Category Archives: Travel & Spiritual Growth

Choose or Be Chosen?

We are made in God’s image, all humans, but we are not like Him — no one is. God is quite different from His creation or any created thing. He’s the paragon of power, truth, and beauty — all that is good.

I have a friend named Pablo. He says he’s “tried” to believe but just doesn’t feel what the rest of us feel in the community of faith. He also says he can’t get on board with a God who sends people to eternal damnation just because they are something like Hindus.

Well, that’s another issue with thousands of books and articles addressing it, just like the topic of this blog, “Choice.” I will say quickly and quietly, that subject may be several levels above our pay grade to understand or decide, especially at the beginning of our faith journey. Also, “eternal” damnation as described in the Bible may not be what you think it is or have been taught in many of our churches. You can read chapter 23 in my book, Puzzling 2020 or, Hell, A Final Word , by Edward Fudge, or watch the movie, Hell and Mr. Fudge for a different Biblical perspective.

More importantly, ask yourself, “Could I get on board with a God who made every human in His image, gave them breath, a beautiful earth and creation to enjoy, and the freedom to experience it all as they program their souls as they see fit? That may be the better question or way to approach God, with less pride and hubris and more gratitude. But approach Him as you wish. He allows you that amazing choice.

Ephanay? Paradox? Choice?

The Bible teaches that if you will choose God, He will choose you. And He knows your heart better than you do. He’s willing to be patient with you, to let you work out what you want to believe over time.

There is another important piece to this puzzle. There is a domain of dark, delusional, deluding spirits who fit into God’s plan in some way ambiguous to humans. They are constantly leading humans astray or deceiving us about truth, who God is, who they are, and who we are. And you? You get to decide or choose what you want to believe, as one caught up in this cosmic battle for your soul. At stake is eternal life, the ability to forge deep relationships, and know truth — also the Holy One.

Choose wisely. Dig deeply into the person and purposes of God by reading the Holy Bible for yourself with an open heart and mind to know truth if God will reveal it to you. It’s the perennial best-selling, most-widely-published book on the planet. It also makes the claim that it is inspired by the Spirit of God Himself for the purpose of making Him known to us, us known to ourselves, and us known to Him.

The Spirit and Your Faith

Now for the mysterious and mystical part of the equation — God’s Spirit. There is a whole branch of theology about how one comes to faith. It’s called soteriology. I find it as fascinating and mysteriously beautiful as it is simple. Jesus told his disciples to come to God the Father like a little child or don’t bother coming at all (Matthew 18:3). The way is simple enough for all, the young and old, the simple and wise — everyone.

It’s just that you don’t control it all. You only control your part, which is to believe and have faith like a child. Go ahead and ask the hard questions, the harder the better. Be intellectually honest of course. But be honest and respond in childlike fashion when revelation and answers come. I love hearing how people come to faith. You should ask people who believe how they came to faith when you see the Spirit of light in their lives. I tell the stories of three people coming to faith in my latest book, God Stays Near, Faith and Flight.

Landing the Plane

Read the Gospels over and over. Thomas Jefferson had only one book beside his bed, the words of Jesus lifted from the New Testament. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We have the written Word, the Bible. We have the Word of God in the flesh, Jesus the Son of God (John 1:14). He sows the seeds of faith and shows us the way to the Father, our Creator God (John 14:8-21).

Read the Gospels often and much, in silence and solitude, until you hear that still small voice that leads to faith. Reading shows your heart, that you desire to know the truth. Then leave the revelation part to Him. He will answer. But own your part and responsibility — your faith.

It’s instructive and insightful how often Jesus said, “Go in peace, your faith has made you well [or saved you]” (Luke 8:48, 7:50, 17:19, 18:42, and others). The Spirit of God does the major lifting, the heavy part, but at some point faith springs from you up to meet God, like a silent lightning strike, that seals and starts a new life — forever.

Shalom and Godspeed on your journey with Him to “Joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1Peter 1:8).

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“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

How should we view predestination? Are there people He just doesn’t call? “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).

You must choose what you think and believe about this. Then the seeming paradox will become more clear as you journey. In the words of St. Augustine, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16-17).

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV).

“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:16).

For Freedom

It’s the 4th of July! Of course everyone’s mind is on freedom and liberty, and the gift of a freedom-loving form of government God gave us through our forefather’s wisdom, sacrifice, and passion. But the desire for freedom has much deeper and personal spiritual roots in us all than political. You might be surprised how often this need and quality of life is addressed in the Bible.

The phase, “For freedom you have been set free,” came to me early this morning as I began to listen and ponder in my meditation and quiet time.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

Judged Already

I just received a message from a good friend of mine, Dwayne Russell, in the river valley that was related to what I was reading, hearing, and thinking. He quoted John 3:17- 20, the verses after the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, and then went on to his missive entitled, “Judged Already.”

“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved hrough Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:17-20 NASB1995 Emphasis Added).

“Judged already! The light has come but sadly we love darkness, because we can’t hide our stuff in the light. It is exposed. But when we see the light and embrace it, the exposure brings forgiveness, love, and strength we didn’t know we had, because it’s Him in us (Col 1:27).

Jesus will stand at the end of time and have the final say to those who love darkness. The light will win and one day there will be no more darkness except in hell itself.”

Walk In the Light and Live Free

Love light! Walk in light! Confess sin, and let the light shine upon it and in your hearts. Then it’s easier to repent and win over sin experiencing God’s forgiveness (washing) and power for living free—His Spirit! “…and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32).

That’s a summary, the over-arching truth, and the key to freedom and joy for all who will call upon the Lord. That is also the substance and summary of our pastor’s message Sunday from Galatians five. Dr. Ben Wilson said the apostle Paul gave us in Galatians (Chapter 5) two distortions about freedom and a path forward.

The two distortions:
(1) Moralism or legalism leads to slavery (v1-12).
(2) License (everything that feels good, do it) leads to death (v13-20).
The path forward:
(3) Walk in the Spirit and fulfill the law of love (v 13-26).

Avoid “the trap of sin and shame” as Martin Luther called it in, The Freedom of the Christian and the Bondage of the World.

Ben entitled his sermon, “Fully Convinced! Following Christ with Conviction in a World of Confusion.” Before ending with two verses from Galatians 5, here are some of his salient quotes:

“We must understand our freedom in Christ, which is true freedom.”

“God’s law gives you an excellent picture of righteousness, but it can’t make you righteous.” “It can’t set you free from sin and shame.”

“There is a Latin phrase from the reformation that can be translated ‘not able, not to sin.’ License does not equal liberty. Do not use your liberty to cast off restraint.”

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)

Brandishing Books

This blog is directed to authors and writers, while others may find it interesting.

I started writing a few years ago because I felt like I had a message burning within me to share with friends, family, the church, and the world at large. Since putting my faith in Jesus at an early age, I found that following Him is the path that brings me much truth, light, wisdom, and joy. I tell how I came to faith in my latest book, God Stays Near, Faith and Flight. Following Jesus, as outlined in the Bible, and with the ever-present help of His Holy Spirit has led me into many joyful and wonderful friendships and relationships during the journey. I believe that relationship may be the purpose of it all, along with knowing God and knowing Truth (Phil 3:10, John 8:31-32). To know our Creator Father, and to be known by Him, as we journey with others on our way to eternity with Him is exhilarating and satisfying (Eph 3).

My writing journey started with a book about David, king of Israel, about 1000 BC, and what he teaches us about God and about friendship. This turned into four books describing that path and experiences along the way. I continued to write because I felt the Holy Spirit’s leading to do so, found it inwardly fulfilling, and because the path I saw so clearly seemed to be obscured and hidden in our day by deception and dark spiritual forces needing to be combated.

“The pen is mightier than the sword.” (Edward Bulwer Lytton)

This expression voices the belief that the written word is more powerful and effective than violence in bringing about social, moral, political, and spiritual change. I want to be a warrior for truth and light—for the help and protection of family and friends in the kingdom of Heaven which seeks these values for all people. That’s why I write.

My journey seems humorous to me. I started out knowing so little about writing and being an author. I still feel like that. But I’ve learned a few things along the way that I can share with those of you writing or who aspire to do so for your own reasons.

Helping Hands

In an earlier blog I told you about booknook.biz, the people who helped me a great deal in bringing my last three books to fruition. They mainly serve in formatting and giving advice to get your book published and available on line and in book stores.

Recently I told these trusted folks that I was thinking of promoting my books some, and that I have received several unsolicited phone calls monthly for the last ten years trying to convince me to use the caller’s services to do so. The owner replied, “Let me know if you’re going to do that and I’ll connect you with someone I trust who really knows the business.”

Introducing “launchmybook.com” “BRINGING YOUR BOOK TO THE WORLD” “Book Publishing and Promotion For Established and First-Time Authors.” They have plenty of free courses and resources, and also publishing services for a fee, backed with a good track record and methods of doing business. Give them a look and see what you think, then compare their services to others you might find on the web or via recommendations. I found Joel’s discussion on “Traditional Publishing, Hybrid Publishing, or Self Publishing — What’s Right for You?” to be the best I’ve encountered and the most enlightening.

Since I have a good relationship with BookNook.biz, and they helped me with all my books except for A Friend of the King, which was a hybrid book using West Bow Press, I only used LaunchMyBook’s marketing services.

After sharing my intentions with Joel, the president, in a scheduled phone call, he suggested a program they do with Amazon involving a four-day give away of the eBook version of my newest book. They make sure we are marketing to the right category of readers, buy lists of readers in those categories from data companies, do a large email blast, see that the book has exposure to specific bloggers, and then track the results for those four days and in the weeks afterward.

They aspire to achieve 1000 downloads, and perhaps an Amazon best seller rating in one or more of the categories. The idea is that this creates a web buzz and exposure for the book, Amazon book reviews, and readers who will sample the books, tell others, and all this resulting in wider distribution and more sales. This model is known to work best if an author has three or more books.

The book achieved 2700 downloads over seven countries. And it achieved #1best seller rank in three categories: Biographies of Religious Leaders, Spiritual Growth, and Adventurers & Explorers Biographies. So the campaign exceeded the metrics and goals we had for it. The real test of course will be the number of books sold and delivered into the hands and hearts of readers. I was more than pleased with the whole process, even though it still seems a bit nebulous.

It was by faith and following a spiritual leading that I began writing. It’s been that way through all four books. So it seems natural that is continuing with some marketing to make the books more widely known. I hope this description of the process and the introduction to these helpful companies is beneficial to you.

Please write a review of God Came Near, Faith and Flight, after you’ve read a portion. Pray with me that the books find their way to all whose faith would benefit from reading them.

Here’s how to review the book, although a young woman in our community group did it in 30 seconds standing in our living room:):) It’s easy and doesn’t take long!

(1) Go to Amazon.com
(2) Type Dwayne Bell (or B. Dwayne Bell) in the search window
(3) Click on the book (God Stays Near)
(4) Click on reviews (the number to the right of the star ratings)
(5) Click on “Write a customer review”
(6) Give it a star rating
(7) Write a couple sentences about the book, an insight, or its impact on you

Thank you very much! Shalom in Christ Jesus the Lord.

Generosity

Our community group, consisting mainly of young people (20-30 something), is studying and discussing the classic spiritual disciplines or habits of faith in Christ as laid out by author and pastor John Mark Comer in his latest book, Practicing the Way. This week we looked at “Generosity.”

Among other things “Generosity” is said to comprise two sides of the same coin — “Giving,” and living a simple lifestyle (also called “Simplicity”). I’m beginning to see “Generosity” as an invitation to step further into God’s presence and better know His person. He is a giving God, beyond our comprehension and understanding. He’s magnanmous and as gracious to the poor as to the rich. Compared to Him, we’re all very poor, and it’s behoves us to realize it and act accordingly in His sight and walk in that light.

Concern For The Poor

In the very oldest book of our Bible, Job, we see that the ancients knew concern for the poor was a virtue and lack of concern for the poor invites God’s displeasure and discipline. The theme is continued throughout the Law of Moses, the Old Testament and into the New Testament in the teachings and examples of Jesus, His Disciples, and the Apostles. This is motivation enough: (1) To give to the poor pleases the Lord and is obedience to Him and His commands. (2) To give to the poor is to identify with the poor and acknowledge we are all poor before God. (3) To give to the poor is to experience a similar joy that God feels when He helps those in need and shows them grace so they feel His love and care.

But giving to the poor and practicing generosity in all realms of our lives as a way to know God better and experience Him more fully hasn’t been on my radar. It appeals to me as maybe the highest reason to practice generosity and simplicity. It’s a new mountain to climb and vista possibility in my spiritual journey that is exciting, new, and invigorating.

Take the Plunge — Or Baby Steps

Harvest Community Church, our community of faith, has some members who have begun a website to support some poor children in Uganda, Africa, in a church and school setting we know because we’ve been there twice and are going again this summer. It’s a bit like the Compassion International model of child sponsorship, but we know these kids and the adults that love and serve them personally. The pastor’s wife, Judith, mother of four, was a Project-Compassion child herself growing up in the slums of Kampala. Now she administers this program in their school with beautiful results we have seen and experienced.

I encourage you to pray about it, and consider helping one of these little ones to a better life, and perhaps to be a spiritual leader in their community and nation. That would be generous, pleasing to the Lord, and it might open your eyes spiritually to things you’ve been missing. His joy as you journey and lay up treasure in heaven!

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Photos from HCC in Uganda

Webpage to make donations

The Generosity Practice Session 04: Be Generous to the Poor John Mark Comer

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)

“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.” (Luke 12:33)

Free eBook This Week!

For those of you who read books on iPads or Kindles or other eBook platforms, you can get my latest book, God Stays Near, Faith and Flight, for FREE April 16 through April 20 by clicking here!

All my books are about devotion to Christ and inspiration and motivation for living out that faith, even though they all have a slightly different bent and emphasis.

“A Friend of the King“ is about David’s faith in God and what he teaches us about God and friendship — primary motivations for followers of Christ.
“God Came Near” is a real-life story about God’s activity in our family’s life, beginning with the supernatural healing of our daughter.
“Puzzling 2020“ is a 70-chapter worldview devotional for Christians or thinkers about how a Judeo-Christian or Biblical worldview makes sense of the pandemic and living in our day.
“God Stays Near” is a sequel to God Came Near, about how God has been as near and faithful in our 60-70s as in our 20-30s, with adventure flying stories, and insights about the traditional spiritual disciplines of our ancient-future faith.

Thanks for giving God Stays Near a look, and please give it a rating with a 2-3-sentence comment, along with a prayer that it travels to those who might benefit. Please share this blog or the link to the book as widely as you can. Thank you!

Shalom, and blessings as you journey!

Dwayne

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Jesus (Matthew 24:35)

Good Friday Reflection (from an earlier post)

New Book – God Stays Near

Here in the mid south we are in a deep freeze that’s a bit unusual for us with 4-8 inches of snow blanketing the area and temperatures near 0º F or -18º C! It’s a great day to stay by the fire and read.

I’m announcing the arrival of my new book, God Stays Near – Faith and Flight, which became available as a paperback from Amazon February 17th. A hard cover and eBook version will follow shortly. The short blurb on the book’s cover reads:

“A former American Airlines captain and USAF fighter pilot tells stories about faith and flight during the retirement chapter of living and how God has stayed near for joy, protection, and adventure. Included are stories of flying to Alaska, Idaho, Honduras, and picking up a new airplane from the factory in the Pacific NW with a friend—all flying adventures he never saw coming when retiring professionally. Intermixed are stories of current and past faith adventures that continue to shape flight through life as God stays near. Woven in the mix is advice to peers and the next generation on how to experience God and enjoy life to the full until the end via the spiritual disciplines—the habits and rhythms of the ancient-future faith in Jesus Christ. You will enjoy these stories of faith and flight and be inspired to adventure in your realm.”

The book is very real and personal too, as it may be my last, except possibly photo books, for meditation and devotion. I tell about an airplane crash I had in January two years ago, about some of my most personal spiritual experiences, and God’s faithfulness and leading through these chapters of life — staying near.

The cover is from a painting by a treasured friend Ralph Irwin (1936-2019), an artist who did the art work on my first book, A Friend of the King, and was by my side on many kingdom missions in our communitty of faith in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as in Belize. I had a strong spiritual impression to use this artwork even before I knew which direction the book would take. The book is largely about “soul care” or practicing the ancient spiritual disciplines or habits and rhythms that serve to keep our souls healthy, vibrant, and knowing God better each day and year of our sojourn. There are spirits involved, angels light and dark, from a different realm, but active in our realm and interacting with us, many times without our notice, especially if we neglect these practices and fail to maintain spiritual sensitivity.

I think when you read the book, you’ll get it as you go. We’re all on a journey, to enjoy and live the gift of life and choice that is magnanimously given by our Father in heaven. We travel, as the title to Ralph’s painting suggests, “From Portal to Portal.” There are spirits involved. It’s best to understand how they operate, especially those who are enemies, and stay connected to the Father of Lights.

Here’s a quote from the book: “As an international airline pilot, I had the opportunity to spend many days in Paris, London, and Madrid. I would frequent the Louvre, the National Gallery, and the Prado art museums. The number of paintings of angels and demons in conflict from the early Middle Ages to the Enlightenment in these world-famous art repositories is staggering. I used to think, ‘Wow, these people were superstitious!’ But now I think they were more in touch with reality and the spiritual realm than modern humans.”

That’s a tiny, but important aspect of the book. I hope you’ll give it a look and profit from it spiritually for the rest of your soul and the rest of your days. Reading is a spiritual discipline, as is solitude, slience, meditation, and taking time alone to think and hear from God. So stay warm, cozy up somewhere with a blanket or cup of coffee, and read a good book. Godspeed on your journey.

Click here to order

New Book Coming Soon

Happy Thanksgiving! We are in Houston with our adult children and it is lovely to be with family and just relax, rest, and be thankful for all of God’s good gifts–life, breath, relationships, and grace. Also celebrating flight, as we flew the new airplane here.

I’ve been working on my fourth book much of this year, and sent it to the publisher just last week. It’s not totally finished, but they never are. One could keep tweaking them and adding pertinent content ad infinitum.

The latest book is a sequel of sorts to my second book, God Came Near. That book recounted several encounters with the Holy Spirit, that changed our perspective, paridigm, and worldview of how the Spirit of God works with humans during their earthly sojourns–Biblically, historically, and personally. We were living the decades of our thirties and forties.

The new book is a continuation of similar stories framed in our fifties and sixties entitled, God Stays Near (subtitle to be determined. :)) This is how the book jacket or cover will possibly read: “A former American Airlines captain and USAF fighter pilot tells stories about faith and flight during the retirement chapter of living and how God has stayed near for joy, protection, and adventure. Included are stories of flying to Alaska, Idaho, Honduras, and picking up a new airplane from the factory in the Pacific NW—all flying adventures he never saw coming when retiring professionally. Intermixed are stories of current and past faith adventures that continue to shape flight through life as God stays near. Woven in the mix is advice to peers and the next generation on how to experience God and enjoy life to the full until the end via the spiritual disciplines—the habits and rhythms of the ancient-future faith in Jesus Christ. You will enjoy these stories of faith and flight and be inspired to adventure in your realm.”

I appreciate all prayers for the book as it enters it final phase before distribution and being available for purchase. And I welcome any suggestions or comments. There is still time for minor additions or changes during the next month, and hopefully it will be available in January!

I spent some quiet time meditating on John 14 this morning, and was amazed at the simple, clear truth Jesus shared about who hears spiritually and who does not–who comes to faith, what that looks like, and those who do not. This passage also includes some of the most important revelation on the purposes and working of the Holy Spirit in the whole of Scripture. Then, after all of that, Jesus turns to his disciples and says, “Get up, let us go from here” (John 14:31b).

Seems like the Spirit just spoke that to me, “The book is finished; let’s get up and go from here to the next adventure, living life today, while there is light.”

Self Control

“Know Thyself” (Pythian proverb on ancient temple in Delphi, Greece)

KNOW THYSELF
CONTROL THYSELF
BE WHO YOU WANT TO BE

That’s what I was hearing as I awakened just now.

Self-control (selfctrl) is also a ministry my young friend Ian has founded with his wife Hayley. It’s so needed and crucial to happiness and long-term joy. It means making decisions time and time again that make you who you are and who you want to be—who you choose to become.

If you get to know Jesus, that’s who you’ll choose to imitate. He’s the best!

Ian is my mentee. Well, that’s what he calls himself. I call him a friend. We have a lot in common, even though he’s younger than my son at about half my age. What we hold most in common, and most dear, is a love for Jesus and His ways.

I know Ian well. We went on a mission to Africa last summer and were roommates. The young church we went to support in Uganda was a loving community. But Africa was a hostile spiritual atmosphere, and meeting the challenge of spiritual warfare for the first time with a friend like Ian was a bonding experience. We’ve also spent more than a few hours sharing lives, struggles, and choices in the Old Pine coffee shop or my living room. I consider our friendship a treasure and look forward to knowing Ian even better as we encourage each other, pray for each other, and fight more spiritual battles—battles that are increasingly about self-control.

We live in a culture, country, and time where people are out of control. They have cast off restraint. They no longer believe or know that the person who exercises the most self-control enjoys God’s favor, long-term happiness, and a character worth having.

Self-control and these character traits can be experienced, won, and achieved by Practicing the Way. That’s the name of the new book by John Mark Comer. It’s also the practice of Jesus’ followers throughout the centuries—our ancient-future faith’s habits, rhythms, and disciplines. It’s a way of living life above the fray. It’s spending time with the Master daily so you can focus on the most important issues—those of character—and experience the power of His Spirit to help you as you go.

I’m going to pour a cup of coffee and read my Bible now. Godspeed to you on your journey, and happy Labor Day!

“As the deer pants for streams of water,  so my soul pants for you, my God.”
(Psalm 42:1 NIV)

“Take my [Jesus’] yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
(Matthew 11:29)

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
(Mark 8:36 KJV)

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
(Galatians 5:22-23a)

OshKosh B’Gosh

When I tell my friends I just returned from Oshkosh, most of them ask, “What’s that?” A few will blurt out the slogan, “OshKosh B’Gosh,” which is the name brand of a famous line of children’s clothing, known especially for its marquee striped overalls, based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, since 1895. But most any pilot will recognize it as the host city of the world’s greatest, largest airshow and aircraft display every summer since its inception in Milwaukee in 1953. Here’s an editorial about this year’s event, known as EAA AirVenture.

I just returned from the 2024 edition last week. It was great, as usual! The 2024 numbers aren’t in yet, but last year’s 70th anniversary saw 677,000 aircraft enthusiasts attend the week-long show. They got to look at 10,000+ aircraft, a fleet that makes the Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh the world’s busiest airport during the event. Pilots conducted an average of 148 takeoffs or landings per hour, with up to three airplanes landing on big colored dots painted on three runways at the same time, then turning off into the grass, taxing to parking spaces guided by an army of well-orchestrated volunteers. Amazing!

It’s like a huge city springing up out of the ground almost overnight at the regional airport of Oshkosh, a city of about 70,000 located on the western shore of Lake Winnebago. People are there to gawk at airplanes and talk about airplanes — the oldest flying to the latest, greatest, newest technology. Military, civilian, home-built, factory-built, aerobatic — you name it, and it’s there.

One of the main reasons I went this year, besides my love of aviation and the camaraderie of flying friends from NWA and FSM (Fort Smith, AR), was to share the experience with two young aviators. Shepherd is an engineering college student who won an AOPA scholarship in high school, paying for him to get his pilot’s license. When I first met him at church, he expressed to me an interest in becoming a missionary pilot. I told him that although I was a retired military and airline pilot, I didn’t know much about that, but I would help him in any way I could. I immediately thought of Oshkosh and remembered that all the mission aviation organizations are represented there in one place each year.

The second young aviator, Samuel, is the son of one of my best fighter pilot friends. He’s seventeen, a senior in high school, has already soloed, and is working toward getting his private pilot’s license before beginning engineering university year after next in Missouri. He wants to be an airline pilot. Excellent! I thought, and his dad agreed, sponsoring his way up to the event with Shepherd and me.

There’s too much to say about the show in a blog, so I’ll let my photos do the talking. But I will report that Shepherd spent several hours talking to mission organizations and pilots serving around the globe in some beautiful, challenging places to fly — providing airlift, humanitarian, medical, language translation, and spiritual ministry to groups in great need of such.

I went around with Shepherd much of the time and learned there was a great deal I didn’t know about mission aviation. I knew the two biggest organizations, MAF and JARS, were there, but there were more than a dozen similar support organizations forming a big, beautiful community of aviators and worldwide support personnel — many needing pilots, especially now, as there is a worldwide shortage of pilots. Moody Bible Translators has an aviation school in Spokane, WA. MMS Aviation in Ohio trains mechanics and pilots for the mission field. So does the Texas Air Corps in Bullard, TX. Samaritan’s Purse was there, and Samaritan Aviation (a separate organization) serving the remote villages of Papua New Guinea. And that’s not half of them. Christ’s kingdom is bigger than you think and growing all the time, without fanfare, just loving and serving people.

This was an exciting development to experience, learn about, and hopefully facilitate young aviators to find the path forward in their flying dreams and aspirations. I hope you’re as inspired by the photos and these fine young men as I am. Shalom.

Oshkosh 2024 Photos

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“If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me” (Psalm139:9-10).

“Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31a).

Adventure Malaysia

This week, I returned from Malaysia, where eight friends from our church went on the friendship, mission, and travel adventure of a lifetime. Our leader, who lived with his family in China in the past and is connected to some manufacturing company, made a friend in Malaysia who invited us to come.

This friend is a Malaysian pastor, and he introduced us around to some of his friends who served as our hosts and guides as we explored the Island of Borneo (now known as Sabah, Sarawak, and part of Indonesia). We concentrated our exploration on the cities of Semporna, Lahad Datu, and Tawau in Sabah and the islands easiest to visit from there for snorkeling and sightseeing. Two of our young guides were pastors, so we asked if we could experience their churches. They obliged.

We found the people friendly, and they welcomed us into their lives and culture. Not being more knowledgeable, I assume this is more of the Indigenous people group. Malaysians are known for their hospitality, and there are many people groups and cultures living there. We saw no other Americans while we were exploring that part of the island and only a few European travelers. The populations we encountered were mainly native Malaysians and Chinese tourists.

Thankfully, Tim and wife Lindsay could guide us on food choices along with our hosts. The food was delicious and inexpensive — adding to the adventure. And several in our group were much more “foodies” than I had known.

Malaysia and neighboring Indonesia are primarily Muslim. There is a fair amount of religious freedom, with segments of the population being Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian. On our arrival day in the country, we decided to rest a bit from the long (35-hour) travel and recover from jet lag. Tim was familiar with the city from his business travels, and using Grab (Asian Uber), he snagged us a couple of cars to transport us from the airport hotel to the Batu Caves, a beautiful, unusual Hindu religious site.

Then, we used Grab to get to downtown Kuala Lumpur to see the impressive city center with business and government buildings, including the Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin skyscrapers at 88 stories. They are officially a bit higher than the Sears Tower in Chicago, which held the tallest building record for many years. We also strolled through Chinatown, which was a short ride away.

We returned to the hotel for our friends’ briefing on the country, had a good night’s sleep (I think!), and the next day, boarded another three-hour flight to Sabah, our main destination for the visit. I had traveled with these friends to Honduras the previous year, so I knew they were tough and would soldier through the travel without complaint.

Our reward was soon a nice hotel in Semporna, where we hung our hats for the entire stay, except for excursions and flying out of Tawau. The people were friendly and helpful, our hosts were gracious, and the scenery exquisite. It was just like I imagined the South China Sea to look, maybe better. Peaceful, serene, beautiful white sand with aqua-blue water housing coral reefs and the most colorful array of fish imaginable — along with comfortable temperatures and a gentle breeze moving palm trees and clouds with its sway. Enchanting.

Our guides welcomed us into their lives and families, showing us that the Spirit of God moves similarly to people all around the globe. And around the globe, it is! Thirteen time zones different from CDST, south of Vietnam and north of Australia, get you in the area as the peninsula of Malaysia extends off the south tip of Thailand. And off the very south tip of Malaysia is the tiny, powerful island, city, and nation of Singapore.

It’s far. For pricing and connections, we elected to go east through Qatar on Qatar Airways (15 hours from DFW), connecting to Malaysia Airlines (8 hours) to KUL, Kuala Lumpur.

Overall, it was a trip, a cultural and spiritual experience none of us will soon forget. Grateful for the experience, the company, and our new friends, we returned to our homes, families, and friends who held down the fort so we could experience this culture, place, and people for ourselves—an unforgettable experience.

Malaysian Friends Photos

Malaysia Travel Adventure

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“The Lord has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations” (Psalm 98:2).

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad” (Psalm 97:1).

“For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15).