Consequences

January 21, 2026

Leadership Notes

     Sometime in 2025 I learned the best way to fold a pair of pants when packing or putting them in a drawer. Why I never learned that before, I’ll never know. I like that I’m always learning new things. It’s wonderful to say, “I never knew that.” Or, “You learn something new every day.” Those are good things.

     Did you know there once was a “Golden Age of Skyjacking?” That is definitely not a positive thing. I read a story about a man who, in June of 1972, hijacked a Boeing 727 with 100 passengers going from St. Louis to Oklahoma. It did not end well for him.

     Inspired by the infamous D.B. Cooper crime from 1971, the Boeing hijacker gave it a whirl. One thing leading to another, he jumped out of a plane with $502,000 in cash strapped to his waist. At some point in his descent, the money was torn from his body, disappearing into the night. Who knows where it is all scattered.

     The Navy vet turned ne’er-do-well was twenty-eight years old at the time. He was paroled thirty-eight years later, in 2010, at the age of sixty-seven. Can you imagine spending the most productive, formative, and enjoyable years of your life behind bars? Consequences…

     Reflecting on his life-altering poor choices, Martin McNally recently said, “I take care of my sister’s 93-year-old mother-in-law, live with my two cats and have no worries.” The now-81-year-old, reflecting on his quest for riches, realizes he threw his life away “for a bunch of paper.” His advice for young would-be outlaws: “Forget about that nonsense. You’re not gonna get away with it, especially nowadays. Get an education, stay clean, and get a decent job.”

     I would add one more thing…repent of your sin, and begin following Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. That’s the first and most important thing missing from the lives of unbelievers. Do that, and your life is re-oriented. You are focused on moving in the direction God has placed before you. You are doing the things that contribute in positive ways to life around you. It’s all a beautiful thing.

     Remember the Fruit of the Spirit:

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, and self-control.”

Couple this with what the Westminster Confession says is our chief goal in life:

"To glorify God, and to enjoy him forever"

and you’ve got a lovely focus on doing what’s best for your church, family, community, and your personal life. Who could ask for or want more? That’s what McNally missed in life.

     As a side note, there were 300 jet hijackings from 1968-1972. Crazy, right?

     People are lost without Jesus. And that’s why we see so much malicious, malevolent, malcontented behavior all around us. But not the people of Covenant Church. We’re here loving Jesus, worshipping God in Truth and Light, loving each other, loving our families, and loving our community. I don’t know about you, but as for me and my family, there is no future in leftist mobs. We’re just trying to be as productive as we can however we can where God has planted us. No nonsense here.

     Let’s close with this encouraging thought from Renatta Oxendine:

“Pray constantly and consistently. Not just when you need

something or when times are bad. Praise God during the good

time, and ask Him for strength to get you through the bad times.

Start and end each day with prayer. God loves hearing from His

children.”

     With Much Love and Affection,

                         Richard