Stories and other stuff

I got to be part of a story on Thursday. Only part of it, though.  And so did other people, who just happened to be available to help.  The whole thing came together and as the man I was helping out said:  "God gives me what I need." He's good that way.  Especially when we're available and willing to have our plans de-railed.  I had to throw in a railroad term because I was on my way down to see the train ceremony on Thursday when my plans were changed. There was a fair bit of spiritual warfare going on yesterday at my joint.  From a friend being late, to a malfunctioning ATM, to a glass that decided to spring a leak when I put milk in it after using it all day as a water glass, and not to forget a malfunctioning printer, a lot of stuff seemed to be going bad wrong yesterday.  It happens frequently when it's my turn to give the message at church or at the Mission.  It's just stuff you get through, though. I love my little church family....

From time to time, I start wondering if I'm on the right path.  I think that with things the way they are in my life, from time to time it's not a bad idea to check and see.  The hard part about checking is that when I want to do it, it often starts with an idea of entertaining getting off the path to see what happens. I've done that a couple of times and when I have, it always turns out bad and I always wind up right back here.  Usually, worse for the wear. I stay on the path by faith.  I'm believing God for something that seems unlikely.  I know there's nothing I can do to change the situation I find myself in.  I've tried to get out of it.  I've prayed, I've cried, and I even tried letting it go.  All those things have brought me here. By faith. Faith doesn't always look pretty.  It's not a platitude or a Bible verse that looks good hanging on your bedroom wall.  Sometimes faith is believing in what you can't see despite what ...

When I made such a mess of my life so many years ago, one of the primary things that pointed me down the path to being found by Jesus (I was the lost one, not Him!) was my therapist.  I got fired by her as a patient after she yelled at me.  That was one of the best things that ever happened to me, by the way.  The other best thing was when she told me that I should pray for the people that hurt me. I started doing that before I actually became a Christian.  If I had to think of one of the pivotal links in the chain that led me to my knees nine years ago now, that was one of them.  We are Facebook friends after all these years, and she said something nice about me today.  The thing is, though, is that it's not about me, and while I appreciated the comment, I replied in truth that I'm not all that neat.  What I am, though, is an example among millions of what Christ can do with a life. I'm a changed person, but I didn't change me.  I know th...

Sometimes my life makes sense.  For about a minute.  But oh, that minute...... The plan was on Sunday to fire up the tractor and mow the back 40.  That plan got pushed to Monday and of course, it didn't start.  I don't know at this point if it's the new battery or last year's old starter.  Just once, I'd like for something to stay fixed, but what are you gonna do? In my case, I decided that I was wasting the day today and got the old Toro mower that I'm all of a sudden very happy I didn't trade in like I was thinking about and mowed the back 40.  It was about a foot tall in lots of spots.  The good news is that time and God's creation have eliminated the furrows from the last time I planted a garden and grass is growing where I actually want grass to grow, without having to plant it. It took a couple of hours, several times of having to re-pull start the mower, and unwinding a couple of tomato cages that aren't tomato cages anymore.  As I fi...

First off, I apologize for yesterday's post.  I was tired when I wrote it and when I read it out loud, there were some disjointed thoughts and sentences.  The jist of what my day was like was there, though so I left it. I'm not trying to win a Pulitzer. My son, when I was laying under my truck in his mom's driveway asked me this: "Why didn't you just call a tow truck and pay Rocky Mountain Tire to change the starter?" "Because I can't afford it." was the reply.  God blessed me with ability to fix things over the ability to pay for things to be fixed.  Sometimes I run out of ability and then God provides money for those eventualities.  But a starter change, despite the adventure it turned out to be, is something that's in my wheelhouse. My next project is a lawnmower.  I picked this up yesterday at the DI for another purpose.  But the thing is actually a really good lawnmower that needs a transmission.  I know how to fix this problem...

Today's story starts out with this nugget which is the only way it makes sense.  The Toyota was needed elsewhere.  The reasons for that are private. I needed a lawnmower.  Someone had a lawnmower to use for the intended purpose. I was going to pick it up Tuesday or Wednesday, but Tuesday and Wednesday had other ideas.  I was going to do it today as I was expecting the departure of said Toyota later in the day.  Thursday had other ideas.   I'm left with Chevron.  Chevron has a few issues.  Chevron is old, like me.  I didn't want to drive Chevron down to Salt Lake so I went to the DI here in Ogden and found a replacement mower for the one I was to pick up.  It's a nice mower. It fired up on the second or third pull.  The transmission doesn't work.  They're cheap to replace and I know someone else who would benefit from the fact that this particular mower has three speeds.  So I didn't want to use the mower I ...

I gave up Facebook and other social media for lent.  I'm seriously thinking about giving it up permanently.  The thing that's stopping me is that I know that, used properly, it's a great thing.  The deal is that it's tough remember the "used properly" part. I haven't read the entire Mueller report.  I will get around to it.  And when I do, I will make my judgments on it based on the facts that are presented.  Facts.  Not my opinion of the president, nor the Attorney General, who, sadly, is trying add his own 'spin' on it to make his boss look good. His boss doesn't look good. If you think he does, then read on, because I'm going to share some very a-political thoughts about the whole thing. If you read the report and you're a fan of our President, read it with the idea that a Democrat was president.  Substitute President Obama's name in there, for one.  Or pretend it's a report about Ms. Clinton.  If you'd be outra...