New King Bass!

Just got back from IBMA. We had a pretty good show. While I was there I bought another King Bass #568. I talked to Kip Martin and he told me about a webpage he started for American Standards and Kings -check it out.

I Call Him Bitey!

I saw this guy at a Cracker barrel in Elizabethtown and had to have him. I named him after a possum in an episode of The Simpsons. Everyone that has meet him has loved him...well most people. I was in the checkout line when I bought him and heard a lady say: "Ehw! How ugly!" That's OK, he's got a place in my heart. He has been helping me with my airplane studies.

Flying Lessons...In Holding Pattern

It's been about three months since my last flight lesson. I've not given up but only taken a break. A lot of things were going on and money was getting tight, so I decided to give it a break until I'm able to devote my full concentration. I plan on studying hard this winter so I can go and get all my written tests out of the way. That would leave me free to enjoy the fact that I am blessed enough to be able to do something I've dreamed of since I was a young boy.

Some Questions Someone Ask Me for Report They Were Doing for Their Bible College...

1. “In the beginning God created…!” What do you think? What has gone wrong?
God created everything. What has gone wrong is that sin entered into the world.

2. Will people be saved who have never heard about Jesus?
Yes - Some, depending on how they respond to the natural moral law (the law written in man's heart). Gods infinite mercy & justice decides this of course. But understand that individuals are saved only through Jesus- even if they have never heard of him. We can trust that God's Mercy does what is best.

3. If people hear about Jesus but reject Him will they be saved?
It depends on if they reject him to the end of their life. Christ is always ready to accept the prodigal son. The Grace is there for those who are willing to accept it. It also depends on what you mean buy "hear about". Just those that "hear" about him may not know about his message or very purpose. I like to think If a non Christian is trying to live a virtuous life and has submitted their will to good, then when they hear the message of Christ they will hear the Truth in their heart and try to acknowledge it. With that effort to acknowledge truth more deeply will come special graces from God that may lead to a Conversion to a deeper understanding of truth and goodness(God).

4. What do you think keeps people from believing in God/Jesus today?
I think most people agree God exists but the danger to our times is they can't fathom a God that interacts in Salvation history. They can't believe God sent his only son to die for atonement for our sins. They can't believe the word became flesh. People start believing there is no objective good and evil or that there is no Heaven or Hell (I just started listening to "The Screwtape Letters" on audio book and it gives some insight into this). They think "If God is so good and merciful, why does he send people to Hell?" And the reality is that God doesn't send them to Hell but they condemn themselves to Hell. Freewill gives us the chose to accept God's salvation or to deny it. Also, Justice and Mercy are often thought of as completely at the opposite ends of the spectrum but they actually are very closely related. In short I think that most non-christian people believe in God but some people think that the Judeo/Christian religion is like mythology and they are more comfortable believing more of an agnostic view. I think the media and society have a major effect on this philosophy.

5. Would you say that you are a Christian? What is being a Christian to you?
Yes most definitely. I try to be the best Christian I can but don't always live up to my full potential. We all fall short. Being Christian to me is to acknowledge that we are sinners and that Jesus is our Savior. That he died for our Sin to Redeem us so that we may have eternal Salvation. And then to live out the Gospel message. Believing Jesus is who he is means nothing unless we submit our hearts and our will to his infinite and merciful will such that his will becomes our will. Don't forget, even the Demons know who he is.

Here is one of the best summaries of being Christian:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell(the land of the dead,Purgatory, not the hell of the damned). On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

6. What do you look for in a church?
I found what I was look for in "a church". If one is a baptized Christian of an denomination then they are considered part of the Catholic(means universal in Greek) Church whether they want to or not. They aren't in full communion but are a part of the Universal Church. When I started my conversation to Jesus I was faced with these questions: Which church should I got to? What is the difference between the denominations? Why are there so many denominations? What caused the dis-unity? After some prayfully guided research I had to become Catholic. The Holy Spirit pulled my heart to a love for Christ and then to his Church. I look for a Church that the Gates of Hell will not prevail against. A church that Shepard’s with wise council. A Church that speaks the truth even when its not popular. People ask me how can you be part of a church that has done bad things in the past? My answer is that church isn't just the people only but the institution that Christ established guided by the Holy Spirit. People are sinners and people are in the church but the Church its self is not sinful but is God's own establishment for our good. When I first came to know Jesus in my Heart I considered a going to some non-denominational Bible Church because a house divide can't stand. I knew these people where on fire for the Lord and that they loved scripture and knew it well. My question was that how could these wonderful people that read scripture get completely different interpretations on certain issues? These were prayerful people who lived the Gospel. About that time I started Learning about Church history since the time of Christ. I started understanding how the early church developed. Learned about the divide between the east and west and eventually got to the Reformation and started understanding how the denominations came about. The Reformers had thrown the baby out with the bathwater. They had some good reasons to be upset because there where many crooked people in Church at that time and Martin Luther had different ideas about doctrine also. He composed his work Sola Scriptura stating that the Bible was the only deposit of faith. Before I had my conversation to Jesus personally in my heart I had taken for granted that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit but never knew how it came into being. Once I learned that a Church Counsel, that clammed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit ,had decided what books where in the Canon (official Bible) it made me wonder how is it that Christians believed that the Bible is indeed without error but did not believe in the magistirum (interruptive and guiding power) of the Universal Church. The Holy Spirit guided a Church Counsel to decide the Canon that was commonly believed by all Christians until about 1500 when the reformation took out seven books from the old testament. This made me wonder how do I know that the books should have been taken out. What authority did they have? This let me know that the Church I was looking for had to have the authority and guidance of the Holy Spirit. All of this lead me to think How can a person know that what they interpreted from scripture is all correct? This means I could interpret the bible anyway I want and be no different from Martin Luther. If I didn't like something the Bible said I could take it out if I like. As you can see things start getting out of hand. The Magisterium is the gift from God that Shepard’s us from potential error. Sometime we need protecting from ourselves so we don't drift too far. I found an answer to my earlier question: How could these wonderful people read scripture and get completely different interruptions on certain issues? The answer was they didn't have the magistium.
My Faith journey had lead me somewhere I had never though of. I hadn't even considered being Catholic- Why? I didn't know anything about it. The Church was a hidden, beautiful gift that I had never noticed. I realized The Catholic Church is the most non-denominational church of all - it was the first. Since I have become Catholic I have met so many people from different backgrounds and religions. Its inspires me to be a part of this melting pot of people in love with our Lord. G.K. Chesterton had a neat quote. He said:” If people lived for ever they would all either not believe in God or would become Catholic. I think being Catholic is the greatest Christian experience anyone can have. I love the fact that I can go to any Catholic parish in the World and be right at home.

In short I can answer what I looked for in a church... The one that has the most Pure and Complete Truth as revealed by God. Now that I am Catholic I can see may more reasons why this is the true Church of Jesus Christ.

King Bass from E-bay

I bought a King Moretone Bass off E-bay. It needs a little work done (mostly setup) but I purchased it for a reasonable price. I met Jonathan Mann at the Cracker Barrel in Goodlettsville to pick it up. It is serial #302...It is a 1935. I always have wanted a King.