This makes up for the void

I bet i have lost readership in the short season i've been in Texas so far. I just have not been writing consistently or at a level that would provoke good thought. But the object is to write for myself and not be concerned with by whom or whether i am read, right? RIGHT? interesting objective to contemplate, that is for sure. In fact, i rethink that objective every time i consider writing. I thought about this Sunday, and Monday and Wednesday. ARe you guys disappointed that i haven't been writing? I'm worried that you are. Number 1, you come to mind now as a person who's maybe regretted looking here night after night and have eventually given up. I can't make any promises that i'll change back to 'normal'. If you pray for me, i will write more. I miss writing alot because this is therapeutic and i would and am giving up sleep to stay up and write because i'd rather express what means alot to me or is weighing me down than to carry the intentions to do so into tomorrow. Everyone lets out their joys and sorrows eventually; it's those who release them in a controlled manner that are different from the rest of the everyones.

Besides that reflection on Sunday, i had another which i did not share with the guys in Randy's bible study. We were discussing Romans 13:8, for one, in depth, particularly the section "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another..." What that means, as i learned from Sunday's insights, is that we can repay every debt we can to our fellow humans except for one: loving each other. We have an infinite debt of love to pay to others because God loves us infinitely. Would it make sense for one beloved creature to not love another creature made by the same God? Indeed not, for we would then be brought to question why God takes the trouble to love us. Moreover, God's love that commands we share is limitless.

You can never love enough. Love itself works within us the same as knowledge--the more you know, the more you are aware of how much you do NOT now. If I love a lot, the more I become aware of what or whom I do not love. We Christians ought never be atrophying in our love for others. If we are--watch out! We must examine ourselves and see whether our proximity from the Source of love is furthering. The root of the matter is what we must attend to before the fruit.

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I've had a really good week. Monday I had a 13-hour workday flying and teaching ground and simulator blocks. I played racqueball with Usen at Solheim and lost all three games, again. I have one win on him over 1.5 years of competition.

Tuesday I tried to get my student pilot Sam Romero to solo, but the weather deteriorated and she forgot her license. But i was able to get the paperwork in order and ready for the next attempt. Tuesday night I went flying at night in the Duchess (our multiengine trainer) alone and practiced night landings, slow flight and steep turns. That was a blast! The occasion was also my first flight alone in the Duchess.

Wednesday was really special. I went riding for 8 miles around the country road
i live on then went to the airport to meet Sam to have another go at soloing. She was doing poorly during the first 1.3 hours of our session because she would never keep the nose pointed at the end of the runway during the flare, so her tendency was to land sideways and skid the wheels til they straighted out themselves. I felt then as if i really came down on her, but she was unfazed and kept trying. If there ever were a time --other than you , Angela--when i felt angry at a student for not listening to me and following instructions, that was it. But when she finally got the impression that i mean what i say and she'd better get it right then she did alright. Her last three landings were wonders to behold. I tell ya, amazing the things students can achieve when they just follow instructions!!

She soloed after sixteen practice landings, and I cheered and took pictures and
hugged her (she wasn't all into the hug thing though) and made that very special line in her logbook that says "First Solo". By the way, she was my first initial-solo student because mine in Alaska--Jared, Angela and Brian-- i endorsed for their solo cross-country only.

Another aspect of Wednesday that made it so special was the date: 3-29. Exactly a year ago, then Tuesday 3-29-05, I took and passed my initial CFI (flight instructor ) checkride. Now my first solo student is soloed exactly a year after that glorious day. Very cool how God works days out like that.

Today, Thursday, was my day to play background piano music for LeTourneau's Career Skills banquet. Few good feelings in life match up to performing the piano well in front of people. It is such a blessing to translate feeling into song for others to hear.
I have a little criticism of my own professional manners tonight. Twice i was acknowledged and applauded for by the announcer and attendees at the banquet, and i just kinda locked my head and body in forward halt and didn't look around or smile and wave to those giving my applause. It wasn't really humility or indifference, but i'm sure that whatever it was it didn't appear as gratitude for THEIR approving applause. So i regret my not participating that extremely rare but jubilant moment.

The person who prayed over the event shared a very interesting but true observation. He noted that in formal settings such as the one this evening where everyone is dressed up and your behavior is expected to be proper, guys feel most awkward in contrast with ladies. I wholeheartedly agree with that too because even as he spoke, i realized how tense i was and how i did not feel at ease within the present context. I never have. But what I do enjoy is being dressed sharp, getting served in decadence and seeing cute girls i know looking absolutely slammin'.

Bedtime!

Samantha Romero ^

how things are going

I haven't written about this week at all, and alot has happened along the way. Since i'm feeling overwhelmed by the thought of sharing details, here's the basics of what this week has entailed. Monday: First multiengine block in ten days; my student and i were both making little errors in judgment and procedure, but we concurred to just get over it emotionally and trust that we're better in the long run. After we landed, a pair of A-10 Warthogs

landed and taxiied to the main airport terminal where Stebbins FBO is. I promptly drove over there after work and watched one of the A-10s take off and talked to the pilot of the other. He walked me up to his plane and let me look in the cockpit and got pictures there and by the gun. The A-10 is one of my fantasy aircraft; i.e. one i covet most to fly, and to see my first live one was quite a thrill!

Tuesday:Taught the Flight Science 1 lab from 3-5; that was fun.

Had dinner with close friend Michael Cross and had one of the most profound and heart-to-heart conversations of the year. i remember it so vividly now, too. In short, Michael has a relationship with a girl named Annie, and he and she are a love story written by God. I mean,almost every part of it is perfect, for she is his resolution to all his life's wondering and waiting and preparing. She's made for him. He cannot wait to "walk off that podium into that lovely woman's arms."

Went to our CFI meeting then played racquetball with Usen for an hour and worked out til 10.

Wednesday: Virtually a day off except for FS1 lab. Felt dozy through it

Today: sat in a ground block with one of my students and flew touch-and-goes with another for an hour. She's close to getting her feel for landings. I had a great time teaching today's FS1 lab. Tonight David invited me to dinner with his family and Randy. Joe's diner, we're coming hungry!

picture post

my new office at LeTourneau hangar

here's me with Matt Wolf, a 2-lesson-only commercial student.
my new room
Mary Jackson creating a monster- we had to renumber our Skyhawks to their former registration numbers.

Our neighbor's pool to which i am given unlimited access !!! :-)

i like this quote

Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm

Winston Churchill

I bade 'em good-by, but i can't

it was a summer filled to the brim of enchantment, delight and charm, and hardly anyone can appreciate the pictures, the words and the videos we have to remember it by except the blessed few who were actually there. Only we were surrounded by the wonder and beauty of that summer, and only our hearts were penetrated by that ever-present purity of a place set apart by God to testify of His magnificience and glory. The words of Downhere's Great Are You ring in my ears as i glance at the two-dimensional captures of unrepeatable yesterdays. "It makes me wonder, Who am I? Who am I? and great are You."

There God embraced me and showed me what He wants me to keep doing throughout my life. He wants to consume my purposes in His, and He is a dauntless pursuer of my attention, my heart, my love. He knows what satisfies me, and He brings me to those pleasures. Even when i feel torn from what i thought was good for me, he softly grasps my clawing, straining hand and comforts me enroute to His next big plans for this precious child of His.

Yes, he knows what satisfies me, what speaks to me and what solaces me. He brings me to all the right places, and each He has prepared for me.

Alaska bumped up my capacity for thrills, adventure, romance and worship far beyond what I had in the lower 48, and sometimes i appeal to have her back when the times here are droll and hollow. If one could see into my heart, you may think that i crave in excess the dangers, high of emotion, richness of fun that i learned there. Inside is a yearning to flourish, but i know that i may get to be that way only in Alaska.

Special

Just four hours ago, I was considering the words to my next post to be something to the effect of "I just don't feel like posting now, so i'm just going to make a list of what i've been up to and call that good."
Fortunately for my avid (haha!!) readers, the recent hours have turned around my passiveness, and now i have something interesting to write. My spring-break-only student Matt and i went flying this afternoon to work on his instrument skills-but not only his; mine too because the airplane we were in was our Garmin 1000 equipped new Skyhawk. Information is presented differently on this instrument. Instead of six clock-shaped "steam gages" that each present a separate piece of flight information, the G1000 is a single screen displaying a picture-in-picture style rendition of the plane's altitude, heading, airspeed and attitude. In teaching instrument flight using the G1000 to my student today, i was able to learn many very handy shortcuts, if you will, to reading and interpreting flight information on the system.
I was just jealous that HE got to be the one to hold uninterrupted attention to the pretty 10 by 8" screen.
As soon as we took off, we noticed that the clouds and mist in the sky were lower than reported, and though we could see the ground easily from 3,500', we could barely see the horizon. It was VFR still, so we continued. About an hour through our lesson, i was demonstrating the use of the VOR when we saw the clouds illuminate dimly. The rainfall also intensified, and now we were relying solely on the GPS to determine what our position was. I couldn't see more than two miles of ground below. So we are on the edge of an incomiong thunderstorm, it's raining and we can barely see. Time to go back!
Returning to the airport was interesting. Again, barely two miles of ground was visible, and Matt was over there under his grey hood trying to hold the altitude and heading i was ordering, and however unsuccessful he was to get both tasks correct, he was still flying the plane and enduring this experience bravely.
On our "TV screen" we watched our little white airplane making its way toward the runway, and that was all we had for orientation; i had no idea where we were by looking outside. I flashed the radio over to ATIS to get the current info on visibility and ceilings because they may be too low to legally fly into GGG's class D airspace. Information Alpha reported 6 miles and 4000, and that's legal, so we proceeded onto final on runway 35 and continued making the radio calls. Matt took his hood off and identified buildings and lights close to the runway, and though we could see them we couldn't see the runway though it should be within two miles away. Finally about a mile out, we noticed the VASI and runway threshold and lined up with the runway. Just then i had a thought I thank God for! I knew that the visibility was way below 3 miles, and here we were making a VFR approach. Although the current ATIS said 6 miles, the next info was sure to be different, and if i am discovered by ATC to have landed below minimums, nothing good can come of that. With about 200' of altitude to lose, i got on the radio and said "Tower, Skyhawk 97A, just to cover myself, i'd like to get a Special VFR clearance into class D here." As if the controller were anticipating my request, he replied immediately, "Skyhawk 79A is cleared Special VFR into East Texas Regional airport, cleared to land runway 35."

This experience was quite intense for my young student, as it was for me! We lingered in the airplane for about ten minutes letting our hearts rest and minds relax. When i got the new ATIS, it reported 2 1/2 and 4,000 - greater than what i expected but confirming of my suspicion to request a Special.

I praise God for another exciting flying adventure to add to my memories!

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As for the rest of the week, i've been helping Tim and Sarah Medin paint and move into their new house, which is, strangely enough, across the street. I went to their house Monday thru Thursday and worked long and was fed well, and they were planning on being done with moving by this afteroon. But given the heavy rain and cold, they may put off that goal another day.
Speaking of Tim, the other Tim from Peru has called me a few times after a month's silence to talk about the claim that I filed with the Ill. Dep't of Labor. The Department is researching my case, and they've engaged Tim's company already and he's not liking it. I was flying during each time he called, and that's good because Mom knew what was happening before I did, so she advised that I not talk to him.
I got my first paycheck yesterday! It's not a big amount, but i'm encouraged because the next paycheck should be more than double this one. I'm thankful that i may be able to live off my own income soon. We'll see what God has in store.

Lesson prep

I read Luke 6 this morning and later used a verse to exhort one of my students. In the end, i was the one most deeply spoken to. Verse 45 says that "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." We know the mind is what stores things up in the heart, so if we can equate our heart to a treasure chest and our thoughts to the jewels in the treasure chest, it makes sense then that the proverbial treasure will overflow into our words and actions.
Since our thoughts are as jewels, this impresses a great responsibility to choose only the good jewels into our treasure chest. We will bring forth good deeds and words as we store up good treasure in ourselves. The challenge is to be courageous enough to reject the alluring imposters and to take only the truly good treasure into ourselves.

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Two students so far this week, and alot of work and progress so far.
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I'm helping Tim and Sarah (David Wilson's daughter) paint their house in the evenings.
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Randy is in NC visiting Angela and others.

First students

i now feel what it's like to work all day and not be up to doing anything else productive after. I have taken on at least six students now, but the real busyness won't pick up until after spring break. I fly alot next week, but it's going to be the not-normal hours. So far i've flown with four students once apiece; three were in the Skyhawks and one was in the multiengine Duchess.
I had a profound reflection just as i finished the after-flight briefing this afternoon. Teaching is easy. Instilling, on the other hand, is a different ballgame!! A student's receptiveness and my clarity need to merge at the same time or else this endeavor of learning is rendered ineffective. My student today, i felt, was of the unreceptive type-not by will, perhaps, but by the readiness and attitude he brought to the lesson. Oh i was teaching well. I felt good information flowing from my lips, but my words seemed to go only as far as that. I had so much to share, yet it wasn't of enough value, i suppose, to be written down.

I recall yesterday to be encouraged. This student is working towards his multiengine rating in the multiengine Duchess, and he was given to me by another instructor. He's going to be a joy to fly with (while he's yet with me!) because not only does he have natural ability, he's also very calm and attentive to my critiques. He is so good at, well, almost everything i ask him to do.

All students need good instruction. All students need lessons instilled in them. The former I can do; the latter only WE can do.

Phew!

The world is whirling around me, and i'm feeling quite overwhelmed with new students and my new class piling on me all at once. So far, five students have been assigned to me, and add that the students i have in flight sim lab. I have three sections of lab at an average of seven students each. So i'm getting to know lots of new people at once, but fortunately i am familiar with two flight students. I also have big shoes to fill because they are being handed over to me from some quite experienced instructors.

Now i have to go to meet Susan Wilson at the ROC so i can help her prep for David's surprise birthday party.

my new email, in addition to skybound7@gmail.com is

JonTack@letu.edu

and my office number is 903-233-4288

no one can fly enough

A week after my arrival, i am now plugged into the system and authorized to give flight instruction in most courses. I start instructing in a couple days, and i attend my first flight instructor meeting in five minutes.

Instructing here doesn't pay much, but as i now see, money isn't the bottom line; i've got so many privileges and conveniences at my disposal that i don't know what to do with. Read 2 Corinthians 9:8, the verses that encouraged me the most at this time last year. God is faithful!!

Brief update

For those who are still reading because you trust that, despite my sporadic writing, i'm still alive, know that i'm doing extremely well down here in Texas.

I'm spoiled with God's grace. Yeah, I'm so blessed. I got here on Tuesday night, and the Wilsons had dinner waiting for me, then they showed me my room-where the bed was already made- then the fridge-where Susan said basically i'm welcome to eat whatever i see. In the front of the house is a well-tuned Baldwin baby grand, and there's a creek and pond in the back yard--that's WATER, folks, a sight for the privileged in East Texas.

Then i got to the airport on Wednesday and i discovered that i don' thave to pay now for my CFII training. I have to pay for it eventually, but not immediately. and they want to train me on the glass Skyhawks.

I had my first experience with the Garmin G1000 yesteryday. I sat in the back seat with Esther Topham and Tim Black and just stared at the pilot's screen for the majority of the time. Every shape, color and motion of the features were so beautiful. And I"m thinking to myself "this is what got me into aviation." I'm so excited to teach myself the system. It's gorgeous, man, really gorgeous.

I haven't been handed students yet, but i'm getting ready. Today i got signed off to teach in the Skyhawk after just one flight-that was a good accomplishemtn for me, and i felt that Mr. Burnett himself was impressed with my flying. After I "fill my prescription" of practicing by myself 2-3 hours, i expect some students to be sent my way.

Your prayers for strength of mind, wisdom and stability and safety would be appreciated at this time.

Sorry, i haven't got pictures yet!

Truly God is good to Israel and to such as are of a clean heart -- Psalm 72:1

Hello to Texas

Greetings, Texas land, air, and all dwellers therein. God has been generous in giving me a warm reception from all places and people. I enjoyed a raving welcome so far these two days: Faces from the not-too-distant past appear beside me and remember my name with gladness, but i remember a mere majority of them. I'm told that i was walking into chapel and some people talked about me. I came to the airport this morning and Rick Bartmas, a good friend of mine who now instructs, shouted "Hey everybody, Jonathan Tack has entered the building!" Rumors floated around the flight student/instructor body that said i was coming back, and i have been so heartily greeted again.
I completed paperwork for employment and got my official LeTourneau University faculty/staff ID card. Insurance forms, emergency contact info, tax forms, all that is done. The paperwork is going through so smoothly. A LeTu CFI manual was given to me, and my first block of standardization is scheduled.
The chief flight instructors will have to hand their students over to me as the semester moves on because they need to be freed up to administer stage checks. That's the prime motivation for bringing me here now.
Turns out, i'll also be taking over the flight science 1 lab because the current instructor, Stevi Peace, is very pregnant and is due in a month.
I have the opportunity to work at the desk at Randy's church.
I need to start taking responsibilities at Dave Wilson's house eventually.
I have more work possibilities than i can say Yes to.
Praise God!
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I was reading in Psalm 25 this afternoon and came across a verse worth contemplating. It was the 14th: The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." Sometimes i feel convinced that God has helped me understand concepts of this existence and creation of which few others are aware. And i know it's of him becuase i become more conscious of God's ways and word. I want to fear Him more so i can behold more of His secrets. What a special privilege is that!