Just A Drop In The Bucket List

There are many for whom a bucket list is a place where great hopes are kept alive - a compilation of adventures that, once experienced, would bring meaning and fulfillment to our finite lives.  For some, however, they turn out to be the butt cans of life where the embers of our dreams go to be slowly extinguished.  For most of my life,  I have never consciously considered keeping a bucket list - even after seeing the movie - until I got very close to retirement.  I just never felt the need for it.

     During the course of my very privileged life, I have seen many dreams come true.  I found Christ and redemption at the tender age age of 15, married my high school sweetheart at 19; served my country as an Air Force enlisted man, officer, and government contractor for forty-five years; rose to the top of the corporate ranks; set foot on most of the civilized world; and found my forever home on Florida’s Emerald Coast.  Whatever dreams might have been fodder for a bucket list, I had already been living out every day.  “Living the dream” could be the title of my biography, and yet there was always that one wish that would not stop bouncing around in the back of mind – learning to fly.

     I have been a student of general aviation since I was 27 years old, when I enrolled in my first flight school at the Eglin AFB Aero Club in 1985.  I took my first solo flight at Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview that same year, but soon after I put flying on the back burner, as my wife, Susan - a new mom - put her foot down about this “dangerous” expensive hobby. 

     During the course of the next 37 years, I intermittently trained at three different flight schools, but the rigors of my jobs, business travel, and the expense of flying always seemed to keep me on the ground.  As an Air Force officer, I applied for pilot training four times, but was never accepted because of childhood allergies I have long-regretted disclosing.  When I left the Air Force to become a government contractor, the dream of flying went with me and I logged more than one and a half million miles on Delta Airlines, unfortunately, none of them from the cockpit.      

     Then I retired, and I wondered if I might finally be able to pull this off.  I started checking out flight schools in our area, but never found anyone who seemed to take seriously the idea of some 61-year old fool learning to fly.  It was a little discouraging, until I remembered that episode of the Andy Griffith Show where Aunt Bea took flying lessons.  I figured if she could do it, so could I.  So, I trudged ahead and discovered AMS Flight School at Peter Prince Airport in Milton, Florida, where they took me very seriously and connected me with two great instructors who would ultimately lead me through the two courses of study for my Private Pilot Certificate and my Instrument Rating. 

     The requirements to become a pilot aren’t really all that daunting. You must be at least seventeen years old.  Check.  You must be proficient in English.  I am from Alabama, but still, check.  You must take a ground school course and fly forty or more hours, most with an instructor but some solo, some at night and some cross country.  Check.  You must pass a physical given by an FAA-licensed medical examiner.  Hmm, I was really close on this one.  Just needed to lose weight, get my blood pressure under control, lower my blood sugar, change my allergy medicines, buy new glasses and replace one knee.   Add in the interruptions of Covid and hurricane Sally and it took about a year and a half and a hundred flying hours to obtain my coveted license  -  about twice as many as the average student – but I got it.

     So, bucket list empty, right?  After all, when I started this adventure, the one drop in my bucket list was simply to fulfill the lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. By the time I did, however, I found many new droplets had formed.  So, I am back at AMS working on my Commercial Pilot’s Certificate, and I hope to spend my retirement years teaching people to fly.  I have a long way to go and so much more to learn but, in my opinion,  that’s one of the greatest benefits of flying.   

     If there is one consistent lesson I have learned about flying it is this -  you never stop being a student.  It’s what I love most about it.  If you are like me, you will find the most frightening prospect of taking up the rocking chair is the lost challenge of learning new skills and forging new trails.  When we stop learning, we stop living.  As the unknown philosopher reminds us, “Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you.” 

     That very same tag line can be applied to our Christian life.  Despite its prominence on my bucket list, I did not retire so I could learn to fly.  I retired so I could devote my full attention to our church, and God has allowed me to do just that for the past three and a half years.  As I have grown older, I find my bucket list items are much less focused on me experiencing the world, and much more focused on me helping the world experience Christ.  As I have grown in this direction, God has given me a new dream to pursue – one so large as to fill the entire bucket with a single drop.  Acts 2:17 says, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”  Well, this old man’s dream is to see the Church earn back the right to be the first place where people seek answers to their problems.

     Where will I start to pursue this dream?  I think I’ll start in my own heart.  Like many of you, I find elements of our culture very difficult to stomach and, like many of you, I don’t always respond to it in the most effective ways.  That’s true - from my perspective - of the Church, as well.  Andy Crouch, Author and Praxis Labs Partner for Theology, identifies four responses to the culture that have not only failed to bring about change, but have damaged the Church’s credentials to be the purveyor of Christ’s love and grace in the world.

     The first is to condemn the culture.  He calls this an “amazingly inert” option because condemnation never compels anyone to change.  The second is to critique it – respond with ideas about how Christians should, and mostly should not, engage in the culture (don’t drink, don’t smoke, etc.). The problem is that critique is often based on analysis that is not universally accepted, so it is often ignored.   The third is to copy it – wait for the world to do something and then come along and add a Jesus layer to it.  The best example is probably Christian music, which is not a bad thing, but copying usually leaves the Church woefully behind the culture and always on the edge of irrelevance.  The last and most pervasive response today is simply to consume it – accommodate the culture for our own pleasure and satisfaction, which only entrenches it further.

     I am determined to put these responses behind me – to stop screaming at the TV when sin is celebrated in my face, to stop telling others how they should live, to stop appropriating the world’s methods and standards in an attempt to be relevant, and stop consuming the very things I want to see disappear in the world.  Instead, I want to make a greater effort to mirror Jesus, bless people, renew the culture, and die to self.   It seems to me the best first step toward changing the culture and restoring the Church to its intended place among humanity is for me as an individual to exercise the power God has given each of us through our creation in His likeness to create new elements of culture that will promote His purposes and to cultivate those that already do.

    So, I guess it’s true after all - revival starts in me.  God didn’t just give me a pilot’s certificate.  He gave me the desire for it, along with the determination and strength to change and do my part to earn it.  In that same way and by His grace, I have, as Elvis Presley once said, “lived every dream I have ever had a hundred times.” I expect the same will be true for this dream.  It's a big dream I know, but I have a big bucket and an even bigger God.

Cal Vandivier is the head of our finance committee, a lay delegate to our Annual Conference, and a licensed pilot.

So Much More

As a kid, youth camp has always filled me with both excitement and anxiety. I think I have more anxiety than excitement as an adult in charge of a group of adolescents. This time around will definitely be different as the one that’s supposed to be “in charge.” But, I am lucky to be with a great group of volunteers that I know love our students and I feel a little more at ease that I’m not alone. I’m also reminded of what youth camp did for me in my spiritual development that gets me excited for our students going to camp.

There’s something special about getting away from the normal routines at home, away from all the distractions that keep up us from dwelling on what’s most important, surrounding ourselves with others that are on the same spiritual journey as we are – even if just for a week. Times like youth camp allow us to become a little less self-absorbed – which is especially good for adolescents.

However, adolescents aren’t the only ones that deal with nearsightedness. We are all consumed by the distractions of daily living from time to time. We often forget that God has so much more for us. God has so much more of Himself to give, so much more love for us, so much more planned for us, and so much more power for us. Our students will be learning more about how God wants “So Much More” for our lives beyond what we see on our screens or in our daily routines.

Pray for our youth and volunteers this coming week as we head to Orange Beach, AL.

Pray for safety.

Pray for the spiritual development of our students.

Pray for our volunteers.

Pray that we will remember that God has “So Much More” of Himself to give to us.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21

I Caught You Smiling Again

Following many worship services, a dear friend, Dave Stimpson, will come up to say hello and express his appreciation for the worship team's efforts to invite all into a closer encounter with God through the songs shared in that service. He often says, "I caught you smiling again up there." Others have shared similar comments reflecting that I always seem joyful while the team is leading in worship. My reply: guilty as charged! I find joy when I join with you in praising our mighty God! Regardless of how I may feel at the beginning of a service, something special warms my heart when the team and congregation join in lifting songs of praise and worship to our Lord! I guess that is why Psalm 100:1-3 is one of my favorite verses:

                      1  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

                      2   Worship the Lord with gladness;

                           come before him with joyful songs.

                       3  Know that the Lord is God.

                           It is he who made us, and we are his;

                           we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

It just so happens that the worship team is currently studying the book of Philippians, in which the apostle Paul, writing from prison, includes the word "joy" sixteen times in his letter to the Church at Philippi. If Paul can be joyful from jail because of his relationship with Christ, I want that same relationship too!

Does this mean I am always joyful? The honest answer is, of course not! Like so many, I deal with the same stresses and hardships of this world that can easily rob us of a sense of peace and happiness if we allow it to. But even when these challenging and uncertain times weigh me down, I, like Paul, can focus on following and worshiping our Awesome God. And when I do, He lifts me and renews my hope with a sweet sense of His Spirit's presence. 

Something special (and joyful) occurs when we gather to seek and praise God together! Jack Hayford shared, "Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped." The Psalmist must have also sensed this when he shared in Psalm 92:1-2: It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.

A significant source of my joy comes from understanding that regardless of what happens in this fallen world, I can always experience the peace and JOY of a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit through joining with our church family in heartfelt praise and worship of our Mighty God. I am so grateful I am a part of this church family where I find joy and encouragement as we seek Him who provides us with all good things, including joy!

I recently saw on the Saddleback Community Church website: "Church isn't an event to attend - it's a place to belong. We need each other to get through this journey because we can do more, be more, and endure more when we're walking through life together."

So dear church family, I look forward to seeing you Sunday! Yes, you may catch me smiling again.

Robert Trigg joined the NUMC staff in the fall of 2017 where he serves as our Administrative Support person in the church office. He is also a long-term member of our Worship Team where he plays bass and is caught smiling on a regular basis. Robert and his wife, Martha, are retired educators and have been members of NUMC since 1994.

I'm A Blamer

At a leadership conference several years ago, Brene Brown shared a story that resonated so much that it’s constantly in the back of my mind. One morning, she was drinking coffee on her couch and spilled her cup all over herself. The first thought she had was “Dang it, Steve!”. Steve is her husband, who by the way wasn’t even in the house at the time. However, the night before he had been late or had been working on some project that kept her up past her normal bedtime. Therefore, in the morning, she helped herself to a second cup of coffee, and it was this cup that she spilled on herself.

She uttered one phrase that stuck with me, “I’m a blamer”. Even though Steve really had nothing to do with her spilling her drink, in her mind she immediately connected the dots between the late night, the second cup of coffee, and the spill and blamed Steve for it.

I have to admit, I’m a blamer too. I am a master at mentally connecting all the red strings from different situations and making them lead to someone else. But one of the things that I’ve learned is that by admitting that I have a tendency to blame everyone or everything else for my problems, I am better at taking the extra few seconds to process what really happened. Yes, I stepped on a lego while barefoot. Yes, I want to blame my kid for leaving a lego in the middle of the floor. But it’s not really his fault that I stepped on it. It’s my fault for having a lego party with him the night before and not picking up every single piece. It’s my fault for walking into a hazardous environment barefoot, and it’s my fault for not paying attention to where my feet were landing. And to be fair, when my wife told him to clean his room because she was tired of stepping on things, he promptly replied “Wear shoes”.

We see early on in the Bible that blaming others has been around since the fall. “It was the woman YOU put here.” “It was the serpent”. We refer to these as “scapegoats”, which might surprise you to find out that this is actually a Biblical term. It’s found in the book of Leviticus and was literally a goat that all the blame was placed on and then released into the wilderness to make an atonement for sins. Then Jesus came and became the scapegoat for all of our sins even though he is completely blameless. We have to stop blaming others for our own choices. It starts with admitting our own guilt, but it ends with Jesus reconciling us back to God which is a wonderful place to be.

What's For Dinner?

The postal food drive this year for our food pantry was an awesome success. Our pantry is set to provide healthy food for appreciative individuals and families in our community. And after a busy day at the store and now dating and sorting food, I return home, and face the age old dilemma...WHAT  AM I GOING TO MAKE FOR DINNER TONIGHT?? 

In my evening leisurely reading, I have been learning about how people lived during biblical times. It comes as no surprise that back then wives spent the better part of their day in meal preparation. In general two meals were eaten, as the mid day meal was practically non existent due to the heat of the day. (Same for me!)  Bread was made from scratch daily (ok, not at my house). Meals were a gathering time for family and friends. Hospitality of a meal was one way to show one another kindness. Nomadic hospitality is legendary. Travelers were always welcomed, being offered a simple meal from what was available.

So how does this apply to our food pantry and the food drive? 

Are we not called to be hospitable and serve others? 

Individuals come to our We Care office and are offered hospitality. They are offered a drink, a listening ear, and a friendly smile. And they are given food. They are offered simple nutritious food, from what has been given to us, we now are able to share. 

So the question of what to make for dinner tonight? How about rephrasing it to what should I serve for dinner tonight? How can I show kindness and hospitality? A simple meal, from what is available, shared with others. The preparation of the meal may have changed since Biblical times, but the task of feeding a family remains the same. In We Care we have simply widened the circle of who we are serving diner to tonight. Not our immediate family, but the family who comes to our office. 

Hospitality is an awesome gift to share. We are so blessed to be able to share it in abundance.

Gen. 18:2-8

2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs[b] of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

Laura Beth Snow is the manager at our Good Neighbor Thrift Store and We Care. Her laugh and smile are contagious and she continues to break store records on a regular basis.