The Joeletter
After Monday and Tuesday, the rest of this week has been great at work. The temperature dropped from having 77's to having 58's at 5:30 in the morning, and from having 97's to having 79's at 2:15. Even without a fan, it has been quite comfortable on line 253. I've been loading the plater fairly regularly, and even did it all day a couple times.
Another good friend of mine had her last day of work on Wednesday, lessening the temp. ranks once again. She had (has) a great smile, and is a hard worker. We all miss her.
On Thursday Delta held it's annual Cookout for all the employees. Instead of packing a lunch and eating it in the cafeteria, we all trooped outside for our twenty-minute break. They had erected a large tent in the parking lot and grilled up juicy steaks. If you preferred, you could have chicken instead. They offered us tasty scalloped potatoes and green beans. Ice cream and peach or berry cobbler rounded out the meal. It was quite fantastic, and according to the regular workers it was the best meal that Delta had served in at least five years.
Today, Saturday, we had mandatory overtime. I heard various reasons for why we were all required to come in. One was that Monday and Tuesday being so hot, we didn't get as much work done.
Whatever the case, today was probably the best overtime that I have worked yet. Since everybody was coming in, all the lines were running. This meant I was able to work on my home line, 253, all day. And, all my friends were there today too. It was basically a regular week-day of work, except we were being paid time-and-a-half. I enjoyed it.
Changing gears . . . . .
I really love my little 7-year-old brother. He's great. It's fun to play with him, and do things together. He gives great hugs, and is always enthusiastic.
But he doesn't seem to understand that I just love him. Unreservedly. Whatever he might do, even if I get angry, I still love him. There is nothing that would keep me from loving him.
He seems to think he needs to earn my love. He tries to tell jokes (usually unsuccessfully) so that I'll think he's funny. He's always talking! He tells me things that he's thinking, asks me questions, and keeps talking.
And it's great. He is allowing me to share his life, to be his older brother. This is how it's supposed to be. But sometimes I just want him to be able to sit in silence. I'd like to savor just being together, each of us working on whatever we happen to be doing. To listen, for long periods of time. To be secure in our relationship, knowing that I will always, unconditionally love him.
It's the same way with God, I think. All of our talking, questioning, sharing, all of it, is exactly what we need to do. We need to be constantly opening up our life to Him. But then we also need to make times to sit in silence. Not just being quiet. But being quiet before Him.
Not trying to impress God. Our attempts at impressing Him really just distract us, and are thus annoying. But taking a break from always talking, and always asking, to listen.
God intensely desires that we speak with Him, that we verbally share our hearts, lives, and thoughts with Him. But He also desires that we listen. Much has been taught, and rightly so, on listening through His Word. But we oftentimes neglect to listen in silence as well. Trusting that Jesus is speaking, and that we can hear Him. Part of speaking, is listening.
While I was in Taize, France, at the ecumenical prayer community, I was given the chance to experience this firsthand. I've already written about this before, but it bears repeating.
During each service, immediately before or after a meal, we joined in a time of singing and a time of silence. The first service, I didn't know quite what to expect. And the time of silence seemed a little long.
After that, I was always startled when the silence was over. I always wanted it to last longer. There is something precious in sitting or kneeling quietly, free to merely sit in God's presence. No requests, not necessarily a subject. Just sitting, thinking about and before God.
It might sound kinda boring. It might feel kinda boring, at first. Here at home, I set a timer for fifteen minutes. I commit to staying there and quiet until the beeper goes off. And with time it becomes so much more meaningful.
Sitting in silence is very easy to put off, let me warn you. I, sadly, am lucky to make time once a week. It's not something that comes up and demands doing. It's just like dating and marriage, in that you have to set aside time, and make an effort. When was the last time you accidentally went on a date, or spent time with your spouse? Same principle.
And God is speaking to us. He guarantees that. We can hear Him. He guarantees that too. All it takes is a little time.
Thanks for your interest, prayers, and notes to me on the Harry Potter writing that I'm doing. I have set up a second xanga site to post all of that too. If you're interested in this subject, that is where I'm encouraging everyone to go to. And if you're not interested, this way it won't intrude upon your life. Thanks so much for your prayers.
In His Time,
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Heat Index 110F
So, the past two days have had a Heat Index of 110F. I worked both of them. I don't want to whine, so that's all I'll say. Oh, except we did have a fan both days. Speaking of whining, in church on Sunday one of the elders asked us, "What's the difference between a farmer, and a puppy?" Remember, I live in a farming community. Okay, here it is. "The puppy will eventually learn to stop whining! "We all got a kick out of that. I went to the doctor for a physical examination yesterday, to make sure I wasn't going to die in college. All seems to have gone well, and tomorrow (Wed) I go back in to make sure I don't have tuberculosis. Fun fun fun!
I've been reading devotionally in Leviticus, all about the law. (Hey, quiet in the peanut gallery!) The law places quite a lot of emphasis on 'clean' and 'unclean' before God. This is both cleanness of the body, and cleanness of the heart.
As Dad and I were driving home from work a couple days ago, we turned onto a road behind a Bausback Rendering truck. For those of you who don't live in farm communities, you may not be familiar with this kind of truck.It is a big, green, farm-style truck. Not like a pickup, or even a full-sized truck. It's the Big One, designed to haul large amounts of stuff. In the large, tall bed of this particular kind of truck they carry just one thing. Dead animals.You see, in farming communities, animals die. We don't particularly want them to, because that lowers the profit margin. But, they do anyway, jerks.
Each farm has a 'drop-box' located somewhere by a roadway. Inside this 2x4 enclosed square the dead pigs, cows, and other bodies are put. The green truck comes along, picks up the dead animals, and takes them back to the plant to be rendered.
Anyway, Dad and I turn onto the road behind this truck. We can see pig legs sticking above the truckbed walls. And, it being summer in a A/Cless van, we have the windows down.
The most terrible stench immediately assails us. The dead, rotting animals stink sooooo bad. And we're stuck. We have to go the same direction as this truck. There is no escape.
My mind goes back to what I've been reading in Leviticus. Uncleanness. This stench that enveloped me, is what we smell like to God. Under the old Law, it required the sweet smell of sacrifice to cover up the stench of our sin. Under Jesus' covenant, the purpose of the Law, His sacrifice covers up our stench.
Trying to imagine being in among those rotting carcasses, I was again shocked that Jesus came to earth. He chose to live among dead, rotting stench, because He loved what He had created it to be originally. And He restores us from dead and gone, to alive and here. Amazing.
In His Time,
I've been reading devotionally in Leviticus, all about the law. (Hey, quiet in the peanut gallery!) The law places quite a lot of emphasis on 'clean' and 'unclean' before God. This is both cleanness of the body, and cleanness of the heart.
As Dad and I were driving home from work a couple days ago, we turned onto a road behind a Bausback Rendering truck. For those of you who don't live in farm communities, you may not be familiar with this kind of truck.It is a big, green, farm-style truck. Not like a pickup, or even a full-sized truck. It's the Big One, designed to haul large amounts of stuff. In the large, tall bed of this particular kind of truck they carry just one thing. Dead animals.You see, in farming communities, animals die. We don't particularly want them to, because that lowers the profit margin. But, they do anyway, jerks.
Each farm has a 'drop-box' located somewhere by a roadway. Inside this 2x4 enclosed square the dead pigs, cows, and other bodies are put. The green truck comes along, picks up the dead animals, and takes them back to the plant to be rendered.
Anyway, Dad and I turn onto the road behind this truck. We can see pig legs sticking above the truckbed walls. And, it being summer in a A/Cless van, we have the windows down.
The most terrible stench immediately assails us. The dead, rotting animals stink sooooo bad. And we're stuck. We have to go the same direction as this truck. There is no escape.
My mind goes back to what I've been reading in Leviticus. Uncleanness. This stench that enveloped me, is what we smell like to God. Under the old Law, it required the sweet smell of sacrifice to cover up the stench of our sin. Under Jesus' covenant, the purpose of the Law, His sacrifice covers up our stench.
Trying to imagine being in among those rotting carcasses, I was again shocked that Jesus came to earth. He chose to live among dead, rotting stench, because He loved what He had created it to be originally. And He restores us from dead and gone, to alive and here. Amazing.
In His Time,
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Not on here
I have decided not to put my Harry Potter posts here on my regular blog. Instead, I started a second xanga, HarryPotterBreakdown, for all of that to go on. If I get an overwhelming response asking for it on Blogger.com too, I may start up a second blog as well.
This is the link:
http://www.xanga.com/HarryPotterBreakdown
If you have any comments, questions, or critiques of your own, I would appreciate you putting all of those on the HP site.
Thanks for your interest, comments, and prayer support.
In His Time,
~Joel~
This is the link:
http://www.xanga.com/HarryPotterBreakdown
If you have any comments, questions, or critiques of your own, I would appreciate you putting all of those on the HP site.
Thanks for your interest, comments, and prayer support.
In His Time,
~Joel~
Peachy Keen - Literally!
So, I think peaches are the most amazing, fantastic, wonderful, perfect, flavorburstingfull fruit in the whole wide world.
Now, I'm not talking about those cardboard, store-bought peaches. No, I'm talking about real peaches, the kind you pick off of a tree in an orchard, in southern Indiana. Because that's what we have, courtesy of three of my sisters and my dad.
Saturday morning, while I was working at Delta, they made the hour-an-a-half trip down to Hanover, to a special orchard. I always know when it's time to make the trip, because it's the Saturday directly following the Friday night last performance of Solid Rock.
Yes, the past two years I parted tearfully from my SR friends, and then woke up at five the next morning to pick peaches. This year, while still tearfully missing those excellent SR'ers, I passed the job on to my younger siblings. When I returned from work Saturday afternoon, I was able to reap the benefit of their labor, savoring one luscious peach after another.
They keep telling me that if you eat too many peaches, or too much of any fruit, for that matter, that you will develop a severe case of diarrhea, or a stomach ache. Continuing (as I have for the past 18 years of my life) to belive that this is an old wives tale concocted to protect peach reserves, I have eaten at least twenty in the past two days.
So far, I have been quite healthy. And my chin has been drippin'!
In His Time,
Now, I'm not talking about those cardboard, store-bought peaches. No, I'm talking about real peaches, the kind you pick off of a tree in an orchard, in southern Indiana. Because that's what we have, courtesy of three of my sisters and my dad.
Saturday morning, while I was working at Delta, they made the hour-an-a-half trip down to Hanover, to a special orchard. I always know when it's time to make the trip, because it's the Saturday directly following the Friday night last performance of Solid Rock.
Yes, the past two years I parted tearfully from my SR friends, and then woke up at five the next morning to pick peaches. This year, while still tearfully missing those excellent SR'ers, I passed the job on to my younger siblings. When I returned from work Saturday afternoon, I was able to reap the benefit of their labor, savoring one luscious peach after another.
They keep telling me that if you eat too many peaches, or too much of any fruit, for that matter, that you will develop a severe case of diarrhea, or a stomach ache. Continuing (as I have for the past 18 years of my life) to belive that this is an old wives tale concocted to protect peach reserves, I have eaten at least twenty in the past two days.
So far, I have been quite healthy. And my chin has been drippin'!
In His Time,
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Joeletter 12.3
Wow, so I was really whiny in my last letter, J 12.2. Sorry about that. More areas to work on trusting God, and taking each thing to Him every time I meet with Him.
How have you been doing meeting with God? Have you been looking for Him in Bible accounts? Have you been spending time with Him in your imagination? Do you look around and try to find Him in the room with you? I don't ask to make you feel guilty, if you are not currently seeking Him in this way. I don't believe that our God is a God of guilt. I only ask to offer ways to seek God. And I look forward to hearing from you how you have been spending time with Him.
I didn't end up being able to go to another Solid Rock concert, for which I was sad. But on Thursday night I had a chance to be with some friends from Prague, CZ. The Valodines were my surrogate family while I was away from home. They are currently here in the States on furlough, visiting churches and friends. On their way from North Carolina to Illinois they stopped by to visit my family and I. It was really nice spend the evening with them.
Work continues unabated. It has still been hot, but if I am able to stay in front of a fan I am fairly comfortable. My last few blog/xanga posts have chronicled "The Fanless Saga." Parts of this past week we were without a fan on my line, Line 253. That made it a little tougher to function, as I recounted.
Today, Saturday, I worked on my usual overtime line, Line 574. This is the hottest line in the plating department, because we work in a small area bounded by walls on two sides, and the huge drying machine on a third. The dryer heat is thus concentrated on us, in addition to the heat and humidity present due to summer.
But they borrowed two extra fans from other lines, bringing the number up to five. This made it possible to almost always work in a stream of moving air. I was quite comfortable, considering. Although I would only prefer to work on 574 for overtime pay!
I recently got into a debate with a friend over the Harry Potter books. Now, I am not particularly a Harry Pothead basher. So far, I've only read the first and third book. After reading the third, a variety of reasons combined made me decide not to read any more of them. I didn't particularly hate them at all, I just decided not to read them.
The one thing that I really didn't like about the Harry Pothead books was that Harry always got away with breaking the rules, and never received the just punishment. It was always a slap on the wrist, if he was punished at all. Or the punishment was just, but extenuating circumstances rendered the punishment impotent/non-applicable.
The subtle rule that continually gets reinforced is that 1) If you don't get caught, what you're doing is not wrong, or 2) The end justifies the means, or 3) If you're special, you're above the law. The law doesn't apply to you, it applies to everyone else. You have a certain destiny which you must follow. Thus, to follow that destiny, it's okay if you bend/break/blatantly smash rules.
Let's go over that again.
1) If you don't get caught, what you're doing is not wrong, or
2) The end justifies the means, or
3) If you're special, you're above the law. The law doesn't apply to you, it applies to everyone else. You have a certain destiny which you must follow. Thus, to follow that destiny, it's okay if you bend/break/blatantly smash rules.
I don't agree with any of the above logic statements. I suspect (hope!) you don't either. My disagreement is not merely a personal thing, I believe it is grounded in what God has said to us. In opposition to what God has said to us, these statements are being subtly, strongly reinforced by the Harry Pothead books.
My friend challenged my limited scope, saying that in only reading two of the now just available six books, I was not looking at the whole picture. I strongly, strongly disagree. I believe that the worldview of an author will always come through in that author's writing, no matter how much or how little is written.
However, I have agreed with my friend that I will read all seven of the books. As I go, I plan to post to my blog/xanga specific instances where Harry Pothead should receive punishment, but doesn't. I may post other things too, but I plan to make that my main post subject.
If you choose to follow this line of postings, I should make a disclaimer. I do plan to be nitpicky. But only as nitpicky as you would be if you were trying to rid yourself of cancer cells in your body.
In His Time,
How have you been doing meeting with God? Have you been looking for Him in Bible accounts? Have you been spending time with Him in your imagination? Do you look around and try to find Him in the room with you? I don't ask to make you feel guilty, if you are not currently seeking Him in this way. I don't believe that our God is a God of guilt. I only ask to offer ways to seek God. And I look forward to hearing from you how you have been spending time with Him.
I didn't end up being able to go to another Solid Rock concert, for which I was sad. But on Thursday night I had a chance to be with some friends from Prague, CZ. The Valodines were my surrogate family while I was away from home. They are currently here in the States on furlough, visiting churches and friends. On their way from North Carolina to Illinois they stopped by to visit my family and I. It was really nice spend the evening with them.
Work continues unabated. It has still been hot, but if I am able to stay in front of a fan I am fairly comfortable. My last few blog/xanga posts have chronicled "The Fanless Saga." Parts of this past week we were without a fan on my line, Line 253. That made it a little tougher to function, as I recounted.
Today, Saturday, I worked on my usual overtime line, Line 574. This is the hottest line in the plating department, because we work in a small area bounded by walls on two sides, and the huge drying machine on a third. The dryer heat is thus concentrated on us, in addition to the heat and humidity present due to summer.
But they borrowed two extra fans from other lines, bringing the number up to five. This made it possible to almost always work in a stream of moving air. I was quite comfortable, considering. Although I would only prefer to work on 574 for overtime pay!
I recently got into a debate with a friend over the Harry Potter books. Now, I am not particularly a Harry Pothead basher. So far, I've only read the first and third book. After reading the third, a variety of reasons combined made me decide not to read any more of them. I didn't particularly hate them at all, I just decided not to read them.
The one thing that I really didn't like about the Harry Pothead books was that Harry always got away with breaking the rules, and never received the just punishment. It was always a slap on the wrist, if he was punished at all. Or the punishment was just, but extenuating circumstances rendered the punishment impotent/non-applicable.
The subtle rule that continually gets reinforced is that 1) If you don't get caught, what you're doing is not wrong, or 2) The end justifies the means, or 3) If you're special, you're above the law. The law doesn't apply to you, it applies to everyone else. You have a certain destiny which you must follow. Thus, to follow that destiny, it's okay if you bend/break/blatantly smash rules.
Let's go over that again.
1) If you don't get caught, what you're doing is not wrong, or
2) The end justifies the means, or
3) If you're special, you're above the law. The law doesn't apply to you, it applies to everyone else. You have a certain destiny which you must follow. Thus, to follow that destiny, it's okay if you bend/break/blatantly smash rules.
I don't agree with any of the above logic statements. I suspect (hope!) you don't either. My disagreement is not merely a personal thing, I believe it is grounded in what God has said to us. In opposition to what God has said to us, these statements are being subtly, strongly reinforced by the Harry Pothead books.
My friend challenged my limited scope, saying that in only reading two of the now just available six books, I was not looking at the whole picture. I strongly, strongly disagree. I believe that the worldview of an author will always come through in that author's writing, no matter how much or how little is written.
However, I have agreed with my friend that I will read all seven of the books. As I go, I plan to post to my blog/xanga specific instances where Harry Pothead should receive punishment, but doesn't. I may post other things too, but I plan to make that my main post subject.
If you choose to follow this line of postings, I should make a disclaimer. I do plan to be nitpicky. But only as nitpicky as you would be if you were trying to rid yourself of cancer cells in your body.
In His Time,
Friday, July 22, 2005
Two days of fans!
No, I have not become famous and gone on tour. I'm referring to "The Fanless Saga," days three and four.
Both yesterday and today we've had a fan! It makes it much nicer to work. In addition to having a fan, today brought a big change for me. I doubt that it's permanent, but I did it for today.
Normally, I load faucet parts on racks, and hang the racks up. Someone else takes those racks and puts them on the plating machine. Well, for about four hours today I loaded the plater!
It wasn't too hard, it was just hot. The fan doesn't reach the loading area. The hard part was switching loading hooks.
See, there are a certain number of "spaces" on the plating machine. Each space can hold a loading hook, or it can be left empty. And each loading hook can hold a loaded rack.
Sometimes, when we have a whole bunch of loaded racks ready, we run the plating machine "full on." This means that every space has a loading hook, and thus a loaded rack. But usually we run the plating machine "2 and 1," or "3 and 1." This means two/three spaces with loading hooks, and one space without a loading hook.
When I started loading the plater, we were running "3 and 1." About five minutes after I started loading, we were told to run the machine "2 and 1." Talk about a trial by fire! I had to keep track of how many loading hooks had gone by, and when I should take a hook off, or put one on! The math was intense.
That's my story.
In His Time,
Both yesterday and today we've had a fan! It makes it much nicer to work. In addition to having a fan, today brought a big change for me. I doubt that it's permanent, but I did it for today.
Normally, I load faucet parts on racks, and hang the racks up. Someone else takes those racks and puts them on the plating machine. Well, for about four hours today I loaded the plater!
It wasn't too hard, it was just hot. The fan doesn't reach the loading area. The hard part was switching loading hooks.
See, there are a certain number of "spaces" on the plating machine. Each space can hold a loading hook, or it can be left empty. And each loading hook can hold a loaded rack.
Sometimes, when we have a whole bunch of loaded racks ready, we run the plating machine "full on." This means that every space has a loading hook, and thus a loaded rack. But usually we run the plating machine "2 and 1," or "3 and 1." This means two/three spaces with loading hooks, and one space without a loading hook.
When I started loading the plater, we were running "3 and 1." About five minutes after I started loading, we were told to run the machine "2 and 1." Talk about a trial by fire! I had to keep track of how many loading hooks had gone by, and when I should take a hook off, or put one on! The math was intense.
That's my story.
In His Time,
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Day Three of the "Fanless Saga"
So, 281 was running again this morning, and thus they had recovered their fan for their own use. That left us on 253, once again, fanless.
Usually it's a bit cooler in the mornings, and thus more bearable in the factory. This morning, however, started out quite warm. In addition, I felt as though I had not gotten the full benefit of the eight hours I had actually slept.
All this combined to make me feel as though I was working through a blanket, both physically and mentally. The one good thing from being 1/4 asleep was that my time sense was waaay off (you know how you never know how much time has passed while you were dreaming? yeah, that was happening while I was awake), so break came pretty fast. Break at 8:30, during which time I ate, made me feel much better.
Also, 281 broke down again. Thus, we were able to borrow their fan once again. This small addition made the rest of the morning and afternoon livable.
I'm still working on what God is speaking to me through this experience. It may be that He's just teaching me to stop whining, I can take whatever He dishes to me. After all, He does know what I can take, better than I do.
I'm kinda sad this evening, Solid Rock is performing in North Vernon, which is the closest they will be getting to my house, aside from being in Cincy. I, however, still don't have a license due to bureacratic snafus. And since I don't have a ride to take me, I am posting here instead of seeing all my favorite SR'ers again this evening.
God and I did quite a bit of talking about this today. I was still hoping a ride might show up. The conclusion I kept coming back to was, "God, I really do want to be where You are more than where my friends are. If You are going to be at home for me, then that's definitely where I want to be. I just still really miss my SR friends......Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing some of them this fall in college, but I miss them now! I still love you more, though, God."
In His Time,
Usually it's a bit cooler in the mornings, and thus more bearable in the factory. This morning, however, started out quite warm. In addition, I felt as though I had not gotten the full benefit of the eight hours I had actually slept.
All this combined to make me feel as though I was working through a blanket, both physically and mentally. The one good thing from being 1/4 asleep was that my time sense was waaay off (you know how you never know how much time has passed while you were dreaming? yeah, that was happening while I was awake), so break came pretty fast. Break at 8:30, during which time I ate, made me feel much better.
Also, 281 broke down again. Thus, we were able to borrow their fan once again. This small addition made the rest of the morning and afternoon livable.
I'm still working on what God is speaking to me through this experience. It may be that He's just teaching me to stop whining, I can take whatever He dishes to me. After all, He does know what I can take, better than I do.
I'm kinda sad this evening, Solid Rock is performing in North Vernon, which is the closest they will be getting to my house, aside from being in Cincy. I, however, still don't have a license due to bureacratic snafus. And since I don't have a ride to take me, I am posting here instead of seeing all my favorite SR'ers again this evening.
God and I did quite a bit of talking about this today. I was still hoping a ride might show up. The conclusion I kept coming back to was, "God, I really do want to be where You are more than where my friends are. If You are going to be at home for me, then that's definitely where I want to be. I just still really miss my SR friends......Yes, I'm looking forward to seeing some of them this fall in college, but I miss them now! I still love you more, though, God."
In His Time,
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
A borrowed fan
Today was better. Line 281 wasn't running, so we borrowed their fan. That was a really good thing. Also, it wasn't sooooooo humid. That also was a big help. It got fairly warm right at 11:20, but it wasn't like walking through a blanket, like Monday was.
Also, after reading J 12.2, a person close to me reminded me of George Mueller. This guy decided that, if God was in charge of everything, He would provide for His work. Thus, George decided not to ask people for anything that he needed - e.g. no support raising and such. Instead, George told God what he thought he needed, and left it there.
He had to have tremendous trust, both that God would provide what was needed (and He always did, go figure), AND that what God didn't provide, he wouldn't need.
So, sorry for whining. Just a chance to spend that much more time talking and listening to God.
Also, I knew I had something more exciting to post about than just me. Last Sunday, my fourth sister, Nashana turned ten. That was fun. But even more exciting, she was baptized on Sunday too!!!!!!! I'm so excited for her, and I wanted to share that with you.
In His Time,
Also, after reading J 12.2, a person close to me reminded me of George Mueller. This guy decided that, if God was in charge of everything, He would provide for His work. Thus, George decided not to ask people for anything that he needed - e.g. no support raising and such. Instead, George told God what he thought he needed, and left it there.
He had to have tremendous trust, both that God would provide what was needed (and He always did, go figure), AND that what God didn't provide, he wouldn't need.
So, sorry for whining. Just a chance to spend that much more time talking and listening to God.
Also, I knew I had something more exciting to post about than just me. Last Sunday, my fourth sister, Nashana turned ten. That was fun. But even more exciting, she was baptized on Sunday too!!!!!!! I'm so excited for her, and I wanted to share that with you.
In His Time,
Monday, July 18, 2005
Not Fan
So, today might have qualified for "Worst Day Of Work." It's been raining, as I've written, and that makes it humid. And, we came in this morning to discover that our fan, which provides much needed air-flow, had been stolen.
Now, the fan itself was still in the building. But another line had appropriated it, and put a metal cord on it, in effect bolting it to the wall. So, all eight hours of today, we were without a fan. And the odds don't look good to get a new one. In fact, they flat out said they didn't have the money to get a new fan. Not good.
In His Time,
Now, the fan itself was still in the building. But another line had appropriated it, and put a metal cord on it, in effect bolting it to the wall. So, all eight hours of today, we were without a fan. And the odds don't look good to get a new one. In fact, they flat out said they didn't have the money to get a new fan. Not good.
In His Time,
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Joeletter 12.2
As you have probably guessed, I've been busy. 'Nuff said.
Work has been hot. Now, I realize this probably isn't a shock to you, as I have said the same thing in each of my other Joeletters. The difference between the hot of the past, and the hot of the present, is rain.
Don't get me wrong. We really need the rain. It's been too dry, and all our fields really need the drink. But, that means that more moisture is present in the air. The same moisture that makes Indiana green also makes it humid. Work has been a little more difficult because of the humidity this week, and it's not looking to get any better in the week to come.
I was reminded on this past Monday how fleeting our life is, and how seemingly random it can be. Without God, it'd be pretty depressing.
One of my co-workers, a good friend of mine, didn't show up on Monday morning. Another co-worker asked if I'd heard about her. Of course, I hadn't. She went on to say that Julia* was in surgery that morning, Monday. Apparently, Julia's heart had stopped two or three times on Saturday, incorrectly following instructions from her brain.
*Name changed to protect privacy ~ {I get to write fun stuff like that now!}
She was in surgery last Monday to install a pacemaker. Fortunately the surgery went smoothly, if a little longer than planned. All seems to be fine now, and Julia is at home healing up.
I remained a little shaken, though. I was not prepared to lose contact with Julia like that. She had been planning to work two or three more weeks. Then, all of a sudden, she's gone. I was reminded how little control we have over our "own" lives. As another co-worker mentioned to me, we are about 1/16th of an inch away from disaster every second of our lives. Of course, this is disaster from our perspective, not God's. But it's still disaster to us, nonetheless.
Another co-worker, Sandy*, worked at the same station as me, putting pieces on racks. Along with fun, we had some really wonderful conversations that helped the day move along. Somewhat out of the blue, she gets moved to another area. While close, and I can still see her some, it's definitely different. I have so little control over the people who move in and out of my life.
*You guessed it
It would be depressing. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother . . .
This past Friday was wonderful. All last week the Solid Rock program has been at the CCU campus, practicing this year's program. Friday night they held their first performance, in the CCU worship building. A large part of my family went down with me to watch.
Oh, how I miss Solid Rock. I miss all the people, all the fun, all the music. And all the people. They are so loving. If I can finagle a ride, I may be able to see them one more time in concert this week. They have a really nice program this year. On Wednesday they will be in North Vernon, and on Friday their last program will be in Cincinnati. I sure hope I will be able to get down there one more time. Say do any of you want to drive down and take me with you?
I see-saw back and forth on working in a factory for the next 55 years. On some days, the really bad days, I am completely against it. Other days, the good days, I think, "Hm, yeah, I could stand to do this for living if I needed too." We'll see.
Next Monday, right after work, I go in for a physical. Apparently CCU wants to be sure that I won't die in the first semester. Fun fun fun!
In other news, my church is having VBS this week. My eldest sister is attending Church Camp. I'm working. That's about it.
I keep trying to write something, but it keeps not working out, not flowing. I have three different thoughts that I am trying to synthesize, and apparently I am too tired to make that happen. I should take that as a warning for college!
So I will write it later. Speaking of college, I'm getting really excited!!!!! Some of my Solid Rock friends will be attending, and I'm really looking forward to spending an entire year with them.
I looked at cell phones last night. I would like to have one, along with service and lots of free minutes, plus free texting, and a camera and the ability to be used as a modem. Does anybody feel like making that happen for me? Right now, I keep telling God what I want. He's listening, and getting ready to act, in His good time. Just one more way to know Him better - keep talking with Him about cell phones.
Oh, exciting. I just recently started posting to a Xanga as well as to my blog. I post the same things, but if it's more convenient to you to use Xanga, that is now available. An added plus, Xanga offers a free subscription service, so you can be e-mailed whenever I post. And remember, I try to post extra things to my blog and Xanga that aren't in The Joeletter.
So here are those links that should be in your favorites list:
www.Joeletter.blogspot.com
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=DeepSky8
Enjoy!
In His Time,
~Joel~
Work has been hot. Now, I realize this probably isn't a shock to you, as I have said the same thing in each of my other Joeletters. The difference between the hot of the past, and the hot of the present, is rain.
Don't get me wrong. We really need the rain. It's been too dry, and all our fields really need the drink. But, that means that more moisture is present in the air. The same moisture that makes Indiana green also makes it humid. Work has been a little more difficult because of the humidity this week, and it's not looking to get any better in the week to come.
I was reminded on this past Monday how fleeting our life is, and how seemingly random it can be. Without God, it'd be pretty depressing.
One of my co-workers, a good friend of mine, didn't show up on Monday morning. Another co-worker asked if I'd heard about her. Of course, I hadn't. She went on to say that Julia* was in surgery that morning, Monday. Apparently, Julia's heart had stopped two or three times on Saturday, incorrectly following instructions from her brain.
*Name changed to protect privacy ~ {I get to write fun stuff like that now!}
She was in surgery last Monday to install a pacemaker. Fortunately the surgery went smoothly, if a little longer than planned. All seems to be fine now, and Julia is at home healing up.
I remained a little shaken, though. I was not prepared to lose contact with Julia like that. She had been planning to work two or three more weeks. Then, all of a sudden, she's gone. I was reminded how little control we have over our "own" lives. As another co-worker mentioned to me, we are about 1/16th of an inch away from disaster every second of our lives. Of course, this is disaster from our perspective, not God's. But it's still disaster to us, nonetheless.
Another co-worker, Sandy*, worked at the same station as me, putting pieces on racks. Along with fun, we had some really wonderful conversations that helped the day move along. Somewhat out of the blue, she gets moved to another area. While close, and I can still see her some, it's definitely different. I have so little control over the people who move in and out of my life.
*You guessed it
It would be depressing. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother . . .
This past Friday was wonderful. All last week the Solid Rock program has been at the CCU campus, practicing this year's program. Friday night they held their first performance, in the CCU worship building. A large part of my family went down with me to watch.
Oh, how I miss Solid Rock. I miss all the people, all the fun, all the music. And all the people. They are so loving. If I can finagle a ride, I may be able to see them one more time in concert this week. They have a really nice program this year. On Wednesday they will be in North Vernon, and on Friday their last program will be in Cincinnati. I sure hope I will be able to get down there one more time. Say do any of you want to drive down and take me with you?
I see-saw back and forth on working in a factory for the next 55 years. On some days, the really bad days, I am completely against it. Other days, the good days, I think, "Hm, yeah, I could stand to do this for living if I needed too." We'll see.
Next Monday, right after work, I go in for a physical. Apparently CCU wants to be sure that I won't die in the first semester. Fun fun fun!
In other news, my church is having VBS this week. My eldest sister is attending Church Camp. I'm working. That's about it.
I keep trying to write something, but it keeps not working out, not flowing. I have three different thoughts that I am trying to synthesize, and apparently I am too tired to make that happen. I should take that as a warning for college!
So I will write it later. Speaking of college, I'm getting really excited!!!!! Some of my Solid Rock friends will be attending, and I'm really looking forward to spending an entire year with them.
I looked at cell phones last night. I would like to have one, along with service and lots of free minutes, plus free texting, and a camera and the ability to be used as a modem. Does anybody feel like making that happen for me? Right now, I keep telling God what I want. He's listening, and getting ready to act, in His good time. Just one more way to know Him better - keep talking with Him about cell phones.
Oh, exciting. I just recently started posting to a Xanga as well as to my blog. I post the same things, but if it's more convenient to you to use Xanga, that is now available. An added plus, Xanga offers a free subscription service, so you can be e-mailed whenever I post. And remember, I try to post extra things to my blog and Xanga that aren't in The Joeletter.
So here are those links that should be in your favorites list:
www.Joeletter.blogspot.com
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=DeepSky8
Enjoy!
In His Time,
~Joel~
Friday, July 08, 2005
"I learned I knew it all along . . ."
So, this one time, in algebra, I was solving for X. Which, as most of you know, is "the thing" to do in algebra. It's what all the nerds do. And we all want to be nerds.
So, anyway, I was solving for X. I was struggling along, for one reason or another. Then Dad came home for lunch, and I started talking this math problem out loud to him. For some odd reason, talking out loud makes the problem much simpler. Except I never could do it unless there was someone actually there to talk it too.
Back to the subject again. I'm solving for X. All of a sudden, things start clicking. I start eliminating parts of the equation on both sides of the "=" sign. (which is the other "thing to do"). I'm racing along, solving this equation at lightning speed. When, all of a sudden, I pull up short. I look down at my paper, and sigh in disbelief.
I had just conclusively proved that X = X.
A few times since then, I've done something redundant like that. Every time, my mind has flashed back to that moment, doing algebra. "Oh yeah, X equals X."
I had another moment like that this evening. Did you realize that God is real? Like, real, and powerful, and everything? That's so cool!
My next thought is, "What must I do in response to that?" I mean, here we have this real, great, powerful God. What do we have to do simply because of the very fact that He is real?
Yup, the whole point of Deeper. Pursue Him.
Let me veer away for a second, and then segue back into that thought. So hold on to it. I'm currently reading a book entitled "Eragon." I saw it at the Wal-Mart store, for the low low price of $6.47. Having some change burning a hole in my pocket, and having read a little about the story a long time ago, I decided to purchase it.
Oh, and I wanted to try reading a story with Jesus. Like, I'm pretty used to reading stories by myself. But I wanted to try reading this story along with Jesus. Call it a Spiritual Discipline, if you will.
The story is fairly dependable, the characters are pretty well written. This kid gets a dragon egg, hatches a dragon, is on his way to becoming a hero. The usual.
But I've been learning/remembering some great things as I've been discussing this story with Jesus. Like, most everybody wants to be a hero. Most everybody wants to be special. Our fallen self, at least for us guys, wants to be feared and adored. I've been told girls want to be loved, and to special, set apart, sought after.
And as I get caught up in the story, I start wishing all this was happening to me. Being on a great adventure. Being special. Being loved. Having a powerful friend, who I can talk to with just my mind. Not having to be concerned with what might happen in the future, because nothing can harm me. Jesus reminded me that all this is true. Right now. I am on a great adventure. I have no idea where it will end. At this moment I'm in one of those places that only get one or two sentences in the book, but that form my character and discipline my body. It's still just as important as the rest of the sentences.
I am special. So special that another gave up this life, just so that I could begin and continue this adventure. I am loved. And I can look forward to the beautiful girl several chapters away.
And I do have a powerful friend, who I can talk to with just my mind. My friend speaks back, with more wisdom and love than I will ever encompass.
Best of all, I don't have to be concerned with the future. Nothing can harm me. Sure, this tool of a body, much as I like it, can be maimed. At any moment this body, which I call 'I,' could be reduced to a quivering mass of short-circuiting flesh. But my identity is separate from my body. My adventure will continue.
And, to segue back in, I have something that the characters in this book will never have. I am on the side of a real, powerful, great, awesome, mighty, just, merciful, loving, wrathful, righteous, slow-to-anger, thundering God. And He said He's gonna make it all okay.
Beat that, Eragon.
In His Time,
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Joeletter 12.1
This past weekend was wonderful. On Saturday, immedately after work, my Mom and three of my sisters picked me up. Having packed the night before, I hopped into the car and we set out for Chicago.
Beginning Sunday afternoon, this week is the National Bible Bowl tournament. I really enjoyed getting to be up there in Chicago for the weekend, visiting with friends and former teammates. In addition, there was a very nice fireworks show on Sunday night.
Monday being a holiday, I was not required to work. I stayed until Monday afternoon, and then caught a ride home with one of the player's fathers, who also had to work on Tuesday.
So, after an all-to-brief hiatus, here I am again, home. And, actually, home alone. Yes, all the rest of my family is up in Chicago for the week, supporting the team and encouraging my sisters. I have been catching a ride with a co-worker to and from work, which is a real blessing. Except for the fact that I have to wake up twenty minutes earlier . . .
Work at Delta continues to be fine, though warm. It really is a good job. And it takes a lot of time. I am growing less and less interested in donating eight hours a day of my time to the factory, for the next fifty-five years. Unless, of course, it is what I need to do to respond to God. This summer, it is.
So, I realized something this week. I keep forgetting how mighty God is. As my sisters have been quoting to me in preparation for the National Bible Bowl Tournament, they keep quoting Luke 22. Every time, verse 69 jumps out at me. "But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." For three or five weeks I was on a continual Jesus high, after reading the "Can You Hear Me?" book by Brad Jersak. I still highly recommend it to everyone. But, so, I was on this great high. Then, last week, I realized that I didn't 'feel' that fountain of joy bubbling up right in the center of my breastbone anymore. I started wondering why. Always before at work, I had a smile on 'cause of the fountain. Now, I was trying to be smiling as an example of a happy Christian. What was wrong with this picture? I realized that I had slipped back into my old pattern of God. While talking with Him, praying to Him, and acknowledging His presence, I was forgetting about His power. And, actually, I was forgetting about His eternal NowHere, too. I was, in effect, returning to my previous God-in-a-box, without realizing it. That was kinda scary. How easy it is to replace God with my false perception of Him. And, thus, how easy it is for everyone else to do the same thing. It has taught me more compassion for those who knew, or think they know, but don't really seem too. For people who are not allowing themselves to live in Christ's freedom.
It helped me see how subtly we can slip away from our Mighty God. We are the only ones who dare, and are allowed, to pare Aslan's claws in our lives, and even (may it never be) in the lives of others. "Come, Lord Jesus, come. Defend your truth. Remove my bumblings. On earth as it is in heaven. Let it be done."
How about you? What are you hearing from God? I'm not kidding, I would love to hear your stories, if they are not too personal. Apparently, you all thought that I was kidding when I asked you to respond last week. That's the only explanation I have come up with for the total lack of responses.
I have found that it is just as beneficial to write about what God is saying and doing, as it is to hear and experience. This is probably why we are encouraged to journal as a spiritual discipline during our times with God. The act of writing forces us to conceptualize God's messages. We have to think back, and connect His dots. And I almost always learn something new when writing. That is, in fact, one reason I write the Joeletter. It's to journal what God is doing in my life right now. You just get to read over my sholder.
And it seems that God's messages are usually timely for the rest of the body, too. I am always encouraged when I see and hear God's messages to other people.
Remember, this life really isn't about this life at all. It's so easy for me to forget that. But, everything in this life is so transitory. Nothing lasts. Nothing is worth all our work, our devotion. It's all gonna burn. Only people, and the Word, will last. And, of course, our Mighty God.
In His Time,
Beginning Sunday afternoon, this week is the National Bible Bowl tournament. I really enjoyed getting to be up there in Chicago for the weekend, visiting with friends and former teammates. In addition, there was a very nice fireworks show on Sunday night.
Monday being a holiday, I was not required to work. I stayed until Monday afternoon, and then caught a ride home with one of the player's fathers, who also had to work on Tuesday.
So, after an all-to-brief hiatus, here I am again, home. And, actually, home alone. Yes, all the rest of my family is up in Chicago for the week, supporting the team and encouraging my sisters. I have been catching a ride with a co-worker to and from work, which is a real blessing. Except for the fact that I have to wake up twenty minutes earlier . . .
Work at Delta continues to be fine, though warm. It really is a good job. And it takes a lot of time. I am growing less and less interested in donating eight hours a day of my time to the factory, for the next fifty-five years. Unless, of course, it is what I need to do to respond to God. This summer, it is.
So, I realized something this week. I keep forgetting how mighty God is. As my sisters have been quoting to me in preparation for the National Bible Bowl Tournament, they keep quoting Luke 22. Every time, verse 69 jumps out at me. "But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God." For three or five weeks I was on a continual Jesus high, after reading the "Can You Hear Me?" book by Brad Jersak. I still highly recommend it to everyone. But, so, I was on this great high. Then, last week, I realized that I didn't 'feel' that fountain of joy bubbling up right in the center of my breastbone anymore. I started wondering why. Always before at work, I had a smile on 'cause of the fountain. Now, I was trying to be smiling as an example of a happy Christian. What was wrong with this picture? I realized that I had slipped back into my old pattern of God. While talking with Him, praying to Him, and acknowledging His presence, I was forgetting about His power. And, actually, I was forgetting about His eternal NowHere, too. I was, in effect, returning to my previous God-in-a-box, without realizing it. That was kinda scary. How easy it is to replace God with my false perception of Him. And, thus, how easy it is for everyone else to do the same thing. It has taught me more compassion for those who knew, or think they know, but don't really seem too. For people who are not allowing themselves to live in Christ's freedom.
It helped me see how subtly we can slip away from our Mighty God. We are the only ones who dare, and are allowed, to pare Aslan's claws in our lives, and even (may it never be) in the lives of others. "Come, Lord Jesus, come. Defend your truth. Remove my bumblings. On earth as it is in heaven. Let it be done."
How about you? What are you hearing from God? I'm not kidding, I would love to hear your stories, if they are not too personal. Apparently, you all thought that I was kidding when I asked you to respond last week. That's the only explanation I have come up with for the total lack of responses.
I have found that it is just as beneficial to write about what God is saying and doing, as it is to hear and experience. This is probably why we are encouraged to journal as a spiritual discipline during our times with God. The act of writing forces us to conceptualize God's messages. We have to think back, and connect His dots. And I almost always learn something new when writing. That is, in fact, one reason I write the Joeletter. It's to journal what God is doing in my life right now. You just get to read over my sholder.
And it seems that God's messages are usually timely for the rest of the body, too. I am always encouraged when I see and hear God's messages to other people.
Remember, this life really isn't about this life at all. It's so easy for me to forget that. But, everything in this life is so transitory. Nothing lasts. Nothing is worth all our work, our devotion. It's all gonna burn. Only people, and the Word, will last. And, of course, our Mighty God.
In His Time,
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