apollo 13 mission. We had to use the concepts we had learned to help solve the problems the astronauts on Apollo 13 were experiencing. It may have been just a game but let me tell you it was intense. Despite the dry subject material this was probably the most clever and entertaining training session I have ever attended.

Hats off to CA and the Dutch inventor of the game (sorry my friend, can’t remember your name, Jan somethingorother). Great job guys!

PS.  Yes, we got the astronauts home alive!

What to do, what to do?

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV-44 Comments

I’ve finally come up with a plan for my cracks. The factory which makes the kit ( Van’s Aircraft ) has said that I can stop drill the cracks and just watch to make sure they don’t spread (which they are not expecting to happen.) I’ve had other advice that I should remove the wing and drill that whole skin off and put a new skin on. The most sensable advice came from a friend who built a similar airplane. Aside from being a Godly man in his own right, he is a retired materials engineer. He agreed that the cracks on the wing skin didn’t pose any hazard to flight but that if it were him he just couldn’t stand looking at them. So I’m going to follow his advice which involves drilling out the rivets in the affected area from the fuel tank all the way back to the trailing spar. Then place a doubler skin on top of this that will cover the entire wing in the affected area. This will do two things; hide the cracks, and provide extra support for errant feet. Once painted over it will look like it was designed that way.

As for the cracks on the trailing edge of the elevator, well, I’m just going to rebuild both elevators. I’m looking at this as an opportunity to replace my manual trim system with electric trim. Just got to get this bird into painting shape!

A Prayer for Cristy

On By The Flying DutchmanIn PoetryLeave a comment

woman prayingO Holy and most Merciful Father,
Consider thy daughter.
Comfort her when she fears,
Reassure her when she doubts,
Watch over her while she sleeps,
Catch her when she stumbles,
Hold her when she weeps.
Never have I known a more Godly woman
Who seeks after You night and day.
She prays on my behalf without ceasing.
She prays over our children nightly.
She walks with You in the morning.
Lord, grant her many years on earth,
That we may enjoy her company,
And see Your love and light,
Radiated through her.
Your Spirit is in her.
She showers us with unconditional love.
Holy Father, you have blessed the work of her hands,
And those who dwell with her.
Merciful Father, grant my request;
May all her days be blessed,
May the fruits of her labors be abundant,
May Your Grace shower her and fill her,
All the days of her life.

Amen.

Follow up to skin cracks

On By The Flying DutchmanIn RV-4Leave a comment

Just got an email from the factory regarding some cracking in my wing skins.  The official word is no problemo.  I can just stop drill the cracks (making sure not to drill into the spar.)  I’ll have to ream out the elongated hole on my landing gear leg but it’s not critical at this point.  Big sigh of relief.

Upgrading WordPress

On By The Flying DutchmanIn OpinionLeave a comment

I just upgraded to WordPress 2.01.  It hasn’t been easy.  Probably because I can’t follow directions.  The site is finally back up 100% after 24 hours of “iffy” status.  I don’t think I’ll upgrade minor versions anymore.