HANGAR FLYIN'

As we approach the Christmas holidays, I am reminded of the "reason for the season." Rather, I should say, I am mindful of the season's origin that seems so easily lost in the shopping bustle, advertising blitzes, and general commercialization of "Christ"mas.

EAA 471 witnessed a miracle this year in the amazing event of Carroll Bird's survival of a heart attack immediately after landing his airplane. We also experienced the sorrow of the deaths of Betty Cannon and Dora Henson. Though all of us are not overtly religious, and certainly the purpose of our club is not to support missionaries, perhaps at this time of year a Christmas message is allowed.

So I'm about to preach here. If you plan to be offended, just turn off your headset and hum to yourself. If you read on, it is your own fault.

I am an English professor by trade. I like words. I teach about words. You know, grammar stuff. Dangling modifiers and split infinitives. Fragments (like I'm writing now), and parts of speech. Which brings me back to the title of this column – The Bethlehem Preposition.

One of our part's of speech is called a preposition. It is a word that shows positional relationship. For example, when you radio the tower and ask to land, Charlotte might clear you to land "on" 17L. The proposition involved in that instruction is the word "on." Your positional relationship to the runway when you land is that you are "on" the runway (we hope).

What does all of that have to do with Christmas? Thank you for asking.

Almost 700 years before the first Christmas, the prophet Isaiah gave us these words: "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel" (7:14).

Seven centuries later, on a clear Bethlehem night, an angel announced to the shepherds,

"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." . . .

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:10 – 14).

Did you notice the Bethlehem prepositions? Remember, they show relationship.

Scripture is clear that man's natural position in relation to God is one of separation (Isaiah 59:2). Words like "away," and "from," are often used. What miracle would allow such a shift of relationship? I was "away" from God. God was distant from me, separated from me by my lawless nature. But the Bethlehem preposition was God's great invitation to remove that obstruction and to be "with" Him.

The explanation of the process of this great prepositional shift from "away" to "with" is explained in the names given to the Babe born in Bethlehem:

Immanuel – God "with" us

Jesus – Saviour "from" sin

On a dark and stormy night a child was lost in the streets of a large city. A policeman found him crying and gathered enough information to give him directions.

"Just go down this street half a mile, turn and cross the big iron bridge, then turn to your right and follow the river until you know where you are."

The poor child, only half understanding and bewildered by the storm and the dark, turned about blindly and walked away.

Then another voice spoke in a gentle tone: "Son, just come with me. Just follow me."

The little hand was clasped in a stronger hand. A corner of a warm coat was thrown over the shoulders of the shivering child, and the way home was made easy.

The first man had told the way; the second man became the way.

One Bethlehem night God came to be with us that he might give himself for us and show us the way.

Merry "Christ"mas.

No Saturday Breakfast

As most already know, we will not be having BREAKFAST this Saturday because of the Christmas party. It is also reported that the future of the Saturday breakfasts is in question due to lack of consistent set up/teardown help. This has been addressed several times in this newsletter and at meetings.

Don't miss this year's Christmas party and Awards banquet. It is December 19^th at 7pm at the Ambassador Suites (old Embassy Suites). Invitations were sent to all members. Don't forget to RSVP.

The following people were elected in last month's meeting.

Please remit to the address listed above by December 31, 2002, or bring your check to the December, 2002 Chapter Christmas party. Dues received after December 31, 2002 are $35.00.