Irony: To hope that a day’s air travel will produce a good story. When it does, it turns out that you’re the butt of the joke.

True, I turned up to the airport yesterday secretly hoping for a cool story to tell at the end of the day (yes, us sanguines do things like that. Or at least eccentric old men like myself).

First thing that happened was finding out that the flight we were not on the passenger list. Yes, we had a printout confirming our booking. No, that didn’t make it to the airline computer.

Secondly, our flight was had been canceled. Yes, the airline called people to tell them this. No, they didn’t call us! (We took a later flight in the end).

Thirdly, I forgot to take the pocket-knife off of my keys. This wasn’t a problem at this end of the flight; the knife was small enough that security didn’t seem to mind. Returning however, I was advised that security was strict at the Wellington terminal (point of departure), and advised to check in my bag, which I could then put my keys into. I should have just put the knife portion in; when I tried to collect my bag upon arrival home, I discovered that the airline had “forgotten” to put my bag on the plane! They didn’t forget anyone else’s…

That’ll teach me to go looking for a story to at every opportunity!

A few weeks ago I met Tom on campus. Tom wasn’t 100% sure about the basis of his faith, so we spent some time talking about how one can be sure of their salvation. Tom and I decided to meet each week to look through the “Knowing Jesus Personally” magazine, to learn more about how to grow in a relationship with God.

Today Tom brought a friend Dennis along to our meeting. I hadn’t met Dennis before, so I didn’t know what he thought about God. I asked Dennis what he thought, and he said he wasn’t really sure. He told me how he was looking for something to help him get on the “right path” in life, someone to turn to in times of need. I asked him if he’d heard about how someone can know God in a personal way. He said no, but he’d be interested in finding out more.

Tom and I talked through the “Knowing God Personally” booklet (a basic gospel presentation) with Dennis. When we got to the point about how to invite Christ into your life, Dennis said that he had never asked Jesus in, but he wanted to! Dennis then prayed to ask Jesus into his life right there!

Events like this make my day! It’s great to see people receive Christ into their lives. It’s even more exciting to see people like Tom wanting to share with their friends! Had Tom not brought Dennis along, the chances of me meeting him would have been slim to none. Tom is still learning how to share about God with his friends, but the fact that he’s eager and taking steps to do so is encouraging!

This is what gets me out of bed in the morning! Please pray that Tom and Dennis would continue to grow in their relationships with God!

Today was the first time I paid for parking while living here in Auckland. I feel dirty inside.