Here’s a devotional I just submitted to The Hamilton News for publication in their Pastor’s Pen column for this week:

Nearly three years ago, on January 15, 2009, an unknown commercial pilot named Chesley Sullenberger became famous. It wasn’t his plan. As a matter of fact, he became reluctantly famous.

His plane, a huge Airbus A320, dubbed US Airways Flight 1549, took off on a routine flight from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina.

As the plane rose in the skies it flew through a flock of geese, taking out both engines. Immediately the plane lost power. The pilot and co-pilot calmly radioed back to the control tower for advice on an airport they could land at. There was only seconds to make a decision. The control tower gave them two options.

Captain Sullenberger, running all his options through his trained mind, replied, “Negative, we’re gonna be in the Hudson.” Once he had made the debatable commitment, there was no turning back. He calmly ordered the passengers to “prepare for impact” and set the falling plane gently down in the Hudson River.

He refused to be panicked by the stresses all around him and the voices of advice, and followed his decision out to the end. The rest is history. They all survived and Captain Sullenberger earned the nickname ‘Captain Cool’. How did he find such calm peace under such stress? The answer is he trained for it.

What have you prepared for in life? If a health or family crisis hit your life, do you have a default setting for dealing with these, or would you panic under the stress?

The Bible advises us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Tags: peace, plan, trials, trouble

How do you handle tough days when one problem introduces another? These days can be discouraging and test our faith. The following account occurred on a company accident form:

When I got to the building I found that the hurricane had knocked off some bricks around the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple barrels full of bricks. When I had fixed the damaged area, there were a lot of bricks left over. Then I went to the bottom and began releasing the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was much heavier than I was – and before I knew what was happening the barrel started coming down, jerking me up.

I decided to hang on since I was too far off the ground by then to jump, and halfway up I met the barrel of bricks coming down fast. I received a hard blow on my shoulder. I then continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers pinched and jammed in the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground hard, it burst its bottom, allowing the bricks to spill out.

I was now heavier than the barrel. So I started down again at high speed. Halfway down I met the barrel coming up fast and received severe injuries to my shins. When I hit the ground, I landed on the pile of spilled bricks, getting several painful cuts and deep bruises. At this point I must have lost my presence of mind, because I let go of my grip on the line. The barrel came down fast – giving me another blow on my head and putting me  in the hospital. I respectfully request sick leave.

Tags: pain, trials, trouble

The Rio Puerco River is a wide, shallow river in Arizona. It is peculiar in that is bed is nearly all quick-sand. It can be traveled safely provided you keep moving, but the moment a stop is made the treacherous sands begin to engulf you.

How like the world that is! God never intended that we should stop here and make this our home. Since the “fall” this world is a dangerous place that engulfs us in its lusts and passions. It causes us to sink deeper into its mire.

Christians must remember that this is not our home…we’re only passing through. The more you settle for what this world offers, the more we become submerged in its sands. Keep moving toward God!

Tags: quicksand, sin, trials, trouble

When I was a new Christian, there was a chorus of an old hymn we used to sing that touched my heart deeply. The chorus went like this:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,
Some through the fire, but all through the blood,
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song
In the night season and all the day long.

The title is ‘God Leads Us Along’ and its a great description of His leading in our lives. Why is it that so many have an experience with God going through trials and pain? I believe its because that’s when we are receptive to His word. God does lead us if we’ll pay attention.

Tags: hardship, overcomer, trials, trouble

Steinway pianos are built today the same way they were 150 years ago when Henry Steinway started his business. Two hundred craftsmen and 12,000 parts are required to produce one of these magnificent instruments. Most crucial is the rim-bending process, where 18 layers of maple are bent around an iron press to create the shape of a Steinway grand. Five coats of lacquer are applied and hand-rubbed to give the piano its outer glow. The instrument then goes to the Pounder Room, where each key is tested 10,000 times to ensure quality and durability.

Have you ever thought about what it takes the Master Craftsmen to transform an ordinary sinner into a faithful servant of Jesus Christ? It takes pressure and patience, and the work of many influences before He comes up with a finished product. And He is at work like this with each of us. This is our destiny (Romans 8:29).

Tags: craftsman, maturity, trials, trouble

Inventive genius Thomas Edison lost his great New Jersey laboratories in an inferno-like fire on a December night in 1914. Yet the very next morning, walking among the still smoldering ashes of those buildings that had housed so many of his projects, Edison, then 67, said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew.”

James 4:14 reminds us: “You do not know what will happen tomorrow.” Turn your disasters into a fresh start.

Tags: Edison, failure, overcomer, trials, trouble