Rust? Rusty? You?

There are some things we do not do often…

… at least not often enough to be proficient. Seldom touched skills can grow hazy, and even lazily used when it is time to put them to use. It’s like never forgetting how to ride a bike, but get back on one after many years of non-use then you teeter around like a kid learning for the first time. A little more practice and it’s like you have never been off the bike.

Like an unused skill, Items left out of in the weather will rust as wind, snow, rain and heat wears out the protective coating that covers most tools – their effectiveness is minimized.

Water piped out of ground is often full of minerals and must be filtered out before use – filters must be replaced periodically else they clog and the flow is choked.

A frequently used skill or tool is like having a made up mind about what you believe. It becomes rusty without use, or left to the elements. A made up mind gives you a sound platform on which to use, or be used.

Rev Brian Kinsey said something in the men’s meeting at the Washington Summer Conference. It goes something like this, “Even when all others lose their witness, I will not back down from the truth. There is no Plan B.”  Sounds like he has a made up mind!

“A rusty nail placed near a faithful compass, will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy.” ~Walter Scott

The prophet Elijah was in a similar position. He is the only prophet left in Israel to stand up to 450 prophets of Baal.

And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. (22) Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. (1 Kings 18:21-22, ESV)

Read the rest of the story and you see God responding to a man with a made up mind!

I watch many people living between two opinions of Christian living. Somewhere, I believe, they have gotten rusty in their commitment to God – and this often keeps them from being used where God has drawn them. From a world full of temptation, to a God of holiness. There is a rusty view of how far they walk from the world, and how close they walk to God.

Rust disintegrates the most worthy opponent.

Most of our rust comes from misplaced focus of direction, and misappropriated application of will, and not being diligent in using what God has given us? Where do you put your focus? What effort do you put into your walk with God? Prayer? Fasting? Private worship? Devotion?  Most of what we need to do is not just for ourselves, but most of what we do in life affects others around us.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mathew 6:19-21, ESV)

We treasure where our focus is placed. Continually, our value is shown to everyone that is watching how we live, and where our focus is. Focus on things below and your resulting treasure can be stolen or rusted. Focus on things in heaven, and your resulting treasure will always be stored away for future use.

Living Rusty

There are some things we do not do often…

… at least not often enough to be proficient. Seldom touched skills can grow hazy, and even lazily used when it is time to put them to use. It’s like never forgetting how to ride a bike, but get back on one after many years of non-use then you teeter around like a kid learning for the first time. A little more practice and it’s like you have never been off the bike.

We have been blessed at church to have some talented and spiritual people step up to lead worship. When all things fail, then a couple of rusty men step up to handle the responsibility – and we all know how “out of shape” we are in leading a congregation through a worship time!

Like an unused skill, Items left out of in the weather will rust as wind, snow, rain and heat wears out the protective coating that covers most tools – their effectiveness is minimized.

Water piped out of ground is often full of minerals and must be filtered out before use – filters must be replaced periodically else they clog and the flow is choked.

A frequently used skill or tool is like having a made up mind about what you believe. A made up mind gives you a sound platform on which to use, or be used.

Rev Brian Kinsey said something in the men’s meeting at the Washington Summer Conference. It goes something like this, “Even when all others loose their witness, I will not back down from the truth. There is no Plan B.”  Sounds like he has a made up mind!

“A rusty nail placed near a faithful compass, will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy.” ~Walter Scott

The prophet Elijah was in a similar position. He is the only prophet left in Israel to stand up to 450 prophets of Baal.

1 Kings 18:21-22 ESV And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. (22) Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

Read the rest of the story and you see God responding to a man with a made up mind!

I watch many people living between two opinions of Christian living. Somewhere, I believe, they have gotten rusty in their commitment to God – and this often keeps them from being used where God has drawn them. From a world full of temptation, to a God of holiness. There is a rusty view of how far they walk from the world, and how close they walk to God.

Rust disintegrates the most worthy opponent.

Most of our rust comes from misplaced focus of direction, and misappropriated application of will, and not being diligent in using what God has given us? Where do you put your focus? What effort do you put into your walk with God? Prayer? Fasting? Private worship? Devotion?  Most of what we need to do is not just for ourselves, but most of what we do in life affects others around us.

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Treasures are focus. We focus on what we value. Our value is shown to everyone that is watching how we live. How rusty are you?

The Mack Truck

It was 1998. I had a new position on the Y2K project team responsible for testing all legacy systems on a platform dated at various times in the future – test results were compared between present dates and future dates. Any programming modules that needed correcting were updated and the test processed again.

There were some significant project planning meetings and regular status checks to ensure that all systems were being properly tested, modified and re-tested. Important players to the process were identified by role – analysts, programmers, testers, managers, etc.

One of the last questions we asked each other, “Now what if so and so gets hit by a Mack Truck?”

Then we would plan accordingly for a backup plan.

I have carried this thought in my subconscious for a long time. We should always have a fall back plan.

One of the ways I’ve termed it is that there are times we need to “drop 10 and punt.” A football (American) term where you pushed back so far that the only option was to turn over the ball by a punt instead of letting the other team win the present location by default.

This morning, I read a blog by someone else I follow. Michael Hyatt has been in the publishing industry for most of his adult life. He has authored some books and has a blog that speaks to a lot of my needs as a leader of my congregation. Thanks to Darin Sargent for pointing him out to me.

Anyway, he penned a blog that took me down this pathway today. Please, follow this link to read his posting about “Plan B“…. Perhaps our backup plan is God’s main plan the entire time!