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| My day today:     
First, I worked on a video for LeTourneau University. When I was tired of working on the video, I went for a hike at a near by lake. (Joe Pool) What a great day! I fly tomorrow- yeah! joel | | |
| Starting Fresh After the overly filling days of Thanksgiving, I began training at a new school here in Dallas. My third school in the last three months, but at least this one is only a ten minute drive. I am studying to be a flight instructor. Yes ladies and gentlemen, Joel will be teaching young and old how to take to the skies. As I have settled into a new routine at my new school, I have been delighted to find at the progress I have been able to make. One lesson from being done with all the ground instruction, I am now very close to beginning my last and most fun portion of the training and that is the flight portion. Christy and I had a wonderful time in Ohio for Thanksgiving. We drove up to the cool north happily listening to a murder mystery book on tape that kept us wrapped for 12 hours straight. Finishing the book 20 minutes before arriving home and half past twelve midnight, it was good to arrive home in Ohio. My entire immediate family was once again together for a great few days of food, fun, and fantastic warmth provided by Dad and his insatiable appetite for stoking the stove. Recently, I have been finishing up my model P-41 Tiger Shark, and a video for LeTourneau University. Although I have yet to find a home church here in Dallas, I greatly enjoyed visiting Church on the Rock last Sunday while back in Longview for the weekend. Overall, I am well. Onward now! Into the Christmas Season I plunge. 
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| Sad to say, but aircraft do crash. From pilot error to mechanical failure and weather, many factors make flight a potential hazard. Statistically safer than driving, flight has a great fatality rate when something goes wrong. All this has been made more real to me today as I received news that three persons are dead in a crash that happened yesterday afternoon just outside of Dallas. More difficult yet is the fact that I was to begin training in the very aircraft that crashed in less than 2 weeks. Reports say the airplane came apart in flight killing all on board. Video clip here: These seats are from the airplane. I would have been sitting right here for all of my CFI training. 
Eternity is a breath away. Pray for the families who have lost loved ones and for hearts to turn to God. joel | | |
| Today I turn 25 years old. Wow, just thinking about it makes me smile. At moments like this, I tend to reflect on my life and what God has done in and through me. Memories of times like Acquire The Fire convention in Muncie, when I engineered the video feed for 8,000 people in Muncie and another 12,000 in Nashville connected via satellite. Or when, I flew in a DC-3 over the mountains in Kenya with my camera strapped to my hand and a yoke in the other. What about the time when I was Letourneau Student Ministries president and God moved powerfully through the all school communion that I spoke for. All of this reminds me of the song: “Who am I that you are mindful of me, that you love, it’s amazing” Where will I be next year? What great adventures, challenges, struggles, and joys does God have in store for me this next year? How can I make sure this year does not just slip by without making any difference in the Kingdom of God? I think the answer is found in Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be add unto you.” Yes Lord, I will seek you with an open heart, ready mind, and a thankful attitude. joel | | |
| I feel sick to the stomach when I look back and see just how long I have been attempting to start and finish CFI(Certified Flight Instructor) training. Beginning with my move to Dallas in late July, I looked hard for a place to start training. I found what I thought would work, only to realize it was not what I needed. Once again I was on the look out for a new school. Today, I am actually making strides to my goal. For example, I have a ground block lesson with my flight instructor in 2 hours at Skymates. After much time and frustration, I finally feel like I am making headway. It appears as if, I might have an FAA checkride shortly after Thanksgiving. This means that after 4 months of struggle, I might actually have something to show for it. This weekend I will be heading to Longview for some time with my Girl. We will be going to THE Formal of LeTourneau “Fall Fest”. I look forward to such great fun. Joel
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