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But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.--(Job 23:10-12)
When have we learned a doctrine?
My brethren, this is a lesson for us; let us never reckon that we have learned a doctrine till we have seen its bearing upon our lives. Whatever we discover in God’s word, let us pray the Holy Spirit to make us feel the sanctifying influence of it. You know not a man because you recognize his features, you must also know his spirit, and so the mere acquaintance with the letter of truth is of small account — you must feel its influence and know its tendency.
There are some brethren who are so enamored of doctrine that no preacher will content them unless he gives them over and over again clear statements of certain favourite truths: but the moment you come to speak of practice they fight shy of it at once, and either denounce the preacher as being legal, or they grow weary of that which they dare not contradict. Let it never be so with us. Let us follow up truth to its practical “therefore.” Let us love the practice of holiness as much as the belief of the truth; and, though we desire to know, let us take care when we know that we act according to the knowledge, for if we do not our knowledge itself will become mischievous to us, will involve us in responsibilities, but will bring to us no effectual blessing. Let everyone here who knoweth aught, now pray God to teach him what he would have him to do, as the consequence of that knowledge.
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Motives For Steadfastness," delivered May 11, 1873.
Couldn't help but notice that the Shay was promised with all 26" drivers powered, something that was not built into the model I own. Did this one slip by the "normal 100% operational test and verification program". And what's up with a 4" long loco...especially an HO scale Shay...needing 18 inches of radius?
The presence of the additional model notes promised on return of the warranty card tells me that the original owner did just that. Comforting to know...do you think they'll honor the warranty, seeing that the product is not as advertised---37 years later?
The original retail of $89.95 is a pleasant surprise compared to the price I did pay for it. This same model in 2010 dollars would go for $393.16, about the same as they sell for now. So...is brass a real investment...or simply keeping up with inflation?
This just came over from England, a very nice model of a Patterson & Western RR Company oil-fired 18 ton Shay built by Lima in 1916. While the original locomotive was built to ride 3 foot narrow gauge track, the model was built to run on standard gauged track. Offered by NWSL in 1974, they were notoriously bad runners from the start, apparently from a design change in the drive train made between the time the prototype model was approved and the final delivery was made.
It is a beautiful little Shay though. At just over 4" in length over the foot boards, it is nicely dwarfed by my Bachmann 80 ton Cass Scenic Railway #5...
...and a 9 volt battery.
Those tiny jackshafts are an absolute beast, popping out at the first opportunity, whenever the trucks are swayed too far to the left. However, any grief is quickly sated as it runs, and the monkey motion of the little two cylinder engine with its rods and crankshafts does its magic.
It is remarkably slow running (when it is running), thanks to a well hidden worm and gear setup, cleverly tucked behind the engine. The thing sounds like a very angry hornet, a testament to its early heritage. In the mid 70s, brass locomotive manufacturers who made quiet, smooth mechanisms were still hard to come by.
Interestingly, it only powers the front truck, the rear one is just there for the ride...there are gears on the rear jackshaft, they just were never built to mesh properly. Because of this arrangement, it can barely pull itself, and will need some additional weight added to the boiler to remedy the problem. Fortunately there is plenty of room, limited only by the amount of lead the motor can handle and still slip the drivers.
Alas, the couplers did not survive the trip across the pond...whose postal gorillas are at fault none will know... The fine spark arrestor suffered at the hands of the same goons as well...
She came with her original box, papers and a bit of a list to starboard. The contacts needed a bit of adjusting to straighten that out. The weathering job is a treat and well enough done that only minor touch-ups are necessary. I will eventually upgrade the drive and properly letter it for the P&W RR Co. #2.
...approximately actual size---yeah, dangerously close to "cute"...
---On rewards and consequences...
I have recently felt impressed of God to start selling down a large amount of my collection. A well meaning friend, knowing this, as well as my desire for a small Shay, observed that this may be a reward from God for my obedience. I appreciated the thought--but--I dearly hope my faith is a bit stronger and more well grounded than that of following a Divine Dispenser of Brass for Good Deeds. I just can't picture the Sovereign Lord of the Universe using one of His nail scarred hands to put one of these into my mostly faithless and morbidly ungrateful ones...at least not for doing what was asked of me anyway.
Now you know why no one sits with us at church....
Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
...I finally found out the origins of my desk set. This set was offered in the Mack Shop catalog back in 1990-91 for the princely sum of $82.50 at the time (...that's $136 in today's Monopoly money, but that's another story...).
That the truck is facing in the opposite direction is most likely a preproduction change rather than something done later in life, there is no evidence of tampering with the felt bottom.
The name plate shown was a separate piece, left loose to be engraved and then mounted with double side tape.
Many thanks to the Mack museum curator for helping me identify this piece.
Reward...or consequence? More later when it arrives....
From the Concerned Nazarenes...
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
It is difficult to lose a loved one, especially a parent. For several years, during the time when my parents were old but still fairly healthy, the thought crossed my mind from time to time that someday in the future, I would be facing the reality of losing one of them, and then the other parent. When the day came that mom got weaker, and eventually needed nursing home care, I took another step closer to that reality that the loss was near. It helped me to recognize and accept the fact that it was going to happen, and that I must be prepared for it.
There is another type of separation which is very difficult to deal with, and that is separation from your church of many years because of false teachings. I believe more Christians are now facing this issue than ever before. In these days of apostasy all around us, pastors and other leaders are falling over each other in a rush to compromise the gospel for the latest fad, and some of them have been the most trusted and solid Christian leaders in the past. The result is that more Christians are finding it very difficult to find a church which is biblically sound.
My position is clear on this, and scripturally sound: when a church has stopped preaching and abiding by sound doctrine, and you have done all that you can to help correct that course, you have no choice but to leave that unhealthy church. And when Christians start coming to the realization that they can no longer stay with their church, it is still difficult to make that final decision that severs the ties that they have had for so long. It truly is like losing a loved one, or like getting divorced. Yet they will not feel the full impact until they have left, and will be shocked at the aftermath of their decision.
To those who are approaching this decision, I must give you some advance notice as to what will probably happen to you after you leave. Some of it is based on what happened to us, although I have had similar testimony from dozens who have written to me about having to leave. Regardless of what happens after you leave, you can know that continuing to place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ will help strengthen you in any situations you encounter.
You can expect some or all of the following:
1. Prepare to be alone. Do not expect a flood of concerned phone calls or emails from folks from your old church. This is what happened with us, and was also the same with many who have written to me. It will be as if your old friends, perhaps even relatives, never knew you existed. You will start wondering, “were these people really my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ? If so, why has not one person picked up the phone to ask why we are no longer at our church of many years?” So be ready for a really strange, inexplicable silence from most of those you thought were your closest friends in church.
2. Prepare to be labeled the cause of the problem- in the “nice” way. In the best case scenario, leaders from your former church will explain to others that you are confused, and have erred, and you nee time to come to your senses before coming back into fellowship. Perhaps they will ask the church to pray for you and your family. You will become in their eyes someone to be pitied. However, do not expect that they will try to help you in any way; it will most likely only be rhetoric.
2. Prepare to be labeled the cause of the problem- in the WORST way. In the worst case scenario, the pastor and/or leaders will make sure that the church understands that you are the cause of the problem, that you were divisive, that you refused to go along with the “mission” of the church, and that you brought all this upon yourself, and no one else. If they go even further, you may actually be called out publicly as a troublemaker, sometimes from the pulpit itself, as some have testified in their letters. If you stay and fight, you may even be “disfellowshiped” and thrown out of the membership.
3. Do not obsess with convincing others. If some are willing to listen to you, and months later it seems to have had no impact on them, let it go. It is not up to you now. Speak to others who give you the opportunity, but move on after that, unless they sincerely are interested in finding the truth and hearing all sides of the matter.
4. Do not forget what church you are really a member of. You are a member of the true church of Jesus Christ, and not any one denomination. That cannot be taken away from you. Church leaders and denominational leaders will often fail, sometimes miserably, and you will feel abandoned. But the true head of the Church, Jesus Christ, never fails, and never leaves you. “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.” John 10:29
5. Do not let your emotional ties cloud your allegiance to the Lord. Yes, there will be emotions that will toss you to and fro, and perhaps months of crying, and wondering why did it all have to happen this way? It’s not like you had to move out of state to a new job, or some other reason that is very understandable. But if there is false teaching in your church, and staying would mean compromising the truth, what choice do you really have?
6. If you have young children, you must leave even sooner. Our children are too precious, and if false teaching is in a church, rest assured it will filter down to the youngest in the church. Contemplative mysticism is being taught in the Nazarene church to young middle schoolers already. Are you willing to risk your young child or teenager’s spiritual well being and remain at your church out of some misguided loyalty, or because you will miss all your friends, the potluck dinners and the church picnics?
6.(sic) Continually pray for guidance and wisdom, stay in God’s word, and ask the Lord to help you find a solid, Bible believing church. It’s really that simple. Your spiritual health should always come first above any other reason to stay at your church. If you have exhausted all your own efforts at trying to wake up the leaders, or others in the church, then you have done all you could. You must now trust the Lord no matter what.
If you are thinking you may have to leave your church because of false teaching, may the Lord guide you, and give you wisdom, as you make your decisions. It is not a decision to be taken lightly, but it may be the only option you have left. If Jesus Christ is truly your foundation, you know that He will never leave you. He will be there for you, even when all others have betrayed you.
Blessings,
Manny
...a model of the Northern Pacific/Spokane, Portland & Seattle/Great Northern Z-6 4-6-6-4 steam locomotive.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
...note the part about "REAL Choo-choo sounds"...oh, dear...
Having won these in a contest, I first want to make clear that they are greatly appreciated. They were offered up by a modeler out of their own pocket and were not part of some corporate promotion. With that, I can go into an honest appraisal of the models for the benefit of other potential purchasers.
THE PACKAGE:
Other than a rather cryptic warning about Pac Man, assembly instructions were lacking. I didn't need English, however, an exploded view would do nicely and help things along.
Also, 1:150 is NOT N gauge. N gauge is 9mm between the rails, N scale is 1:160 prototype to model ratio. There is a difference. I use N gauge track in my HOn30 (1:87.1) modeling to model 30" gauge track. It is also used in On18 (1:48) modeling to model 18" gauge track.
Fujimoto 1:150 scale MR450 container handler:
Beautifully detailed, it comes with rubber tires and fully extendable lift arm and grabbers. Even the cab adjusts forward for the operator's vision in high lifts. Because of the custom nature of these beasts, being built to specific customer specs, the size difference between the scale ratios matters very little. The added details are finely done and fit well. I recommend a gel type ACC glue to keep things in place.
It is a great looking piece.
Maruka 1:150 scale cement mixer:
Great so far...right? Rubber tires, nice paint (even in Japanese), separate details including a positionable trough to aim your little LPBs cement right at Jimmy Hoffa's feet.
But then...look at it next to an Athearn N scale (1:160) fire truck...
That would be quite a beast to drive around on the highway...:10 making a big difference in side-by-side comparisons. Except in isolated scenes, the truck simply will not look right on a scale layout.
It is however, quite close in scale to my Micro-Machine fleet so, on my layout, it works. If you're a stickler for scale fidelity though, your best bet would be to look elsewhere for cement trucks.
May you and yours have a blessed and safe holiday...
---This day is call’d Independence Day
We who by the Grace of God are born here or have
chosen to migrate here must stand a tip-toe to Our Founders.
Whose dreams, sweat, struggles, discussions, arguments, and Blood
are the foundation for this “shining city on a hill.” Men whose names must be honored and remain familiar in our mouths — Washington, Adams,
Jefferson, Franklin, Solomon and others who should along with the
display of fireworks, music, parades, barbeques, bells and flowing cups be freshly
rememb’red. This day shall the good man teach his son or daughter –
they must uphold the promise and protection of this Great Nation, UNDER GOD.---Robert Davi
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me. Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob. And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
Been going through the Book of Isaiah lately....you know, I can find Ethiopia, Egypt, Syria...even Israel---but not a thing on the United States.
Just sayin'...
I don't know...call me picky but...I just don't believe your marketing department was a drawer full of sharp knives when they came up with two disembodied heads, looking upon a floating hand holding your latest modeling paint with an air of grudging approval, as really good ad copy.
Just sayin'...
...from the Car Guy blog...
