And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:49

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Passed With "Flying" Colors

Local Trucker Trades 18 Wheels for Two Wings


For more information, contact Prof. H. Paul Shuch, Chief Flight Instructor
Office (570) 748-3725, Cell (570) 419-1229, email fly@AvSport.org

Lock Haven, PA, 26 February 2011 – Culminating six months of flight training during which he flew nearly every weekend, Keith McAndrew, a Williamsport truck driver originally from Ontario, Canada, today passed his FAA practical exam, becoming a fully licensed Sport Pilot. McAndrew, 53, completed his training at AvSport of Lock Haven, the sport aviation training center established a year ago on the William T. Piper Memorial Airport. His oral and flight examinations were conducted by Art Tarola, an FAA designated pilot examiner from Allentown PA, under the supervision of AvSport adjunct flight instructor John Spencer.

"Keith was an ideal student,” stated Spencer. “He displayed first rate enthusiasm and an excellent work ethic. His flying skills and overall knowledge of the pertinent information gave true credence to thework he put into learning to fly."

“It’s been a pleasure working with Keith these past six months,” said Prof. H. Paul Shuch, AvSport’s founder and Chief Flight Instructor. “He is a seasoned skydiver, which gave him extensive aeronautical experience prior to commencing flight training. I knew he was going to do well on his practical test when he missed but a single question on his FAA written exam.”

While McAndrew says he found learning to fly to be more challenging than at first he thought it would be, he relates that “each accomplishment was more satisfying than I expected as well. The first unassisted take-off is an experience I will never forget. The first unassisted landing, even more so. The first solo stands alone as the greatest sense of accomplishment in the training process! It is at that point that you really get the sense that you are actually becoming a pilot. Once you experience solo flight for the first time, that is all the encouragement needed to do whatever it takes, to continue until you can do it all of the time with your own pilot's license.”

AvSport is registered with the US Transportation Security Administration as an approved Alien Flight Student Program provider. Although a permanent US resident, McAndrew is still a Canadian citizen. Obtaining the required TSA approvals delayed his flight training by about a month. The TSA closely scrutinizes all foreign nationals who seek to learn to fly in the US.

The Sport Pilot license is the newest portal of entry into the world of aviation, allowing prospective pilots to become licensed in half the time, and at half the cost, of the traditional Private Pilot license. Sport pilots fly for fun, and are restricted to flying simple, safe, low performance aircraft that comply with the Light Sport rule. They are allowed to carry a single passenger, flying in uncongested airspace, during daylight hours, and only in good weather conditions. Piper Memorial Airport is the ancestral home to the legendary Piper Cub, arguably the world’s first sport plane. Modern Light Sport aircraft allow pilots to recapture the bygone fly-for-fun Cub era,with increased reliability and improved safety.

DOWNLOADABLE PHOTO: http://www.avsport.org/photos/students/Keith+Art.jpg CAPTION: Newly licensed Sport Pilot Keith McAndrew receives his Sport Pilot license from FAA designated pilot examiner Art Tarola at AvSport of Lock Haven.

A Dream Come True

If you have been following any of the blog posts I have written up until now, you would not have to read very many to know that I have been training to get my pilot's license. It was a process that began back near the beginning of July 2010, and came to it's successful conclusion as of late Saturday afternoon November 26 2011, having passed both a couple of hours oral test, and then a 1.4 hour flight test.

It is something I had wanted to do for years but neither had the time, nor the money to learn. Instead for a period of about 15 or more years I spend many weekends jumping out of airplanes rather than flying them. I began that sport in Oct. of '85, and last jumped about six years ago with a total of almost 1100 jumps!

When I related some skydiving stories to a customer on one of my routes, he indicated that he and his buddy had made a number of jumps, and then went on to take flying lessons. Well, I said that is something I have always wanted to do, and that conversation stirred within me a renewed desire to fulfill that dream.

During the long July 4th weekend, I went to the local airport and talked with an instructor there, and yet he just seemed so busy with other things I did not get the impression he would have much free time to train me when I was available. Then I remembered reading an article in the paper a few months before of a flight instructor who just opened a new flight school called  Avsport with a web address and contact information.

I called up the instructor, who booked me for an introductory flight for the following Saturday. The introductory flight serves as the first lesson for those who are interested in training. Well, I was hooked, and so I wrote the check that would pay for the first series of lessons to start me on the path to making my dream come true.

Well, right off the bat there was a delay of several weeks because I am a Canadian citizen, and I needed approval with the TSA! Then there are delays because of weather, there are delays because of working during the week, and only having weekends. I took a weeks vacation the end of August, and got 5 lessons in that week which really helped my progress! There were delays because of instructor commitments, some delays because of airplane maintenance, and one or two delays because of my own commitments, or even other students being trained at the same time.

However, I stuck with it. And as some students graduated, and the weather changed in the late fall, I became one of the few left still willing to fly during the cold winter days! Cold weather is the best air to fly in, and some of the smoothest air, since it is more dense, and there is not the thermals that cause turbulence And so, back in mid November, I did my first solo, which I wrote about and you can read HERE and HERE

When I finally completed all of my training, it then became necessary to arrange for my practical test, which is commonly referred to as a "check ride". I called the examiner, and we agreed to try to make it the first available flyable weekend day. Well, that did not happen right away. All of a sudden, the weekend weather did not cooperate, and it was forecasting rather iffy conditions for this past weekend too.

Then added to the mix was the fact that on Friday when I went to work, they cancelled all of the driver's routes because of the weather, and put us on an "on call" basis for Saturday! So, the weather forecast improved, but I did not know if I would be forced to come in to work, and Sunday did not look good weather wise, and it had already been three weeks since I last flew! I did not know when I went to bed, whether I would be working or flying the next day. More sure I would be working than flying.

Well, as it turned out, work gave me the option of coming in or not, and I turned it down so I could fly, and the weather turned out perfect for flying! Almost too perfect since the examiner had to find ways to challenge me during the flight portion so as to not make the test too easy to pass. And let me say it was NOT easy to pass what so ever!

More of the details I will describe in a new post very soon, but for now let me just end by saying, that I was also trying to keep in mind the thoughts I wrote about in my previous posts concerning God's will, and WWJD, and trying to put that perspective into practical Human Journey practice! I did not know how it was all going to turn out. I did know I really wanted to get my check ride over and done with, and not delay any longer, but I also knew that God was intimately involved in using every detail as teachable moments, as well as surprising me with the satisfaction of a long awaited Dream Come True!


Friday, February 25, 2011

WWJD? How You Can Know!

What Would Jesus Do? If you read this post to the end, I will tell you  how Jesus knew what to do, and how you can know for sure how you can do the same thing!

Four words defined by the acronym WWJD. Four letters that have been written on signs and walls, rocks and overpasses, wrist bands and tags, bracelets, and jewelry worn by Christians as a reminder for them to stop and consider what Jesus would do if He were put in that situation, and then they are to remember to respond the same way. That is what is commonly taught. But, unless you know how Jesus knew what to do, you will never know What Would Jesus Do so you could do the same thing yourself.

I read a book many years ago called In His Steps. It is a fictional story of a group of people who gathered at a weekly bible study, and one day challenged themselves to live every day for a week asking themselves in every situation "what would Jesus do?" and then following that answer no matter what the consequences. It is kind of the original WWJD scenario played out. That is what is commonly taught.

Let me put it this way.... what is NOT commonly taught is that the Adamic man asks WWJD! The religious man asks WWJD! The imitator asks WWJD! The natural man asks WWJD. The carnal man asks WWJD. These are not different men, they are different names for the same man. The problem is, that there is no way for that man to come up with a correct answer! "Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7  The carnal man may ask WWJD, but he can never know, he will only respond with whatever his selfish, sinful, guilty mind can imagine. The natural man does not want to please God! He wants to please himself, by showing his ability to live a religious life apart from God's interference.

He may do what is generous. He may do what is kind. He may do that which is brave, or kind or gentle or loving, or self sacrifical but that is no guarantee that is what Jesus would do. And it is more likely it is not since there is no way he can know while he is at emnity with God.

What is NOT commonly taught is that our Christian walk is not to be a result of our trying to figure out what Jesus would do by a process of what we think is the best course of action, and then do that. Our Christian walk is supposed to be a result of our nature so changing because of His life being lived through us, that we don't have to ask what Jesus would do, but rather we would just do it naturally! THAT is the difference!

What is not commonly taught is the difference that Life of Jesus makes within the New Creation man! Most Christians never learn what actually took place when they prayed to let Jesus come into their heart, that is why they live like they are the ones defeated; not the enemy. Most Christians are don't understand that while things may have appeared to remain no different than 5 minutes before they prayed, the fact is that a mighty miracle took place in that moment! The Apostle Paul says it this way  "all old things are passed away, and behold ALL things become new! 2 Cor. 5:17

The New Creation man does not need to ask WWJD. Why not? Because Jesus said: "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." John 16:13

Okay, so we all want to live a life that is pleasing to God. We all want to do the right thing. We all want to say the right thing at the right time. We all would like to know how to know what to do..... Here is the secret... it is to do the same thing that Jesus did so that He knew what to do. And what is that?

John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 8:28,29 "Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."

That is it right there! That is the secret to ALWAYS know what to do the same as Jesus knew what to say and what to do. Only say those things you HEAR the Father say, and only DO those things you SEE the Father do.

Oh what? It is not that easy? I never said it was easy. Was the life of Jesus easy? No, of course not, but we think we should have it easier than He did? Jesus often spent the whole night in prayer. When was the last time we did? Not to see His hand, but to seek His face?

Don't worry, just because I know the secret; just because I know what to do, does not mean that I follow His example all of the time, and only speak and do what I hear and see the Father say and do. But knowing what the secret is does for the most part keep me from doing what is commonly taught, and allow me to do what is uncommonly taught  in a particular situation.... WWJD?

 And sometimes; (far fewer times than I would like) I will "hear" the Father say something, and then I will say it, and since He only speaks words of Life, then when those words are spoken, they come to pass! And sometimes; (in my spirit) I will "see" what to do, and then I will do it, and that which gets done comes to pass.

We do have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying. We CAN know what to do. I Cor.2:16 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." Now you know, next time you are wondering WWJD? How You Can Know!


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Not My Will But Thine Be Done

Of all of the times I have heard someone say "Not my will buy Thine be done." I don't know if I have ever known that person to know what the Father's will was in the matter! What they seem to be doing is just resigning to a "whatever" sort of attitude, a sort of giving up any resistance to some inevidable outcome! One thing for sure, is they are not submitting to the will of God as in coming into agreement with any sort of revealed purpose.

We remember very clearly the story of Jesus in the garden on the night of His betrayal praying earnestly to His Father that the cup of suffering that He was to partake of would pass from Him, if there was any other way to accomplish this redemptive plan for mankind. The submission of Jesus to the will of the Father was summed up by His saying, "Never the less, not my will, but Thine be done."

Jesus knew what the will of the Father was! Jesus was actually praying that some other way of accomplishing the same outcome that bypassed His suffering, and crucifixion take place, but it was the will of the Father, and Jesus knowingly submitted Himself to that revealed will.

It is my firm belief that it was at that moment, that Jesus won the battle over any struggle otherwise. That is why He did not have to resist the guards when they arrested Him. That is why He did not have to consider responding to the accusations in that Kangaroo court. That is why He could stand silent before Pontius Pilate! That is even why He did not call 10,000 angels to rescue Him! When He prayed "Not my will but Thine be done." There was nothing that could have stood in the way after that from seeing the will of the Father carried out.

But suppose it was like it is for most people. Suppose He did not know what the will of the Father was. Suppose He just said those words submitting His will to the Father's without knowing that He was supposed to suffer and be crucified. Perhaps then, every opportunity that came for Him to escape from such an outcome would be considered. Is this the Father's will? Is THIS the Father's will? What about this?

Do you remember the story of the man who sat in his house when a storm came. The radio announced everyone to leave, but he said he would wait for God's will to be accomplished. Then the street flooded and he went on the roof, and a boat came, and he said he was waiting for the will of God to be accomplished. Then a helicopter came and he turned them away, and finally he drowned. When he met God face to face, and asked why God's will was thwarted, when he waited faithfully, God said well I sent the radio warning and the boat and the helicopter!

Unless you know what God's will is, then how can you pray "Thy will be done?" This came to light for me a number of years ago when I was talking with a dear lady whose grandchild had some serious medical problems. She said "Well, God's will be done". Well, all of a sudden the Spirit of the Lord rose up within me, and I asked her what was God's will for her grand child? She said she did not know. I told her that she had better find out! Perhaps she could discover that God's will was for that baby to live, and then she was to go to that room and speak those words of life over that baby! Perhaps all that was needed was for someone to declare outloud words of Life when all around the child they were speaking death. Go and speak with authority "You shall LIVE and not die! But speak it with knowledge of what the will of God is first!"

That is what the purpose of prayer is anyway! Prayer is not to get our wishes fulfilled, but rather to line up our will with His; It is for us to come into agreement with the plan and purpose of God, so that there is only ONE will, and we are ONE in mind and purpose. THERE is where the battle is won! There is where we can relax about the outcome no matter what it is. It does not have to appear as though it is the right way, or the best way.... I mean really... look at Jesus' last day's events. The fact is, that no matter how it looked on the outside, the end result is a perfect outcome in which all of the variables and options have already been considered, and there is no other way with a better permanent solution.

Think about that next time when events are transpiring, and you don't know what to do. Rather than haphazardly submitting to an unknown plan and purpose, find out what God's will is FIRST, then you can with trust, and faith, and peacefull assurance pray "Not My Will But Thine Be Done"

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Ever Watchful Over His Works

It has been several weeks since my last posting for several reasons, and all of the reasons can be summed up by just saying, there has been a lot of happenings on this human journey of mine. All of these happenings have demanded much of my time; not all of them have been pleasant.

My job is the biggest demand on my time, and this year I will be working more hours than before. Also, I have completed my flight training, and am now waiting for the chance to take my practical test for my license. The weather this weekend made that not possible, and so next weekend is a hopeful expectation.

 The unpleasant events started with an accident I had on the way to work a couple weeks ago. It had snowed, with freezing rain that night, and in the morning after passing someone on the road, I lost control, slid sideways into a guard rail, and was bounced into a ditch on the other side. We thanked God I was unhurt. The car however, was severely damaged and needed to be replaced!

It was an old car, with lots of miles, so it was not a terrible loss, but a loss none the less. It was not worth trying to fix the damages, so it became necessary to buy another car. This was a Wednesday. I took that day off, and the following two days, and decided on a good used car that we could afford. On the way to work  the following Monday, I ran over something in the road which damaged the alloy rim, and blew the tire! There was another time consuming task to replace that at a $430 expense.

Okay, so things happen, and surprisingly enough both Cindi and I were able to take it all in stride after some  thoughtful reflection. A few days later, and the new car was now giving me transmission problems. It would not shift into the higher gears. As it turns out, the transmission fluid was low, and just needed a top up. But as you can imagine, we were more than a little concerned when these costly troubles were going to end. I felt a little like Job, who had one bad report after another one, until he lost everything. I figured if I started getting boils, then I would really start worrying!! haha.

There is always more details to tell, but for the purpose of this blog, these experiences suffice as an example of some of the troubles that we all can face from time to time. We are, after all, on this Human Journey, but we are first and foremost Spiritual Beings, and sometimes that can get lost in our thinking while our flesh is demanding so much attention!

On the Wednesday night of the accident, I could not get a wink of sleep. My mind was tormenting me with negative thoughts of condemnation! Not only did I question my ability to ever drive again, but also any ability I have to fly! In my saner moments I realized what I always knew, that God is sovereignly in control of every detail of event of every moment of every day! So then, my thoughts turned heavenward, asking "What do you want from me? What am I to do? What is your purpose? What is your will?"

I did not hear a voice. I did not get an inner witness to an answer. Most of the time, that is the way it seems to work. The answers do not always come right away. Many times there is silence. And in that time of silence, there is reflection, and in that time of reflection, there is insight, and with that insight comes peace.

That peace is one of inner calmness, and is not dictated by outward circumstances. That peace is such that it can settle the mind of the flesh. The Psalmist David writes "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 42:11

It is a peace that comes from His Spirit rising within your spiritual being, to spread confident assurance of an intimately loving heavenly Father Ever Watchful Over The Works of His Hands.