“Broadsided…” (by Mel McGuire)

I witnessed an accident once where a driver was waiting at a stop sign. She was on a side street waiting to merge onto a much larger, much busier highway. The traffic on the street she was wanting to join was non-stop, and she eventually just pulled out into traffic…and got broadsided.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but it could have been a true tragedy. As I began my investigation, I asked her, “Why did you go? You had a stop sign. They had the right of way.”

Her answer was, at the time, incredulous to me. She said, “I wanted to go, and I had waited long enough, so I went.” True story, THAT is what she said. I didn’t see the need to explain to her, or remind her, that merging is legal only when it is safe to do so.

I must admit, her answer and attitude broadsided me. I quickly let go of my indignation and judgment once I realized that I too, at intersections of life, had waited long enough and just decided to go. You ever create havoc because you moved before it was safe to do so?

A stop sign, or red light, means just that…STOP. Implied in the stopping is that you will eventually get to go…but only when it is safe to do so. How many times have we wanted to move onto our “next”, demonstrate an area of growth, take something we either want or have been promised, and come to a stop sign?

How long do we wait? You might be single and you are tired of being single. But you have a red light, or a stop sign. You see couple after couple whizzing by on the highway of life, and you are ready to merge. How long must you wait? You could very well be a broadside waiting to happen!

Determining when it is “safe to do so” is not up to you! It is not based on your impatience or tolerance for staying in place. God has a plan for you and it involves multiple factors, one of which is timing. Wait on the Lord. Don’t get broadsided.

When this lady decided to go, she not only caused an accident for her and the person she hit, she also created a significant delay for all those around her. Many teams and organizations (read churches) have been slowed or diverted because somebody didn’t wait. The ensuing crash slowed all the traffic on the “highway to heaven”.

The body of Christ is one. He has one body. Just one. When all the members are operating as they should, there is a natural flow and like a well-planned intersection, things move in an orderly fashion.

Don’t be the source of a broadside. Wait until the time is right. His time, not yours. Stop signs and red lights are not always only about you. Others need to get to their “next” as well. Wait on the Lord and only move when He says it is safe to do so.

“Plain Car…” (by Mel McGuire)

A previous work assignment allowed me to drive an unmarked police car, what we officially call a “dual purpose” vehicle, or in common terms, a plain car.

It is a police car, a bonafide emergency vehicle, equipped with lights and siren and all the things that make a police car a police car…except it’s not black and white.

I was giving a presentation to a group of elementary students and one of them commented, “That doesn’t look like a police car.”

I turned on all the lights…then the siren, and then used the loudspeaker to ask them, “Does it look like police car now?” They all yelled, “Yes!” And I got a message from the Lord about my “plain car”.

First, if the person inside the car is a police officer, that kind of makes the car a police car…there is a policeman in it, and the police come out of it. Just because it doesn’t look like what you’d expect doesn’t mean it isn’t genuine or official. It’s who is inside which matters.

Secondly, some of us are spiritual “plain cars”…we don’t look like believers. We fit in with normal traffic; people say and do things around us not knowing we are children of God.

Then they cross a line, break a rule, and we turn on our lights and sirens. Then they know we belong to God, get convicted, and they watch themselves around us. It’s easier to catch people slipping when you are in a plain car.

Finally, it is okay to be a “dual purpose” vehicle for the Lord. I’m not talking about living a double life, or having two separate identities (you know, the Sunday you, and the “rest of the week” you), but I do believe God has not called all of us to be “black and whites”. You can tell a black and white from a great distance, and sometimes God needs to catch people “in the act”, so they will repent and not deny.

Pastors and other spiritual leaders are called to be the black and whites, to obviously stand out, at all times in all situations. That is why they wear collars, and robes and vestments…to signify their place and role as spiritual leaders. But most of us need to work regular jobs, and go to school, and shop, and live “normal” lives…we need to fit in a variety of places.

We are plain cars. But when the situation calls for it, we are equipped with lights and sirens and a loudspeaker. We let it be known that the kingdom of God is present, because God lives in us and comes out of us.

We should be encouraged that while we are all not meant to be pastors, we all can minister. We can get closer to people, fit into more situations, and have a more intimate impact than the “official God representative”.

If people look closely, you can see the lights and other things that indicate a plain car is much more than that. The same is true with your life and lifestyle. If others look close enough, they can see the differences. Just because a light is not obvious, doesn’t mean it is hidden.

Being in the presence of a police car should make people want to do right. Being in your presence should make people want to live right…because you are living right…as a plain car. God’s plain car…Him in you, and jumping out of you!

“Dipstick…” (by Mel McGuire)

I had the oil in my car changed recently and when the technician (whatever happened to mechanics?) was finished, he told me I had been about one half a quart low. I had to take his word for it because I cannot remember the last time I have looked at a dipstick.

Back in the day, before I was gainfully employed with benefits and a pension plan, I used to change my own oil. Now, a technician does it for me, but I digress. When you check the oil in an engine, you need to know how to read the dipstick.

First you remove it and wipe it off. Then once it is clean you re-insert it, pull it out and then read it to see how much oil is in the engine. There is usually two marks on the stick, one for “add” and one for “full”. You want the dipstick to read close to “full”.

If you do not wipe the oil off first, you will get a reading that is too high, because the engine is normally hot and the oil level appears above the “full” line. This is where the Lord got me. He told me I was reading my spiritual dipstick only when I was running hot.

During worship service, or at the end (or middle) of a great sermon, is NOT the optimal time to check your dipstick and measure your relationship with the Lord. Of course, this is when most of us “check ourselves”, when we are at our high point.

At those times our “oil level” reads high, usually well above “full”, and we think we are alright. And we probably are, for the moment. But when we check in on Tuesday or Thursday…that is like wiping the dipstick clean, and then putting it back in, to see the true oil level.

Reading a dipstick is more than just looking at level of the oil. It also requires an assessment of the quality of the oil. Fresh oil has a caramel transparent color to it, and is thick and weighty. When you rub it between your fingers, it is smooth for it has viscosity. That viscosity is what allows it to lubricate the moving parts of the motor.

Used oil is dark, almost black in color. It is thin and when you rub it between your fingers, you can feel the grit and dirt, it is not smooth at all. If you do not check your oil, much less change it, it will lose its viscosity and create undue friction inside your engine.

Dirty oil is only slightly better than oil that gets mixed with other engine fluids, like water. Too often we mix the oil of the spirit with the water of the world. Have you not heard? Oil and water don’t mix! When we are tired, drained, weary or fatigued…we should seek fresh oil, not cheap tap water.

If you check your dipstick and you see oil AND water on it, you have a major problem! The world, its comforts and pleasures, is no substitute for the oil of the presence of God. Check your dipstick, read it properly…add oil as needed.

If your daily life feels like a grind, you could be running dirty oil. If you are lacking power, things are breaking down and there is constant friction, you may have water mixed in with your oil. Check your dipstick, you may need an oil change: drain the old, replace the filter and add new fresh oil.

Check your dipstick. It can give you confidence and it can give you a spiritual “heads up”.

“Redline…” (by Mel McGuire)

I heard a great sermon about shifting from one gear to the next…it was about growth and maturity…not really about cars, but the analogy was very well done. It got me thinking about manual transmissions and the limit known as the “redline”.

In a car, the redline represents the maximum speed the engine is designed to safely operate. Key word being safely. On the tachometer, revolutions per minute or “rpm” are indicated, telling you how hard or fast your engine is working.

“Redlining” is when you not only reach and maintain the redline, but remain at or above it. Most engines are designed to reach peak performance at or just below the redline. Anything above that is actually NOT beneficial, and wise drivers shift to a higher gear.

The thing about “redlining” is that your engine will not automatically stop working the instant you exceed the redline. But it does increase the chance of doing damage to the motor. Continuous and repeated acts of exceeding the redline are never recommended.

Different engines have different redlines and if you are not careful, you can blow your engine trying to match another engine’s limit. Newer cars have “rev limiters” that will shut the engine down if you exceed to far or too long. This is for engine preservation, not an attempt to regulate ones driving…even though that might be needed as well.

Christians need to be mindful of their own redlines. Too often we are simply doing too much for too long. We are straining our engine…making a lot of noise, but in reality, we have stopped progressing and are doing more harm than good. We need to slow down, or shift gears.

We believe that because we are “serving God” that it is not possible to overdo it. Until God’s rev limiter kicks in. That could be in the form of sickness, fatigue, the flu, bronchitis, (ain’t nobody got time for that) or even a nervous or mental breakdown.

Redlining in the spirit is not good for you long term. It leads to burnout, and you begin to sputter like a car with a blown engine, spewing smoke, making strange noises, and losing power. This happens to some of us because we are trying to match someone else’s output.

Even when doing the work of the Lord, serving in His kingdom, being a blessing to His people, if power you for years to come. Know your limit and don’t exceed it!

Prayer, quiet time alone with God, reading, studying, and meditating on His word, spending encouraging, uplifting time with other believers are essential to keeping your motor running efficiently.

These things can give you “another gear”, an overdrive as it were, to keep you moving when you have reached your limit. Worship is always a great “tune-up” as well.

Take some time to rest. NASCAR mechanics rebuild engines after every race! They take them apart and replace or repair anything that appears worn. Stop glorying in your redlining and learn from the experts.

There is a rest for you, in His presence. Shift or shut down…you choose. Do it before “redlining” causes you to break down.

This walk is a marathon, not a sprint. An endurance race, not a drag race. It is the “24 Hours of LeMans” more than the “Indianapolis 500”. Know your redline so you know when to shift to a higher gear, or when you have done all you can do in a season or situation and shut down.

“Horsepower…” (by Mel McGuire)

I learned a new concept recently that reminded me of the difference between what something is “rated” and how much is actually “delivered”. While I was introduced to terminology related to golf, the imagery that stuck with me is one of horsepower.

Car manufacturers may boast about a vehicle having “500 horsepower!”, but for a variety of reasons, something less than that is actually “useable horsepower”. It is a measure of efficiency, which is the point of this article. How efficient are you?

Picture a muscle car doing a burnout or donut on pavement. There is so much power being delivered to the rear wheels that traction (friction) is overcome and the wheels just spin…creating a lot of noise and smoke…and wearing out the tires at an accelerated rate.

While there may be limited advantages to doing burnouts, if we are honest, most of it is about “show”, not “go”. Herein lies the spiritual lesson: Is the gospel we believe and preach the same as the gospel we live? When our lifestyle does not match our belief, we create wheelspin, which can lead to burnout and donuts. Lots of “show” with very little “go”. We get a lot of attention, but we are not making any progress.

How efficient, how effective is our gospel? Are we losing traction with the world we are to influence because we are inefficient? I say, “yes, we are. At least, I know I am.” Christianity is highly rated, but my life, my witness, my “useable horsepower” is something less.

Using the muscle car analogy, anything that reduces traction increases the probability of burnouts. Wet pavement, loose dirt or gravel, or poor tire tread make it easier to lose traction and waste power. Our gospel (lifestyle) must take into account those types of factors. A good driver can make progress even when traction is limited. Selah.

Sometimes the environment we are in will not support the full throttle approach of a fire and brimstone message. There can be a thin line between conviction and condemnation, and love helps ease up on the gas pedal of self-righteousness.

We need to be effective, we need to be efficient in order to reach a lost and dying world. We can no longer be content with making a lot of noise and smoke coupled with little to no progress. We are racing our engine, but are we going anywhere?

There is little point in having a highly rated gospel if we cannot communicate it to the world. Our life is our most effective method of communicating. When we strive to live the word we say we believe, we become much more efficient and the kingdom can gain traction in this world. What in our life is robbing the gospel of its full power?

We should not fear friction, but recognize friction is necessary in order to “get a grip”, gain and offer understanding of the trials of life, and the victory available through our relationship with Jesus Christ. The gospel is powerful, get that power on the ground so progress can be made. Don’t overpower friction and let the power of the gospel just go up in smoke!

“Mechanic…” (by Mel McGuire)

I have owned my current car for over ten years. I bought it brand new and have enjoyed its performance, economy, and luxury features. Without a doubt, it is the best car I have ever owned.

Recently, little things have begun to go wrong with it, which is normal, I know. Because of various external circumstances (read “financial considerations”) I decided to not get them fixed right away. I could not afford to go see the mechanic.

Over time, I got used to driving the car without all of its features working properly. I kept up on the maintenance and important things like oil changes and the like, but the window I never use and the parking lamp I can’t really see? They waited.

When the hands free phone link went out…I bought an earpiece. The sound quality was not nearly as good, and it was certainly less convenient than just having my car and phone work seamlessly together, but I got used to it.

When the power steering starting groaning and fighting back. I bought power steering fluid and added it as necessary to keep things quiet. I got used to it and the inconvenience instead of going to the mechanic.

By the time I got a crack in the windshield, that HAD to be replaced, my little car had quite a bit of “character”. That is what we call it when you have to explain to others all the things that don’t work right, things that you have gotten used to.

Well, the windshield replacement put me on a path to get the other “little things” fixed, and after several trips to my mechanic…my car has less character, but everything works! And it didn’t cost NEARLY as much as I feared it would.

What a pleasure and a joy to be able to enjoy all the features the car was designed with again! I literally had forgotten how nice it was to have a fully functional car. Because I was afraid to go see the mechanic.

I get in the car and my phone is connected. I turn the wheel and the only sound I hear is the tires on the pavement. I can now roll down all of my windows without fear they will be stuck in one position or another. I am grateful for my mechanic.

Of course God then reminded me that my car may not be the only thing I had let fall into a state of functional disrepair. And as I examined my relationship with Him, I began to find some things that I had decided not to fix right away. I chose not to go see The Mechanic and when things didn’t work as well I as I had known…I got used to it.

I skipped prayer sessions and lost my seamless connection to Him…and got used to it. I am sure at least one of my testimonial “little lights” went out…and I ignored it. Even when others pointed it out, I chose not to go see The Mechanic” right away.

And for certain when He gave me a new direction, there was moaning and resistance on my part. I substituted situational forgiveness for true repentance…and I got used to it.

I got used to operating at less than my optimal functionality because I did not want to take the time and make the commitment to go see The Mechanic.

And then something happened that forced me back to the Shop. And it put me on a path to get all those little things fixed. And now I remember what it is like to walk in close fellowship with Him, and have everything working smoothly and cohesively.

I am not perfect, been at this too long to ever think that, but I am so much better, and I believe God is getting more out His vessel now that everything that was in disrepair has been fixed.

Go see The Mechanic. Listen to what He says about things that are going to have to be replaced or repaired soon…do not get used to being or having less. Stay fixed. Stay functional.

“Odometer…” (by Mel McGuire)

During a great sermon I once heard the speaker was making the point that value in a used car was NOT in the appearance, but in the mileage. This got me to thinking about odometers.

There are two types of odometers in cars. The main odometer tells you the mileage during the LIFE of the car. It cannot be legally reset. The other one, the trip odometer, is designed to help you track mileage on a repeatable basis, like a road trip, daily usage, or miles between fill ups.

The Lord shared two concepts with me about odometers. First, He reminded me that even if a car has high mileage, it is still relative to the age of the car and how and where the car was used.

A car that spends most of its time cruising on a freeway can accumulate lots of miles in a short period of time. On the other hand, a car driven in urban rush hour traffic may have lower miles, but will be much more “used up”.

So He encouraged me to look beyond the numbers on the odometer and inquire as to the lifestyle of the car in question. The same is true with people. Especially people that God has got a hold to.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light…to me that equates to freeway driving while on cruise control…a constant steady pace that speaks to consistency and maximizing efficiency with minimal effort.

A life apart for Him kind be likened to urban driving. Lots of stop and go traffic. Reduced brake life, more frequent oil changes, earlier transmission issues. More opportunities for the little door dings and minor fender benders of life to mar your appearance.

Low miles doesn’t mean a car has been pampered and high miles does not mean it has been abused. Look beyond the obvious and get the unique story of each life you encounter.

The trip odometer simply reminds us that God’s mercy is new every morning, and He gives us countless opportunities to get it right and enjoy a fresh start. Whether we do it at each fill up (weekly) or with each trip (activity or event), we can reset our odometer.

The forgiveness and longsuffering of God is remarkable, but as we partake we must also extend in kind. Allow others a fresh start and be ready to reset their odometer with you to zero as well.

Finally, I recall looking at a used car once with high mileage. The owner said, “Sure, it has 150,000 miles, but only 25,000 on the engine and transmission…” His point being that the new, lower mileage is the number I should be aware of and judge the car by.

The day we give our lives to God, we get in return a new heart, and a new attitude. We start fresh and our odometer is reset to zero in God’s eyes. Look beyond the numbers and see what He sees, in yourself, and in others.

“Up front…” (by Mel McGuire)

When my daughter was heading towards her teenage years, she asked if she could move from the back seat of the car and start riding up front. She was legally qualified to make the move (and she had been for a couple of years), so we granted her request. But we did it because we felt she was ready, not simply because she met some general qualifications. It takes a certain maturity to ride…up front.

Once she got up there, she began to see driving from a different perspective, and consequently she asked a lot of questions and offered some unsolicited advice. When you ride up front, you see more of what actually goes into driving a vehicle, and you see more of what is going on around the vehicle. Getting from one place to the next is different when you are riding…up front.

From the back seat she had a limited perspective and world view. Most of what she saw was out the side window, as her view to the front was shielded by seats and parents. Once she began to ride up front, the backseat became a distant memory, or sometimes a place to store her baggage. She became much more aware of the numerous hazards of driving when she began to ride…up front.

When she sat in the back, communication could be a challenge, but once she came up front, she could talk to us face to face. This made for better and more intimate conversations. I must admit, that part I enjoyed about her riding…up front.

Oh how I long in my journey in Christ to ride up front. To see and know everything He is doing, to anticipate the hazards, to inquire why He chose to take me one way as opposed to another, to be close to Him, communicating with Him face to face. I just want to observe how He maneuvers through traffic, understand why He picks the lane I am in, and how He observes the rules of the road as He gets me safely to my destination.

But even in Christ, it takes a certain maturity to ride up front. We can’t bring our backseat perspective and expect it to serve us when we ride up front. No one likes a “backseat driver”, especially if they are sitting up front! We have to realize why it is so important to our safety to let the driver drive. He has the wheel, and is in control of the gear we are in, the accelerator, and the brakes. We really need to be able to sit back, stay out of his line of vision, and let him drive!

God has a plan for our lives. He knows how to get us to our destiny safely, while allowing us the privilege of watching Him as we enjoy the journey. Eventually we will get to ride up front, not because of some arbitrary qualification, but because He believes we are ready…to sit closer, to talk face to face, and to learn exactly how and why He does what He does. God wants us to know how to anticipate danger, how to maneuver through the traffic jams of life, and how to benefit the most from riding with Him…up front.

“Trailer…” (by Mel McGuire)

If a picture is worth a thousand words, picture this: A new high performance car hitched to a trailer, on which sits the older version of the new car. Do you think that new car will be able to realize or maximize the performance or efficiency of its design while towing the old car behind it?

I visited my brother recently and he has a fishing boat that he tows behind his SUV. When driving without the trailer and boat, the SUV is a decent performer and has no trouble keeping up with traffic and fitting into normal parking spaces. However, as soon as the boat is in tow, the focus of the driver must change. Not only is the performance of the SUV affected, the SUV can only safely go where the trailer will fit. So, merging, turning, stopping, and maneuverability are all determined by what is behind the SUV.

I heard a message not long after that… about living our lives while being overly concerned about our past. This image of the trailer is what God gave me as an illustration of this principle. God tells us if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation, and the old (creation) has passed away. And yet too often we still try to keep both lives functional and productive.

When we are constantly thinking about, and relating to our past, we are like that SUV towing that boat on a trailer. We have to slow down and most of our decisions are going to be based on the past (that which is behind us) and how it fits into our current situation. We MUST learn to leave the boat in the water, unhitch the trailer, and drive away without them, so we can be free to experience all the performance, efficiency, and liberty that God intended for our new man.

Using the image of the new car towing the old car, we can see how pointless it is to have a newer better performing vehicle and not experience it because we can’t let go of the old version. In fact, the new car towing the old car won’t perform as well as the old car did! Living a double life, not being single minded, focused on the things of God, can often leave us feeling weighed down, unsatisfied, and less effective than before we came to Christ.

God has promised us better. In order to make room for better, we have to get rid of the old, the past, and the worse. Let it go. The blood does not just cover; it removes our old man, our sins. Let it go. Unhitch the trailer and leave your past behind you. Drive, press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling. Onward and upward, move further from sin, your old man, and your old ways, and closer to God, your new man and His ways.

We all have something sitting on a trailer waiting to be towed somewhere, longing to be put back into use. God gave you a new high performance life…LIVE IT! Stop towing and start growing!

“Jumpstart…” (by Mel McGuire)

The cold of winter often leaves certain motorists with dead or almost dead batteries. Not having enough power to simply start the car, the driver finds they are in need of a jumpstart.

Using a battery that is charged and an engine that is running, the process of a temporary boost to the weakened battery is completed. The stranded driver should now let his engine run for awhile, to allow the car’s systems to recharge its own battery.

The analogy for our lives is so clear isn’t it? Many times we find ourselves in need of a jumpstart. I am not just talking about our relationship with God, although I include that as well, but at our jobs, in our marriages, relationships with our kids, parents, friends, and whatever else in life we approach with passion or purpose.

This is not about some glaring sin or error on our part, sometimes it’s just life wearing on you and slowly draining the power out of your “battery”. Life is tending to a sick child or elderly parent, dealing with a difficult boss or employee, or just keeping up with the demands of today’s fast paced lifestyle. We just get tired, bored, indifferent, or dispassionate about things and find it hard to “just get going”.

God has several ways to jumpstart us and get us back on the road. I can’t tell you how many times I have been absolutely motivated and energized by a time of worship at church, or a great and timely message from the pulpit. Or, a friend will say just the right thing to help me locate myself and give me the boost I need to continue on. A song on the radio, a written note, or even a hug from a child, can all be God’s way of finding us stranded on the side of the road, and give us a jumpstart.

Once we are back in motion, we need to let our engine run a while, so our battery can fully recharge and run all the systems it is designed to power. Jumper cables are designed for a temporary circumstance and they are not supposed to remain connected once the stranded car starts.

It would look strange indeed to see two cars driving side by side connected by jumper cables. So, get your boost and use it to fuel your own charging system. Let corporate worship inspire your private devotion, use that great sermon to energize your personal bible study, and take any encouragement given to you and speak life to someone else.

It can be annoying if you own jumper cables and are constantly being asked to give the same person a “jump”. Not because there is an issue with their own system, but because they simply go from one place to another, constantly stopping and shutting their engine off, instead of letting it run! They come out to find battery is dead again and they speed dial you one more time to come and “help a brother out”. They refuse to spend time in God’s presence, or in the company of empowering people, or read their own bible. Instead they take every opportunity to take on too much, too soon, and are quickly drained of what little power they had.

I was “that guy” recently, and the tow truck driver let me know (on the second request) that he had reached his limit and was prepared to take my vehicle to the shop against my will. I promised him (ever done that with God?) that I would take the vehicle to a safe place and let it run for a while, and that is exactly what I did.

The next time I needed the vehicle, it was fully operational and all systems were “go”. How much time and energy was wasted, and not just mine, because I didn’t do the right thing the first time?

We all need a jumpstart from time to time, but when you get your “boost”, do the right thing and stay in the place where you can recharge fully, and not just enough to get to the next place you will require another jumpstart. Stay in His presence, in your prayer closet, in the company of good friends. Get connected…get charged…stay charged by continuing activities that energize, motivate, and inspire you. Then you can be the one someone calls when they need a “jumpstart”.