Why are you called a Christian?

So yeaaahh I know I'm slacking again...

(Left to Right- Me, Joseph, and Mary- my bestie!)

But I do have excuses for last weekend. SPRING BREAK! I definitely needed the break from school. I went down to Louisville and spent some quality time with friends down there. I threw a bachelorette party for my bestie!


On Saturday, I ran in an orienteering relay which was quite fun. Our team got 3rd out of 11 teams! No awards just bragging rights. We also went bowling and watched the UofL basketball game. Then I scooted on back to MI where it was cold! (60s to 20F) Note I said "was cold". Today was warm!!! We hit 51F! For us that's amazing. At lunch time we all flooded out of the building and ate lunch there, played soccer, and some played softball. Then unfortunately we had to go back inside.

Waiting for our leg of the relay. It's a little chilly/ windy.

School update:
We finished riveting our wing skin on! Now we just have to redo some rivets, prime and paint it, and put a grip step on it. We're also working on installing a plexiglass/ plastic window on the same airplane. In electricity class we are taking apart alternators and later we are putting them back together. Bad thing is I already did this for my car! Good thing is- I know what I'm doing for the most part.

Another thing we have coming up soon are General and Airframe Oral and Practical exams. These are huge major exams and are over everything we have already learned. Pray that I will be diligent with studying and that I won't be worried about them .




Home update!
OUR ADOPTION IS HAPPENING! Right now my parents are traveling to Ethiopia to meet the kiddos (Hasset-girl 6 and her brother Yeabsira- 10)! They are going to do mostly paperwork and get visas and such. In a month or two (?) when the kids get the visas and medical checkups and such then my parents will pick them up and bring 'em home! I'm excited! Praise the Lord.





Now I'm behind one week on the catechism (sorry) but I'll catch up later this week hopefully.

LORD’S DAY 12
31 Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?

A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit1 to be
our chief prophet and teacher2 who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance;3 our only high priest4 who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body,5 and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;6 and our eternal king7 who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.8

1 Luke 3:21-22; 4:14-19 (Isa. 61:1); Heb. 1:9 (Ps. 45:7)
2 Acts 3:22 (Deut. 18:15)
3 John 1:18; 15:15
4 Heb. 7:17 (Ps. 110:4)
5 Heb. 9:12; 10:11-14
6 Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24
7 Matt. 21:5 (Zech. 9:9)
8 Matt. 28:18-20; John 10:28; Rev. 12:10-11

32 Q. But why are you called a Christian?A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ1 and so I share in his anointing.2 I am anointed
to confess his name,3 to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks,4 to strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil in this life,5 and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation
for eternity.6

We are called Christians because we are followers of Christ and we identify with Him. He died for our sins and we are saved through him. In our salvation we have the hope of eternal life with God in heaven. And the only way to God is through Christ- pure and blameless because he took the wrath that we deserved for our sins and interceded for us as the great high priest that reigns forever. Oh what a glorious day it will be when we get to see our Lord face to face and gaze upon His beauty!

1 1 Cor. 12:12-27
2 Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28); 1 John 2:27
3 Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10; Heb. 13:15
4 Rom. 12:1; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9
5 Gal. 5:16-17; Eph. 6:11; 1 Tim. 1:18-19
6 Matt. 25:34; 2 Tim. 2:12

Fly with Christ, 

Helen

Praising God through music!

Well this week sure has been busy! -as always...
On Tuesday we had SMAT Jam. The local United Methodist church has a weekly music series and had asked us to play for them (they asked us back in the fall as well). This time I joined in the festivities and played Jesu, Joy of man's desire on the organ with Liesl who played the violin. We were staged at the local music store where they had a small electric organ. We also had a bunch of songs played by other SMATans and it was very country/ hoe down themed/ sounding (banjo, guitars, drums, piano etc.). They sang several Christian songs/ hymns such as Victory in Jesus, Power in the Blood, etc. It was super fun.
... and then we did it again on Saturday!...
Yesterday was the Ionia Business Expo where everyone in Ionia could advertise their business. SMAT had a booth to show who we are and what we do. Our music group also performed on the stage there (I didn't since my instrument isn't that portable). In the future, we are thinking of taking this show on the road and going to churches to share our mission and in turn maybe get some supporters too. But the main reason is to glorify God. We had several people at the expo come up and ask us to play at nursing homes and at the Ionia Free Fair (huge fair in the summer). It's a great way to get involved in the community and share our love for Christ. We had one lady come up to us and say she was touched by our songs because she listened to every word we sang. How great that she can hear the gospel through our music!

The SMAT music group at the Expo

God the Son
LORD’S DAY 11
29 Q. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” meaning “savior”?

A. Because he saves us from our sins,1 and because salvation should not be sought and cannot be found in anyone else.2

1 Matt. 1:21; Heb. 7:25
2 Isa. 43:11; John 15:5; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 2:5

30 Q. Do those who look for their salvation in saints, in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus?
A. No. Although they boast of being his, by their actions they deny the only savior, Jesus.1 Either Jesus is not a perfect savior, or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation.2

1 1 Cor. 1:12-13; Gal. 5:4
2 Col. 1:19-20; 2:10; 1 John 1:7

It's so wonderful when we get to praise God for sending His Son to be our Savior! Continue to praise Him everyday!

Fly with Christ,
Helen

Finally caught up: Take 2

Here's something fun we got to see: Helicopter rotor blade tracking. The mechanic was checking if the blades were in track (balanced and spinning in the right direction/ place).

Enstrom 480

So now I'm finally caught up! 

LORD’S DAY 10
27 Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?

A. The almighty and ever present power of God 1 by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven
and earth and all creatures,2 and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—3 all things, in fact, come to us
not by chance4 but by his fatherly hand.5

1 Jer. 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28
2 Heb. 1:3
3 Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2
4 Prov. 16:33
5 Matt. 10:29

28 Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?
A. We can be patient when things go against us,1 thankful when things go well,2 and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing in creation will separate us from his love.3 For all creatures are so completely in God’s hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.4

1 Job 1:21-22; James 1:3
2 Deut. 8:10; 1 Thess. 5:18
3 Ps. 55:22; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:38-39
4 Job 1:12; 2:6; Prov. 21:1; Acts 17:24-28

Fly with Christ,
Helen

Sheetmetal and sunshine!

 The sun came out yesterday! and it even got up to 50F! That's amazing!

Lately we have been doing large sheetmetal projects. I am working with Jamin on remaking a wing skin for an Ercoupe (an older plane). We are remaking the skin where you step on the wing to get into the cockpit. The plan was in a crash at some point I think and so now we are doing repairs (more for practice rather than actual flying use). We de-riveted the old skin and used that as a template for the new skin. We then cut that out and drilled all the holes exactly as they are. The 3rd picture is what it looks like under the part where you step. The corregated metal makes it really strong. In the 4th picture Jamin in carefully putting the new skin in place to double check all the measurements and holes. Now we are ready to rivet the new skin on.

Ercoupe

Original wing skin

Underneath the wing skin- where you step.

Skin holes all drilled out

 Here's another Day of the Heidelberg Catechism

God the Father

LORD’S DAY 9
26 Q. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”?

A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, 1 who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, 2 is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. 3

I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, 4 and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. 5 God is able to do this because he is almighty God 6 and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. 7

1 Gen. 1-2; Ex. 20:11; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15
2 Ps. 104; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11
3 John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:15-16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5
4 Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25-26; Luke 12:22-31
5 Rom. 8:28
6 Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39
7 Matt. 7:9-11

Jamin and I making the skin

Fly with Christ,

Helen

Someday I'll catch up...

SMAT from the air! It's a snowy town out there.

My apologies... I am not on top of my game with posting these. This entire weekend I was out and about- working on renovating a house for a friend, church, and flying. But it's a short one this time.

LORD’S DAY 8
24 Q. How are these articles divided?

A. Into three parts:
God the Father and our creation;
God the Son and our deliverance;
and God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.
 
25 Q. Since there is only one divine being, why do you speak of three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
 
A. Because that is how God has revealed himself in his Word: these three distinct persons are one, true, eternal God.

Deut. 6:4; 1 Cor. 8:4, 6
Matt. 3:16-17; 28:18-19; Luke 4:18 (Isa. 61:1); John 14:26; 15:26; 2 Cor. 13:14; Gal. 4:6;
Tit. 3:5-6

Fly with Christ,
Helen

Back on track!

Sorry for the delay. All I can say is that time flies.

Flight hangar! Worldwide it's where we're going! Ps my favorite is the 4th from the left!

 We've been working on the airplanes this week. We got to take off the wings and tail components and now we are in the process of putting them back on again and making sure everything is in the right spot and has the right tension or torque (tightness).

The fuselage I helped mask also got painted! It looks really good! :)

I'm planning on catching up with the catechism this week so stay tuned I'll try and post the following ones on Monday and Tuesday.

LORD’S DAY 7
20 Q. Are all people then saved through Christ just as they were lost through Adam?
A. No. Only those are saved who through true faith are grafted into Christ and accept all his benefits.

Matt. 7:14; John 3:16, 18, 36; Rom. 11:16-21

21 Q. What is true faith?A. True faith is not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true all that God has revealed to us in Scripture; it is also a wholehearted trust, which the Holy Spirit creates in me by the gospel, that God has freely granted, not only to others but to me also, forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation. These are gifts of sheer grace, granted solely by Christ’s merit.

John 17:3, 17; Heb. 11:1-3; James 2:19
Rom. 4:18-21; 5:1; 10:10; Heb. 4:14-16
Matt. 16:15-17; John 3:5; Acts 16:14
Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 1 Cor. 1:21
Gal. 2:20
Rom. 1:17; Heb. 10:10
Rom. 3:21-26; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-10

22 Q. What then must a Christian believe?A. All that is promised us in the gospel, a summary of which is taught us in the articles of our  universal and undisputed Christian faith.

Matt. 28:18-20; John 20:30-31

23 Q. What are these articles?
A. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. [The Apostles Creed]

Fly with Christ!
Helen