Childhood Dream A Reality

At 10 years old I wanted to be an astronaut. I was told by some kid that I had to be a pilot to be an astronaut. So I then wanted to be a pilot. 42 years later I got to take my first flight. The experience was just wonderful!



Jeff enjoyed his turn flying the Cessna 172 as well as ride in the Wright Flyer.

Identity Crisis

First Published May 24, 2010


Luke 12:7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

So, I was pushing the shopping cart down a crowded aisle of the super market when a little girl, who was standing next to another cart, held up a bag of snacks to a woman and asked, "Mom?" Well, without hesitation, the woman along with two of us ladies nearby replied, "Yes?"

The pregnant pause and the shocked gaze by the little girl was a clear indication that she didn't expect a response in stereo. The newly founded trio probably would have continued our synchronized dialogue with, "That will spoil your dinner," but instead, the little girl's mother had a solo. "They are moms too." Gee, there are countless ladies in the world who answer to "Mom." Where's my identity?

When I think about the vastness of the world and the number of people in it, it's hard to fathom how God could possibly be able to have an individual name for little old me. I'm just one out of over one hundred billion people who have walked on the earth.

The Jews of Biblical times knew of the mighty power of Jehovah God. He spoke directly to man by name, and in many occasions he bestowed miraculous abilities. Moses, Abraham, David, Daniel, and others had a direct link to God verbally. Then God was silent for 400 hundred years. The Jews of Jesus' time probably believed the stories of the past, of God's intimate communications with man, but the Gentiles had no such history. Hence, I believe that Luke's record of Jesus' words is very meaningful.

There are over 100,000 strands of hair on a human head and God has accounted for each one on each of us! My identity is strengthened through the assurance that He knows me individually, and that His love for me has no bounds. Wow!

Oh, got to scoot. I heard someone call, "Mom!"

Copyright 2010 Karen Vaughn

They Will Know That We Are Christians By Our Friends

First Published May 12, 2010

I am blessed to have a great number of wonderful friends. But recently a friend did something I would not do. It made me wonder about how my friends define me. I think that friends reflect who we are and who we admire. And since I am a Christian, I need to ask myself, "How do my friends reflect me as a Christian and the Christ, whom is my Lord?"

Well, it's not as if we put coins into a machine and select our friends! Friendship is tough. We may be called upon to shoulder our friend's burdens.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

We need to keep our motives in check.

He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. Proverbs 22:11

We should pray for our friends.

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again
and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10

Our friends need us and we need them.

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:10

Our friends know that Jesus is our best friend.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends John 15:13

Today let us dwell upon what it really means to have friends and to be a good friend.
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Father, thank you for giving me true friends. Help me to be there for them, physically and spiritually. Mostly, thank you for your son, whose perfect model of friendship is beyond compare. It is in his holy name I pray. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Karen Vaughn

Feb Meet

Jeff officiating at the SCA Indoor Meet Outdoors Feb 22, 2010. I did okay for the first meet of the year. (Courtesy of Chris Stone)