*Dang....this is looooong. Sorry.* Well...for the last month, my car has been dying. It all started when I went to a party on a Thursday night. It was the premier of a movie I played a small part in last summer called "Sick." The movie was a blast (if you have ever heard of a B movie...this was a B- to C+ movie). I had sooo much fun making it and watching it (except for my part. I hate watching myself or listening to myself on tape). Anyhoo...one of the chicks at the party's car was on the fritz. It wouldn't start. So a group of us guys got together around it and pretended like we knew what we were doing. While putting my battery back into my car, (I wanted to see if it was her battery that was the problem) I fried a good number of wires. They heated up so bad they melted the rubber around them and were glowing red. I got a lung full of the fumes...it burned. I figured out what was causing the wires to overheat, stopped it, taped the wires with electrical tape (that I always keep in my glove box), and drove it home no problem. I drove the car to work the next day, drove it to Charlie Landis' house for a game of poker ($2 buy in...I won. It was one of my best games ever), and then drove to my house to change out of my work clothes into party apparel (birthday party this time). I went out to my car, turned the key, and there was nothing. Went back inside...asked to borrow my mom's car, went to the party, and went home. The next morning (Saturday for those counting at home) I got out to my car, turned the key, and it started right up. Found out the taping job I did at 2 a.m. in the dark wasn't very good so I retaped it and she started up and I drove her to work. That next Wednesday, I got off work at about 1:30 in the afternoon (I got there at 11 a.m....I made $8 in tips....it suuuucked). I got out to my car and it wouldn't start. I got a jump from my boss and went right next door to Wal-Mart to buy some terminals to hook up to my battery (I thought that was the problem because they were ooooold). I went out to my car in the Wal-Mart parking lot, replaced them, hocked a loogey, and grunted (typical guy stuff). The car still wouldn't start. So I started asking people for another jump. It amazes me how many people don't want to help. The faces are pretty much exactly how it went down. One lady said, "I don't have any cables."  "That's alright...I do."  "Well...I don't think my engine is big enough."  (She was driving a 2000 something minivan)  "Well...thank you very much anyway."  The lady I finally got to help me said, "You're not going to mess up MY car are you?"  I felt special.  The car wouldn't start immediately and I knew the lady wanted to leave so I thanked her and released her from her imprisonment of helping me. I figured I would call AAA. At least they get paid to help me. So I sat in the air conditioned Wal-Mart on a cushioned deck chair on display waiting for the tow truck. "Benny" found me about half an hour later and I asked him to give me a jump and test my alternator. My car started for him and he hooked up my alternator to a computer and told me it was fine. So I thanked him (sincerely), got in my car, and started driving home (notice I said started driving home). I got about 2/3 of the way there and the car died at a busy intersection in the turn lane (I was facing South). I was first in line to turn left (East) so there were a LOT of pissed off people who were staring at a green arrow, but couldn't do anything about it. It also delayed the people going the opposite direction (North). Not to mention the East to West traffic. I got out and opened my hood. A highway patrolman came around and gave me a push down a hill which would take me to a parking lot. I like that guy. I made it to a parking lot and my mom met me there and she jumped my car again. A Topeka Police officer showed up see if everything was alright. We told him we thought so, but if it died again, we could call AAA ourselves and he was on his way. I made it 1/2 of the remaining way home and she died at another busy stop light. The parking lot cop who asked us if everything was alright happened to be driving back the way he came and pulled over with his lights and was able to direct the traffic until everyone knew what was going on and just went around us. My mom went ahead and went home because the cop called AAA for a tow this time...not just a jump. I like that guy too. So the cop got back in his car and I stood outside my broken down car...in the not so pleasant heat. People started looking at me really odd-like as they passed me standing on the corner. Then I realized my car was sitting in front of a police car that had its lights flashing and I was out of the vehicle. This was a not so good part of town. It looked like I was getting arrested. AAA got there...behold...it was Benny. It has now been about three hours since I got off work. I don't have AC in my car. They don't have AC at busy intersections. And I haven't had anything to drink since I got off work at a restaurant. Benny offers me one of his cold bottles of water up in the cab, cranks the AC for me, and took me home (I like Benny too). I had to buy a new battery (which looks nice with the new terminals I bought at Wal-Mart) and a voltage regulator and install those. Fortunately my alternator is still in working order. It seemed like my car troubles were over. I was even going to have some carburetor work done by a guy (James Cox) in my parents' small group who has been working on cars since he was 4 (he knows a little bit about them). James comes to take off the carburetor and my mom has him take it for a test drive to see how its running. He doesn't even take it out of our culdesac and he knows exactly what wrong. My rear differential is going out (if you don't know what that is...it makes my back wheels turn). Its kind of important...and kind of expensive. His first estimate is about $1,200 on parts. He's doing the labor for free. He enjoys working on cars and is treating it like I am doing HIM a favor. He is easily saving me over $3,000 in labor alone. So...my car is on jack stands in my garage. We took the rear out last night and tonight I was cleaning it all out and degreasing it so it'll be spick and span for the new and/or rebuilt parts we're putting back in. I may not have my car by the time I need to get back to Joplin but that is small potatoes compared to the blessings that have been showering down upon me. Mrs. C...I love devotional thoughts (in fact...I hadn't even thought of them for this post until I started writing it). I am so glad they run through my head daily. Before I was even a teenager, they would pop in there and I would think, "That would be a great sermon illustration." Being a server...I have grabbed literally dozens of them. I will post some of them...sometime...hopefully. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt you will love them. In my last post...I started writing stuff, turning it into a devotion and I was just picturing people reading my posts rolling their eyes thinking, "What is WITH this guy?"  (which I'm sure they do anyway) Oh well. So here is the church nerd in me. I hope you enjoyed this post. I hope you laughed at times, I hope you felt my pain at times, I hope you were embarrassed for me at times (you've all been embarrassed for me I'm sure), and I hope you were bothered as well. I am going to leave you with two options. Option #1 - Push a car down a hill. Direct traffic and call AAA. Give a cold bottle of water. Option #2 - Stay in your minivan. Complain while you "help" someone. Give the finger as you drive by someone in need. James Cox is a living example of Option #1...which is service. He is being the church. His servant hands are covered in axel grease and compensation is the furthest thing from his mind. Option #1 gets people home. Option #2 leaves them stranded in the heat. Mom...if you're reading the time of this post...I got a call from James Morrill and couldn't go back to sleep for a while. James Morrill...if you're reading this. A five minute call from you is worth five nights of sleep. Hands down. I love all of you...and if you EVER catch me living option #2...rebuke me. PEACE! | 
