Morning Musings

Flying In Sync

2009-09-14T01:47:00Z

Morning Musing

Flying in Sync

Renda Brumbeloe

The beauty of airline flying is that crew members who have never flown together and perhaps do not know each other, can enter the flight deck as a crew and fly in sync . . . from the first checklist, until the parking brake is once again set at destination. It’s a wonderful thing.

All crew members are “up to speed”. They are yoked together as a crew. There is no confusion. They have been trained to fly in synchronization of procedures.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14, KJV).

The New International Version (NIV) reads this way. “Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.”

But even after company training, the pilot’s real world of flying the line requires a further step of understanding and cognizance. He is in charge of hundreds of lives each week . . . their anxiety and well being.

As Captain, one of my favorite unannounced procedures was to discover if my first officer is flying in sync with me. This required her or him to be aware of intended point of descent from flight altitude.

For example, pulling the throttles to flight idle to descend will cause the gear warning horn to blare. If the first officer is really aware, he will prevent the landing gear warning horn from sounding by pushing the silence button. Nothing needs to be said. He will quickly learn that flying in sync is a constant task in all flight procedures. We call it staying ahead of the aircraft together.

Yes, it is true, pilot crews are yoked together in flight. Their trust and flight duties come together providing the maximum of confidence, and well being for their passengers.

Living in sync in our marriages and family life dispels problems and unhappiness.

We can and should be likewise yoked with Christ in our daily living. We are not flying solo. We can fly in sync with our Helper, the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “Being confident of this, that He, who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

The Magnetic Compass

2009-08-20T01:05:00Z

After 72 years, the radio and television soap, The Guiding Light, is going off the air for financial reasons. In a world of new permissiveness and the redefining of family values and morals, this yesteryear TV soap has perhaps lost some relevance of today’s audience. The wholesome connotation of the very name of this TV series came from a previous world view and reflected the moral compass of human behavior.

The magnetic compass is the pilot’s basic guiding instrument for navigation. It aligns with magnetic north and measures the magnetic angle that the plane or ship is traveling.

However, the magnetic compass reacts to flight forces which induce inherent errors. For example, if an airplane is in a turn or changing airspeed, the magnetic compass temporarily skews off the true heading and indicates a false heading. The plane must be in stable flight for the magnetic compass to indicate correct headings.

In much the same way, our changing culture denies the moral compass of human behavior and skews the Truth. What once was deemed right can seem wrong and what once was wrong can be reasoned to be all right.

Thankfully, the pilot has an additional slaved magnetic compass which is correct at all times when it is calibrated to a stable and known compass heading. The turbulence and unstable forces of flight do not change or affect its indications, and it can be trusted in all flight conditions.

The good news is we can slave “our compass” (ourselves) in submission to God’s Truth so that the turbulence and headwinds of life do not take us off course. As we align our will with His Will, we can then trust God’s unseen hand in all of life’s conditions.

John 10:9 says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 16:25

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

What’s your magnetic compass heading? Is it in alignment?

The Visible and Invisible Church

2009-08-01T00:17:00Z

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.” Romans 1:20

Although we may not see it, God is always in control and at work in His Church.

Without getting deep into Augustinian interpretation of scriptures, I offer this analogy:

Every time I board an airplane as a passenger, I become a part of the “visible airline,” but I can see and sense the “invisible airline” on the flight deck. I know the preparations that have been made. I have studied the Book.

As I feel the parking brake release, I know the airplane papers are in order and the airplane has been declared airworthy. I know the checklists verbatim, and I can anticipate the pilot callouts and future events before they even happen.

I know the Captain is guarding the takeoff profile in case of trouble. When we hit turbulence his thoughts are to vacate that turbulent altitude for a smoother flight level. I know he is thinking “fasten seat belt” well before it is needed. I know my safety is my Captain’s first thoughts. I can feel the crosswind on approach, and I’m aware of a tailwind on landing.

As I sit in the cabin, I know I can endure the visible because my heart is with the invisible.

And God bless the flight attendants. They are angels of mercy. They are serving the visible while being prepared for the invisible. They work in both arenas. I know that they are more than capable of operating the emergency equipment and evacuating a smoke filled cabin.

Disgruntled passengers are among those who only see the visible. They question delays. They complain! Some even want to leave the airplane. The experienced fliers know there is a time to be silent and patient. They are content to know their fare is paid, their boarding pass scanned, and their destination ahead.

Such is the eternal church triumphant! It is wonderful to trust the invisible church while waiting with the visible church. It is here the deep secrets of God are discovered.

My spiritual encouragement comes from knowing fuel is always flowing to the engines, the cabin is continually being pressurized, and the flight path is being protected. And what joy to know that we will find rest and safety when we evacuate this smoke filled world!

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

Lyrics by Walter C. Smith - 1867

Flying By The Book

2009-08-01T00:12:26Z

                                                                                                      Morning Musing



Every twelve months airline pilots lay it all on the line, submitting to federal testing requirements of personal mental competence and established standards of flying . . . by the book.

Although you may know all the memory items and how every system works, this annual check ride simply will not be over until you are humbled to the fact that you are not perfect . . . that you do not know everything in the flying manual. The check ride is not over until:

• You have proven your ability to execute every flight maneuver and system emergency.
• You have proven that you can find what you need in the flight manual quickly and fly by the spirit of the book.
• You have proven that you can exercise Captain’s authority without violating established written regulations.

Every year, I vividly remember the exuberance of getting back in the pilot’s seat to resume flying after enduring this annual tribulation. What great joy!

The years of experience of an airline captain, successfully enduring annual check rides, makes him a most valuable company asset. He has been proven . . . again and again. Put me on his flight!

God's word teaches us that the more fiery trials you go through, the more valuable you will become as a child of God, the greater the suffering, the greater the result.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12: (NKJV)

What a model for Christians to emulate!

When we fly by the book, the Holy Bible, we find that humility and suffering is a real trait and mark of the Christian believer.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy". Peter 4:12 (ASV)

Christians are not perfect, but they are tested. They will face temptation and tribulation. If you take the seat, the oath, the office of being a Christian, you will face fiery trials. There will be a check ride!

You are valuable in God’s Kingdom. Endure the check ride. Fly by the Book, and keep the faith!

Stop! Shabbat!

2009-07-16T22:15:00Z

It’s a powerful word –SHABBAT. It’s a biblical word, a Hebrew word. It means Stop! Stop all work! Enter into your rest! Enter into your SABBATH.

It is early Sabbath as I write these words. My planned musing is scrapped and my pen is silent for now. My dear friend, mentor, and pastor, has now entered the haven of rest where all work, toil and labor will end.

Yesterday, Pastor Ponder W. Gilliland, affectionately known to us as PASTOR G, gained his eternal life in heaven. During his active ministry, his creative mind was always joyfully engaged in the work of the Kingdom of God. It was a special joy for me to ask him in private or group conversation, “What are you thinking today, what are you pondering today? Or what do you think about this or that?”

Shabbat! Stop! No more work! Listen! Observe! It’s the seventh day. Enter into your rest! And Pastor G did just that on July11, 2009.

We too, must also enter. On the seventh day, may we all rest.

The greatest story ever told ends in the book of Revelation with this precious invitation,

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” Let each one who hears them say “Come.” Let the thirsty ones come- anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge. . . He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, Yes, I am coming soon!” Revelation 22:17-20

We will all SHABBAT, soon. Even so Lord, Jesus come.

Second Best

2009-07-16T21:28:00Z

                                                                                     Second Best

The sign above says: “Learn to fly here.” Notice the airplane in the tree. American Aviation may be a perfectly good flight school, but either the airplane or the sign needs to go.

Here’s another example in this humorous story:

Two preachers whose churches were across the road from each other were out pounding a sign in the ground that read:

                                                                The end is near
                                                        Turn yourself around now
                                                              Before it’s too late!

As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, “You religious nuts!”
From the curve they heard screeching tires and a big splash. One preacher turned to the other and said, “Do you think maybe the sign should just say:

Bridge out ahead!

Often in our attempt to communicate, we sometimes lose the message with incoherent advertising.

One, we make the mistake that everyone understands the message. Two, we assume that we are presenting a clear message. Three, we misunderstand our objective. Four, we intellectualize the difference, add our own interpretation and accept the compromise.

We know the real thing when we see it. We want the genuine but sometimes stop short and settle for second best. Accepting the pure word is always best.

Such was the case years ago when I was flying my brother’s Cessna 172 to Charleston, S.C. I knew I would need fuel before returning home and planned to stop short of my destination at an unimproved airport (grass field) where fuel would be cheaper. I would use my pilot skills and execute a short soft field type of approach and landing.

In retrospect, grass runways are charted as unimproved airports. I intellectually knew the difference and looking down on the field, the grass runway looked fine. But my touchdown and landing on the rough dirt path was more like a controlled crash. After two surprise bounces, I got serious, saved the landing, and fortunately, nothing got bent (except a wheel cover).
And, I would face that rough surface again on takeoff.

Although the airdrome symbol on the FAA aviation chart advertised that fuel was available, in a sense, the rough field made it almost inaccessible. To save fuel cost, I had stopped short and settled for second best.

Sometimes the same thing can be said about our spiritual lives. From a distance, we look fine but when we get down to it, the unimproved dirt paths we travel show the great need for improved surfaces. In a sense, the Holy Spirit is available but He is inaccessible in our compromise.

Perhaps we all need a time in our spiritual lives when we decide we will not compromise for second best. We suffer from a new age, non-biblical thought that says that we should not take ourselves so seriously. We hear it in sermons and read it in popular Christian writing. But I don’t find this idea anywhere in the Bible, in the Acts of the Apostles or the Words of Jesus. However I do find it easy to live on past platitudes and easy attitudes without much thought.

I remember a song from the 1970s written by Charles Thomas Studd, missionary to China. It said:

“Only One Life, ‘twill soon be past . . . Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

What really grips me in the entire text of this song is its internal personal theme without mentioning specific good works. Here is the song in its entirety.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say “’twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

A Sense of Belonging

2009-07-02T19:21:00Z

As the 4th of July holiday arrives, our minds naturally turn toward patriotism and freedom. But today we need a feeling of belonging to each other as well. Perhaps we also need to renew a spirit of nationalism that draws the string even tighter.

Historically, nationalism has produced the very best in world class citizens who have gone on to produce history’s greatest music, art and literature.

Giant nationalistic figures like the Polish composer, Frederic Chopin, who was a small frail man with small hands, but today his music still subdues the “giants” who play his piano works.

Another is Russian nationalist composer, Tchaikovsky, whose Bb Piano Concerto was performed by the previously little known American pianist, Van Cliburn, who brought the two cold war superpowers together in 1957 when he won the Russian contest with an hitherto unsurpassed rendering of the Tchaikovsky Concerto. Socially and politically, our Russian and American hearts were joined together in nationalism, freedom, and a feeling of belonging.

Our hearts cry out to know that we are not alone! God has forever proclaimed that we really do belong to Him; we were made for His pleasure. We are uniquely God’s. We belong and are one in the bonds of His love.

Evil savagery lurks beneath the human heart that denies God’s gift of belonging. It destroys the human spirit that binds us. Bondage and violence take its place.
Julia Howe penned these words during the Civil War in 1861 and they are an equal warning for us today:
“I have seen Him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps. They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps: I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps, His day is marching on.”

Ladies and Gentlemen: We need to celebrate fiercely that we are a nation under God. We owe no apologies for our strong nationalism and religious founding which has spread freedom and human rights around the world. God has ordained and enabled America the Beautiful to proclaim His Truth is marching on.

So let freedom ring! Let it ring loud and clearly. Celebrate His righteousness and Truth.

And May God Be Praised!

Structural Failure

2009-07-02T19:02:00Z

Air France flight 447 (an Air Bus 330) crashed off the coast of Brazil en-route to Paris on June 1 with the tragic loss of 228 lives. This again raises questions about structural integrity of light-weight composite materials in new aircraft designs.

Pilots, mechanics and engineers have been concerned about the aircraft vertical fin assembly and composite material surfaces.

Another issue is the political and economic ramifications that are at stake with the French subsidized Air Bus. The attractive lease rates that Air Bus offers has put pressure on the U.S. aircraft industry.

The primary investigation of this recent crash is led by the French government and the initial reports indicate the possibility of lightning strikes and air data sensor failures that may have lead to the tragedy. But further investigation cast doubt that these reasons alone could have brought the aircraft down.

We now know the rudder was found some forty miles from a major debris area. This makes it seem likely that the aircraft experienced a catastrophic breakup at high altitude. If the cause of the crash is attributed to an airframe and structural failure as the primary cause it can have far reaching effects and bring into question the airplanes that are certified to fly in U.S. airspace.

Proven material and certified parts provide aircraft structural integrity and the basis for air-worthiness. If an aircraft is not air worthy it cannot fulfill the purpose for which it was built.

In a likewise analogy, our postmodern culture threatens the structural integrity of God ordained morals and values.

If our structural integrity and family values are called into question we cannot be the beacon of light that God needs us to be in this age of darkness.

The fabric of the church must not be weakened. It is our responsibility to protect family values, the precious gift of unborn infants, the education of our youth, and the preaching of God’s Word. These are the historical stabilizers of civilized life.

There are those who wish to remove the stabilizing “tail fin” of the church and remake the church with “composite” materials of this postmodern world. This cannot be an option for the Church. God is calling his people to their knees if He is to demonstrate His mighty power.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Prayer: Lord, teach us to fervently pray. Amen.

Th Problem of Post-Modern Repentance

2009-07-02T18:48:00Z

Dr. Rob Staples passed this story on to me from his book, "Words of Faith: An Easy Reference to Theological Terms" (Beacon Hill, 2001). He relates this humorous story that illustrates the difficulties that may arise from a wrong understanding of predestination.

A man who had just received his private pilot's license invited his friend to go for a plane ride. His friend refused, saying he was afraid to get that high off the ground. Being unable to convince the man that flying was safer than riding in a car, he said: "I thought you believed in predestination, and that nobody can die until his time comes." "I do," replied his friend. "Then if you know you cannot die until your time comes, what is the problem?" asked the pilot. "Well," his friend replied, "what if we get up in the air and your time comes?"

The man in this story might have been uncomfortable with the idea of God’s sovereignty and power.

The Bible proclaims truth that makes most post-modern men uncomfortable.

Let me be clear. We would rather turn over a new leaf than confess and turn in repentance from our sins. We would rather avoid restitution to those we’ve sinned against. Perhaps this is just another way of rejecting God’s sovereignty and authority in our lives.

The fact is most post-modern men do not believe that God is in control. They believe that truth cannot be known, so why submit to a loving God? But even so, we cannot soft-pedal the Gospel of Repentance.

A friend recently told me he misses the public demonstration of repentance; people kneeling and seeking the Lord. I agree.

Repentance and submission are rarely seen in church services. We have invented ways of unlinking spiritual formation with submission and conversion. We would rather drift toward a personal testimony, doing churchy things, rather than witnessing or testifying to the Holy Spirit’s convicting power.

Several years ago, I was rehearsing with a praise team, and one student, unacquainted with the common theological term asked me what I meant by a song of repentance.

I answered, “It’s a Biblical term and means turning around, changing your mind and resolve to follow God’s leading.” It’s a wonderful thing.

“Repentance mends both our broken relationship with God and with man. It commands Christ followers to live in relationship and community with God and each other. There is no estrangement in the Kingdom of God.”

We need repentance among us. If we do not yield to the moving of the Holy Spirit in repentance, then He will let us have it our way. Without repentance we deny our past and reject our future.

Public confession and submission has long been the Biblical sign of Christian conversion as God’s Kingdom comes on earth. The joy of public repentance and personal renewal will link us with the future work of the Holy Spirit who goes before us, preparing our way, giving us new life.

Repentance does not mean that “the living” die, but that the dead, once again, live.

The Return Flight Home

2009-06-15T03:39:00Z

For all who travel, the return flight home is most welcome! I have often made this announcement over thecabin intercom after landing in Orlando, Florida.

“To those who have just begun your visit here, have a great time at Mickey Land. To those who are ending their travel here, welcome home.”

But every time I think of those words, I am reminded of the scripture, “Here on earth we have no continuing place. Howbeit, we seek one to come.” Hebrews 13:14

This world not our home but only a temporary dwelling place. Like the Apostle Paul told young Timothy, we must stir the spiritual gifts within us as we journey to our eternal destination.

Confirming and purposing in our heart, we believe what God is doing. He is setting the world right, joining our future with His present in righteous judgment.

We can fly to distant world destinations and find temporary happiness. But as the poet said, this world is but a vale of sorrow compared to the eternal joy that awaits us at our final destination.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.” I Corinthians 15: 51

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

We live in God’s sanctity of space where He is employed in the story of our recovery and redemption. He is making us fit for our final dwelling place with Him.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

God’s Holy Spirit is enabling us to eternal rest in heaven. Jesus says, don’t look here. Look there! Don’t just ride along. Follow Me! I am your Hope.

“I go to prepare you a place, that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:3

Are we there yet? No, but just a few more days to work.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee
No 412 squadron, RCAF
Killed 11 December 1941

Here is a web link that brings memories from my youth.

http://www.unpleasant.org/2006/12/09/rev-forrest-mccullough-flight-f-i-n-a-l/

Parameters

2009-06-07T03:21:00Z

The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest sermon ever preached. In it, Jesus gives his followers parameters of how to really live. It is not about perimeter or peripheral living, but far more important.

For example, a horse has perimeters on a ranch but a parameter is more exact.

Ask any airline pilot . . . they will tell you exactly what parameters are and what they mean. In a word, they mean measured operations . . . operating within the parameters.   Para . . . alike, meter . . . to measure.

In aviation, a pilot knows you can get too fast, too slow, too high, too low, too hot or too cold. Exceeding operating parameters is dangerous and illegal. Pilots are most safe and happy when they fly by the operating handbook. Likewise we believers are most pleasing to God when we are living in the center of Biblical parameters.

I once flew with a captain who pushed the edge of many parameters. He wanted changes to happen quickly. He couldn’t wait to push off the gate. He taxied the aircraft too fast. He called for gear up too soon. He wanted the flaps up right now and then accelerated to max speed before climbing to altitude. It was his style to operate the aircraft at max mach, barber-pole speed.

He would he wait until the last minute to descend from altitude and call for flaps at the max allowable speed. He then waited till the last possible moment to get the landing gear down. Upon landing he would brake the aircraft hard for the first high speed turnoff and taxi to the gate rushing to avoid other opposing aircraft. He pushed every parameter. It was hard work for me as a co-pilot. I couldn’t wait to go and relax during the layovers.

I am the most relaxed when I am in the center of operating parameters . . . when every flight condition is nominal and stable. . . when every instrument indication is the center of the scale. I am happy when passengers notice nothing, feel no g- forces . . . when changes occur at standard rate . . . when passengers deplane quietly, happy and relaxed.

Parameters! The Christian life is best lived in the model of the Sermon on the Mount, living in the safety of the operating handbook . . . the center of limitations.

I believe the best sermons are preached toward the scriptures, not away. I believe the best marriages are lived in commitment, not away. And I believe the best relationships are parameter driven, not peripheral.

Today, flying has almost become an experience to be endured at the lowest common denominator of human behavior and courtesy. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen on the flight deck of our lives. Parameter living is the way to live.

We Know Why You Fly

2009-06-07T02:55:00Z

American Airlines has an advertising phrase I like very much. “We know why you fly!” What a great statement. I’ve often wanted to take it a step further and say, “We are bringing your future to you.”

Often pilots will address their passengers saying, “This is your Captain speaking. We will be departing momentarily. Enjoy your flight” . . . as if to enjoy a Disney ride! NO!

Airlines that know why you fly understand you have a greater purpose than a joy ride somewhere with a plane full of people. They see your specific destination. They are employed in helping you to get there. Preparations have been made. There’s expectation, resources, equipment and services awaiting your arrival . . . a jet bridge . . . success . . . home . . . loved ones. They are bringing your future to you. In other words, they know why you fly.

The airlines’ overriding purpose is your destination, helping you to board, aiding you enroute and safely seeing you to your arrival gate.

But this world is only a temporary dwelling place. We have an eternal destination.

Wherever we are in our spiritual journey, we must confirm and purpose in our heart what true believers know that God is really up to. He is setting the world right, joining our future with His eternal present.

His Church is employed in the story of our recovery and redemption. We no longer will be afflicted, imprisoned or disheartened. He is making us fit for our final dwelling place with Him. We do know why we fly.

And God’s Holy Spirit is enabling us to see others to their eternal destination as well.
In Matthew, chapter 10, Jesus taught His disciples at the critical point of all their expectations what the Gospel story really meant. He told them to travel light, don’t become entangled, you will be given what you need and the words to say. If you are rejected, shake the dust off your feet and keep traveling.

Jesus says, don’t look here. Look there! Don’t just ride along. Take up your cross and follow me.

John 14:3 “I go to prepare you a place, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples in John 16:7, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come . . . what I am saying is true: my going is for your good.

After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the paradigm radically changed for the disciples. Their temporal world view was replaced with an eternal world view.

For the first time in the history of God’s people, as recorded in the book of Acts, the disciples stopped looking for an earthly kingdom that would go nowhere. They stopped looking here and looked there . . . employed and trained for flight.

They knew where they were going and were not deterred.

We do know why we fly.

Icing At Low Altitudes

2009-05-24T17:35:00Z

It appears that the March 22nd air tragedy in Butte, Montana, has raised more questions about weight and balance and icing conditions. Fourteen children and adults on a ski trip died when the Pilatus PC-12, high-end, single-engine turbo prop nose dived into the ground while on approach.

The pilot had spoken to ATC twice about diverting but gave no reason. He apparently descended through an icing layer that may have created possible weight and balance problems.

Flying in freezing rain or freezing drizzle is strictly prohibited by FAA regulations. By rule, we cannot continue flight in known icing conditions. Descending through saturated air with temperatures a few degrees below freezing will quickly ice up an airplane. Icing can affect load balance and cause uncertain flight paths and stalls.

The culture of freezing temperatures and saturated moisture is a recipe for icing. Ice adheres on cold aircraft surfaces much like super-cooled droplets on cars and bridges when temperatures are not cold enough to prevent it or warm enough to melt it.

In aviation, we do not experiment with icing. Icing altitudes must be vacated immediately. Pilots do this everyday. Look out your window. It’s really that simple. We should either climb or descend to colder or warmer air.

Likewise, we are reminded in Revelation 3:15: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I wish you were cold or hot.” The Spirit is saying to the churches that truth mixed with error (some truth, some error) is more dangerous than outright lies . . . neither cold nor hot. “I will spew you out of my mouth.”

Meanwhile, as man spews God out of culture, we see alarming and increasing acts of violence. Our culture cannot provide coherent answers for our current dismal estate.

With family values and marriage under ferocious attack, our culture lies at an intolerable low altitude of icing. We need to divert back to God before we crash and burn.

Wake up! The greatest opportunity for the Christian church is now before us.

Prayer: Lord, increase our spiritual visibility. Guide us with the clarity of the Gospel. Let us not become lukewarm. Let Your Word dwell with and in us.

Strobe Lights

2009-05-12T02:55:00Z

Strobe lights and aircraft illumination lights are necessary for aviation safety during movement of aircraft.
In clear air, these lights may be seen more than a hundred miles away alerting other aircraft of flight near
lateral altitudes. But they can also produce distracting light reflections.

When flying in cloud layers or reduced visibility, strobes and beacons can produce a disconcerting reflective glow and interfere with the pilot’s vision and flight scan. Passengers can observe this phenomenon at night by looking out the window while in a cloud layer. Though the light flashes can be enticing and alluring, they are something you do not want to observe for very long.

These “flashes of light” glow back from the clouds into the dark flight deck and distract the pilots.
When such a condition occurs, the pilots turn off the strobes to stop the distracting artificial glow.
Strobe and illumination lights can also make it difficult to see the real lights of the runway and can
even compromise a safe approach to landing.

We live in a virtual world where it is often difficult to distinguish between the superficial thing and
the real thing. More than ever, it is prudent for us to be able to discern between the two and not be distracted. True lights are not a reflection but rather are themselves a source.

As the pilot well knows, he must not let the superficial light interfere with his vision of the real light.
He turns off the flashing strobes to let the darkness reveal the true light.

In the same way, we need to reject the artificial and believe the real thing.

Who can we trust? It is not the glowing personalities or their rhetoric but those who believe the truth and will
boldly speak the truth without fear or compromise.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12

“0 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth?” Jeremiah 5:3

“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where
you dwell.” Psalm 43:3

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he (Christ) has done
through God.” John 3:21

"In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4 "He was that True light, which lights every man that
cometh into the world." John 1:9

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all he created.”
James 1:18

Wheel Pants

2009-05-12T02:36:00Z

I once owned a Piper Cherokee airplane. I thought it was the prettiest airplane ever designed.
That is, until the tires needed changing and we discovered a crack on the wheel covers that
necessitated taking the wheel pants off until they could be repaired.

Without the wheel pants the airplane lost all of its natural beauty. It looked years older and slower.
All I could see when I approached the airplane was the ugly tires hanging beneath the wings.
It appeared as if the plane wouldn’t fly very well, and indeed I learned that without wheel pants, the
drag increased. The airspeed decreased about 4 knots and fuel efficiency also went down.

The wheel pants surrounded the ugly black tires with a grace and beauty that was becoming to the entire
design of the airplane. Yes, the wheel pants helped to make the airplane attractive!

Sometimes I think we believers need wheel pants as well. We need to surround ourselves with God’s Word,
good books, good music, and wholesome relationships.

We need wheel pants! We need to reduce the drag. We need to let the beauty of God’s design show in us
and be attractive to people who need the Lord. Godliness is becoming. It is beautiful and attractive.

We need to put on the garments of God . . . the Helmet of His Salvation, the Breastplate of His
Righteousness, the Robes of His Justice, the Shield of His Word and the Shoes of His Deeds.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

Red Right, Wrong

2009-05-02T19:33:48Z

It is required that all aircraft are equipped with wing tip position lights. The left wing tip requires a red light and the right wing tip requires a green light. These lights show that aircraft’s relative position from your vantage point

The FAA airmen written exam asks this practical application question:

“While flying at night, a pilot sees aircraft lights out his windshield at the eleven o’clock position. A green light is on the left side and a red light is on the right side. Your magnetic heading is 010 degrees. Is the aircraft in the windshield going away from you or coming toward you?”

In this case, the pilot must know that the aircraft is coming toward him. (The magnetic heading is extraneous information.) “Red right” means conflicting traffic.

The closure rate of two jet aircraft flying toward each other can easily approach ten miles a minute. The pilot knows he may not even see the traffic until the last ten seconds. Flying at the right assigned altitude is imperative.

Changing altitudes can appear innocuous. Pilots must be aware of conflicting traffic when transitioning altitudes. Even if he is right, he can be dead wrong.

Sometimes I hear people say it is difficult to know right from wrong. Many people even deny there is a right way or a wrong way, good or evil. Sometimes we try to be cozy with both.

U.S. Senator Chuck Shumer openly denies that traditional values have or ever had any real meaning in society. He says traditional values are passé. But his statement goes against logic. Senator Shumer is cruising at the wrong altitude.

Green still means go and red still means stop. But we can’t even get cozy even with that.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but therein are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12

The Rotating Beacon

2009-04-18T18:16:00Z

It was a heavy dew night at Chicago O’Hare. We were cleared for a north takeoff on runway 32 R departing away from the air traffic control tower which was located behind us. At four hundred feet in the air, tower questioned if our rotating beacon was on? From their position they could not see our strobe or departure lights and the wing tip lights had faded into the lights of the city

“Affirmative, it’s on sir.” I replied. “Okay, we don’t have a visual on you. Maintain three thousand and runway headinfor now,” tower said curtly.

We immediately looked hard for traffic.

As we climbed through a layer of clouds, we realized that our strobe lights had failed. We had no reflective glow from the strobes and other air traffic would have difficulty in seeing our presence in the night sky.

On that flight, we flashed our landing lights to signal opposing traffic of our presence.

Matthew 5:14-15 says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)

Jesus is telling his disciples that not only will they influence His Kingdom of believers but that unbelievers will see the light and believe also.

Rotating beacons are required equipment on aircraft. Maybe Christians need an operative rotating beacon also.

Matthew 5:16 “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

The Ever Present Good Friday

2009-04-09T01:00:00Z

The Cross of Christ is our constant message of the forgiveness of sins, the Good News. Likewise, Good Friday must be ever present in our obedience to following Christ.

Here’s the narrative from the Gospels.

. . . Just a few hours before his arrest, on that fateful day, Jesus had confirmed to his disciples that He, the Son of God was returning to the Father. Where he was going they could not follow but He would send the Holy Spirit to comfort them.

John 17:1 “When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.”

Afterward Jesus confronted his disciples and said to them, “Tonight every one of you will desert me.” Then He led them to the Mount of Olives. They followed but did not understand that their path would take them to meaningless darkness in Gethsemane.

Soon Jesus would confront their sleepy eyes again, asking could they not watch and pray in the Garden for just an hour. Good Friday was at hand. The darkness of Gethsemane would soon be followed by the violence and stench of Golgotha.

Then Jesus prayed: John 17:5 “And now, Father, bring me unto the glory we shared before the world began.”

Good Friday is an ever present momentous event. Jesus was going back to Heaven. But He was going by way of an excruciating Roman Cross, a public social disgrace. The disciples would scatter in terror. . .

We can only see the Glory of Jesus when we follow him to the shadows of the Cross. All of our religious efforts are meaningless outside the power and glory of the Cross of Jesus. There is no other redemption. There is no “blessed assurance, Jesus is mine” outside the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

It is only then that Truth shines in our hearts. We might find community in fellowship with believers. We might join the church and even observe the sacraments. We might attend a discipleship class and wash each others’ feet. But until we come to the Cross of Christ, repent and receive the redeeming gift for the forgiveness of our sins, we will not experience the glory and power of community with Christ. It is then that He comes into our heart to live.

Jesus calls to each of us, “Come, follow me to the shadows of my Cross.” You must experience Gethsemane. You must watch and pray. “You must be born again.” You must have a Good Friday.

We cannot whitewash the wall that separates fallen man from our loving God who seeks us. Spiritual formation cannot be unlinked from conversion. We are lost and cannot save ourselves by any religious action we devise. Until God’s Light shines in our hearts, revealing the dark evil of our sinfulness, our consciousness cannot even comprehend our need for conversion.

. . . The disciples had much to overcome and learn. They expected the glory of Jesus to come through power and conquest. But the glory of Christ would be born in their hearts. . .

We are guilty and need redemption. And the ever present Good Friday changes everything for us.

Through Jesus, the Resurrection to new life is possible by believing. The Truth of the Glory of the Cross must be believed and kept alive in our hearts.

Because of the ever presence of Good Friday, it is true.

Previous Morning Musings are available and archived at rendabrumbeloe.org. Click on the Morning Musing button. If you would like to add a friend to weekly Morning Musings, please write to: rendaual@aol.com with your request.

Morning Musings are weekly publications based on studies of Biblical scripture meditations, and times of personal devotion. A dialogue of truth, avoiding heresies, and rightly dividing the Word of God in the challenging days in which we live, is encouraged from any serious reader and student of the Word of God. Musings are Copyrighted© 2009 by Renda Brumbeloe

Clinging to the Old Rugged Cross

2009-04-09T00:40:00Z

“And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them . . .”

This campaign statement by candidate Obama was interpreted by people of various political persuasions as a statement of attack on hard working religious people in Appalacia and rural America who “cling to their guns or religion”. Candidate

Obama explained he was taken out of context.

But that is not my purpose here.

Christians have historically been accused of “clinging to the old rugged cross”.
The Cross of Christ has been ignored, derided, riduculed and blasphemed. So don’t even sing about it!

The life and death message of the Cross of Christ can be lost in three ways: Political correctness, failure to proclaim, and unbelief. Lord, let me be guilty of none.

Unbelievers argue that Christianity is a violent bloody religion that ill represents an all loving eternal God. They prefer a clean, bloodless and humanitarian religion that expresses love and acceptance of all mankind without reference to the Sacrificial Lamb of God.

William Cowper went straight to the heart of Christianity when he wrote these ignored and often debunked words:

“There is a fountain, filled with Blood, drawn from Immanuels veins.
And sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.”

We cannot sing of guilty stains, if we practice a worship without confession.

A religion that smacks of Christianity persists today in churches that favor eclectic inclusivity, a non-distinct worship without specific commitment, so that all may feel comfortable. Meanwhile it ignores the life and death issues proclaimed by God’s Perfect Sacrifice.

Brillant writers like T.S. Elilot, Nietzche, Bertrand Russell and Shakespeare have often expressed questions of discontent with life and death philosophies. The answers of life and death are not found within our individuality or psychology, but from a source outside ourselves.

The earth shaking life and death events of Good Friday and Easter left the disciples of Jesus confused and bewildered. But they would re-gather in obedience and believe what they had been taught. They would cling to the Word which would not die.

The death and the resurrection of Christ, solves the life and death issues for all of us. . . So I will cling to The Old Rugged Cross. I will cling to Jesus.

The Cross is everything to the Christian. Of thousands of songs, The Old Rugged Cross is on the top ten list of favorite hymns.

George Bennard and Charles Gabriel penned the central words of Christianity when they wrote:

                                                       “So I cherish the old rugged Cross;
                                                          Till my trophies at last I lay down.
                                                        I will cling to the old rugged Cross
                                                    And exchange it some day for a crown.”

Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there." - Clarence W. Hall

Previous Morning Musings are available and archived at rendabrumbeloe.org. Click on the Morning Musing button. If you would like to add a friend to weekly Morning Musings, please write to: rendaual@aol.com with your request.

Unfinished Business

2009-03-29T01:39:01Z

                                                                                                Morning Musing
                                                        Unfinished Business
                                                          Renda Brumbeloe

We had experienced weather delays all day and now, after 13 hours of crew duty, we had a broken pressurization system with the airplane at New York LaGuardia.

                                               Inoperative pressurization controller

It was past eleven o’clock p.m. and the flight bringing in the parts for repair had been canceled. There was no other choice but to cancel our flight and send the passengers and crew to the available hotels. It was unfinished business.

On the way out, we received a phone call from our crew desk strongly proposing that we ferry the empty unpressurized airplane back to Chicago at 10,000 feet (a legal operation without passengers in the cabin). If we would waive the flight duty rules they would cancel the three days of work ahead and pay protect us.

I checked the weather again in Chicago. It was one mile visibility with snow showers, runway braking action fair and snow removal in progress. Enroute icing conditions existed at mid-altitudes. One of us would be required to wear an oxygen mask during flight for legality. I knew my crew would follow my lead.

The question was . . . fly a noisy, unpressurized airplane at low altitude, with tired pilots, reduced oxygen, and shoot a dark snowy instrument landing with less than good runway conditions . . . in exchange for three days off, back at home where we wanted to be.

I was tempted to accept the crew scheduler’s beguiling offer although it smacked of an inner conflict between personal desires and fatigue. With those flight conditions, our fatigue and reduced oxygen, which affects night vision, called safety into question. I decided if the flight wasn’t suitable for passengers, then it wasn’t suitable for my crew either.

A moment of honesty made the decision clear. The view of our flying careers went far beyond that one night. I refused their offer. We walked! It was time to “render to Caesar, and the rest of the night to God.”

I remembered trying to get to sleep at two o’clock that morning, about the same time that we would have been shooting a dark low visibility snowy approach in Chicago in an empty unpressurized airplane.

We often face spiritual fatigue and don’t see things clearly. When Jesus said in Mark 12:17, “Render to Caesar, what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” He was not presenting a case for his disciples to fragment their beliefs and actions, but to define their beliefs and be definite in their decisions.

We need to heed that command today.

John Leo, the columnist, asked this probing question:

Under what conditions can the state force churches and religious agencies to violate their own principles?

Not only has this question become a judge’s decision in Massachusetts, it has become a decision of the U.S. Congress hidden deep in the current “stimulus bill” today. Namely, it is this: No religious expression is to be allowed in new college buildings funded by billions of dollars of “stimulus funds.”

Are we Christians in the U.S.A. ready for 21st century persecution? Secular norms are increasingly becoming dominant while religious expression is ruled intolerant. Meanwhile religious leaders leave it to media personalities such as TV host, Bill O’Reilly, to warn us that we live in days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Are we in danger of rendering our Biblical worldview to Caesar? Will we succumb to spiritual fatigue?

We cannot ignore our conscience and hope the question will go away. But we must be true to the unfinished business of being a Christian . . . “Walk the walk” and stay true to the Word of God in our lives and our decisions. Or in other words, don’t fly a broken airplane to Chicago! It is easy to go with the company.

It is easy to compromise in fear of seeming irrelevant. What is our Biblical World-View? The time for honesty is now. And a dose of spiritual oxygen might be helpful as well.

Isaiah 40:16 “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”

Prayer: Show me Your Ways, O Lord, and let it begin in me.

Who's Your Captain

2009-03-23T01:10:00Z

                                                                                                Morning Musing
                                                       Who’s Your Captain
                                                        Renda Brumbeloe

There is rarely a time in a man’s life that he does as well as he knows how to do. After all, Solomon was the wisest man on earth, but he did not always follow his own counsel.

After recent aviation accidents in Buffalo, N.Y. and the Hudson River, a reader said to me, “Hey! I want to know who my pilot is!”

I agree. Give me the pilot who knows his airplane and has an aviation world view. Give me a pilot who knows everything about my flight from my point of departure to my destination.

• He knows the taxiways of Chicago O’Hare and the lurking dangers of New York LaGuardia.

• He knows the possible icing conditions over Lake Erie.

• He knows the turbulence in the letdown corridors over eastern Pennsylvania.

• He knows New York harbor has migratory birds at low altitudes.

I don’t care that he has a magazine in his flight bag displaying the future dream airliner that carries 1000 souls which he wants to fly. Give me a pilot who can take me into his aviation world view, knows what he’s doing and where he’s going.

I don’t care to hear his eloquent polished pronouncements over the cabin sound system. I want to know that he is listening to the voice of Air Traffic Control, keeping me from headlong traffic at my altitude. Give me the dull pilot with focus that can safely transport my soul to my destination. Give me a pilot who can keep me out of icing conditions.

Give me a pilot whose hand is on the controls and protects me from the danger of crisscrossing flights in my airspace going to unknown destinations. Give me a pilot who understands the aircraft systems over my head and under my feet that I can’t see.

Give me a pilot who doesn’t veer left or right, but is always on the center line of truth and safety. I don’t care if he makes the passengers feel good with his good humor and interesting remarks. Give me a pilot who warns me, “Turbulence ahead, tighten your seat belt.” Let me trust his aviation world view. Put me on His flight.

So, what is our spiritual world view? How is it influenced? Is it social, economic, or morally formed? Often our “modus operandi”, (mode of operation) changes between the ideas that “everybody’s doing it to “nobody’s doing it”. In other words we choose a changing cultural world view.

Christians need a Biblical world-view to keep them from vacillating from view to view, never knowing Truth.

King Solomon experienced it. Proverbs 21 tells us “There is no wisdom, nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.”

So what, or who is driving you? Who’s your Captain, and do you trust Him?

Enroute Communication

2009-03-17T13:36:00Z

                                                                           Morning Musing
                                               Enroute Communication
                                                   Renda Brumbeloe

God’s Word tells us to pray without ceasing. This being so, it should not surprise us that our constant prayers provide a God based order and protection in our lives.

Likewise, airline pilots must stay in contact at all times with air traffic control (ATC) in order to protect their flight route and clearance.



                                                Each yellow dot represents an enroute airplane.

While enroute, pilots sometimes fly out of range with ATC or select the wrong frequency or wavelength for communication. In such a case the pilot becomes a NORDOC (no radio contact). I can tell you from personal experience, anxious moments result! ATC will then initiate a call for response sometimes using a more powerful transmitter.

If there is still no response, other aircraft may be asked to call and relay a message for the unresponsive pilot to contact ATC on a certain frequency. If communication cannot be re-established, the pilot can use an emergency frequency of 121.5 megahertz where ATC is always present. What a relief when communication is regained!

Another interruption can occur when pilots fly in wilderness areas below altitudes of 1,200 feet where airspace is uncontrolled and line of sight communication is restricted. At such low altitudes, we experience the loss of ATC communication and protection.

Similarly, we sometimes travel in spiritual wilderness areas. God can hear us, but we cannot hear Him. We become a NORDOC before our Heavenly Father. A more powerful transmitter may not be heard. At times like these, it is important for us to fly high to maintain line of sight communication with God. We need the protection and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We do not have to fly in uncontrolled airspace.

And here is more good news. ATC provides discreet frequencies for our route of flight, thereby reducing confusion, congestion and unauthorized transmissions. The pilot is reassured he is listening to the voice of ATC.

Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for calling me in mercy. Let me gain altitude today. Keep me out of wilderness areas. I need daily line of sight communion with you. Today let me monitor your discreet wavelength so I can always be listening and asking for your help and guidance. I pray in the Authority of Your Name, Jesus. Amen.

Fuel Contamination

2009-02-27T21:09:00Z

                                                                                            Morning Musing
                                                                   Contaminated Fuel
                                                                    Renda Brumbeloe

Airline pilots put a great deal of faith in fuel suppliers and handlers who transport fuel and refuel their airplanes. Contaminated fuel is a scary thought at 35,000 feet. That’s no place or time to wonder about trustworthy fuel.

At high, cold and hostile altitudes, where airplanes fly best, temperatures often are minus 65 degrees below zero centigrade. Jet fuel (kerosene) tends to slowly turn into petroleum jelly on the way to the engines, and ice contaminants forms from water moisture and condensate at those extreme temperatures. But don’t stop flying yet!

Engine flameout was a problem at high altitudes on early jet technology until we learned that cold petroleum jelly just doesn’t flow well through fuel supply lines and igniter nozzles. Engine flameout occurred mostly when power was reduced to flight idle during initial descent. With perfectly good fuel in the tanks, fuel was freezing in the fuel lines going to the engine.

Technology invented fuel heat systems, and flameout problems were solved using hot exhaust from each jet engine to warm the fuel lines before descent. A fuel additive (called pristine) disperses water droplets preventing ice contamination in the wing fuel tanks. We also learned new ways fuel can be regenerated by refineries, removing other foreign impurities.

In short, pilots must always beware of contaminated fuel.

The Word of God is the fuel which propels our Christian lives into truthful and right living. God’s Word is refined, warm and suitable. However, we often contaminate it with our own man-made ideas and additives. God’s Spirit and power is quenched when our supply lines are contaminated with foreign matter.

Man-made theology creeps in to deceive us and blatantly quenches the Holy Spirit in our lives to know God’s truth. Feel good theology is watered down from God’s pristine standards.

Don’t believe every word you hear or read. “Contaminated fuel” will leave you empty and flamed out. Don’t put contaminated fuel in your tanks. Get it straight from the refined Word of God. It is trustworthy.

Prayer:

Dear Lord. Sometimes we try to stay spiritually airborne with our throttles set at flight idle. Give us new power settings. Let the refining fire of your Word reach our frozen souls so that The Holy Spirit will flow in and through us. Amen.

Awareness

2009-02-27T20:45:00Z

                                                                                           Morning Musing
                                                                         Awareness
                                                                   Renda Brumbeloe

After two years of the safest air travel in history, we are faced with a terrible airline accident of Flight 3407 in Buffalo, N.Y. Fifty people suddenly and sadly lost their lives. How tragic! Preliminary causes might include ice on the aircraft.

Airline pilots are hesitant to speculate about accidents. Many facts must be pieced together to get an accurate picture of how things might have gone wrong. Mere speculation is useless.

Passing judgment to soon is not productive. However, we know the following facts:

• Takeoff is prohibited with ice contamination adhering to an aircraft surface.

• Flying into freezing rain or freezing drizzle is strictly prohibited by federal air regulations.

• Immediate change of altitude should be considered if ice accumulates. For example, climbing into dry or colder air and increasing airspeed can dissipate the ice. Do not plan to land with ice remaining on the aircraft.

• Pilots can encounter icing conditions in all seasons but flying into known icing is not allowed.

I remember a flight out of Boston at seventeen thousand feet when we suddenly accumulated one inch of ice on the windshield bolt in less than a minute. I radioed Boston Center for immediate climb to flight level two-one zero for icing, and was told “Roger, standby.” I replied, “Negative, I need emergency climb to two-one zero immediately.” I didn’t wait for clearance!

I had never seen ice accumulate that quickly and could only coax about seven hundred feet a minute climb from the 727. Within a few minutes, as ice dissipated, flight was back to normal. I then apologized to the controller. She thanked me and other aircraft were averted from seventeen thousand.

Ice accumulation can be catastrophic at any airspeed and altitude. Stall speed can quickly increase 30 percent. Clear ice (super-cooled droplets that freeze on contact) and wet rime ices are the most severe. Visible ice can drastically change the airflow and destroy lift.

Interpretation of flight deck temperature gages is helpful in icing conditions. They include OAT (outside air temperature), SAT (saturated air temperature), and RAT (rise air temperature). Temperatures slightly below and above freezing encourage rates of accumulation on a super cooled airframe.

Aircraft have two kinds of equipment which deter ice accumulation.
1. Anti-ice systems (prevents light icing from occurring on propellers, engine cowling, air data probes, and leading edges of aircraft.
2. De-ice systems ( removes some ice accumulation)

Here are a few questions of many that will be investigated in this accident.

• Situational awareness will be questioned. At what point did the pilots know they had a problem. What flight indications did they see or should have seen and what action did they take.

• What was the flight path and timeline of the aircraft?

• At what point could the flight crew have stopped the chain of events that led to the crash?

• Was the accident induced by mechanical failure or by pilot error or a combination of both? What is the mechanical history of the airplane?

• What was the current experience level of the pilots? Was proper training given? What was the physical condition of the crew?

• Were any FAR’s (Federal Aviation Regulations violated? How accurate was the weather forecast and updates?

• What are the contributing causes of the accident?

As a result of this investigation, air travel will again be made even safer.

These questions have a spiritual aspect for us. We need situational awareness in our lives. We need to take timely corrective action.

Are we headed toward a spiritual failure? We need to see ourselves in light of God’s Word and our obedience. Our spiritual walk is pleasing to our Heavenly Father when our hearts are not icy or indifferent to His leadings and promptings. He is with us in His mercy through all our trials.

“The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord.” Psalm 37:23