It was August of 1979, and I was 12 years old. Dad called home and asked Mom to bring Donnie, Brenda, and me to the American Airlines Maintenance and Engineering Base in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Dad was in management for American, but on this summer day the attention of many was drawn to something very unusual outside. Throughout the offices people were calling family and friends saying, "You've gotta come to the airport and check this out!" You see, the Space Shuttle Enterprise and its 747 transport (formerly owned by American) had landed and was near the AA hangers. The Enterprise was the first Shuttle constructed and was used for test flights within the earth's atmosphere. So Mom loaded all of us up, and we made the short drive from Claremore to Tulsa and joined my dad. What I saw was incredible. In front of me was a real space ship sitting on the back of a huge airplane. For a young boy (and many adults) it was truly a sight to behold.When was the last time the words, "Check this out," came out of your mouth? What was it about? Was it a book, a movie, maybe a new restaurant? Okay, now let me ask you this. Regarding your church, when was the last time you invited a friend or family member to check things out? One day Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman at a well which resulted in her going back to the people in her town and saying, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" (John 4:29) Shouldn't it be the same today . . . you and me asking those around us to come and check out our church and discover more about our Savior?
That trip back in 1979 to "check out" the Space Shuttle remains in my memory as a fun time with my family in which I encountered something truly incredible . . . The Enterprise. But I thank God for Christian family and friends that offered an even greater invitation as through the years they guided me toward the Savior with a simple invitation to church saying, "Check this out!"
