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Before taking off in an airplane, all pilots understand the necessity of commitment. There is a point on every runway, depending on the airplane, where I know that if I reach that point, I am committed to taking off. It’s based on the airplane takeoff speed and distance of the runway, and I calculate that when I do preflight planning.

The founder of Mother’s Day, Anna Jarvis, thought so.

I’ll have to admit, my job was easier six years ago. Six years ago we had one campus and one location. I was responsible for a wonderful, though much smaller staff. I was preaching sermons, leading staff meetings, discipling, and doing a little bit of counseling. But there was less pressure, fewer places and staff to worry about. It was easier for me to get away when I needed to.

There were four clergymen discussing the merits of Bible translations. One liked the King James Version best because of its beautiful classical English. Another liked the New American Standard because of its nearness to the original Hebrew and Greek. Still another preferred the New Living Translation because of its up-to-date phraseology. The fourth thoughtfully replied, “I like my mom’s translation best.” The other three were surprised. They didn’t know that his mother had t

I have an attitude indicator. It might be the most important instrument in the airplane, especially if it’s foggy outside. It tells me if the attitude of the airplane is right, which might be more important than you think. In flight, attitude is the level position of the airplane, whether it’s flying straight and level, banking left or right, or pitching up or down. When a pilot loses sense of the airplane’s attitude, disaster is imminent. That’s why we have an attitude indic

I have perfect pitch. I guess it’s pretty unusual. I learned when I was a kid that I could hum middle C without hearing it first. I later learned that’s perfect pitch. I just now tried it again, hummed what I thought was middle C, and then played the note online, and bingo, I had it exactly. I understand that even a lot of accomplished musicians and singers are not able to do that.

Several years ago I had lunch with a young local business man and aspiring politician. He asked me, “What gets you up in the morning?” Meaning, what am I passionate about, what gets me excited?

Why do these things keep happening? Now it’s a Christian elementary school. Little 9-year-olds mercilessly gunned down!

“Are you crazy?” None of you reading this are surprised that I’ve been asked that.

When Junior was little, he thought the whole world celebrated his birthday on March 17 by putting out decorations with his favorite color, green. He didn’t know that his birthday was also Saint Patrick’s Day. Patrick was an amazing person with a huge heart for God and the Irish people.

A nun walking down the street noticed a young boy on his tiptoes trying to press a doorbell on a house across the street. Although he was trying very hard, he wasn’t tall enough to reach the doorbell.

In the Bahamas last week, a tour boat witnessed a dog jumping into the ocean after a hammerhead shark. On land, I think we know who the winner would be. But in the sea? That dog would be no match for the 12- foot predator.