I must have told Mr.K that I was a LOW time student pilot at least 3 times. He was a flight instructor that happened to be dating my daughter, and that is how I knew him. I had only about 15-20 hours all of which had been training on how to fly by Visual Flight Rules using pilotage (navigating by finding land marks on the ground and matching them with those on aviation maps.)
My partner, friend and co-founder of the ministry, Mr. C, was a horse lover. One day we were talking and Mr C reported that he needed to go down to Ocala and see his horse. So, the thought came to my mind that we could save Mr.C a lot of time by flying. Mr.C liked the idea of being able to get down and back in one day without having to drive. So I called Mr. K whom I had never flown with. He would set everything up.
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When we got to the FBO that morning, Mr.K had a Cessna 182 ready to go. Now the deal was a three way winner. He would fly down and I would fly back Mr.K would get flying hours and CFI time and I would get instruction and flying hours. Mr.C got to save a lot of time and have the fun and excitement of flying in a general aviation airplane. I trusted Mr.K he was a very high time multi-ticketed CFI. His record was meticulous. So off we went.
Now I had only flown relatively low horse power Pipers. The biggest engine that I had ever driven was 160 horse power. This Cessna was a high powered Skylane with a 230 horse power engine. The difference between driving a Golf and a Porsche.
It was just a beautiful morning. Smooth air, no chop, not a cloud in the sky . We were flying at about 140 Knots or 163 miles an hour. Incredibly fast for me. We made it in a little less than 2 hours and its a 5.5 hour drive. So for the complete trip we saved Mr. C 7hours of driving time. And time was the thing that Mr.C had the least of.
Mr.C showed us his beautiful race horse and introduced us to his trainer, we had a great time. Then it was time to fly back. I was flying left seat and Mr.K moved over to the right seat. As it turned out this guy was a jackbooted Nazi about flying. He was totally merciless and demanded precision. We took off and checked in with Jax center they gave us our squawk frequency and had us on radar. Mr.K did not want to look bad with the Air Traffic Controllers in Jacksonville.
So as I flew off course a couple of times, He blew a gasket!! after the second time, he blasted into my headset, “FLY THE BUG!!!!!!!!”
Even though I was strictly a Visual Flight Rules student, I knew what he meant. He wanted me to set my eyes on a small device attached to the magnetic compass that was locked on our heading. Now for a visual guy to lock onto instruments is not an easy adjustment. Not looking out in front for landmarks was a challenge.
Every time I looked out the windscreen he tersely repeated his demand! ‘FLY THE @#%#@ BUG!!!!!!!”
To make things worse, I wasn’t doing a very good job of maintaining my assigned altitude even with full rudder and elevator trim. Mr.K was making me nervous. Mr.C in the back seat was having quite a different experience from the trip down. In addition to my poor control, the higher horse power and airspeed were giving me trouble. Turbulence is always present in the summer in South Georgia because the sun heats up plowed and cultivated fields. So my buddy pal was getting a pretty rough ride. Just as we got back to Atlanta things smoothed out and I greased the landing and Mr.K chilled out. But he told my daughter I was a lousy pilot. Which based on that flight was true.
Mr. C was a great sport and never complained once. I learned to “FLY THE BUG!” I went on to be a fairly good student pilot. Mr.K got gone from my daughters life
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Now, you ask, what does this have to do with Jesus? Allow me to explain.
Many times in life we are led off course, by things that we see which are subject to change, exactly like the topography, geography and landmarks on the ground. The bug stays centered on the course line, no matter the circumstances outside of the airplane like clouds etc. In our daily lives, we get bad reports from doctors, fear of economic insecurity, our trust violated, used by others etc. These things distract us from the solution to our problems.
Paul our teacher sent from Jesus, put it this way: “We cast our eyes not on the things that are seen, but on the unseen, because the things that we see are temporal or temporary and subject to change, but the things that we don’t see are eternal and are of God.” (2Corinthians4:18)
Jesus and His Words are unchanging truths they never vary, they never deviate from course. If we stay focused on the promises of Jesus regardless of the circumstances in our lives we will always be on our true course. Jesus said, “In this life you will find tribulation, but be of GOOD CHEER for I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33) There is not one circumstance in our lives that Jesus has not given us the answer to, and the power to overcome. He gave us His Power.
“FLY THE BUG!” Lock your mind and your body and your Spirit on the Words of Jesus. Never deviate from your focus on the truth, which is the Word! Never disengage your auto pilot which is His faith that He gave you. Yes! Jesus gave you His faith. (2Peter1:1-3) And, “The just shall live by faith!” (Romans 1:16-17)
“NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”, (Hebrews 11:1) In plain English: Faith is living in this present moment, with JOYFUL EXPECTATION of the things we can not see but that Jesus has promised. “And without faith it is impossible to please God! For those who come to Him must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”.
“FLY THE BUG!”Lock your focus on the solution, not the problem! The Solution is Jesus and Jesus is His Word! Paul taught us to “Keep your eyes on Jesus! Study how He did it, because He never lost sight of where He was headed. The exhilarating, finish in and with God! He could put up with anything along the way, cross, shame, whatever, and now He’s there in the place of Honor seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High” (Hebrews 12:2)
“FLY THE BUG! Learn the promises of Jesus, and whatever the challenge, apply the corresponding scripture or law from Jesus! Another rule from physics and aviation is Newtons 3rd law of motion, which states that, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For every problem their is an equal and opposite promise from Jesus! Here are a few to memorize: Mark 11:22-24, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 18:18-20, John 10:10, John 14:6&7, John 14:12-14, Luke 10:18,&19,Luke 6:38,John 16:24.
I pray that this teaching has blessed you! If so, please send it to another who will be blessed.
We invite you to visit our website: KnowJesusKnowGrace.Com. Where you will find teachings like this on many topics. At our site, you may also order my book: “What If Jesus Told The Truth?”
Throne of Grace Ministries is a 501c3 tax exempt ministry. We are not affiliated with any group or denomination. We are entirely funded by the generosity of our Donor Partners.
Our primary Ministry is personal Pastoring and Coaching Business and Community leaders. We also minister in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Recovery Programs, to Veterans, ill Folk, in Businesses, Offices, Homes, Restaurants and wherever and to whom we are led by the Holy Spirit.
We minister to thousands of people in more than 100 Countries through our website. We have sent more than 300 prayer blankets gro critically ill people all over America and the world.
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Thank You,
Pastor Allen Fleming
Throne of Grace
P.O.BOX 669153
Marietta Georgia
30066
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