Discipline, when it is happening, rarely seems comfortable. Discipline, in a sense, correction, implies that something isn't quite as it should be. Adjustments are applied, until the right fit is achieved.

I recently acquired an unusual flintlock mechanism. I believe it came from Africa. The side plate shows evidence of some production machining; the rest of it appears to have been worked by a blacksmith. It is in the Miquelet pattern which is uncommon for us Westerners. It came without two springs, and a trigger sear. So, today, I plan, weather permitting, to spend and hour at the blacksmith forge and make some springs.

I plan to make the springs from a broken car leaf spring. I will take a ten inch rusty piece and cut off a piece that is a half an inch wide. I will heat it up to a orange/yellow heat, and carefully hammer it out. In some places, it will be drawn out longer, and in other places, I will drawn out the width. In the end, it takes some careful fitting to get a mainspring to fit the lock. Then, it has to be heated to a bright red color, and quickly immersed into oil to chill the metal. This is called quenching the steel. At this stage, the steel in the spring has hardened to the point that it will break if bent. So, to make the spring usable, it has to be re-heated very carefully until the metal color shifts from a straw yellow to a iridescent blue. then it is quenched once more.

Lately, I feel like God is working on me like this. He is re-shaping me to make me more usable. He isn't using a big hammer and heavy blows. Just careful shaping, with a few taps here and a few taps there. A bit a file work, and more re-heating.

I suppose, if a rusty broken car spring could talk, it would say that would prefer to be left alone. It is old, and it went through the forming process before. Isn't that good enough? Forging steel upsets the old shape. Re-heating, hammer and file work seem like a lot of bother, if we don't have a view of the purpose.

God's word, tells me that it is The Father's purpose to "reshape me into the image of His Son." So, God re-heats, and taps here and there in my heart to change the rusty crude material, into something shiny and precisely fitted to the work He has in mind for me to fit. So be it, amen.

Happy Monday

The Creator's Talking Circle went well on Saturday. We made a few changes in the program that helped keep the kids focused. Jannie did a "creation concoction" as an object lesson. She took a class baking dish, and told the creation story, as she loaded it up with yummy things! First, chocolate pudding, "and darkness covered the earth." Then cool whip, "and God said 'Let there be light'". Blue cool whip for the sky and heavens, green coconut for the plants, etc.. In the end,the kids got to eat the creation. :) I talked a bit about the plants that God gave us that were for food, medicine, and tools. We had eight kids and one mom. All seemed happy to be there. :)
Sunday, I preached at the Chase Evangelical Free Church. It is a small church, but nice because there are a lot of seasoned believers that really know their Bible.
We did a hospital visitation after church, and a Bible Study in the evening.
There is snow in the higher elevations of the mountains. Half the leaves have fallen from the birch and maple trees. Winter is coming.

getting back

Been a while since I updated the blog. I was caught by a flu bug that knocked me out for about ten days. It has been hard to study or write. But I am getting back on track. I have to. I am expected to preach this Sunday, and I have to have a power point presentation ready by Monday evening. Some how, I expect God will help me get ready.

We have the Creator's Talking Circle this Saturday. We are talking about the Creation Story, and focussing on day three.

Some may like to know that we are back to using the old 1988 Chevy Suburban. What a great vehicle that has been. It burns oil and no surprise, with its 180,000 miles. It is mostly white, with a rust brown trim. We had a leased car for four years, and turned it back in. Hopefully, we can find a Toyota Rav4 in a good used state. That would be a nice replacement for the Sub. We do a lot of driving and the smaller car would help us manage the $4 a gallon gas cost better.

Jannie is starting a new ladies Bible Study with a gal from the local Reserve. That is great news! :)