Trust Your Instruments

One common definition of spatial disorientation is “the inability of a pilot or other air crew member to determine spatial attitude in relation to the surface of the earth; it occurs in conditions of restricted vision, and results from vestibular illusions.” The Federal Aviation Administration uses a slightly different and more simplistic definition. It states, “When a pilot does not know in-flight where his or her body is in relation to the surface of the Earth, the pilot has spatial disorientation.”

There are several types of spatial disorientation. The basic three types are recognized, unrecognized, and incapacitating. Without going into too much detail, one you know you have and are trying to fix it, one you don’t know you have, and the last is one that you know you have but feel completely helpless or don’t even know where to start fixing it.

Regardless of which definition is used or which type of spatial disorientation a pilot has, they all have two major attributes:

1. Inability to distinguish what is true versus what is false (i.e. confusion).
2. The relationship to a common reference point (i.e. the Earth) is in question.

I have personally experienced spatial disorientation numerous times. It is not fun. Take a little bad weather and mix in a glance down at a checklist or an instrument approach procedure and you have the recipe for an interesting day. If there is a latent sinus issue, cold, or seasonal allergy, you could really be in for a serious case of vertigo as well. Thankfully for passengers and those on the ground as well, pilots are trained for these situations and instruction usually kicks in. When it does, disaster is averted. When it doesn’t...lives are usually lost.

In combating spatial disorientation, a “seat of the pants” feeling combined with flight control inputs can sometimes alleviate or assuage the symptoms. This is only marginally effective. Some folks try to shake their head rapidly to “reset the gyros” in their skull! This, however, can often make matters worse. Bottom line, there are a lot of techniques out there. Some may help. Others may hurt. The most effective way to combat spatial disorientation, however, is accomplished by simply “trusting your instruments.”

While going through pilot training at any level, but especially instrument and bad weather flying, the instructors constantly emphasize (practically brainwash) you with the phrase “trust your instruments.” Although instruments and gauges fail, it is rare for several of them to fail at the same time. Therefore, developing a good crosscheck of all available sensors and gadgets alleviates most cases of spatial disorientation fairly quickly. This includes, but is not limited to looking at and comparing the all control and performance instruments and ensuring that they are all in concert. Only then can the pilot begin to redevelop “truth” in his mind and save himself and his aircraft.

To some, I am sure that the plethora of spiritual parallels evident here are fairly obvious. Take a glance around and you can see all three types of spatial disorientation. Some folks are confused and know it and are trying to make their way back home. Others don’t realize that they are confused. Finally, some folks know that they are being drug away from truth but cannot find a way to escape and return to truth. Regardless of the type of disorientation, the two major attributes remain.

We live in a world where it is becoming increasingly more difficult to distinguish what is true versus what is false. Disorientation abounds. Matthew 24:24 states, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” The church is not immune to the deceptive forces in the world. In fact, the church is the prime target. If the enemy is able to shake the faith and the foundation of the church, to whom will the wanderers of this world look to for an example of the righteousness, hope, and blessings of an Almighty God?

That takes us to the second attribute. The church’s common reference point is the Word of God! There are no substitutes. Isaiah 40:8 states that, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand for ever.” The traditions of man are always temporary, but the Word of God is eternal. The faith that is developed over time by getting rooted and grounded on the principles of God’s Word is essential to overcoming disorientation. This faith is quite simply built over time in prayer, regular church attendance, and reading the Bible. Eventually, it will create in the heart of a Christian, a “common reference point” that is dependable and immovable.

If you know someone that seems to be a little disoriented in life, share with them this thought…Proverbs 3:5-6…”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

We serve a God that is ready, willing, and able to come to our rescue in times of disorientation. He can clear up our confusion and help us find the straight and narrow way. All we really need to do is “trust our instruments.”

Rev Lance Wilkins grew up in Royalwood Church under Pastor Macey. He is currently a member of First Pentecostal Church of Panama City pastored by Rev Allen Crabtree. Lt Col Wilkins is a Squadron Commander and USAF combat veteran with over 300 combat hours. He has flown over 20 different types of aircraft including almost 2000 hours in the F-15 Eagle. His wife Cinnamon and children Rhett and Hannah are involved in several areas of ministry.

Collaborating for the Kingdom

...most of us grew up in a culture that applauded only individual achievement. We are, generals in an ego-driven “army of one,” each the center of an absurd cosmos, taking such happiness as we can find...but our new heroes are men and women who know how to gather allies, build teams, and work together toward shared goals.

 The Collaborative Habit // Twyla Tharp

There are no superstars in the Kingdom of God.  If Jesus is the center there is no room for you or I to be.  Our goal as believers is to individually and collectively glorify Jesus through our lives.  Whether collaborating on a new idea, writing a song, launching a community initiative, developing a sermon, creating a new fashion trend, _____________________(Fill in the blank), there is power in collaboration.  You can do exponentially more collectively than you can do individually.  

I’m encouraging you to find someone and share your dream with them.  Allow someone else to speak new life into it!  Find someone else that you can invest in and push for and set up for a win.  When I look back on some of the greatest moments/accomplishments in my life I notice VERY few were conquered alone.  As the great philosopher Vanilla Ice so brilliantly stated, “Stop. Collaborate and listen.”



Tauren Wells is the lead singer of the band, Royal Tailor. He serves as the Creative Director for Royalwood and is also on the youth staff. He loves interacting with students and building relationships. Follow Tauren on Twitter.

City Kids "Be at B-TOWN" Contest

City Kids is having a Be at B-TOWN Contest to launch an exciting new phase of ministry for children at Royalwood Church! Be at B-Town is an attendance contest. When your child checks in at City Kids for The Factory their name will be entered into the contest. Each week they check in, their name will be entered again. Now, your kids can score big by bringing friends with them each week as well. When they bring a friend their name gets entered AGAIN and their friends name as well. 

The contest will run on Wednesday nights for 4 weeks beginning April 17th. We will draw the winners on May 15th and the kids will have to be present to win!

Spread the word, City Kids is the place to BE!

www.royalwood.cc

It's Monday!

As I reflect in the celebration of the risen King on Easter, I am so very thankful for what Jesus did for me on Calvary. He took my place! He took the nails for me, He took the beating for me, and He carried my sin and shame… ALL for me!!!!  Why me… Who am I? I don’t deserve it! He did it all so I could be FREE! Yes free! Free from all sin and shame, free from all bondage, free…free…free….  

Why is freedom celebration displayed on life’s stage on that faithful Sunday, yet people go home from a resurrection Sunday and are still bound on the Monday?

This question has many answers, but there are two I want to address. Indeed the scripture is clear about the Delivering Power of Jesus.

John 8:36 - If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Let’s be clear about this.. Jesus wants you to be free. The reason we celebrate Easter is that Jesus conquered the death and the grave so that we could be free!

I go back to the age old question. Why are Christ’s children sitting on the powerless pews still bound with the same old problems? Has the church lost its power? NO! Has the Pulpit waivered in power? NO!  Has the Word of God diminished in power? NO! So what has?

The simple answer is humanity… Let me explain the complicated answer to a simple question.

The moment Jesus rose from the grave, there was an echo of deliverance that resounded throughout the ages to come! I am free, so therefore you can be free! In you is the power to overcome the first day of bondage and stay victorious.

Your enemy has it right. He knows exactly what to use to bring you back into captivity. There are two weapons he uses. The first deals with yourself and the second deals with others.

The first is self-condemnation!  This is a very important and vital tool for the enemy! Once you begin to condemn yourself and think you can’t make the mark because of your failure. Guess what? You drift like a ship without a sail back into the former life. A life of bondage.  This time you are captive to condemnation! You can never get away from the past; you dwell on it, live in it until it consumes you! The enemy’s drug is a steady and increasing dose of subtle deception! Don’t be free from sin to be bound again.

Romans 8:1 - There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Replace self-condemnation with self-discernment!

You are Christ’s child. You sought forgiveness, and he adequately responded with deliverance. Speak to your enemy with those triumphant words!

Luke 4:8 - And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

You are free because Christ says you are free! It’s Monday, and yes you are still free even when the temper comes with self-condemnation and his only purpose is for you to be bound!  

The second is others! It is no coincidence that Jesus points out the church in scripture. You say, “can the church stand in the way?” Unfortunately, yes! The enemy can use the very elect to derail the brokenhearted? Again, others are the very commodity the enemy uses that delivers rich returns.

You see scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in a fault and displayed it for everyone to see. Let’s stone the guilty! Let’s parade her faults for everyone to see! Let’s cast her out by stoning her and use the law to accomplish it! We don’t want her, we don’t need her, and we can do without her! That was the mentality of the church at that time!

Child of God, at times you will need to do what Jesus did and shake the dust from off your sandals… in other words, your enemy who comes to kill, steal, and destroy will at times use others to ridicule, accuse, tear down and try to destroy your progress in Jesus!

Again, let’s use the One whose motives and agenda can’t be questioned! 

John 8:11 - And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. The scripture reveals that her failure didn't define her, but rather revealed Jesus by way of her enemy! You see, your failure isn't a destination, but an event. It’s not your identity, because the Potter hath power over the clay.

It’s the day after Easter and you are blazing toward Pentecost! It’s Monday! You are still FREE! Even when self-condemnation screams in your ears, in your dreams, at work, in a group or all alone, Its Monday! You still have Resurrection power available to you!

It’s the day after Easter and you are heading to the miraculous outpouring of His Holy Spirit! It’s Monday! You are still FREE! Even when your enemy uses his prized commodity to be a stumbling block, even when those who proclaim to be in the church judge you and try to stone you with rocks of condemnation;

REMEMBER, Jesus doesn’t condemn you! He used a lying, cursing Peter and made him the “rock”.  He used a murderous Saul to be the messenger to the Gentile nation!

All it takes to be truly changed is one interaction with Jesus! All else is just noise!

It’s Monday and you are still FREE! You don’t have to be the statistic that says people will fall back into previous bad habits and live a defeated life. It’s Monday!

Child of God, It's Monday! Church it's Monday!

Instead of casting stones, let’s be the ROCK they can stand upon! 

www.royalwood.cc

Dan Castleberry serves on the Pastoral ministry team and leads various ministries at Royalwood. He is married to Robyn and has three beautiful daughters.  You can follow Dan on Twitter

You're Invited to Resurrection 2013 at Royalwood!

This Easter, we invite you to join Royalwood Church at 10:00 am as we come together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ! 

On Easter, we will start a dynamic 4 week series, "Resurrection." This series is specifically designed to resurrect your life with Christ. You don't want to miss the spirit-filled worship and powerful message!

In addition, our children’s ministry will have an action packed service with exciting worship and a visit from Toy Story's Buzz Light Year and Woody! After service, we will host our annual Easter Egg Hunt.

If you have questions, please feel free to call us at 281-458-2102.  We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

www.royalwood.cc

  

In Whose Image?

My family and I were recently at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and I was reminded again at how much American people are enamored with their own looks.  I have never seen such a display and array of undesirable clothing, jewelry, make-up, etc. that adorn much of the human race.  I watched as men and women alike walked past me flaunting their best superficial attributes to the world!  I was amazed and shocked again by people trying to impress others by their conspicuous and ostensible adornment.

We live in a world that image is everything!  Our looks and outward appearance have become much more important than our character and integrity!  Everywhere we turn, there is another advertisement or article about improving our looks.  After the Academy Awards, all we heard for days was what each star wore and who was the designer.   If we are made in His own image as the Bible tells us that we are, why do we feel that we should upgrade the model that God made?

I think we should always look our best and I am certainly not declaring that fashion should not be a part of our lives; however, I believe we can become so besotted with what others think of us, that we forget who we are supposed to delight.  The Bible says we cannot serve two masters so we are either going to please God or we are going to try and gratify our own desires. 

I read again the story of Esther and the scripture says that the women that were to come before the King, prepared themselves for 12 months with purification and various beauty treatments.  It is apparent that self-image has been important for a long time.  The women were given anything that they wanted to adorn themselves before coming before the King.  The scripture says that Esther did not take anything other than what the chamberlain required of her.  We know of course, that she was the one that King Ahasuerus chose to be the next Queen.

The Lord said that he would supply all of our needs so we do not have to appease, enchant, or titillate the world around us.  Our prayer today must be, “Make me in your image, Oh God!” 

www.royalwood.cc

Jeanna Macey is married to Pastor Ron Macey. She is the Chorale Director for Royalwood and serves as Advisor to Royalwood's various ladies ministries. Follow Jeanna Macey  on Twitter 

Others

We are living in the day where everywhere we look we are being encouraged to think of ourselves and   not to be concerned about others.  The self-centered, self-serving attitude is also seen in great proportion in the modern day church. We like our church comfortable, we like it like WE like it! We enjoy church programs that cater to our likes. We don’t appreciate anyone that disrupts our familiar, comfortable routine; from the place we park, to the door in which we enter, we are all prone to falling into the trap of self-fulfillment.

The love for God’s house, worship, singing, and fellowship is enjoyed by every child of God and are noble pursuits. A term we hear regularly is “church service.” Have we gotten the church part learned but failed to pursue the “service” for the Lord? We can become so consumed with our own needs in life that we fail to consider “OTHERS.” The focus of the life of our Lord Jesus was always “OTHERS.”

In 1910, the Salvation Army was meeting in London for their annual convention. Their founder, General William Booth, would not be able to attend due to illness. His eyes were failing him and he had become an invalid.  General Booth was urged by his followers to at least send a telegram and greet the Army on the opening day of the convention. Not wanting to spend money on a long telegram, he had decided to send just a word of greeting that would encourage the faithful volunteers for another year. When the telegram arrived at the convention and was read, it simply said “OTHERS”, signed General William Booth.

One word that describes the mission and calling of our Lord is “OTHERS,”  What should be on the heart of the church is “OTHERS.” Do unto others….OTHERS! OTHERS! OTHERS! A word from God…OTHERS! A word from General William Booth…OTHERS! A word that beats with the pulse of God…OTHERS! Let’s pledge to make OTHERS our focus, for by this men will know that we are His disciples!

www.royalwood.cc

Pastor Ron Macey has served as Pastor of Royalwood Church for 29 years. He believes that our mission is "Reaching, Teaching & Serving" those around us. Follow Pastor Macey on Twitter.