equinoxical notes
1. Today was the first day of autumn. Still feels like summer here, except in the evenings. I really should buy a jacket before it gets too cold.
2. Did anyone catch the news coverage of the plane with the landing gear problem at LAX last night? That pilot did us proud. I doubt I could manage a landing that beautiful in the 172 with fully functional undercarriage. The runway will probably be out of commission for a while, though, while they repair the trench left by the nose gear stub. The news coverage was the typical sensationalism, and a lot of it seemed almost let down that the act of landing itself was so uneventful. Another case study on the American media, I suppose.
3. Had a little bit of excitement yesterday vis-a-vis the flight program here at PBC, and not the good kind. It turns out that after much deliberation the board of trustees of the college recently voted to end the missionary aviation program. The board cited a number of reasons including rising fuel and liability costs and in their view the troubled future of missionary aviation in general. It won’t affect current students, including myself–they’re phasing out the program over a number of years–but we don’t yet know what to tell prospective students about the status of things for next year. All the administration, instructors and students at MAI (Missionary Aviation Institute–the airport and everything associated with the flight program) share a completely different view of things than PBC’s board of trustees, but…the board has come to the conclusion that missionary aviation isn’t the college’s thing any more, so that’s that. There are many reasons for this, and I can provide them if you’re curious. MAI actually used to be an independent entity, and could very well become one again if the college exercises wisdom in what they do with the airport and to the brand new hangar, both of which they hold the deeds to. We’ll see. There’s a college-wide picnic down at the airport tomorrow evening and all the aviation people are going to gather together to discuss the situation. I’ll know more then.
4. This new “TimesSelect” feature started by the New York Times online site is pissing me off. Firstly it’s a ripoff, and secondly I don’t have unencumbered access any more to the inane ramblings of lovely columnists like Maureen Dowd or Bob Herbert. Oh well.
5. Way back in 1997, Sixpence None the Richer’s song “The Lines of My Earth” was the first time I noticed the impact good production and mixing can have on a song. I love the way all the different song elements are balanced to create a quasi-palpable aural texture. The song would feel and be totally different, I’m convinced, if mixed according to the industry pop standard of equalizing everything out, and would be very much the lesser for it.
2. If you had been a passenger on the plane, would you have wanted to watch the news whilst your plane was circling the airport?
5. This is a great song.
/es/\\e
LOVe’n the evenings right now… reviling in them… crisp.
yup. media. but. impressive pilot. indeed.
I knew I didn’t like PBC =) anyway I hope it continues not to effect current students like yourself. I would like to know the details… i’m curious as to the thinking that goes on at these christain colleges.
thought that might piss you off… heard that news on 88.1…
yay Sixpence!
2. I saw the coverage of the landing. Pretty amazing.
3. Wow, you got in there just in time! Glad to hear it won’t affect your program.
5. Interesting. The layers are almost visual to me. ;)
2. Heavens no. Apparently the pilots and crew kept the passengers well-informed on exactly what they were doing, and that’s really all I’d want.
5. Agreed.
random question: do you have “Missing” by EBTG? I need it.
no rush or anything. just wondering.
2. I caught that too…nice work showing us that you know the lingo ;-)
4. I wouldn’t mourn the loss of Maureen Dowd for too long if I were you…
Re: /es/\\e
I get the feeling you’re one of those people who makes a snap judgement on whether or not you like something or someone and then wait for them to make decisions/choices that confirm your supposition…
I have the remix, but sadly not the orginal (which I actually like more). Talk to you online in a bit :)
I don’t know. I confess I haven’t given it much thought. I think if anything I’m predisposed to like and approve of people and things until something is done or said that causes me to think otherwise. Interesting assertion–I’ll have to give it more thought. Are you putting forth that I acted that way with regards to the administration at PBC?
The aviation degree program at PBC is a very intense one, basically a double major in aviation and Bible totaling 207 credit hours over the course of 5 years. The result of the program, in PBC’s view, is intended to be a missionary pilot who can operate quasi-independently on the field, using his airplane as a tool to fly from one area to another and plant churches and minister to the local populace. This is an extremely demanding style of ministry and there are very few in the world who can perform it successfully, much less thrive in it. The rate of attrition is fierce, as many pilot/church planters get completely burnt out within a short span of time and move on to other things. This is PBC’s board of trustees’ (BOT) view of the missionary pilot: the lone wolf, the superman who not only buys his own plane but maintains it himself on the field, performs ministry, raises support and provides for his family. With this type of missionary pilot paradigm, it’s no wonder the BOT sees missionary aviation as a “dying ministry.” Mr. Kelly (the excellent director of MAI) and all the flight instructors agree that this is akin to looking at the vocation through a straw–it’s a very narrow-minded view of the applications of the training. More than that, though–it’s unrealistic nowadays, what with support organizations like JAARS, New Tribes and MAF who use missionary pilots in a much wider range of capacities and much more effectively, really, than the PBC BOT has a vision for. As you know, missionaries do things as teams now–it’s much more condusive to being good stewards of our individual giftings and also reduces the burnout rate dramatically.
Not only that, but the BOT, being composed primarily of independent Baptist pastors, takes an overly restrictive ecumenical view of the types of ministries its graduates become involved with. In other words, the fact that JAARS, MAF and other organizations provide logistical support to ministries and programs other than Baptist ones bothers them.
So between their reservations about these things and the rising costs of the program (understandable when you consider how many Bible courses are required for graduatation: 50! And JAARS only requires 15 hours of Bible) you can how they would consider sacking it entirely. MAI administration actually drew up a less intensive (but no less qualitative) 4-year aviation degree program involving just 30 hours of Bible–still twice JAARS’ requirement–but the BOT shot it down (pun intended).
And honestly this could end up working out very well for MAI. If they become independent again, they would no longer be restricted by PBC’s statement of faith in terms of who they could accept into the program, so aspiring pilots from many other denomiations and ministries could come and get the training they need. Not only that, MAI students could complete their Bible requirements elsewhere before beginning pilot training, enabling them to focus solely on flying and reducing their workload and stress levels considerably.
There’s a lot more that this. Suffice it to say that in contrast to the BOT’s view of things, missionary aviation is alive and well. Heck, they’re designing us a new plane from scratch–the Quest Kodiak. And organizations like JAARS, MAF and other are thriving and finding many ministry and support opportunities for their pilots around the world. So pray that PBC would show wisdom, foresight and integrity in what they do with the deeds to the airport, the airplanes and the hangar.
5. I had a feeling you’d respond to that, being the synesthetic that you are :)
4. Oh I’m not. My sarcasm didn’t come through too well there… It amazes me that people take that woman seriously–although to be fair most liberals would probably say the same about Ann Coulter.
no i got that :) I was throwing it back at ya
No, no…i wasn’t talking about you…silly boy. ;)
Thank you for the insight into the program. Very interesting and informative.
Hey Matt, just thought i’d let you know that I watched Ong-Bak a couple of nights ago with Daniel and Jo. I enjoyed it immensely, of course, and watching it while participating in a martial art (with my instructor and brother-in-law no less) was a lot of fun. Daniel knows a bit about Muay Thai and i could tell that it was a very different concept and fighting style than Wado Ryu…and it was nice to be able to recognize and articulate many of the differences on my own. Even Daniel thought it was really good and, for the most part, realistic…except for the fact that quite a few of those hits, especially the elbow-to-the-head hits would have immediately disabled or killed a person. But since they didn’t in the movie we got to enjoy more such hits without running through a ridiculous amount of characters dying. :-b
So now you have to watch ‘Signs’, ok? :)
Re: /es/\\e
Yes, apparently they are talking to me… hello, do you know me? =)
I am the type of person who makes up her mind quickly, sometimes too quickly. But I would say that due to experience, I am careful not to make snap judgments, although I have been accused of this as I will give my current opinion when asked for it. I would say, and would hope that my friends would find true, that I do have an open mind and while an opinion can be quickly formed, it can also be dismissed, adjusted, or kept to myself. But this is how I approach opinions, I leave judgments or final words, to those better informed on the particular situation than I, although I am human.
I assume this is in response to my comment about PBC? My opinion on fundamentally run Christian organizations that hold rigidly to their theology is I assure you not one that has been formed quickly. It is based on my experience growing up within, and belonging to several churches and their organizations. I have seen good people refuse to work with other good people both true believers who differ on points of theology that are outside of the God, Jesus and Salvations issues. This grieves me. There are too many issues and needy people to address to be petty about the specifics of theology. Yes, I know that statement alone will segregate me further from some… And believe me when it comes to inter denominational relations, I love to have my jaded opinions be proven wrong…
anyway…
I have seen good people refuse to work with other good people both true believers who differ on points of theology that are outside of the God, Jesus and Salvations issues. This grieves me.
Me too. Mr. Kelly and the flight instructors feel the same way. Mr. Hahn (my flight instructor) actually set up his own air taxi service flying missionaries and their supplies between Florida and Haiti (and within Haiti) because the main Christian organization providing that service had the same kinds of self-imposed restrictions on who they would minister to. He ran it successfully for eight years. So he definitely understands.
A proper view of theology has such potential to unite us as believers. There’s nothing like a vast common ground of core beliefs to foster understanding and cooperation. It’s so sad when an alternate view of theology is used to divide us.
Glad you liked it :) I have yet to rent it and watch it again, but I want to. Awesome flick. Did you enjoy the “instant replays” every time the main character would perform a particularly badass move?
Signs? Why Signs? Although I suppose I’ll have to watch an M. Night Shyamalan movie one of these days…