Flying Into Turbulence….

Before I start, I thought I would give a nod to the blog entitled Flying Into Action by Todd Strickland.  He’s got a great blog based on his viewpoints as a manager of a very popular cellular phone store and as a ministry leader at my home church.  Now, based on the title of this particular entry, you would think that I would be trying to infringe upon any copyright laws and steal his thunder, but I’m honestly not.  Instead, I just thought I would recognize his great blog and consider it as recommended reading.  Thanks, Todd, for your insights and reflections from your site.  God bless you.

One of the things that I find most enjoyable during my free time is anything in regards to aviation.  The love of flying for me started when I was young and my father worked for Dobbs Food Service at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport back in the late 70s-early 80s.  Every now and then, I had the opportunity to meet up with my dad at his workplace and be able to view all the different airliners take off and land at one of the world’s busiest airports that used to be an old dirt track in southwest Atlanta.  Though he didn’t stay for long in that environment, I was immediately hooked on the idea on “earning my wings”.

From that point on, I did just about anything that I could do in regards with airplanes.  I had a shortwave radio that picked up transmissions from Air Traffic Control that I listened to for hours on end.  I spent some of my summer days sitting out in the front yard looking for airplanes with my binoculars.  I read and studied different aviation books that I checked out at the local library (and still do to this day).  If anything was a hollow metal tube with wings on it, I was all over it.

Fast forward now to the early 1990s where I went with my parents to pick up a brand new Windows-based computer at a local computer store (either Computer City or CompUSA–I’m not really sure which one).  The store had a display for a computer program that went beyond my wildest dreams:  Microsoft Flight Simulator.  Though I was unable to purchase the program at the time, I had the opportunity to fly a Cessna 172 for a few minutes around the virtual skies of San Francisco.  It was an absolute blast and one that I wouldn’t soon forget.

Soon after Shawna and I got married, we purchased our own computer and the ‘98 version of Microsoft Flight Simulator.  I was finally able to fly on my own on all the different aircraft that the simulator provided.  The love of flying continued to grow later on as I had the opportunity to finally sit in the right seat of a cockpit of a Cessna 140, flying around northeast Georgia as a sightseeing passenger and learning a few basics on piloting small aircraft.  In addition, I was part of a three-man crew that flew a Cessna 172 from Athens (GA) to St. Augustine (FL) and back.

I love to fly–whether it is in the virtual skies of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator or in the real skies flying actual Cessnas.  While it has been a number of years now since I last went up in an actual plane, I’ve been desktop flying for almost ten years now as I have remained dedicated to the Flight Simulator franchise (I’ve purchased FS98, FS2000 Pro, FS2002 Pro, FS2004:  A Century of Flight and FSX Deluxe).  I’ve also purchased other flight simulators along the way including the most recent purchase–X-Plane 9 by Laminar Research.

Today, the realities of the economy have resulted in the job losses of many different corporations.  This past week, Microsoft announced the layoffs of 5000 jobs in their company–including all developers of the Flight Simulator program.  This has left a lot of doubt into the future of the Flight Simulator franchise.  For me, it is somewhat of a concern, but I thank God that He remains in control of the situation.  See, I don’t necessarily just consider flight simulating as a source of entertainment but, more importantly, as a tool to help me in my studies of aviation with future aspirations of obtaining my own pilot’s license and, with God’s grace and provision, as a tool to prepare me for ministry in the aviation field.

In closing, let me share with you a vision that I had a few months back as our church was discussing a recent mission trip to Nicaragua:

As we prayed for the nation of Nicaragua, I had a vision of a plane filled with supplies for different nations to take to distant lands–like Mexico or Nicaragua–possibly to deliver during the times when the different mission trips were held from our church.  I feel that God could use me as an important tool for our church in delivering these essentials whether it would be food or supplies in a plane rather than having to make stops in Texas (by car) for these items.  May God open these doors!

It is a dream and a vision that I’ve had for a while that has yet to dissipate for any reason–and it is my prayer that God would grant this dream in my life and for Him to open the doors to allow this to happen.

A new discovery

My wife, Shawna, wanted to blog about a very pertinent situation in her life that she wanted to share.  However, due to technical issues regarding her own blog, I was happy to allow her to be a special guest blogger on here on this Christmas Eve.  Hope you enjoy her blog as I may have her come on here every now and then as a contributor.  Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

–Chris

This Christmas eve I am sitting and watching It’s a Wonderful Life, and thinking- I do. I have a blessed life: a wonderful husband, two beautiful children, a great job, a nice car, a wonderful church, and most importantly a relationship with Jesus Christ! Yes, I am truly blessed!

But in the last two months I have made a discovery that although has always affected my life,  has impacted me in  a new way. The discovery? Aspergers. For me and one or both (still looking into all of it) of my children.  What is aspergers, you ask? A form of autism- a social disorder-and so much more.

My whole life I have felt “different”. I was much more comfortable in a library than at a party. I sat alone many many times during school. I was the last to be picked for sports, and if I did play, I humiliated myself by kicking the ball  behind me or not holding the bat the right way. I also was terrible at square dancing! Ugh- I hated gym on the days we had to square dance! I was a loud child always touching stuff and dancing around- singing a song 18 hours a day or so!- always observing sounds, smells. Reading until my eyes hurt- ignoring hunger, bathroom breaks, and conversation. In my books I could learn to be okay- not clumsy, witty, smart. I loved words and vocabulary and spelling. Writing was another of my hobbies. I could go on and on, but I will stop there.

My daughter and I are both getting tested in January, but based on the information, a variety of tests, and several talks with aspergers experts I believe we both will qualify. So, what does that mean for us? For our family?

the answer: I’m not sure. I am learning what has always been, but not sure what to do for me now- and what to do to help my child (ren).  I believe this year will be one of intense research and relearning.  I intend to keep a blog this year letting the world know a little bit about a time what life with aspergers is like. I want people to see that just because we have a high functioning form of autism, we are not stupid- just different. I also want others to know what it means to be a Christian with aspergers.

So, I hope you will stay with me and learn because there are many people out there who need support and love and knowledge.

Blessings to you all this Christmas!

(Please forgive the grammatical errors in this piece. I simply wrote what came out and did not edit it. I will have to say, however, that if I wasn’t so tired, I would go back and edit it anyway- right now!)

Christmas Greetings of 2008

The red line in the thermometer tube is getting shorter.  Multicolored lights–especially of the red and green variety–appear more prevalent out in the streets and neighborhoods.  Pine trees are being moved from the cold winds of the outdoors to the heated temperatures of the indoors.  The holidays are here.

My family and I arrived in Bronston, KY yesterday evening after a six hour drive through the foothills of Northwest Georgia and Tennessee.  This year, we are spending our Christmas holidays with Shawna’s parents in Bronston–about ten minutes southwest of Somerset and 45 minutes west of Interstate 75 near the Tennessee border.  The daily routines of childcare, teaching and paint tinting are put to rest for the week as we enjoy celebrating Christ’s birth with family.

To me, it seemed like the Christmas vacation was just what we needed after a month filled with activities that filled our December calendar to the point of overflowing.  Shawna and I had the priviledge of participating in “The Planet With The People”–a church Christmas production in which I was one of the three magi and Shawna was my wife (a case of art imitating real life).  Hannah participated in the children’s Christmas program at the church entitled “Finding the Christmas Star” as a member of the choir.  There were parties and get-togethers to attend.  Rehearsals to participate in.  Cheeseballs to make.  Gifts to shop for.  You get the idea.

Now, I’m not here to admonish anyone to stop and to reflect on the purpose of this season…that’s what the Holy Spirit can do.  However, keep this in mind during these last few days of 2008:  Regardless of whatever happens in our lives today–whether it is political, economical, social or any other aspect of the world around us–God is completely in control and we can rely and trust in Him despite any circumstances that we may face in the days ahead.

On behalf of my family to yours, I wish you the happiest of holidays.  May God continually bless you and your family during this holiday season and into 2009.

Merry Christmas!

Finishing the Race

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

I think I would consider the verse above as my personal favorite.  As a sports fan, it is easy to recognize what the purpose is for any athlete in sports:  to win and to earn the prize at the end.  We, as Christians, must learn that our ultimate goal in our walk with Christ is to earn the ultimate prize at the end:  eternal life and intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ in heaven.

This past summer, the Olympic Games were on full display in the city of Beijing.  It is always an enjoyable experience to see some of the Olympic athletes compete on the grandest of stages for a precious medal to hang around their neck.  Twelve years ago, it was especially special for me to witness the Olympic Games take place in my hometown of Atlanta, GA.  That year, my most vivid memory of the Games was the record-breaking performance of Michael Johnson in the 200-meter sprint.  This year, the memory of the Games has to be the eight gold medal performance of Michael Phelps in the swimming pool.

This past Sunday, our church had the honor of having Dr. James L. Davis bring the message to our congregation.  As the Vice President for Development at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, Dr. Davis is partnering with our church as we enter into a new phase in our mission of reaching out to the citizens of Athens and Northeast Georgia.  The message he spoke of was entitled “Finishing the Race” and gave us five pointers as to how we can finish the race that God has for us to finish and to obtain the prize:

• All distractions must be removed.  Distractions such as the opinions of others, the desire for earthly riches and the shame of our past transgressions that have already been forgiven by God can easily set us off course.
• We must remember the reason and the reward.
• We have to renew ourselves on a daily basis.
• We must resist discouragement.
• We must fully rely on Jesus Christ and not our own abilities.

In closing, I wanted to share with you an illustration from another Olympic Games that Dr. Davis shared with our church in his message–the Games of 1968 in Mexico City.  A marathon runner from Tanzania, John Stephen Ahkwari, had stumbled and fell during the race in that year.  Despite all hopes for a medal had been dashed with that fall, Ahkwari continued on with one leg bloodied and bandaged, making his way to the Olympic Stadium and finishing the race in last place.  After the race, he was approached by the great Olympic filmmaker, Bud Greenspan, who asked him why he kept going even after his fall.  Ahkwari’s response:  “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start a race, they sent me to finish it.”

Life’s not easy.  God didn’t promise us that it would be.  But, that prize at the end is worth finishing the race for–and I’m willing, with God’s help, to keep running the race.  After all, God didn’t create me to start this race–he created me to finish it.

A New Start (Part Two)…

A quick addendum to last night: Earlier this evening as I held my son, Jeremiah, during our quiet time before our children were to turn in for the night, I reflected on the words that I wrote last night on my blog and felt that God had impressed something on my heart in regards to the title that I originally gave the blog: Reinventing Myself. It was as if God was saying to me that my life didn’t really need to be reinvented. God’s creation needs no reinvention whatsoever. God created us in such a perfect way when we are born and we, in our own selfish ways, find any which way to mess it all up. However God, through His son Jesus Christ, has a way to redeem our shortcomings and to do so in such a loving, merciful manner. Thus, the change to last night’s blog title. What a great God we serve! Great is His faithfulness!

A New Start…

Welcome to my blog.  Call it new or call it version 2.0.  Whatever.  In any event, let’s just say that things are going to be a little different around here.

As you can see, “Hope, Households and Hockey Pucks” is no more.  But, before you try looking for my number to call and ask me if I had become an atheist, divorced or simply lost my passion for the game of hockey, let me testify as to what’s been happening to me over the past few months:

Back in either April or May, Shawna and I started attending a Sunday School class at our church called Shame Off You.  Shawna thought it would be an interesting class to attend and I thought I would join her for support.  Of course, I had no thought in mind that the class would apply to me.  My life in general, I felt, was normal.  Her life was the one that had the messed up childhood and that she needed help–not me.  As the weeks progressed on, I felt less and less attached to the class to the point that I had lost interest.  Later on as the summer commenced, Shawna wanted to sign both of us up for some personal counseling with the leaders of the class.  I bucked at first and thought that there was no way that I needed help.  So, it came as a great surprise when the first session of our counseling was completely focused on…you guessed it…yours truly.

By the end of the first session, however, the scales began to lift from my eyes and I was completely numb to the fact that I, too, was living a life of unhealthy shame.  My denial had soon become emotions of anger and depression.  I felt like the life that I had lived over the previous 30+ years of my life was life in Doomland.

Now, if you haven’t heard of Doomland, just imagine a Six Flags-like theme park where the devil takes your ticket, the balloons are all black and the fun rides are anything but fun.  (YOU MUST BE DOOMED THIS MUCH TO RIDE THE RIDES!!!)  Seriously, living a life of unhealthy shame is not fun at all.  But, we all must understand that life here on this earth is filled with pain, loss and failure.  We can’t escape it, but how we deal with the pain, loss and failure of life will either lead us into a life of victory or a life of doom.  For me, there was no way I could positively respond to the pain, loss and failure in my life.  I had felt that I wasn’t qualified to have that victory but, rather, be sentenced to having a lifelong pass to Doomland.

That was, however, until this summer when God began to work in my life and to show me that all I had been listening to were a bunch of lies from the “shame consultant” (a.k.a. satan).  Over the recent weeks, between the classes that I felt more involved in and the counseling sessions that Shawna and I continue to attend, more and more small victories are taking place in my life.  I know that God has much more work in my life, but I also know that it takes time and baby steps to fully understand all the promises that God has for me.  My outlook on my life is no longer negative but, rather, hopeful in what will happen for me and my family in the future.

Now, as far as the reinventing of this blog is concerned, I’ll be more than happy to share that with you another time soon.

To be continued…