START OF WORK MEETING:
If you’re like me, you’re probably a little overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done to get your life into the shape God intended for you. And, just like a car project, you list is just going to get longer as you make progress and get a better handle on your actual condition. But that’s ok, a growing to-do list is nothing compared to the joy you’ll feel as you experience God’s handiwork in your life.
Ready to roll into God’s Garage and begin your transformation? If so, it’s time for a quick Start of Work Meeting between you and God. Not really a new concept for most of you. We have them at work all of the time whenever it’s time to start a new project. It’s typically a short meeting where we identify who’s on the team, what each of our roles are and touch on the plan to get it done. For a project with God, these kinds of meetings pretty simple. Our role is simple: We’re the project. He’s the craftsman. We’re available. He’s capable. And, he’s the keeper of the tools and the timeline to bring us back to life.
Before you move on to the next chapter, take a couple of minutes and have a start of work meeting with God. Lay it all out — let Him know that you know, that He knows your true condition. Thank Him that He’s still “IN” and ready to take on the challenge. And, put him in the driver’s seat and give him the permission to do whatever it takes to transform your life. Don’t worry about the words. God likes it straight. It’s my prayer that you, maybe for the first time in a long time, will experience his presence in a way that’s reassuring and makes sense to you.
To help you keep track of your progress, take a second and record the day and time you had your Start of Work Meeting with God. It’s something that we’re going to do a lot as we advance through this book.
I had a Straight-Talking Start of Work Meeting with God on ________________.
Notes: (What do you want to remember from you’re meeting?)
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Chapter 3B
ASSESSMENT
[I WILL COMPLETE THIS AS I WRITE THE BOOK. THE PURPOSE WILL BE TO IDENTIFY A STARTING PLACE, GIVE READERS A PLACE TO LOOK BACK AT TO GAGUE PROGRESS, AND TO INTRODUCE THE CONCEPTS DISCUSSED IN FUTURE CHAPTERS. STAY TUNED]
[I WILL COMPLETE THIS AS I WRITE THE BOOK. THE PURPOSE WILL BE TO IDENTIFY A STARTING PLACE, GIVE READERS A PLACE TO LOOK BACK AT TO GAGUE PROGRESS, AND TO INTRODUCE THE CONCEPTS DISCUSSED IN FUTURE CHAPTERS. STAY TUNED]
Chapter 3A
CHAPTER THREE: — TIME FOR TIRE KICKIN’:
Time for an important bench test. As an enthusiast, I’m sure you’ve done your share and have gotten good at kicking tires. You’ve become skilled at sniffing out body filler. You know when a vehicle’s “right” and when a seller’s trying to pass a modified standard off as a limited-run classic. And, you know how to pick out a project with high potential. These skills are going to help you in the life restoration project we’ll walk through in this book. Before we move on, take a minute and turn your tire-kicking skills inward and get a bead on where you stand as a project. But, before you get too critical of yourself, remember that God fully understands your condition problems
Take a couple of minutes and roll yourself up onto the lift and perform a careful assessment of your personal starting point — and just like a car project, we’re all starting in different places. In the end, where you start doesn’t matter nearly as much as where you end.
Below you’ll find a variety of condition statements. Read them through and identify where you currently score in each area. And be honest. It doesn’t matter how many times a seller says a vehicle is rust free if it’s rusty. Also, be sure to take the online assessment on cargospel.com. It’ll allow you to track your progress and help me better understand how to continuously improve this book and the resto-mod tools available online
Assessment Date: _____________________________________
Time for an important bench test. As an enthusiast, I’m sure you’ve done your share and have gotten good at kicking tires. You’ve become skilled at sniffing out body filler. You know when a vehicle’s “right” and when a seller’s trying to pass a modified standard off as a limited-run classic. And, you know how to pick out a project with high potential. These skills are going to help you in the life restoration project we’ll walk through in this book. Before we move on, take a minute and turn your tire-kicking skills inward and get a bead on where you stand as a project. But, before you get too critical of yourself, remember that God fully understands your condition problems
Take a couple of minutes and roll yourself up onto the lift and perform a careful assessment of your personal starting point — and just like a car project, we’re all starting in different places. In the end, where you start doesn’t matter nearly as much as where you end.
Below you’ll find a variety of condition statements. Read them through and identify where you currently score in each area. And be honest. It doesn’t matter how many times a seller says a vehicle is rust free if it’s rusty. Also, be sure to take the online assessment on cargospel.com. It’ll allow you to track your progress and help me better understand how to continuously improve this book and the resto-mod tools available online
Assessment Date: _____________________________________
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Chapter 2H
SHOP MANUAL PRINCIPLE #6.
GOD KNOWS AND GOD’S STILL “IN”
Still unconvinced? Maybe you still think or feel like the opposite is true. “Nah, God doesn’t want anything to do with me! Nope, I’m too far gone!” Let me shoot straight with you. Stop believing a lie! You’re wrong! Dude, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son to make it clear. Nobody’s too far gone! God’s waiting to catch each one of us out of the corner of his eye — coming home — so that we can experience the mind-blowing depth of his forgiveness, love and the miraculous restoration plan he has sketched out for the next leg of our lives. Want more proof? Chew on this for a while. The first chapter of the Book of Colossians, verses 21 and 22 say this:
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in our minds because of your evil behavior.”
Is that how you’re feeling? That your actions were so bad that God took a restraining order out on you. That you’re hopelessly far away and alienated from Him? Do you think that your behavior has made you His enemy? Well, check out the “Big Hammer” second part. If this doesn’t bust your wrong thinking loose, I don’t know what will…
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
[INSERT SUMMARY / CONCLUSION]
GOD KNOWS AND GOD’S STILL “IN”
Still unconvinced? Maybe you still think or feel like the opposite is true. “Nah, God doesn’t want anything to do with me! Nope, I’m too far gone!” Let me shoot straight with you. Stop believing a lie! You’re wrong! Dude, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son to make it clear. Nobody’s too far gone! God’s waiting to catch each one of us out of the corner of his eye — coming home — so that we can experience the mind-blowing depth of his forgiveness, love and the miraculous restoration plan he has sketched out for the next leg of our lives. Want more proof? Chew on this for a while. The first chapter of the Book of Colossians, verses 21 and 22 say this:
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in our minds because of your evil behavior.”
Is that how you’re feeling? That your actions were so bad that God took a restraining order out on you. That you’re hopelessly far away and alienated from Him? Do you think that your behavior has made you His enemy? Well, check out the “Big Hammer” second part. If this doesn’t bust your wrong thinking loose, I don’t know what will…
“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
[INSERT SUMMARY / CONCLUSION]
Chapter 2G
The Machine Shop Owner’s Son
There once was a hardworking man who owned a small family-run machine shop. One day his youngest son came to him with a big idea.
“Dad, hey I know that you’ve invested your life in building this business, and you’ve been talking about handing it over to us kids when you retire. Well, if it’s cool with you, could you cut me a check for the amount you think my part of the shop will be worth when you retire — Today? (I don’t know about you, but that wouldn’t have gone over big with my dad)
After thinking it through, the dad went to the bank, emptied out his 401K and took out a small loan on the business. Then handed it over to his youngest son. (Nope, can’t relate to that part of the story either.)
The next day, everybody showed up for work as usual — except for the youngest son. Vegas was calling. And after three weeks of living large… every… penny… was… gone.
The son hit rock bottom. The instant friends he found when he was loaded disappeared. He was embarrassed, ashamed and ticked at himself. The small fortune that his father earned over a lifetime was gone.
What to do? Go home? Never! So, instead he takes a job cleaning rooms at a rent-by-the hour motel off the strip. This is not the man his father raised him to be — and the son knew it. (Yeah, I guess you’d call this rock bottom.)
As much as he hated to do it, he knew he had to go home — and face his dad. He thought of all of the guys in the shop who had rough pasts — addiction… violence… abuse… prison… His dad took those guys in, gave them a fresh start and helped them turn their lives around. Maybe his dad would do the same for him. So, he grifted tourists for enough dough to buy a bus ticket and headed home.
All the way home he rehearsed what he was going to say to his dad. “Dad, there aren’t words for how bad I feel. I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve to be called your son. I’m at the bottom. I need a job. I know you are a good boss with a big heart. I’ll do the jobs nobody else will do. I’ll work hard to pay you back.”
His buddy picked him up from the bus station and drove him to his family’s shop. Head down, he walked in the front doors, past the front desk unnoticed and slowly made his way back to the rear of the shop where his dad worked. As he passed the rows of lathes, presses, C&C machines, raw materials, parts bins… each man looked up to see him walk by — a shadow of the boss they use to report to. They knew what he did. Nobody knew what to say. So they let him keep walking.
While he was still 100 yards away, his dad caught him out of the corner of his eye. “He’s back,” he murmured under his breath. Without hesitation, he dropped the part he was machining and walked quickly in the direction of his son (Running isn’t allowed in the shop). His dad was a big guy, seeing him closing quickly was scarier than the son had imagined.
Finally, face-to-face, the son began the speech he rehearsed. “Dad, there aren’t words to — ”
“Stop!” his dad responded. He took a step back and looked beyond his skinny, greasy, yellow-skinned appearance, slept-in clothes and finished, “Welcome Home Son.”
“But dad, I totally” — the son groveled.
“Yeah, I know… I heard… I’m not happy about any of it… but you’re my son. I love you. And I can help you get back on your feet — If you want me to.”
That wasn’t the response the son expected. None of his rehearsed words seemed relevant anymore. He mouthed, “Yes” and humbly nodded his head
Smiling the dad grabbed his son by the shoulders he laughed and shouted in a gruff shop foreman’s voice, “Fellas! My son’s home! And do I have big plans for this boy!”
BOTTOM LINE… Just like in the story…
God is Waiting For YOU to Come Home — back to His Shop
God (our Father) has given each of us the freedom to follow his plan — or to make up our own. The Bible says that we ALL chose our own. In the 53rd Chapter, verse six of the Book of Isaiah, the Bible put it like this:
“We all, like sheep have gone a stray, each of us choosing to go our own way…”
I’m guessing every one of us can relate.
There once was a hardworking man who owned a small family-run machine shop. One day his youngest son came to him with a big idea.
“Dad, hey I know that you’ve invested your life in building this business, and you’ve been talking about handing it over to us kids when you retire. Well, if it’s cool with you, could you cut me a check for the amount you think my part of the shop will be worth when you retire — Today? (I don’t know about you, but that wouldn’t have gone over big with my dad)
After thinking it through, the dad went to the bank, emptied out his 401K and took out a small loan on the business. Then handed it over to his youngest son. (Nope, can’t relate to that part of the story either.)
The next day, everybody showed up for work as usual — except for the youngest son. Vegas was calling. And after three weeks of living large… every… penny… was… gone.
The son hit rock bottom. The instant friends he found when he was loaded disappeared. He was embarrassed, ashamed and ticked at himself. The small fortune that his father earned over a lifetime was gone.
What to do? Go home? Never! So, instead he takes a job cleaning rooms at a rent-by-the hour motel off the strip. This is not the man his father raised him to be — and the son knew it. (Yeah, I guess you’d call this rock bottom.)
As much as he hated to do it, he knew he had to go home — and face his dad. He thought of all of the guys in the shop who had rough pasts — addiction… violence… abuse… prison… His dad took those guys in, gave them a fresh start and helped them turn their lives around. Maybe his dad would do the same for him. So, he grifted tourists for enough dough to buy a bus ticket and headed home.
All the way home he rehearsed what he was going to say to his dad. “Dad, there aren’t words for how bad I feel. I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I don’t deserve to be called your son. I’m at the bottom. I need a job. I know you are a good boss with a big heart. I’ll do the jobs nobody else will do. I’ll work hard to pay you back.”
His buddy picked him up from the bus station and drove him to his family’s shop. Head down, he walked in the front doors, past the front desk unnoticed and slowly made his way back to the rear of the shop where his dad worked. As he passed the rows of lathes, presses, C&C machines, raw materials, parts bins… each man looked up to see him walk by — a shadow of the boss they use to report to. They knew what he did. Nobody knew what to say. So they let him keep walking.
While he was still 100 yards away, his dad caught him out of the corner of his eye. “He’s back,” he murmured under his breath. Without hesitation, he dropped the part he was machining and walked quickly in the direction of his son (Running isn’t allowed in the shop). His dad was a big guy, seeing him closing quickly was scarier than the son had imagined.
Finally, face-to-face, the son began the speech he rehearsed. “Dad, there aren’t words to — ”
“Stop!” his dad responded. He took a step back and looked beyond his skinny, greasy, yellow-skinned appearance, slept-in clothes and finished, “Welcome Home Son.”
“But dad, I totally” — the son groveled.
“Yeah, I know… I heard… I’m not happy about any of it… but you’re my son. I love you. And I can help you get back on your feet — If you want me to.”
That wasn’t the response the son expected. None of his rehearsed words seemed relevant anymore. He mouthed, “Yes” and humbly nodded his head
Smiling the dad grabbed his son by the shoulders he laughed and shouted in a gruff shop foreman’s voice, “Fellas! My son’s home! And do I have big plans for this boy!”
BOTTOM LINE… Just like in the story…
God is Waiting For YOU to Come Home — back to His Shop
God (our Father) has given each of us the freedom to follow his plan — or to make up our own. The Bible says that we ALL chose our own. In the 53rd Chapter, verse six of the Book of Isaiah, the Bible put it like this:
“We all, like sheep have gone a stray, each of us choosing to go our own way…”
I’m guessing every one of us can relate.
Chapter 2F
SHOP MANUAL PRINCIPLE #5.
GOD WANTS YOU BACK IN THE SHOP SO HE CAN RESTORE YOU TO HIS ORIGINAL DESIGN.
As a car guy there’s nothing worse than having your pride and joy broken into, or worse yet — stolen. It’s amazing what a criminal and chop shop can do to a beautiful automobile in a matter of minutes. On my way to the airport this week I passed a flatbed wrecker loaded up with a reclaimed Dodge Magnum. Wasn’t much left of any value — fenders, doors, airbags, electronics, wheels, hood, seats — all gone! If I was the owner, I don’t think I’d want it back. But God has a different take. He has compassion on our stripped out shells. He searches out or stolen parts, buys them back, and then restores them better than new.
But, don’t take my word for it. Jesus banged it home over and over again in His teachings. Probably my favorite story about it was the Prodigal Son. Even if you haven’t read the story, I’m sure you’ve heard the expression. Heck, maybe someone even called you a Prodigal Son. If you have a Bible take a couple of minutes and read it for yourself. You can find the story in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verses XX thru XX. If you don’t have a Bible handy, you can pull the passage up easily on the web. One thing you should know about Jesus is he always tailored his stories to his audience. If he were to tell the story of the Prodigal Son to car guys I could imagine it going something like this…
GOD WANTS YOU BACK IN THE SHOP SO HE CAN RESTORE YOU TO HIS ORIGINAL DESIGN.
As a car guy there’s nothing worse than having your pride and joy broken into, or worse yet — stolen. It’s amazing what a criminal and chop shop can do to a beautiful automobile in a matter of minutes. On my way to the airport this week I passed a flatbed wrecker loaded up with a reclaimed Dodge Magnum. Wasn’t much left of any value — fenders, doors, airbags, electronics, wheels, hood, seats — all gone! If I was the owner, I don’t think I’d want it back. But God has a different take. He has compassion on our stripped out shells. He searches out or stolen parts, buys them back, and then restores them better than new.
But, don’t take my word for it. Jesus banged it home over and over again in His teachings. Probably my favorite story about it was the Prodigal Son. Even if you haven’t read the story, I’m sure you’ve heard the expression. Heck, maybe someone even called you a Prodigal Son. If you have a Bible take a couple of minutes and read it for yourself. You can find the story in the book of Matthew, chapter 5, verses XX thru XX. If you don’t have a Bible handy, you can pull the passage up easily on the web. One thing you should know about Jesus is he always tailored his stories to his audience. If he were to tell the story of the Prodigal Son to car guys I could imagine it going something like this…
Chapter 2E
SHOP MANUAL PRINCIPLE #4.
GOD DON’T NEED NO CARFAX REPORT
He watched as we sold ourselves to good and bad causes and ideas, drove recklessly chasing after anything and everything we thought would bring us happiness. He saw the accidents. He knows how often you changed the oil, rotated the tires… And that’s just the beginning. He knows which belts are going to break, the seals are going to leak… body panels are going to get wrinkled. Past, present and future — NOTHING’s hidden from his sight. Here’s what the manual says:
Psalm 139:1-10? — O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You helm me in — behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me; such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
GOD DON’T NEED NO CARFAX REPORT
He watched as we sold ourselves to good and bad causes and ideas, drove recklessly chasing after anything and everything we thought would bring us happiness. He saw the accidents. He knows how often you changed the oil, rotated the tires… And that’s just the beginning. He knows which belts are going to break, the seals are going to leak… body panels are going to get wrinkled. Past, present and future — NOTHING’s hidden from his sight. Here’s what the manual says:
Psalm 139:1-10? — O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You helm me in — behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me; such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Chapter 2D
SURPRISE! THERE ARE NO SURPRISES
Occasionally, even the most scrutinizing car can be fooled. [INSERT SHORT STORY / ILLUSTRATION HERE] But not God. With Him there are no mysteries. Here are some facts from the factory:
SHOP MANUAL PRINCIPLE #3.
GOD SUPERVISED YOUR ASSEMBLY
Not only did he design you, he hand tightened every nut and bolt. Here’s how King David put it many years ago. And, if you dig around in his story (had an affair, had the woman’s husband killed, tried to cover it up...) you’ll see that he knows quite a bit about God’s power to restore a man after a car wreck.
Psalm 139:13-17 — For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast are the sum of them!
[COULD INSERT A SHORT SUMMATION HERE]
Occasionally, even the most scrutinizing car can be fooled. [INSERT SHORT STORY / ILLUSTRATION HERE] But not God. With Him there are no mysteries. Here are some facts from the factory:
SHOP MANUAL PRINCIPLE #3.
GOD SUPERVISED YOUR ASSEMBLY
Not only did he design you, he hand tightened every nut and bolt. Here’s how King David put it many years ago. And, if you dig around in his story (had an affair, had the woman’s husband killed, tried to cover it up...) you’ll see that he knows quite a bit about God’s power to restore a man after a car wreck.
Psalm 139:13-17 — For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast are the sum of them!
[COULD INSERT A SHORT SUMMATION HERE]
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