He's Listening

I saw this today and thought I'd pass it on...since we all need to be reminded of His omnipresence:

HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS
(Reprinted from January 31, 1998)I cannot help but notice her as I approach my gate seating area at Houston Intercontinental Airport. Medium build, cropped brown hair, loose fitting slacks and shirt, and only one arm. We are both an hour early for this flight to Lubbock, where I am to speak six times over the weekend about God's guidance I am carrying my Bible and notes in a cloth tote bag that says "State Bar of Texas." The plane is late. We have another hour to wait.As I take a stretch break, I word a silent prayer. "If there is anyone here, Lord, with whom you wish me to connect, please call it to my attention." I walk to the window and watch the planes taxi on the runway. Just then she rises and comes over to me. "Are you a lawyer?" she asks, looking at my bag. "Yes," I say, "for a living. But I am on my way to Lubbock to talk about God's leading in our lives.""Really?" she says. "I am going to Lubbock to witness to some friends whom the Lord has put on my heart. I hope they will be open to the gospel. God sent you to me. I was just praying for God to provide me some encouragement to go on."As we chat, there and later on the plane to Lubbock, I learn that Shawn had lost her arm to cancer, but she feels blessed to be alive. She now does research in the cancer hospital for the same doctor who had treated her. There she shares God's love with other patients who face the loss of limbs. Although her doctor is an atheist, he sometimes sends her to pray for other patients whom he knows need encouragement.Shawn always wanted to be a missionary, she tells me She wonders if she is out of God's will because she is not. I assure her that she IS a "missionary" -- exactly where God has put her -- with an authority and credibility which only her unique experience could possibly provide. And I tell her how God used her to answer my prayer, providing me with a living illustration of one who turned great adversity to God's service, and who faithfully glorifies God in the place he has planted her. No human being in that airport could hear the silent prayers Shawn and I had offered up at almost the same time. But God, who knows the hearts, heard us both, and he provided just what each of us needed at that very moment.
__________________ Copyright 2006 by Edward Fudge. Permission hereby granted to reprint this gracEmail in its entirety without change, with credit given and not for financial profit. To visit our multimedia website, click here or go to http://www.EdwardFudge.com .

Two Items of Good News

Item #1: I heard a guy on the radio this morning discussing oil prices. He has a show devoted to automobiles, but he's not just a mechanic. He's brilliant, and always includes a segment on his show highlighting some amazing event in American history. In short, he is well-spoken and well-read.

Today, he talked about the current crude oil situation and how favorable the prices at the pump are - compared to even a month ago. Then he went on for about 10 minutes about how oil reserves have picked up lately, about how Iran is renting enormous oil tankers to hold surplus oil that they can't even sell. He said that many experts are predicting oil to drop below $50/bbl soon.

Now, my mommie didn't raise a dummy. I'm aware that the Middle East is enormously volatile and that there will be a hurricane in the Gulf next week. Things change very quickly. And I know you can't believe everything you hear on the radio. But at the very least, it was interesting.

Item #2: I saw geese flying south for the first time today. I mentioned this to Carole and she said she hoped they weren't just looking for water. Ha-ha. To me, it's the first real sign that cool, crisp days are around the corner. Hopefully, cool, crisp, wet days.

Musings, Again

My kids and grandkids are making it tough for me to be humble.

Let's go in chronological order: Brett, the firstborn, recently initiated a blog that deals with Christian budgeting. His brilliance in this area staggers me. Some people live their entire lives without discovering their gift. Brett has used his gift for many years now...counseling couples and doing financial seminars. May God continue to bless him.

Blake, the #2 child, is in the busiest time of his school year. Not only is he starting a new year in the classroom, he is the new head volleyball coach at Dallas Christian. He has always had a winning record as a coach, whether the sport be basketball, volleyball or tennis. Unfortunately, he has lost his best player to a torn ACL, but knowing Blake, he will still pull out a winning season. But frankly, W's don't mean that much to me. His greatest contribution is his Christian example to scores of students and athletes. He will never know how much spiritual good he has initiated this side of heaven. God bless you, Blake.

Brooke is child #3. She was married last Labor Day weekend. (I better do a spouse page pretty soon...my kids have married extraordinarily well!). Brooke is beginning her 5th year of teaching in public schools. She is the type of teacher who cares deeply about her students and pours her life into educating them and profiling Christ to them. She and Michael are heavily involved with the teenagers at Richardson East. And, like my sons, they are committed to being smart financially...making tough decisions that are anti-materialistic and pro-Christian. I pray that she never changes.

And, of course, my grandkids are smart and beautiful/handsome. Zach is at or above where he should be academically - this despite a severe hearing impairment. It's an amazing achievement. His teachers and parents are worthy of high honor.

Maddie is 25 months old. She knows her ABC's and can count to 20. You can throw her a ball from across the room and she catches it. This kid has an extraordinary future.

Ethan is a little over a year old and is quite a kid. Even though he lives in San Antonio and doesn't see us much, he opens his arms out to us every time we visit. He seems to be full of love and good cheer. Ethan is a charmer.

So there they are. I'm not bragging. Just passing on the truth to the world.

Back to Work, Sorta

It's been bizarre this week. I went back to punching a clock again, but not to teach students...only to transport them. Getting up to an alarm clock felt foreign - vaguely familiar, but not routine. But for the first time in 36 years, I did not have a bundle of nerves on the first day of school.

I have had no trouble juxtaposing how I feel this year with how I felt last year. I vividly remember climbing aboard my bus in the afternoons, totally exhausted and with nerves on edge. This week, I've greeted each new trip with energy and positivity.

And I can report that it was a wonderful week. To be able to let off the riders at the school where I taught and not follow them into the building was a joy akin to winning the lottery, I suppose. I almost found myself guilty for enjoying the feeling so much - like I didn't deserve to be so happy, forgetting that I had stacked 36 years in the classroom into a career.

I've also been able to spend a few hours at home with Carole and Maddie, the grand-daughter we keep during the school year. Those are rich, bountiful moments that weren't there before.

So I guess I'm tiptoeing through the tulips.

Cheating is Bad!

We're getting cheated on rainfall.

I can't tell you how many storms have been at our doorstep in the past 3 months. Today is no exception. We have been a couple of miles away from tremendous, soaking rains that would bring soothing nourishment to mother earth and also gladden my grieving heart.

We have massive cracks in the soil between our house and the mailbox. These cracks are getting larger by the day and could any day now swallow up my lawn tractor.

I've been praying for rain. God has answered many other requests, but so far on this one, I've been coming up empty - just like my rain gauge.

Forgive My Giddiness

For the first time in 36 years, I'm not in a "teacher preparation" week in advance of the kids reporting for duty. This has been almost as sweet as the initial retirement rush. I assume I'll also get a surge next Monday when, after letting the Hood students off my bus, I simply drive back to the lot instead of parking my bus and wearily starting another year of public school teaching.

Man, are Carole and I glad we travelled a week ago and not today. Instead of the security torture today's passengers endured, we had the best security experience yet. My knee brace did not set off the metal detector either time. The lines were short both trips. The TSA workers were cheerful and not resentful. In other words, two miracles occurred within the space of 3 days.

Carole had another eye surgery today. This was a re-do for the one three weeks ago when they apparently implanted an incorrect lens. Early results are encouraging. If she's satisfied with how this eye is doing, the other eye gets the treatment in two weeks.

We are in the process of getting bids to fence our backyard. We live out in the country and if you go out our back door, there is quite a bit of empty space. This will allow us to put Maddie (grand-daughter) outside some during the days we keep her. She's 25 months old now and full of energy. We are also gonna put outside play equipment. We aren't just gonna stick her out there with nuthin' to do.

Life is good. God is better.

The Incomparable Diane Case

Carole and I have returned from a whirlwind trip to Tampa, a place that is to humidity what the Sahara is to deserts. The trip's purpose was three-fold: to give us a summer break; to give me another airport to shoot airliners (see pic above), and to meet Diane Case.

Carole became acquainted with Diane through internet doll-interest sites. She and Diane seemed to share the same values and the two became close, as close as you can get via the computer.

Here's what you need to know about Diane. Born prematurely, weighing 1 lb., 13 oz. Birth injuries left her with cerebral palsy and no sight in one eye. At age 21, she spent 18 months in a body cast. One leg has no femur. She is our age, has two brilliant sons (ages 24 & 25), and lives alone. She is confined to a wheelchair but drives everywhere she needs to go. To get into her car, Diane pushes herself from the wheelchair seat to the driver's seat. Then she removes a wheel from the wheelchair, putting it in the passenger seat. Then she somehow manages to fold up the wheelchair and put it in the backseat.

It was an absolute joy to meet Diane and be in her presence. She never complains - in fact, she never quits smiling. There is a constant twinkle in her eyes. Through the miracle of the internet, she knows my family thoroughly and praises them unceasingly.

Diane and Carole spent Friday at the hotel, getting acquainted in person and talking about dolls and life. (I was at the airport.) We got to spend most of Saturday together, visiting the beach at Clearwater and shopping at a mall. We had a blast...Diane is a super conversationalist...intelligent and witty. But most of all she is loving. With every reason in the world to allow her situation to deflate her outlook, Diane instead brings sunshine. And she steadfastly turns everything over to God, allowing Him to power her through life's obstacles.

Thanks, Diane, for honoring us with your friendship.

Do You Give T.O. a Chance?

I'm proud to report that my psyche no longer hangs in the balance every time the Cowboys play. Back in the old days, if they played at night, I wouldn't be able to sleep - either too excited or too bummed out - depending on the scoreboard.

In fact I went through a phase when I scarcely noticed them. That was during those years when nearly all the starters had a rap sheet. But then, I gradually came back as the punks were exorcised from the roster.

And now there's T.O. Most of you know (I'm sure Carole doesn't, however) who he is. He is the poster boy for all that's wrong with pro sports. He is the epitome of loud, flashy, bling-bling, me-first kind of athletes that got too much money too soon and thus have an ego the size of the Ogallala Aquifer.

But he has promised that he will not be a bad boy anymore. No more sniping at his quarterback or calling him a "queer". No more yelping to the press about how few passes are coming his way. Model citizen stuff.

Should I be suckered in? After all, he is very good at what he does. He will help the Cowboys' attack immeasurably. Can a leopard change his spots? Should I rejoice when T.O. scores his first Cowboy T.D.?

Or should I just concentrate on doing the NYTimes crossword every Sunday and not give this guy any of the attention he craves?

I Dig Trains, Too

I think this is the first time I've used anything other than an aviation picture. But I think the public deserves to see this amazing photo. Be sure to click it and see the full beauty.

I might could get interested in railroad photography, but waiting for a train in the summer heat for hours is not pure joy. At the airport, the action is pretty much constant. I often come home with 300+ photos to examine.

Today I went to Wylie, a hub for the Kansas City Southern railroad, expecting locomotive action. Nothing showed. Nada. Zero. A waste of my valuable retirement time. Maybe I should go at night, like the above photographer did.

The Greatness of Steve Morris

Every craft has its masters and its apprentices. In the aviation photography world, I am in the latter category. Up on the pedestal is Steve Morris, a resident of London. Instead of giving you my usual cleverness and wittiness, I just want to share some of Steve's artisitry.

"Airside", Again

My contact at DFW, Ken Sodergren, finally got released from his midnight shift, opening the door for me to do another ride-along yesterday. Uh, the temperature was 107. Just perfect for standing next to runways for 2 hours.

Before we went out, Ken showed me something I had never seen. It was the communication center for the airport. Interesting stuff. It looked like a war room. A huge TV screen dominated a wall...tuned into CNN. Smaller screens framed it, and they showed various airport operations. The room was dark, eerily lit by computer monitors monitored by the personnel. An adjacent space was literally a war room, with tables, chairs and maps. Draped on each chair-back was a safety vest with someone's last name stitched on. I queried Ken as to what sort of situation would put this room into action. "Hijacking?" "Of course."

We had a great time, heat notwithstanding. Because of the problem of heat haze, Ken had no choice but to get me as close as he could to the action. He edged me a few dozen feet from runway 17R and I captured the photo above, a Lufthansa heading nonstop to Frankfurt.

At 107 degrees, I don't blame them for getting out of town.

It's July and....

...and we're into a form of cabin fever at our house. It is so ridiculously hot outside (100 degrees by noon today) that outdoor activities are almost non-existent. Even a routine trip to the grocery store means you have to come home and shower again.

On the other side of the world, Hezbollah and Israel are exchanging words and bombs. Israel claims Iran is funding the enemy. This is interesting because there are those who feel Revelation predicts something like this happening in the Last Days.

You would have to read their reasoning based on scripture to get a clear grasp of this theory. All I can tell you is that, to me, it is credible. How should we respond? Even if you reject such a prediction, you (and I) need to be living with a sense of urgency. As I get older and therefore closer to going home, I realize that if I'm going to have an impact on relatives and friends who don't know Jesus, I need to get after it.

I believe I'm saved, but I also don't want to press the lever on heaven's gate knowing that I failed to speak with them about the most important talking point ever.

Since I truly believe we are in the final moments before Christ's return, I am trying to reject anything superficial and void of eternal significance...while trying to concentrate on what does matter.

Bruchko

I want to recommend a book entitled Bruchko. It is the story of a 19 year-old man who left this country determined to bring the story of Jesus to isolated Indian tribes in South America.

He left Minnesota with absolutely no support from his family and with little money in his pocket. All he had was incredible faith. He determined that he wanted to penetrate the jungle and somehow offer the gospel to a tribe that was greatly feared by entire country of Colombia. The word most often used to describe this group was "murderous".

He does it. I won't give away details, but with God's help, he did it. The incredible hardships he overcame would have stopped any ordinary person. The story proves that we should never rule out anyone as a potential brother or sister in Christ. There are no circumstances that God can't conquer.

My Early Take on Retirement

It is with some trepidation that I do this. The danger is that by sharing my early thoughts on retirement, some will have the perception that I'm gloating. After all, most folks who read this are working people for whom retirement is a faraway goal.

But understand that I'm not rubbing it in - merely reporting on my feelings in a dispassionate way, I hope. As though I were being interviewed by someone taking a survey. Here goes:

I'm blown away by how happy I am. Gone is lingering dark cloud of educational responsibilities that draped over my mental shoulders like supply bags on a pack mule. Before I go further, let me say that if Dallas Christian phones with a job proposition, I'll jump at it. There is a huge difference between DISD and DCS.

All teachers know the feeling that begins creeping into their psyche this time of year. It's the saddening realization that summer is slipping through their fingers like sand in an hourglass. I, too, know that summer oozing away, but this year it doesn't bother me. Bring on fall, cool weather, and football games.

Today, July 12, I walked past aisles in the grocery store dedicated to school supplies! July 12!! This experience used to bring the first cloud of dread into my summer sky. Today, I just laughed.

One thing I've noticed about myself is patience. During the school year, time is at premium and my nerves were often frayed. What has jumped out to me as a manifestation of my calmness is my behavior behind the wheel. I'm not happy to confess that I speed. Not recklessy, mind you. More like doing 75 on I-30 and keeping up with everyone who's doing likewise in the left lane. Now, I camp out in the right or center lane and watch the type-A's frantically whizzing past me. During the school year, I was always pushing, pushing...trying to reward myself with a few extra seconds or minutes at home or wherever. Now the stimulus for such behavior has been excised.

With this chunk of mental energy now removed from my thinking, I find myself meditating more on the spiritual things of life. I've slowed down and started listening to the Holy Spirit, and He is doing some talking. Not coincidentally, I doing more in the way of "servant works" than ever before. I love it.

And, I'm a little self-conscious about going to get the paper at 7:30 in the morning. We live on a farm-to-market road that is travelled by hundreds of commuters. As I stumble out to pick up the paper, dressed in my pajamas (which for me is shorts and a tee shirt), I'm can feel the eyes on me of those dedicated workers heading off to work. How many of them are mumbling out loud, "Lucky stiff!"?

So retirement, so far, is a wonderful thing. I'm staying active even though the summer heat suppresses a lot of the things I enjoy doing. I would urge everyone reading this to stay the course, keep grinding, and the reward will be there for you before you know it. And give God free play in your life. Tell Him you want to maximize your spiritual gift(s) in the workplace. And go ahead and allow yourself to daydream about your retirement.

A One-Eighty on Iraq

I didn't think I'd ever toss in the towel on Iraq. I'm a good Republican and a veteran. I consider myself a flaming patriot. But I think we have reached the point where our goals aren't worth the cost. In fact, I'm not sure the goals are attainable.

We dethroned, caught, and imprisoned Saddam. In retrospect, at that point we should have exited, stage left. Our goals, if I understand them correctly, were to eliminate WMD, eliminate Sadam's rule, allow Iraq to set up a democratic government, and cut the core out of Al Qaeda.

Well, the matter of WMD turned out to be less of an issue there than we thought. We put Saddam in Lew Sterrett, Baghdad. So let's look at the other two issues. Bush seems adamant that we can eventually exit Iraq when they've got a democracy running all cylinders. My worry is that, governmentally-speaking, Iraq will never be able to even gas the car. These folks seem incapable of doing anything other than chunking rocks and waving their fists in the air. And the trouble is, the U.S. has committed so much effort, money, and blood there that a graceful exit is no longer possible.

The other sticky point is our effort to drive a stake through the heart of terrorism with our presence in Iraq. I'm not privy to CIA intelligence and I don't know for sure just how many Al Qaeda operatives are based there. But at this point, I'm willing to concede Iraq and save the lives of our young military men and women. I think their expertise could better be used along the U.S./Mexico border. I hate to think that while our focus has been on Iraq, our back door has been compromised.

Lyndon Johnson allowed Vietnam to become personal and his stubbornness prolonged the war unnecessarily. George Bush may have reached that point. He doesn't seem to grasp the "unwinability" of the war in Iraq and, like LBJ, lets his Texan pride cloud his otherwise reasonable judgment.

It's gonna be messy whether we stay or leave. I say pull out now and save precious lives. As bad as it would make America look, the reward would be worth it.

Whatta Country!

I hope that at some point today, you've paused to reflect on this great country of ours. Yes, it has many, many problems. Yes, I'm not happy with current trends in several areas. But still, whatta country.

This country is barely over 200 years old and we are the unquestioned world leader in power, resources, technology, and research. Think about all the other countries which have been around for millenia and haven't accomplished anything worth noting. (Hint: they DO produce homicide bombers...the press mistakenly call them suicide bombers.)

So, a hearty salute for our country and those who fight to preserve it. We shouldn't take it for granted.

Even More Fun Times

The situation at our house has settled somewhat. The people who were sick are doing better and Nana is back at her apartment. Nice trip to San Antonio coming up this weekend, but they are calling for floods...which is good - they need rain worse than we do.

My crazy hobby has been a blast this week. I've been in contact with an aviation-image agent in London who is trying to sell some of my shots to a major Asian magazine. That deal is pending, waiting for the editor-in-chief to okay everything.

I've been swapping emails with a reporter in Lagos, Nigeria. There is something of a bruhaha going on there because another reporter wrote a story claiming that the Nigerian president's new 737 wasn't really new at all. The prez had him arraigned in court. I have one of the few shots in existence of the plane and reporter #1 is trying to find out what I know...which is nothing.

The head of corporate security at Southwest Airlines called me yesterday, said he was stressed out, and wanted to know if I'd like to unwind with him by sitting next to the Love Field runways for 90 minutes or so. Uh, yeah, I'd like to do that, sir. So we did and I took 305 photos. About 12 of them are good.

These are indeed fun times for someone who has apparently sniffed too many jet fumes lately.

We're Havin' Fun!

The fun began last Thursday. Carole's mom had carpal tunnel surgery. She's 87 and uses a walker to get around. Naturally, with one arm disabled, she needed a place to rehab where someone could take care of her. So we volunteered.

Then yesterday, Sunday, I had to take Carole's brother, Joe, to the ER. He had a raging fever and shortness of breath. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. I took him because his wife, Laura, was sick and they have 1 year-old twins to care for.

This morning, Laura was getting worse so she went to the doctor and I kept the twins. Carole stayed with her mom and also kept Maddie, our grand-daughter, because Maddie's mom was going to the baby doctor for her first visit with her new pregnancy. (Are you still with me?) Laura was diagnosed with bronchitis and an ear infection. She has had no sleep the last two days, so we offered to keep the twins for the time being. I brought them home with me.

So now we have twins plus Carole's mom. As I was typing this, Carole's sister called and said that Ralph (her husband) was in the same hospital as Joe and had been diagnosed with pneumonia. Ralph is now right down the hall from Joe, but neither is allowed outside their room, so they can't see each other and swap stories.

When this summer began, I prayed that God would give us opportunities for service in His name. I never dreamed he would wipe out most of Carole's family to accomplish it.

I better go. The twins are waking up. Sigh....

Name Above All Names

Bill Gaither wrote that noted song, "There's Just Something About That Name." I am intrigued by all of the Bible references to the power of God's name and the name of Jesus. Now we give import to names, but it's almost cursory compared to Biblical emphasis.

Noted instances:

"Hallowed be your name." (Lord's Prayer)

"...baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"

"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me."

"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. "

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, "

And there are a gazillion other examples. It is obvious there is overwhelming power in the name of God and His Son. It makes for a fascinating study.

And this is why it galls me to hear godless folks say, "Oh my God!", or something equally flippant. Better not mess with that name.

It's Been a Great Weekend

Some of life's best moments when you're 57 or so come when one of your children announces that they are adding another child to the fold. We were informed Saturday night by Blake and Jaime of a new little Perkins baby coming next February. Just think...this child's sex, personality characteristics, and good looks are already set. And God knows what He has created...we humans have to be patient.

We got valuable time with Maddie (baby X's older sister) by keeping her Saturday evening through Sunday morning. She is beyond delightful. My favorite thing she does is to impulsively say, "Hi, Papa!", at otherwise quiet times. (She also says "Hi, Mimi!"). She brings utter joy to my life.

And, we will get to see the other grandchildren in two weeks. It is disheartening in that we don't see Zach and Ethan as much as we like. Zach is making enormous strides with language and comprehension despite his hearing deficiencies. He is so very special. Little brother Ethan is a bit of a mystery to us. We simply haven't had enough time with him to bond and I can't wait to spend quality time with him.

So it ain't how much money is in the bank, how good or bad your health is, how much rain you got from the psuedo-ferocious storms (.24") or the like. It's family. It's God's miracles being played out before your eyes. Nothing brings deep-core warmth and satisfaction than this.