P I L O T Years ago, I was enthralled as I listened to a pastor who for several years had faithfully served the church. His executive responsibilities had taken him all over this country. As he concluded his message, he told of one of the most frightening yet thought-provoking experiences of his life. He had been on a long flight from one place to another. The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on “fasten your seat belts.” Then, after a while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened.” As the minister looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us.” And then the storm broke. The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment, the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. The pastor confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, “As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed threatening and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her! She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and everything within her small world was calm and orderly. Sometimes she closed her eyes; then she would read again. She would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world.” When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid. The minister could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor lingered to speak to the small girl whom he had watched for such a long time. (Continued on Page 2) Contents: My Father, the Pilot 1 Storm Tossed Days 2 L. Y. Janes 3 God’s Grandma/Reflecting Him by Sara 4 The Coal Basket Bible 5 A Look at the Book 6 Chat Time 7 Gulls 7 *Volume 93 *No. 06 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 *JUNE 2007
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Transcript
P I L O T
Years ago, I was
enthralled as I listened to
a pastor who for several years had faithfully served
the church. His executive responsibilities had taken
him all over this country. As he concluded his
message, he told of one of the most frightening yet
thought-provoking experiences of his life.
He had been on a long flight from one place
to another. The first warning of the approaching
problems came when the sign on the airplane
flashed on “fasten your seat belts.” Then, after a
while, a calm voice said, “We shall not be serving
the beverages at this time as we are expecting a
little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is
fastened.”
As the minister looked around the aircraft, it
became obvious that many of the passengers were
becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice of the
announcer said, “We are so sorry that we are unable
to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still
ahead of us.” And then the storm broke.
The ominous cracks of thunder could be
heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning
lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that
great plane was like a cork tossed around on a
celestial ocean. One moment, the airplane was lifted
on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it
were about to crash.
The pastor confessed that he shared the
discomfort and fear of those around him. He said,
“As I looked around the plane, I could see that
nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed.
Some were praying. The future seemed threatening
and many were wondering if they would make
it through the storm.
Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently
the storm meant nothing to her! She had tucked her
feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was
reading a book and everything within her small
world was calm and orderly.
Sometimes she closed her eyes; then she
would read again. She would straighten her legs, but
worry and fear were not in her world.”
When the plane was being buffeted by the
terrible storm, when it lurched this way and that, as
it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all
the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous
child was completely composed and unafraid. The
minister could hardly believe his eyes.
It was not surprising therefore, that when the
plane finally reached its destination and all the
passengers were hurrying to disembark, our pastor
lingered to speak to the small girl whom he had
watched for such a long time.
(Continued on Page 2)
Contents:
My Father, the Pilot 1
Storm Tossed Days 2
L. Y. Janes 3
God’s Grandma/Reflecting Him by Sara 4
The Coal Basket Bible 5
A Look at the Book 6
Chat Time 7
Gulls 7
*Volume 93 *No. 06 *Published by Christian Triumph Co. *Permit # 695 *JUNE 2007
2
Having commented about the storm and
behavior of the plane to the little girl, he then asked
why she had not been afraid.
The child replied quietly, “Cause my
Daddy’s the pilot, and he’s taking me home.”
AS WELL: Our Heavenly Father is our Pilot;
And He is taking us Home.+ + + (email- edited)
STORM TOSSED DAYS
-by Adan
Shortly after I was saved, I went to a youth
service where a missionary from Africa was
ministering. After the sermon, he made an altar call
and asked persons who wanted to dedicate their
lives to God – to come forward. I was one of those.
As I knelt at the altar, I lifted up my hands and
prayed, “Destroy ME, God, and make me ANEW!”
And then my whole world began to
change!
First, I was fired from my job! Because I
was different now, I would no longer drink with my
boss - so – I no longer “fit in.”
In finding another job at a convenience
store, I was instructed to sell cigarettes and beer.
But in doing so, I also handed out a Gospel tract.
Very soon, I lost that job! In despair, I dropped to
my knees, pleading with the Lord, “I don’t know
what is going on, but I know that Your Words say,
‘In all things, give thanks,’ and ‘All things work
together for good to those that love God, to those
that are called according to His purpose.’”
Right after this, a lumberyard called me to
work, and I worked there for two and one-half
years. Then, at a doctor’s appointment, I was told
that I had Macular Degeneration; yet God in His
mercy healed me from this condition. In response, I
felt “called” to some special work and left my
lumberyard job.
Later, for the very first time, I heard God’s
Word in Spanish at a Gospel tent meeting, and the
young lady reading the Bible became my future
wife. Just as I fell in love with the Spanish Gospel,
so I fell in love with her.
In the next few years, God began my
spiritual education. While going from house to
house, selling a Bible library, I continued to meet
people who needed prayer. Often, I would pray for
the sick and for other needs. As well, I learned to
depend on God for my income.
While attending my church, some of us went
to a special, inspirational seminar for a week;
shortly, thereafter, the pastor said he was going on a
trip and asked if I would preach some of our
services for him. Glory to God! - God had indeed
“destroyed me” but now was building me up again.
Following this experience, I began to fast
and pray for two weeks; then I was summoned to
my pastor’s home. The pastor explained, “I believe
God has told me to let you use the sanctuary to
begin a Spanish ministry.” What a miracle! What an
answer to the prayer and fasting! And now I knew
how God was desiring to use me.
Eventually, this newly formed Spanish
congregation grew, and we moved into a bigger
building, staying there for 13 years. And then we
moved into another wonderful place of worship; in
fact, it was the very building that I used to walk past
when I was a little boy, carrying my shoeshine box.
Those “storm tossed” days were followed by
a rainbow; and indeed my PILOT has guided my
ministry for over 25 years. And praise God – I am
still going strong! - Pastor Adan Espinoza (edited)
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