“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

My mind continually confuses me! I have a VERY old air compressor that was old when I bought it used, sans motor, 40 years ago. Recently, the pressure switch went out on it and I was surprised to find one online. Little did I realize that the line between theory and reality, in my mind, was about to be put to the test!

When the switch arrived it was different from the one I had. But as I looked and studied, an idea flashed through my brain, “you can rebuild one that works from the old and new ones you have!” And before I could even second guess myself, I was already searching and reaching for my tools.

The old saying “necessity is the mother of invention” holds true with me. Less about ego and more about economics is how I roll since, the ‘frugal’ gene of Scottish heritage still lives within me… often at the expense of time and efficiency. But… my feet had already started down that path. When I took apart the NEW switch… springs came flying out from within! I was committed!

I talked to 2 Christian brothers yesterday about our mutual walk as disciples in following Jesus. Both discussions came about over how we each saw things. My reaching out to them was for clarification because… that is how I roll. As we talked, their point of view was made more clear. And so was mine. Since the ax issue was minor, it was quickly sharpened with no flying springs in sight!

I have learned that BECAUSE Jesus has standards, so do I! The ‘Ingenuity’ required to fix my compressor is as American as hot dogs and apple pie. I think I can, therefore I try. But what happens when I’m wrong? Where do I turn? Well, I have learned the HARD way, that if I REALLY care about Christ and HIS objectives, I need to stay CLOSE to His fellow disciples to keep on hammering!

The ideas that we don’t have to go to Church, read the Bible or work on being good actually comes from Christians who actually BELIEVE them! These ideas are opposed to what Jesus had to say to His Disciples, and should be called out by genuine Believers. Because sometimes what I think, just ain’t so since, often what I think, is wrong! Hot Dogs were actually invented by the Chinese!

Are YOU a sharp sharpener?

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

“YEA YEA… EVERYTHING man! Put it on dare!” We were in a restaurant, the kind where you order the food in a line, then pay and receive it at the end. The guy in front of us was a rather healthy sized man from New York, and he was spending and ordering like a king trying to impress. His family waited for him to deliver the bounty to the table. And the show hadn’t even started yet!

They seemed a good family, well mannered and dressed, for about the first 5 minutes. Then the bully showed up! Estimating him to be about 4, and the 4^th kid in the family, he soon made his presence known… “I DON’T WANT DAT!!!” and threw his food across the table. NO one, even dad, blinked an eye!

I was at the end of the restaurant facing them and Katie across from me with her back to it. All I could do was stare in unbelief and watch the show. When I turned to look at Katie’s face, her eyes were squinty and she was nodding her head in the no-no direction, then calmly said… “don’t do it!” After over 5 minutes, enduring a slug-fest of verbal assault in the air, She KNEW that I was preparing to get up and walk in the direction of daddy.

I sat there at her request, but it got worse and worse. EVERYONE in the restaurant was uncomfortable. When bully daddy was done, he got up and walked out. Mom picked the bully child up and said, “now you apologize to everyone in here.” KNOWING he had the power, he simply hollered, “NO!”

As I write this, Russia has invaded Ukraine. The world sits by watching the spectacle as a bully forces his will upon a country not it’s own… YET!  Because of selfish choices, nations sit uncomfortable, waiting for SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING! And the world stews under the spell of its god… satan.

I thank God for my wife. She kept me sane. I honestly don’t know what I would have said if I’d gone to that table, but looking back, it probably wouldn’t have ended well. God’s calls to ME in the verse above. It is CLEARLY an action verse with Godly intent within it. I can influence a big family in the middle of a restaurant about as well as I can Russia right now. But I am NOT absolved from trying to influence elsewhere.

At FLAP we are learning how to talk to the lost and confused world in a non-combative Godly way. It’s good stuff because it is as practical as it is required by our Master. I AM called to be an influencer in GOOD ways. Failing to learn and practice will lead to the end of the world as I know it. He reminds me that He comes back AFTER the Church’s influence has failed! And THAT is something I don’t want to be held responsible for!

Are YOU a Godly, Courageous influencer for Christ?

“’The Father is greater than I’ John 14:28 ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’” John 15:16

My wife loves art! She’s good at drawing and painting it too! Recently she started on one of her outdoor garden projects and, running out of some materials, she asked if I’d pick some up for her at the store. Heading out to do just that, I didn’t realize I was going to get an unwelcome education!

Walmart is right up the road, but approaching the main highway, I saw a traffic accident blocking my return trip. Knowing it would take a LONG time to clear, I went the other direction, since there’s a paint store that way. Walking in, I grabbed a quart of what I needed and approached the checkout. That’ll be $42, he said! When I balked, he said, “But I gave you the Contractor price!”

Now I KNOW inflation has us in a vice, but $42 for a quart of paint is COMPLETELY unacceptable. Apologizing, I left and went the other direction to Walmart, where I purchased the SAME product for $20! The traffic was clear, but I was still baffled, and tried to reason WHY a paint store would charge TWICE what Walmart does. The only thing I came up with was… they MUST think they’re better!??

In the book of John, Jesus lays out His business card. And while it SAYS He is God, Jesus does NOT claim to be THE BOSS! In fact, He clearly stated, “The Father is greater than I.” In other words, God the Son plainly stated that God the Father is ‘Da MAN’! Jesus also CLEARLY stated that He ONLY spoke and did what The Father told Him to. Which provides me with a conundrum!

Jesus is MY Master. HE picked ME to do something for Him, in order to Glorify someone greater than Himself! And while that might sound like middle management, an idea I need to think about, He manages in a way that goes above and beyond ANY example I know of on Earth. He DID EXACTLY what He asked ME to do! TRUST AND OBEY.

The paint store may have an inflated view of themselves, but THINKING one is better and actually BEING better are 2 different things! Having tried the world… THEN Jesus, I have found and PROVEN that Jesus is even GREATER than I had possibly imagined. Now my job is to go into the world and paint it better WITH Him, using the BIG broad strokes of HIS AND His Father’s character. Because HE>I!

How do you see YOURSELF?