It's good to have you in worship on this first Sunday of the New Year. One of the controversial issues of this past year was whether airline pilots should carry weapons on planes. It reminded me of a story about a pilot who was seated in the cockpit of a passenger jet. Much to the surprise of his navigator the pilot pulled out a .38 revolver. He placed it on top of the instrument panel, then asked the navigator, "Do you know what I use this for?"

The navigator replied timidly, "No, what's it for?" The pilot said gruffly, "I use this on navigators who get me lost!" At this, the navigator proceeded to pull out a .45 revolver of his own. The surprised pilot asked, "What's that for?"

"To be honest sir," the navigator replied, "I'll know we're lost before you will."

You and I have been launc…