Ethics Anyone?

One of the neat things about being the chaplain of a training group is having access to a few hundred young men and women whose morality has been colored by Postmodern principles (an oxymornon?!). The challenge is not to get them to change their morality, but to admit that one can have an objective morality at all. Enter Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the US, who left us with an abiding sense that we must stand against evil as a nation. Vandenberg AFB is only a couple of hours from the Reagan Presidential Library which is filled with exhibits regarding the moral lessons he lived and learned. So we put together a one-day event that begins with an overview of the life and ethics of the 40th POTUS and concludes with a trip down to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. ICBM missile students (yes, the ones who would launch nuclear weapons) have been our target audience. If anyone needs to hear the message that morality is not relative it is those who could completely change the face of the earth via nuclear war. So here are some pics from our latest trip, which included a walk-through of the newly opened Air Force One.
To view the pictures in a larger view, simply left click on the photo.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . . ."

The message of the birth of Christ seems to me to be quite simple, and yet it usually gets lost in the noise of the season: Jesus came to save sinners. This is the best possible news we could ever receive, yet most miss it for they have yet to be brought to a "no kidding" awareness of their depravity before holy God. Isaac Watts got it in 1719 when he wrote, Joy To the World, the Lord is Come: No more let sins and sorrow grow, or thorns invest the ground. He comes to make, His blesssings flow, far as the curse is found . . . . So don't believe everything you read in those Christmas letters. If our families were that perfect, we wouldn't need a Savior :-) A blessed Christmas to all of you from us who are eternally grateful to the Father for His indescribable gift!

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and I am the worst of them." 1 Timothy 1:15

And What Did You Do This Weekend?

There is much to dislike about California, including $450K mortgages (on $150K houses), environmentalists on acid, and LA traffic. On the other hand, its cool to visit some of the places you heard about or saw on TV as a kid growing up. This weekend, we went to Knotts Berry Farm down in Orange County, just below LA (you guessed it, you have to go through LA traffic to get there). Anyway, after 2 hours of bumper to bumper, we arrived and stayed the night at the Knotts Hotel ($59 a night for 5--not too shabby). The amusement park is the oldest theme park in the country, 5 years older than the venerable 5o year-old Disneyland a couple of blocks away. We had a great time. Even ate at the famous Mrs. Knotts Fried Chicken Dinner Restaurant, which was full of locals who raved about the place. A nice place, and I suppose it probably is the best friend chicken in So. Cal. (Southern California, that is). Of course, I'm from South Carolina, so I left thinking they still have a bit to learn from the South about cooking. But many famous folks have signed the register there--Art Linkletter ("and all the Links," as he put it), Michael Landon, Bob Denver, etc. The bill was quite a bit steeper than KFC (who has much better chicken), but hey, I'm a sucker for history.

Sarah has a real problem that all of us should pray about--she cannot resist riding ridiculously fast roller coasters. So guess who got to be her partner for the first ride? The Ghost Rider is one of the tallest and fastet wooden roller coasters in the world, and having ridden it I can attest that it is the bumpiest too. Every joint in my 40 year old body ached as I crawled out of the car down the ramp. Sarah thought it was fun. Like I said, pray for her.

I'll fill you in on the rest of our long weekend, including Camp Snoopy, National Treasure and the Wizard of Oz, and Jesus' feet hanging out of heaven. And all of it will be true!

Thar She Goes!

Wanted to let you see what we got to experience on 19 Oct when the last of the Titans went up into space from Vandenberg. The burn from the rocket is blinding, and the thunder from the engines (which took about 15 seconds to reach us after we saw the liftoff 5 miles away) shook the ground under our feet. Never seen anything like it on this earth.The great thing as that all three girls saw/felt it to. Pretty cool to be 1o years old and watch a rocket blast off into space, eh Sarah?

This is also cool . . . and weird! It seems that James Doohan (Mr Scott on the orginal Star Trek) willed for his ashes (6 oz of them, at least) to be launched into space after he died. Well, Scotty gets his wish in December (probably a little later as the launch schedule has been pushed back) when a Falcon rocket will launch him into the Final Frontier from Vandenberg. Don't believe it? Check it out: http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/13920.html
I just hope Scotty doesn't "fly her apart" over Lompoc and rain down on my house. Sorry folks--I'm a chaplain, not a comedian.

Drinking From the Firehose

We have a saying in the Air Force to the effect that life can sometimes be like trying to take a drink from a firehose. Believe me, after the last six weeks, we know the feeling:

• I went to SOS (Squadron Officer School) and got a sun tan. It was Fall in Alabama. Doesn't matter. It was still 90. How was SOS? Well, you take 475 captains, tell them that their careers could be on the line depending on their performance there, and watch the fratricide. Actually is wasn't that bad, but I was not that impressed with the whole shabang. Made some friends, alienated a few more (who just couldn't understand why the chaplain didn't want to hang out all evening, listen to them carpet "F" bomb, and watch them get smashed). All in all the AF can save money by consolidating that course with the one they send Lts through a couple of years before. Most of you folks couldn't care less about professional military education, so I'll move on.
• Leigh stayed home and got sick. So sick the doc told her to get out of the house . . . like for good. Its a long story as to how our home on base got so moldy, but let's just say housing repair contracting in the military goes to the lowest bidder. They not only fix leaks, they create them! So after a rather lengthy and exasperating row with CE, Bio Enviromental, and the Housing office, we were granted a move off base. Or I should say, Leigh, was granted a move (I was in Alabama, remember). After 15 years of marriage, you think you would know someone pretty well. Well I didn't know she had it in her. Moving rates at the top of the stress meter, just after driving in Jersey and Chinese water torture. But moving w/o your spouse, with 3 little girls in tow, while holding down a part-time teaching job, and dealing with the cretans who seem to populate some of the "support" agencies on a military base is off-the-chart stress. But SHE DID IT! Found an excellent house (1 yr old) where the rent was on sale (yeh, baby) and only 3 blocks from the Home Depot. Is this woman a gem or what?! Seriously, we give God all the glory on this one. Many helped, I prayed and cajoled from afar, but the Lord brought the family through this fire untouched. An awesome God, my friends.

On The Road Again...

Andy is headed to Maxwell AFB TDY, for five weeks. Leigh will be keeping the home fires burning, while chasing three girls. Here's to all the families who kiss their loved ones goodbye for a few days, months or even longer. Say a prayer for them. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you..." Phil. 1:3

Prayer Request

Please remember Leigh in your prayers. She has had a time with her asthma the last three days. We suspect it is a mold problem in the house (mold is a big problem here on the central coast of California). She is particulary allergic to it, and it creates respiratory distress. And pray for me, as I go to the housing office for a solution. They may be able to fix our problem, move us to another house, or we will have to move off base (which we don't want to do). We are trusting the Lord for wisdom and His provision. Thanks for your prayers!

He Came Back . . . In a Way

Leigh, the girls and I rode down to Santa Barbara for lunch today on news that the USS Ronald Reagan was anchored in the harbor. You may or may not know that we are huge Reagophiles and generally refer to him in hushed tones around the house as Ronaldo Magnus. Apparently I am not alone, since a CNN poll found him to be the top rated president in our history, even in front of Honest Abe and JFK. Anywho, it was an awesome sight to see--a ship almost as long as the Empire State Building is high! And to know that it was named after an incredible leader and gentleman. I understand several sailors from the Reagan were even given a tour of the Reagan Ranch in Goleta. We're working a similar tour for our missile students, but more of an ethics retreat. I came in the Air Force the first time (1983) on the sheer enthusiasm Reagan inspired for America. Man, we miss him.

Hall of Famers: the Bright Spots of Space-A Travel

I don't want to give the impression that just because of a door flying open on takeoff that we were totally bummed by the Space-A travel experience. We were too numb with fear to be totally bummed (just kidding). Actually, the people surrounding the whole program were uncommonly helpful. Dottie, who works at the PAX at Travis, took us under her wing and gave us personal attention, even before we made the trip to Fairfield. She was working the flights diligently for us. And without exception, every member of the PAX team was cordial and helpful, which is nice at 0200 when y0u and the kiddies are walking around the terminal eating stale ice cream bars from the vending area. And let me tell you about my encounter with a "Marino." Friends and family know I am a rabid Miami Dolphins fan, so I took it as a good sign when I was jogging from long-term parking back to the PAX (1.7 miles!) at 0230 that a MSgt MARINO pulled up and gave me a lift. I took that as a real good sign (until the door thing). Also, the folks at lodging blessed us with a TLF room, in the middle of PCS season no less. In other words, we are very impressed with the people at Travis AFB. Its the C-5 doors and low-energy loadmasters that chafed us. Stay tuned, if you can stand any more of this . . . .

Space-AAAUUGGHH!

Well, we're back . . . after 7,000 miles with three chatty little girls in tow. Wow, don't I feel refreshed! Sure sorry I couldn't give an imbedded account of life in the military's Space Available travel system, but I was having computer problems and some fairly significant emotional trauma. Stay tuned over the next few daysand I'll try to give you a glimpse of this adventure on the installment plan.
EPISODE #1: In-flight Emergency! What would have shut down a normal airliner didn't make the loadmasters on our C-5 cargo plane even blink. Either they are incredibly cool professionals under fire or they are not sufficiently informed as to the dangers of open doors on cargo jets during take-off. About 10 seconds after the pilot gives it full throttle, and we are speeding down the pre-dawn runway at Travis AFB at what I would estimate to be 100 mph, the right emergency exit door flies open. That's rightfolks, I said OPEN--wide open! I was only one row back, and I could see runway and everything. I'm just a chaplain, so what do I know? Still, that didn't look right to me. Aren't all of the doors supposed to be closed when you are taking off? (See, I did learn something during my time as chaplain of the 305th OG at McGuire!) My first reaction to the fresh C-5 exhaust in my face was, "Hey, I've been awake for about 24 hours trying to negotiate a ride on this bird, so I'm probably just having the beginnings of a really bad dream." The fog of morning (0530 at that time), the scream of the jet engines (which are loud enough without the door open), made it seem like it was all happening in a surreal slow-motion. That thought didn't last long, because my second reaction was to scream like a girl (my best command voice at the time). In a second, I shot up and began yelling at the head loadmaster, who was reading the paper, "ABORT! ABORT THE TAKE-OFF!" (something else I picked up from my AMC days). Of course, he couldn't hear me, nor could he see the problem. So I screamed with my best preacher voice, "ABORT-THE- TAKE-OFF--THE DOOR IS OPEN! PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD!" (OK, I didn't actually say that last part, but I sure was thinking it). So he trots up the aisle (with a speed nowhere near commensurate with my fear) looks at the door, picks it up and resets it in place. And here's the kicker--he then returns to his seat without a word and picks up his newspaper finding the spot where he left off! Leigh, sitting three rows back, leans forward with the understatement of the morning, "Should I be worried?" "No dear," I said, my voice squeaking only a little this time. My mind was racing. Just before take-off, I had made Sarah and Rachel sit behind me. Didn't really think about it, I just did it. Now I know why. You could say a sovereign God made the first of His many inteventions on this trip. Later in the flight, I called the junior loadmaster aside and asked if he had ever seen anything like that before. He said no, and neither had the MSgt (who apparently had kept his newspaper from blowing out the door). I couldn't decide if that was good or bad, so I kept my eye on that little yellow handle that latched the emergency door . . . for the rest of the flight. First impressions are lasting impressions, they say. Thus went our first impression of Space-A, or as we now call it, "Space-AAAUUUGGHH!!!"
Stay tuned for our next exciting travelogue episode!

Standby

Well, there is a reason they call this mode of travel "Space Available." First of all, there has to be a plane available. And apparently there won't be one heading to Chas till Saturday morning--hopefully. So we will wait around here till then. I am confident that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, but what about those who wait upon the Air Force? You just wait, I suppose! So if you are looking for prayer requests, how about mentioning a flight for 5 Thornleys to SC on Saturday? Much oblidged.

Gone to Carolina . . . .

"In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina

Can't you see the sunshine

Can't you just feel the moonshine

Ain't it just like a friend of mine

It hit me from behind

Yes I'm gone to Carolina in my mind."

Come Thursday, Deo volente, we will be heading to SC for the first time in a year as a family--19 glorious days in all. Yes, the West coast is nice, but the South coast is home. We'll be taking a Space-A flight (probably a C-17) from Travis AFB in San Francisco to Charleston AFB. ITS FREE! You just have to be ready to go when they call you name for available seats. From Chas, we'll head up to Spartanburg where we'll be 30 July-6 August, then down to Georgetown 7-12 August. Almost all of our families are there, as well as two congregations that Andy pastored for 10 years. A lot of living was done down in that heat and humidity! All of the girls were born there, but only Sarah and Abby will remember much about it. We will have to fill Rachel in on the details (why do I think that will be a futile exercise?). Of course, the only real detail they care much for is "where is the beach?!" We will try to keep the blog up if I can successfully get it up and running on my laptop. Next post will be from Dixie!

Thinking About the Cowboy

I'm still thinking about the fun we had on Sunday's horse ride up the mountain. I am also thinking about "Cowboy Ron." Ron is in his 50s, a Vietnam vet who at first came off as a tough old cow hand--he warned us not to let his horses eat grass or any other nonsense. He wouldn't tolerate it. But he began to soften up halfway through the ride. I think Sarah seemed to remind him of his own child, who is about her age and lives in Florida. He hasn't seen his boy in a long time (I gathered he is divorced). Then when he discovered I was a chaplain, he rode back to my horse, looked at me with moistened eyes, and through a lowered voice asked if I would pray that he would see his son again. Later on, he asked me to pray for him again. It was one of those divine appointments when folks reach out towards the Lord. So, wherever you are, say a prayer for Ron tonight. Pray that the cowboy gets Home.

Sarah Horses Around on Her Birthday!

A decade is a long time, isn't it? Not to us, for the past ten years of Sarah's life have flown by. Sarah and her dad took a horse ride up Refugio Canyon (yes, THE Refugio Canyon where Ronald Reagan formerly lived) as part of her birthday gift. Sarah's horse had a bad episode--he relieved himself in my horses face just before the ride commenced. I must say, I was horrified at the manners of Paco, her horse. My horse (Puddin'--don't ask) never recovered, and stumbled like an old mule the whole way up the mountain. We had a stinky but good time. Boy, it was dusty though! Sarah rode up front with Cowboy Ron, who looked like he walked out of a John Wayne Western. A genuine cowboy, he has worked on ranches from Florida to California. In fact, he will be moving to Arizona shortly to work a dude ranch. Ron and Sarah had a great conversation. But when Sarah told him I was in the Air Force, he took a special shining to me and wanted to chat with the "Capt'n" all the way up and down the mountain. Thanked me for serving and everything. He also asked me twice to pray for him when he discovered I was a chaplain. I was glad to do it as he seemed to be really reaching out. Sarah's favorite part of the ride was when we trotted. But we paid for it later when we dismounted--we hobbled back to the truck walking like John Wayne himself. Rachel and Abby rode a pony in the corral while Leigh sneezed her head off (horse allergies, you know). We had a big time today, but we really want to thank God for that blessing in our lives who is Sarah. She grows more special to us each day.
Update on Sarah's Spiritual Birthday: You may recall my previous post on our caution about Sarah's repentance. But day by day, we are seeing the fruits of conversion in her life. Continue to pray for her! We are looking forward to baptizing her in the swimming pool at the Castros in Spartanburg on 6 Aug. Please come if you are in the area to celebrate with us.

There's Joy In the Camp

Well, the day for which Leigh and I have been praying (for over 10 years now) seems to have finally occurred! After years of impressing the gospel to her heart and mind, Sarah has professed Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Our first reaction was cautious optimism. Though the circumstances surrounding the breakthrough are too detailed and personal to discuss here, everything "looked right" to me in the biblical sense. There was confession and brokenness over sin as she was alone in her room (Abby informed Leigh that Sarah was crying). In fact, Leigh was next door for a quick visit with a neighbor when all of this occurred. But it happened over an open Bible, where Sarah read, wept over her sin, and was gloriously birthed into the Kingdom of God.
We have been very cautious about offering any sort of pressure on her to repent and believe. She's heard (and hopefully seen) the gospel consistently, but she has never been cajoled or coached. After 15 years of ministry, we have seen too many hasty "conversions" of children (my own conversion at 7 was ill-begotten I think). In fact, we have dissuaded Sarah before as she has declared she was saved, reminding her that genuine salvation is accompanied by "fruits worthy of repentance." There was no change before. There is definitely a newness to her life now. She is voraciously reading her Bible (and mine--her's has too many kid words, she says). She remarked that today she has felt lighter--her heart was not heavy anymore. She smiles incessantly. She obeys the first time. And, get this--she is cleaning her room without being told! Can anyone doubt the girl has been saved?
Of course, I'm a pastor, so you know I wonder. After many times being disappointed in discipling new "believers" (and seeing them drift back into sin, and even being hardened to the gospel), we have some pause. Nothing is worse than thinking you have something you really don't, except finding that out when it is too late. Hopefully, we have faithfully presented that message to this little one. But as it stands now, we rejoice! Ultimately, our faith is not in Sarah's "decision" anyway, but in the Lord's good pleasure to save His elect ones--and to keep them. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). And so we celebrate, and hope you will too--particulary you family and friends who have imparted gospel influence to Sarah, and prayed for her salvation. We are grateful for all you have done. Now may the ultimate glory and honor go to the pardoning God of heaven and earth . . . to His Son who has translated us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Amen.

"Santa Barbara." That's Spanish for "unaffordable housing." Two things about the view: 1. You can't believe it 2. Nor can you afford it (unless you made a few movies lately). But hey, we were there and this snapshot proves it.

A Little Theology, a Little Travel

Greetings blogosphere. No grand designs on cluttering up the internet with my ramblings ("In the multitude of words sin is not lacking"), but occasionally I hope to spread some cheer and some clear thoughts to lurkers and what not. Mainly, this is a site to keep the traveling Thornleys in your thoughts and prayers. And to remind us of your lives as well. So blog on, Garth.