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Death catches us all by surprise – even when we think we're prepared for it. In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Robert Jackson opens his heart to share personal encounters with life's brevity that have shaped his perspective on faith and preparedness.

The journey begins with a teenage Dr. Jackson standing in a rural emergency room, watching his physician father battle unsuccessfully to save a crash victim's life. This foreshadows the devastating loss of his own father in a plane crash years later – the last memory being his dad kneeling in prayer over him before departing for a flight that would never return. The recent tragic deaths of his dear friends Philip and Cheryl Porter in similar circumstances reopens these wounds while reinforcing timeless truths about how we should live.

Philip Porter wasn't just a patient but a kindred spirit who used his piloting skills to transport medical patients, pastors, and even rescue victims of sex trafficking. His and Cheryl's lives exemplified genuine Christian service – giving generously of their time, talents and finances to advance God's kingdom. Their sudden departure prompts Dr. Jackson to share crucial wisdom: be ready to meet Jesus at any moment, keep short accounts in relationships, share the gospel with loved ones, and prepare practically for death with wills, insurance, and funeral arrangements.

The episode concludes with the beautiful aviation poem "High Flight," celebrating those who have "slipped the surly bonds of earth" and "touched the face of God." Dr. Jackson's testimony that "Praise God, Philip's gone to glory" echoes the comforting words once shared with him about his own father – a reminder that for believers, death isn't the end but a homecoming. What preparations have you made for your final flight? Are you living so everyone knows where you're headed?

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