Thursday, August 24, 2017

August 24 – “A 20W50 Family”

Looks like everyone is anxiously anticipating the arrival of whatever effects we will experience with now-Tropical Storm Harvey.  I was hoping he would turn out to be a figment of someone’s imagination (Anybody else catch the movie allusion there?).  This morning I have already (It’s 6:30) received a text from my cousin in Florida letting us know he is thinking about us.  Nothing like hearing from a Floridian - someone who understands the situation.  Oh, and they dropped off a worker at the 40 Steps house around 6:15.  So far all he is doing is restacking the wood that has been delivered over the last few weeks that they haven’t used yet.  Guess they are hoping it doesn’t all blow away or float away.  Oh, wait.  As it gets lighter I can see that he was just moving wood out of the way so they could back their truck up close to the house.  It’s a delivery of sheetrock.  Life goes on.

Last night I received a call from the couple who was scheduled to do their 50th anniversary vows renewal and the couple who was to be married … on Saturday night.  They are keeping their options open, but looks like they will reschedule to next Saturday if they can work out the details.  That adds a whole new dimension to the event.  Labor Day weekend.  That will certainly be a bustling experience for them.  As far as I know I’ll be here, though.  Sounds like fun.

At staff meeting we had some work to do as well.  While Chris worked inside the building, and the fire alarm tech ran all his inspection diagnostics upstairs, Jim and I took down the canvas awning from the new playground equipment.  We brought the swings inside as well.  Then came resetting the chairs after dinner on the grounds last week.  No one could remember what they looked like.  With Chris’ help we managed to get them into some semblance of order.  I took a picture this time.  Then Jim and I tackled the computer.  Not the best fit for either of us.  The Media Shout program has been doing some strange things when he tries to get set up for Sunday worship.  Could we figure it out?  Nope.  That’s why our computer tech Bryan gets paid the big bucks.  Hey, Bryan … help.

Next we took the truck in to the shop for Dennis to check out an overheating problem we have been having.  I figured it must be the thermostat because of the way it was acting.  Heating up to the warning light point, then cooling back down.  I even had the thermostat already.  That was from a misguided thought I had a week or so ago that maybe I would replace it myself.  So all went well, right?  Nope.  It wasn’t the thermostat at all.  In fact he found out that the thermostat was hermetically sealed.  It will take a blow torch and a special drill and some serious labor hours to ever change that thing.  But he did find the actual culprit.  The radiator hose had blown right next to where the thermostat was located.  He replaced that and it worked like a charm.  He showed me the hose.  Not so much so I could see the hole, though.  He wanted me to see where it was the original GM part that came when the truck was new.  Amazing.  I also asked him to change the oil.  He suggested we battle the use of oil by adding a heavier version.  We now are a 20W50 family.  Sounds like fun.

We did run some other errands.  After dropping off the check we went to the post office.  And in the parking lot I got a call from mechanic Dennis.  Seems I forgot to leave him the keys to the truck.  Oops.  So our next stop was back to the shop.  Ah, well.  Then we went to WalMart for some groceries.  Had to get stocked up for all the rain that’s expected from good ol’ Harvey.  Then came trimming the tree in the back yard.  It was encroaching steadily upon the electrical and cable and telephone lines leading to the house.  Just another pre-storm preparation.  Last night while we watched the Astros game Chris sewed up the rug that was coming unraveled.  Another day in the life …

1 Peter 5:1-4 says, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.”


Father, thank you for Dennis.  It is great to have a mechanic we can trust.  Amen.

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