Work and Car

Today is my day off and it's actually a nice day. This week has really been slow for Valvoline. I get too bored and Tom is really annoying when he gets bored. Try listening to, "Adaaamn...Adaaaaaaamn...Hewaaaaow...Adaaaaamn...Hewaaaaow...Hewaaaaaaaaaaow," for a whole five minutes. Oh and did I mention this was coming from an Assistant Manager? I worked on my senior tech book and I'm almost done. Russ says he'll work on getting me into a CSR class soon.
On the fun side of things I replaced Jackie Ickis' Wheel cylinder, drums, and drum breaks systems last weekend. It was highly educational because I'd never done it before. I had Rodger Beard helping me and he said I could use all his tools, for a fee of course. I was there half the afternoon and all evening, but it was quite fun! Now I will know what to do when I replace my drum breaks later this spring.

It's Party Time

I went to a party last night, well a small party. Bryan's parents went out of town so he invited some of the other Valvoline guys out, and other people as well. It turns out Bryan knows Kailee Reossner from the Naz and Jesse Meres from High School. There wasn't so much getting drunk as there was drinking. I played a few games of pool, watched some beer pong, played a beer chugging relay, and then soaked in the hot tub before going home. It was fun to have a chugging contest with Demetrio. Demetrio won. In all, I felt guiltier about my gross calorie intake then about the three drinks I had. It was also good to be real with my peeps in the hot tub and also look up at the stars. It's good to know that God is everywhere.

Grace

When we transfer a worldly approach of success to the Christian life, we are in
for disappointment. And unfortunately, this understanding of spiritual success
has infiltrated modern Church.

Steve McVey in Grace Walk, page 29.

I was reading some journals from college the other day and found that I had been doing this then, and still do this. Not as much now, but my journals indicated at times that I measured myself by my spiritual emotion, how much I prayed, what I got out of the Bible, or things that I did. I worked so hard and sometimes I still do. Still, at times when I know I can't, I finally find my place in God's will: giving up, crying out, and asking God to take control. When all I want to do is strangle those I work with, or lash out in anger, I see that salvation is still to be gained. Gained, but not obtained. Received, but not worked for. Don't get me wrong, I am not in need of salvation from hell. That has already been gained. I need salvation from myself. A holy life does not come by spiritual discipline, or by accountability, or by selfless acts, or by penitence. Perhaps it can only be received after crying out. Received as a gift but not deserved. Just as salvation can only be received by grace, holiness also, can only be received by grace. Finally, when I surrender myself, he lives through me. I find myself loving the loveless, and talking to them about grace.

Event: Community Worship/Fundraiser Event
Purpose: Unite the community of greater BG for a common purpose if only for a few hours in worship. Raise money for Urbane Nights, a group of halfway houses in Toledo who help rehabilitate drug and alcohol addicts and returning convicts.
Date: April 14th 2007
Time: 7 PM till whenever
Place: BG High School small Gym
Who's invited: Any one who likes to worship with a praise band or wants to donate to urbane knights. It's not a condition for the event, but those who sow generously reap generously. Besides, how else are you going to spend that tax refund?
Expectations: Big, very big. We are hoping the event will be able to pay off one house. I can't wait. The Gym seets up to 250 and we are thinking about setting up sum chairs as well.