My friend Fritz Klumpp tells how another pilot impacted his life. Please read the following and then consider the questions at the end.

 

Although we spent an hour each Sunday in the same class we were never formally introduced. Physically he reminded me of a young Clint Eastwood. Over time I learned that he had flown as a Marine fighter pilot in the Pacific during World War II. Although he was cordial enough, I got the impression that you didn't want to get too close because if you crossed him he would just as soon punch you out as give you the time of day. I would later learn that he was a boxer and my initial impressions were pretty accurate. Hank's wife M Jo was a picture of the California golden girl but was extremely quiet and rarely uttered a word.

 

We eventually moved from the New Orleans and the south shore to the north shore of Lake Ponchatrain and looked for a new place to spend our Sundays. At this time I was attending church for several reasons. First of all, I was paying God back for having spared my life in Vietnam. Secondly, I had two little girls. When that first little girl was born the thought of raising a little girl scared me to death because I know how little boys think. I wanted my little girls to have the moral guidance of the church until they were old enough to consider the consequences of any wrong decisions that they might make. Thirdly, going to church just simply suited the image that I determined I should have. In reality I was spiritually bankrupt but I thought that there was no one who called himself a Christian who had any more than what I had.

One morning we sat there as we had so many Sundays before. Hank and M Jo shared about an event they had been to in Dallas, Texas. They seemed to radiate an enthusiasm like I had never seen before. That was the morning that Ann turned to me and said: "I don't know what it is they have, but that's what I want." We had seen two lives miraculously changed and the transformation of Hank McGrew is what led us to seek meaningful answers to life's greatest questions. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you ever witnessed a life miraculously transformed? Perhaps you have had such an experience yourself-- but if not, have you ever desired such a change?