Homeward Bound

After a very intense and bitter election, Anti-Trump demonstrators vandalized buildings, kicked cars, and knocked out power in cities across America.   And more protests are planned over the next few days.   Although the pundits and the polls overwhelmingly projected an easy win for Hillary Clinton, she lost.   Even last minute voters who walked into the voting booth not knowing who they would vote for ended up voting for Trump. Okay, I understand being shocked and disappointed that your candidate lost when her election seemed so certain; I get that.   As did Hillary, go home, have a good cry, and get it out of your system.   Donald Trump was elected fair and square, and he will be our next President.   However, against the urgings of Hillary and even of President Obama to transition peacefully, the protests and burnings continue.   Why all the outrage and discontent? Maybe it’s because God intervened in our election.   ...

Have you ever wondered if there is something more to life?   I know I have.   The daily grind is exhausting and the weekend rest often turns out to be a let-down.   I find myself joking with young adults around me that adult life is so much more lame than we thought it would be when we would play house or play doctor. But, when we answer this question, we usually use our relationship to Jesus.   Through Jesus, there is something more.   Without a doubt, this is true.   Still, life is frequently a bore and feels more like a chore than a joy.   Is there something more than our relationship to Jesus? Perhaps this question looks like it doubts the sufficiency of God.   Perhaps it looks like an over-pessimistic kid missing all the silver-linings in the clouds of life.   But perhaps it looks biblical. Is there something more to first century Christians than a personal relationship with Jesus and a dull adult life?   Yes, the...

I am a flight instructor at a test pilot school, and I regularly have someone stopping by to ask me, “Do you have a moment?”   I am asked this question on a daily basis.   Since I feel like “having a moment” is in my job description, I rarely turn anyone down for a moment of my time.   Of course depending on the question, a “moment” could be anything from 2-3mins up to a full hour.   Unless I have a higher priority event, such as a flight, I will drop everything I am doing and devote my full attention to the student.   I am only able to do this because I have determined that the student is very high on my priority list at work.   I can get all the grading, paperwork, and planning done around my top priority, the student.   While I am sure my “boss” appreciates my devotion to my work, the real question I want to answer is: “Do I do the same thing when it comes to God?”  Do I make him the priority over everything else I have going on in my li...

Today I am starting a "Guest Post" segment on the Ole' Homeward Bound Blog. Every few weeks I will share something one of you faithful readers writes to me. Today's feature is a brief word from my friend and former roommate, Jimmy Elsner: How many times have you heard this phrase from a Christian pastor, teacher or leader? “The Christian faith can be boiled down to one simple truth.” I have heard this phrase stated many times but often with a variety of answers: Go and preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15 ) Make disciples who make disciples (Matt 28:19) Abide in the vine and the fruit will follow (John 15:4) Love God, love others (Matt 22: 37-40) Walk in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:2 5 ) Submit to transformation (Rom 12:1-2) We want the gospel to fit neatly into a short catchphrase or blurb. It’s bigger than that. Slow down and take the time to let the whole Bible inform your Theology. It may not be the smooth, catc...