9-20-2010 - THE C's OF GETTING OUT OF TROUBLE

Tonite's message by Pastor Mike, from James 5, included a very wise saying for pilots who are getting into trouble while in the air. It involves memorizing 4 words beginning with the letter "C".

The first is "CLIMB". You need to get up higher than you are, you don't want to be near the ground when you get into trouble. So we want to climb up higher than the problem, we want to get to a place where we have some room to wiggle and to see what the problem is.

The second word is "COMMUNICATE". When a pilot figures out what is going on with his aircraft he usually communicates his problem and possible solution. We must learn to do this with all problems. Once we've climbed out of immediate danger and have a chance to see what is going on, we can communicate to someone else what we think the problem is and a possible solution.

Next is "CONFESS" your error. If you put cheapo gas in the tank or you didn't do a full pre-flight check and missed a few "key items" that are now going bad, you need to confess your error in order to accurately and truthfully assess the situation, identify the problem and move towards a solution.

Finally, you need to "CONFORM" to the solution. Our solution may be we have to crash land the aircraft and we need to resolve ourselves to do this, conform to the standards that are useed in the process and get along with it.

In our non-piloting ordinary lives we may apply these words to our own trouble. First, we need to climb out of the mess we created and give ourselves some room to analyze and take an honest look at the problem. As Christians we definitely need to communicate what is going on to someone who is willing and able to listen and help us (my first go-to person would be Jesus) see clearly what we've done. The next step is hard for anyone...confess whatever you did. Its easy to confess it to the Lord. Now confess it to someone who is going to help you...not so easy sometimes. We become afraid of being wrong, judged, ridiculed etc. because we think in the natural not spiritual. And then when our pastor or counselor or friend gives us a solution we need strength and courage to conform to the answer. It may mean taking a break from visible ministry or apologizing to people you have hurt or many other things which we perceive as embarrassing and maybe not the best idea.

But if we learn from our past, and integrate new solutions into future events, we will become more secure in the knowledge that "ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." We will attempt to behave in a way which will avoid problems, but when they arise, we will be open and willing and honest with each other to help solve any or all future misbehaving.