Specialized Tools

Another episode of Randy's auto mechanic circus aired last evening.

Rewind to about a week ago when our garage man called and said. "We can't inspect your vehicle because it needs two lower ball joints and tires....and the front struts are shot" We knew the struts were bad based upon the wobbling and rattling every time we would hit a pothole. Now, some of you may be scratching your heads right now wondering why the garage couldn't do this work. We needed the work done but to allow the garage to do it wasn't a financial possibility for us right now.

So, enter the monkeys, clowns, and an occasional elephant. (aka, do it yourself auto mechanic shop)

This event was headlined by front gas-strut replacement, lower ball joints replaced and an oil and filter change thrown in because it was 5000 miles overdue.

For the most part, you give me a hammer, screwdriver, and assorted wrenches and I'll tackle the Space Shuttle. However, front struts on a 2002 Mercury Villager make me a bit apprehensive. I've never worked on these critters before and was praying many prayers that instructions would come with each strut. PHEW! Prayers answered!!

This little task of strut replacement required a special spring compression tool that I don't own.

Imagine compressing a spring that is about a foot long and six inches in diameter. Off to the auto parts store where they conveniently sell/rent specialized tools for the backyard mechanic. (Or circus manager)

In short, the spring needs to be compressed and pressure released so the entire unit can be dismantled and then reassembled with a new strut. Without the compression tool, this task is almost impossible.

I always love working on things that have the potential to kill me. The pressure (kinetic energy) on a compressed spring who can know?!?!?! More prayers that I was using the tool correctly and that the tool wouldn't fail for some odd reason.

(compression tool is the black thingy with two silver rings)

After disassembly, compressing, dismantling, replacing old for new, and reassembling struts and ball joints, the entire Main Ring event was done in about 6.5 hours.

All this to highlight an important caveat about mechanic work and evangelism. Both require special tools.

Ha. Ha. Ha. Surely you didn't think this blog was just about auto mechanics and procedure!

Of course we'll always bend the thoughts swirling around my head toward the Lord.

The one tool we need to take Jesus to one more person is 'Love'. Wow, that was anticlimatic! Not really, if you consider the state of our world and realize the church needs to have and then use the specialized tool of 'love' in order to affect lost souls and those caught in sinful death rolls.

Not everyone who claims Christ as Lord exercises this specialized tool. Evidence of the broken world would suggest many people who claim Christ as Lord either don't own the specialized tool or may have it and not know how to implement it.

Time to head to the specialized tool store. It's called the church and specifically the Bible.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,

humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have

against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds

them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one

body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach

and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with

gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of

the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17, NIV) [emphasis added]

After inspection, the world is broken badly and it needs major repair work done. Jesus Christ has done the work defeating sin and the sting of death and now needs us to shine His redemptive nature into this broken world. Open the tool box, search out the tool marked 'love' and let's begin to repair people rattling and wobbling from sin.