In my need to do things, I've taken on a new project, painting the truck rack. Jay had it made several years ago and it has served us very well. But Steven pointed out the other day that it was getting rusty. (Speaking of getting rusty, our dear friend Janie Carlock turned 40 today) So I decided to have the tired old thing painted.
(that's the rack, not Janie) So Monday I got out my trusty mini grinder and put on a wire wheel and began stripping paint. Well mostly rust, really. Then it started to rain so it had to wait until Tuesday. I put a nice coat of red oxide paint on it yesterday afternoon and went back today for a second coat. Now the rack is in the fenced yard out of the way of everything. But at dinner we noticed that our friend Nick had a red stripe across his rear end. Somehow he managed to sit on the rack and ruin his shorts. That led me to wonder if others might get into the act. Sure enough we now have a red striped German shepherd. Nick's best color is probably not red but it sure suits the dog well!
But the story didn't start with the rack. It actually started with a flat tire. Sunday Morning the van we take to prison had a flat tire. The van has a special rear end with 13 inch dual wheels. Sunday being our busiest day of the week I waited to change the tire until Monday.
The day dawned bright and clear but by the time I got started it was threatening to rain. I should have been warned by the ominous gloom.
After gathering a jack and tools I proceeded to attempt to change the tire. I could not break the nuts loose. WD-40, lug wrenches, cheater bars and every tool I could gather was soon employed to try to remove the offending tire. "It has refused!"
Then I got serious! I got out my favorite 1/2" drive ratchet with a 12" extension plus heavy duty 7/8" socket and proceeded to work on it. Me and my trusted D-J Tools ratchet. No frozen nut has ever defeated this combination. I put the socket on the extension then the extension on the ratchet and the whole thing on the first nut. I pulled and pushed nothing. Then I stood on the ratchet. Nothing. Then I bounced on the ratchet. Wait! I felt it start to give. Then the unthinkable happened. My trusted friend who has worked with me for 24 years, whose faithfulness is only exceeded by my wife, broke. D-J my favorite wrench snapped in two! Twenty four years! Ronald Reagan was president when I bought that wrench. Granted 24 years isn't as old as our friend Janie, who is forty today, but it is still a long time. I did finally get the nuts removed but it was a hollow victory.
D-J Now occupies a place of in honor on my desk. It is my newest paper weight. I'm hoping it lasts another 24 years.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Stunned Silence
As we watched live footage of the Japan earthquake and tsunami, I found myself speechless. I usually have lots of bad jokes about tragedy and death. I'm sorry to be that way but it has always been how I coped with things. Say something funny and move on with life. But these days there are just not funny words to say.
Here in Uganda things are stable although we still have threats from al-Shabab to target flights in and out of Entebbe. Makes picking up or taking people to the airport more time consuming but that is all.
The protests (riots) that have been sparked by the national elections here seem so tame compared to elsewhere in Africa. The call for "spontaneous" protests the day before the scheduled riot gives you plenty of time to shop early and clear off the streets. Even during the demonstration if you stay away from Main Street and the tear gas it isn't too bad. Some people have been injured but not as many as was expected.
But then Japan is rocked. And what is my reaction? Stunned silence. We, Christians, have been expecting the wars and rumours of war, earthquakes, famine and every other type of disaster as the beginning of birth pains. I should be ready to speak up, not grow quiet. I need to open my mouth and tell of God's plan of salvation more boldly than I ever have, but I am stunned instead. Has my heart grown cold so that there is no love for those who are perishing.
Matthew 24:4-8 tells us that Jesus wants us to be ready when this time comes, for if we do not speak up with the Gospel now, the next step is persecution and hatred toward believers(v.9-10). Is that hatred aimed at us for speaking against sin and offending people? Yes. But is it also possible that the hatred toward believers will be the result of our hardened hearts toward the world and the dying. Do we sit in stunned silence knowing what is to come, eager to see Jesus but not saying a word to the unbelieving world? Is our love for people, the lost, growing cold. Stand firm (v.13-14) and be saved. Stand firm in the full armor of God. Love to the end so the Gospel of the kingdom will preached as a testimony to the whole world. Then the end will come!
Lord, let my heart, our hearts, love as you love. To a world that sits in stunned slience, let us show those around us how to live eternally in you. Break our silence!
Here in Uganda things are stable although we still have threats from al-Shabab to target flights in and out of Entebbe. Makes picking up or taking people to the airport more time consuming but that is all.
The protests (riots) that have been sparked by the national elections here seem so tame compared to elsewhere in Africa. The call for "spontaneous" protests the day before the scheduled riot gives you plenty of time to shop early and clear off the streets. Even during the demonstration if you stay away from Main Street and the tear gas it isn't too bad. Some people have been injured but not as many as was expected.
But then Japan is rocked. And what is my reaction? Stunned silence. We, Christians, have been expecting the wars and rumours of war, earthquakes, famine and every other type of disaster as the beginning of birth pains. I should be ready to speak up, not grow quiet. I need to open my mouth and tell of God's plan of salvation more boldly than I ever have, but I am stunned instead. Has my heart grown cold so that there is no love for those who are perishing.
Matthew 24:4-8 tells us that Jesus wants us to be ready when this time comes, for if we do not speak up with the Gospel now, the next step is persecution and hatred toward believers(v.9-10). Is that hatred aimed at us for speaking against sin and offending people? Yes. But is it also possible that the hatred toward believers will be the result of our hardened hearts toward the world and the dying. Do we sit in stunned silence knowing what is to come, eager to see Jesus but not saying a word to the unbelieving world? Is our love for people, the lost, growing cold. Stand firm (v.13-14) and be saved. Stand firm in the full armor of God. Love to the end so the Gospel of the kingdom will preached as a testimony to the whole world. Then the end will come!
Lord, let my heart, our hearts, love as you love. To a world that sits in stunned slience, let us show those around us how to live eternally in you. Break our silence!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Philippians 4:13
When I first came to faith in Jesus Christ Bev gave me a little plaque that quoted Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." NIV
But I prefer the NKJV, "I can do all things throuh Christ who strengthens me."
At the end of a very difficult week, both physically and emotionally, I know that this verse is true. At times when I had to face the things that are toughest for me to do, Jesus gave me strength. But more importantly He gave us strength.
Saying good bye to one of my dearest friends but having to show others that his moving to his own ministry is all good, Jesus gave us strength. Me to say goodbye, JB to move.
Having to go console a dear friend, the adoptive mother of a child who lived seven years longer than anyone thought was possible because of her unconditional love, He strengthened us. Me to pray for and console Julie through a pain that I can't even imagine and Julie to face a day she had hoped would never come.
Having to help my wife endure two very painful weeks as children she loved left our home for good (either for school or heaven) plus the shifting of two of her biggest confidantes and friends. Jesus strengthened us. Me to be strong for her so she could let down and grieve, Bev to be a strong shoulder for everyone else to cry on.
Finding words of comfort and wisdom for a young woman who has learned how painful it is to give your heart away to a family that you never expected to have and yet knowing in her heart that it is the only way to live. He strengthened us. Me to look at God's love displayed in ny life and Kelli to go right on loving the kids here in Jinja regardless of the hurt and pain it may bring.
Having to encourage a young man to make a decision based on what God's will is for his life and not on any half promises made to me. Jesus is strengthening us. Me to encourage and genuinely forgive and Jonah to truly seek to please God wherever that may lead Him.
When Bev gave me that framed plague in 1992 I had no idea it would be the truth I hold on to everyday for 19 years now. From America to Africa, "We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."
But I prefer the NKJV, "I can do all things throuh Christ who strengthens me."
At the end of a very difficult week, both physically and emotionally, I know that this verse is true. At times when I had to face the things that are toughest for me to do, Jesus gave me strength. But more importantly He gave us strength.
Saying good bye to one of my dearest friends but having to show others that his moving to his own ministry is all good, Jesus gave us strength. Me to say goodbye, JB to move.
Having to go console a dear friend, the adoptive mother of a child who lived seven years longer than anyone thought was possible because of her unconditional love, He strengthened us. Me to pray for and console Julie through a pain that I can't even imagine and Julie to face a day she had hoped would never come.
Having to help my wife endure two very painful weeks as children she loved left our home for good (either for school or heaven) plus the shifting of two of her biggest confidantes and friends. Jesus strengthened us. Me to be strong for her so she could let down and grieve, Bev to be a strong shoulder for everyone else to cry on.
Finding words of comfort and wisdom for a young woman who has learned how painful it is to give your heart away to a family that you never expected to have and yet knowing in her heart that it is the only way to live. He strengthened us. Me to look at God's love displayed in ny life and Kelli to go right on loving the kids here in Jinja regardless of the hurt and pain it may bring.
Having to encourage a young man to make a decision based on what God's will is for his life and not on any half promises made to me. Jesus is strengthening us. Me to encourage and genuinely forgive and Jonah to truly seek to please God wherever that may lead Him.
When Bev gave me that framed plague in 1992 I had no idea it would be the truth I hold on to everyday for 19 years now. From America to Africa, "We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength."
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