Happy Thanksgiving! We are in Houston with our adult children and it was 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.
Although I’ve not mentioned it, I’ve been working on my fourth book much of this year, and sent it to the publisher just last week. I wouldn’t say it’s totally finished, but they never are. One could keep tweaking them and adding pertinent content ad infinitum.
The latest book is meant to be 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.
This 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 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.”
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 purpose 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 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.”