Bachmann HO scale N&W 4-8-4 Class "J"...

...a "three fer" for a recent reader...

Wednesday's Word, Psalms 125...

--A Song of degrees.-- They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.

Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Bachmann N scale 2-8-2 Mikado...

A friend bought this on Ebay some time back. The listing said "in like new condition"...



I may be picky, but that doesn't look anywhere near "like new" to me...

TYCO Model Railroad Manual, 1979...

Maybe it was a last ditch effort to legitimize a model train company that had, by 1979, become the butt of every joke about quality control. The "TYCO Model Railroad Manual" takes what had long been relegated to the Saturday morning cartoon set and adds all the regular elements of a beginning modeler's primer on how to build a layout---if only they had put a better quality product out to back it up. Could anyone familiar with TYCO locomotives imagine running a serious operating session complete with a card order system...with Power Torque motors and X2f couplers?



My guess is that the folks at Chiltons realized a marketing error and came back four years later with a reissue of the same book under a different title, "The HO Model Railroading Handbook." All the same wording is there, the only exception being the mention of other producers such as Life-Like and Bachmann and a dozen pictures either added to or replacing other TYCO photographs---and an additional $6 to the original retail price of $7.95. Nice effort...but...could anyone familiar with Life-Like and Bachmann locomotives imagine running a serious operating session complete with a card order system...with Kader motors and X2f couplers?

Psalms 98

--A Psalm.-- O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Rainy day stuff...

...one of them being getting the Christmas layout dusted off and running...



...until the Model Railroader magazine 50th Anniversary car dropped a knuckle, stopping the train but not the locomotives---until they hit the end of the train...sigh...



Yes...it is TOO time to get the Christmas trains ready...

Luke 13:1-9...

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

September 11, 2001...

...I was just waking up after sleeping in late on my stay-at-home vacation when I turned on the TV right as the second plane hit.

As a nation...sadly... I believe we have forgotten what it felt like at that moment.

I think I'll stop now...

Wednesday's Word, Isaiah 6:1-5...

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

"Legendary Lionel Trains"...

...by John A. Grams and Terry D. Thompson.



Some time back I got a book over Paperback Swap that was in less than satisfactory condition. I thought it worth salvaging anyway and found a neat way to preserve it. The person who offered it felt really bad about it, even after we let them know that there were no hard feelings.

I had forgotten all about it until recently when a package arrived at my door that contained this book on Lionel trains. Come to find out that the person who sent me the damaged book saw this one and believed I would be interested in it. It was brand new, still in its cellophane wrapper and they took it upon themselves to send it without thought for anything in return, it was simply to cover a debt they felt they still owed.

If only there was that kind of diligence in the Church today when it came to reaching out to an offended party.

1:87 scale Ertl John Deere 310SE backhoe...

"Bring it down before it fouls the main..."

1 Samuel 8:4-20

Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them (emphasis mine). According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

Geaux Tigers...

I also happen to be a Virginia Tech fan today as well...if I have to explain, you just don't know College ball...

Saddleback moth caterpillar...

"What's that got to do with models?"

Well I got stung in the back by one today...



That makes TWO times I've been stabbed in the back by something named Saddleback...sigh...

Wednesday's Word, Matthew 7:6-18...

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Marklin HO scale post war CCS 800 "Crocodile", circa 1949-50...

...one of their earliest examples, it came in its original wooden nesting box and had no signs of the dreaded zinc pest.



A good example can fetch $5000 or more and the one pictured was now in my hands. A friend had a neighbor who was cleaning out his garage, whereupon he pulled out three old plastic Coke trays filled with old Marklin trains, track and accessories. There also was a complete American Flyer S scale set with a 4-4-2 locomotive and track.

"$50," he said, "...the old man just wants a little money and has no idea what it's worth." I believe my friend had my best temporal interests in mind but, alas, he doesn't have an eternal perspective. My...our...Great Judge and King has a gaze from His Throne that sees through all of our actions, no matter how good or innocent they appear.

I told him I'd look it all over that night but knew that I couldn't come near a fair offer for the lot. The next day I dropped it off, the old man's kids now having found out that there was a little bit of treasure in the garage to palm off on Ebay. Who knows where that Croc is now.

"Well done, good and faithful servant." means a whole lot more to me now, and, like some trophy catch and release fish, I still have a picture of the one that got away.

Psalms 5

-To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.- Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Model Power N scale FA-2 "dummy" in Santa Fe colors, circa 1977...

...only it ain't no dummy. Found at a thrift store today for $1, the box is indeed marked as an unpowered locomotive, but it was very clearly a powered unit if one only looked at it from underneath.



I will loose no sleep tonight though...anyone familiar with Model Power knows that they are the Tyco of N scale modeling---and that would be an insult to Tyco. Their mechanisms were horrendously cheesy with their pathetic open frame motors, mounted on flexible sub-frames that are hooked up to gear drives with mechanical tolerances rivaling those of stone age tools. The fingernails to chalkboard sound as it's running would send the lead singer for Metallica screaming out of the room.

---But---it is, after all, painted in the classic Santa Fe "War bonnet" scheme and a model of one of the classier F units of the day---an Alco to boot---...and again...it was only a buck, which is like twelve cents in 1977 money.

Amtrak crash, Canton, Michigan...

...as plain as it gets...



Enough said...

Wednesday's Word...

...the Lord reward him according to his works...

Great Planes PT-40 MKII "The Perfect Trainer"...

I must have this Oliver Twist "Please sir, may I have some more?" look about my face. This is the third complete R/C airplane kit I've been given...the second in 2 months...the last two by retirees who'd like to see me assemble them...sigh...





The second kit is a Coverite "Black Baron Special". I sent the first kit given to me some years back on down the road to another modeler. At best, I'll likely assemble and finish them for the satisfaction of said retirees, then hang them from the ceiling. I really have no means to power or equip them properly and I certainly have no desire to see them careening to the ground at 120+ MPH after all that.

On one's mortality...

I received an N scale three bay hopper lettered for the B&O from the estate of a modeler who passed away recently.



It never escapes me in this hobby that we truly are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow, leaving all our work to the next generation of modelers by way of yard sales, auctions and inheritances. There it will be appreciated as it is or painted over and added to a layout full of other treasures, where it will quickly disappear into anonymity. Who can tell if my Ambroid Russell Plow didn't grace Bill McClannahan's layout...or Linn Westcott's?...John Allen's?...Frank Ellison's? (Stop it...your blank stare is making me feel older than my years.) That most of those names are no longer recognized in modeling circles speaks volumes about making our mark on this world, their layouts and work in the hobby having long been tossed into the dust bin of history.

Ours is an odd little hobby that can consume so much in time and resources if we're not careful, the ultimate cost being relationships with one's family and God. Never forget that your work as a modeler is less than one generation away from being a forgotten box lot of train stuff at the local thrift store.

Psalms 90

--A Prayer of Moses the man of God.--Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

School starts Monday...

...and the countdown to Fall begins.

I miss snow, I really do...

MTH Gauge One 4-8-8-4 "Big Boys" in action...

...side-by-side with an MTH 4-6-6-4 "Challenger".

Until now, I despised the tinny bleats that pass for sound in models. My first introduction was to a bell mounted in a quad of E units at the club that was left clanging for well over a half hour as it idled in the yard---while its owner ducked out for coffee. I just know that if a rock or brick were handy at the moment, I surely would have answered the primal urge to smash them to pieces.

Mike's Train house seems to have addressed the tinny sound that comes from a lack of proper bass response in the smaller scales...



...however, at $3500 US, I'll enjoy watching someone else's in action...

Wednesday's Word, Psalm 31...

---To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David---In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.

But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city. For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

...so that they are without excuse...

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.---(Romans 1:18-23)

In light of the truth of the Gospel...that the vast majority of those we meet are lost and without hope for eternity, it's way too easy to freak out over something that appears so trivial as the time and money spent on model trains---even when one spends very little of each on the hobby.

"...so that they are without excuse..." is very clear...no one goes screaming off into eternity by accident. Somehow, someway, God has put the evidence of the full Gospel of God in Christ in the hearts of even the most distant and far fetched indigenous aborigine, and no cell phone carrying 21st century technophile will be able to point an accusing finger at the throne and sob, "Unfair".

Still, those of us who are redeemed must answer the call to "Go ye therefore into all the world...", sometimes slogging through the bogs of lethargy and apathy brought on by the sheer size of the task at hand, and at the very late hour that it truly is, wondering if it matters anymore...

Tyco Daredevil Jump race set with Nite Glow, Part II...

Spent a pleasant afternoon surrounded by kids on a sugar high that was obtained at my expense through my daughter's birthday party...sigh...

After that I cleaned and tweeked the elements of this Tyco race set that I picked up some time back. Everything works properly except for one controller, an item easily picked up online. My son is looking forward to driving his dad into the rails on this one. Though Tyco, it's still way better than the battery powered race set he has.

There is a certain air of nostalgia about it, having longed for one of these as a kid, the glitzy ads during Saturday morning cartoons singing their siren song invoking the spirits of avarice and malcontent in this young mind. I've spared my children the Saturday cartoons, leaving them easily delighted by what things God has blessed us with and all in a world materialistically light years beyond what I grew up in.

Zac's Tractors 25,000th visitor contest...

...who doesn't have room for a 1:64 scale John Deere 9630T. I'm in...

Did He?

Paul Proctor---Are You A Church Worshipper?

The church growth movement, you see, worships a two-headed god called “Results” and “Relationships” where nothing gets in the way of either – even God’s Word. It was first encountered in the Garden of Eden.

The religion of Results persuades us to, like Eve, take and eat of “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” even when the Lord says: “Thou shalt not.” But we do anyway because we believe the end justifies the means – and we’re convinced it’s for a “good cause.”

Today, many trained facilitators in leadership positions have infiltrated the church and convinced gullible and covetous Christians that if they rely on market principles and surveys, they’ll get the Results they’re after – which may or may not have anything to do with the Word and Will of God.

We call that “pragmatism.”

God calls it sin.

Sew E-Z portable battery operated sewing machine...

...circa 1945-1949, US Zone, Berlin, Germany. Its base measures 7 7/8"l x 4 3/8"w x 1 1/2"h and runs on two "D" cell batteries.

My beloved and I found it at a local flea market and, while not normally given to frivolous purchases, thought it too unique a piece to pass up for the price. Originally we thought it was a toy miniature but came to find it was built to be used as a quick stitcher that was compact and powerful for the adult market of its time. It came with its instruction sheet and the original box.




(shown here with rear cover removed)






(a cleaning and a couple of drops of oil later...)"

Isaiah 41:8-29

But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together: That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you. I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Playing Mantis 1:48 scale Grandpa Munster's "Dragula"...

...no explanation needed for those 40 and over. The original car debuted on the Munster's TV show in 1965 in the episode "Hot Rod Herman". In 1966, it was used in the movie "Munster Go Home".

Yeah...I just knew you needed to know that...

Of First Importance...

“That Christ should love man when he was most unlovely, that man’s extreme misery should but inflame Christ’s love and mercy, this melts the believing soul.

That Christ should leave the eternal bosom of his Father; that he that was equal with God should come in the form of a servant; that he that was clothed with glory, and born a king, should be wrapped in rags; that he that the heaven of heavens could not contain should be cradled in a manger; that from his cradle to his cross, his whole life should be a life of sorrows and sufferings; that the Judge of all flesh should be condemned; that the Lord of life should be put to death; that he that was his Father’s joy should in anguish of spirit cry out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”; that that head that was crowned with honour should be crowned with thorns; that those eyes that were as a flame of fire, that were dearer than the sun, should be closed up by the darkness of death; that those ears which were wont to hear nothing but hallelujahs should hear nothing but blasphemies; that that face that was white and ruddy should be spit upon by the Jews; that that tongue that spake as never man spake, yea, as never angel spake, should be accused of blasphemy; that those hands which swayed both a golden sceptre and a iron rod, and those feet that were as fine brass should be nailed to the cross; and all this for man’s transgression, for man’s rebellion: Oh! the sight of these things, the believing of these things, the acting of faith on these things, makes a gracious soul to break and bleed, to sigh and groan, to mourn and lament.”—Thomas Brooks, Heaven on Earth

Wednesday's Word, Psalm 28..

--A Psalm of David.-- Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

Batman's "Tumbler" in 1:1 scale...

...now this is some serious scratchbuilding...



---builder/owner photo

Tyco Daredevil Jump race set with Nite Glow...

...picked up at a local thrift store sans the two '79 Pontiac Firebird Trans Ams with headlights...sigh... But hey, now my son and I can race each other, his interest especially peaked with the addition of Batman's "Tumbler"*** and a Gotham City PD cruiser to race around the track. It also had all the track, guard rails, pillars, controllers, wall wart and 5 of the 6 barrels for the jump. With only one nicked connector, that's not bad for a 30 year old set.



I was disappointed in the phony wheels on the Tumbler, especially when I realized they went to great lengths to duplicate the unique front wheel arrangement. They completely redesigned the chassis for this car, it would have been no mean step to add some knobby weenies to it, instead of those cheesie shrouds. The lack of working flashers on the cruiser, in a day when McDonald's Kid's Meal toys come with more sophisticated circuitry, makes for another noticeable shortcoming. Alas, my boy is smitten, I'll just have to figure out a way to wire in 6 volts of power as these are also made for battery powered sets.

***No, my son has not and will not see any of the Batman movies, except for "Batman, The Movie" from 1966. He has however, inherited his father's enjoyment of plausible science fiction, the Tumbler being quite a piece of work in that regard.

Isaiah 54

Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

"The HO Model Railroading Handbook" by Robert Schleicher

Originally published as the "Tyco Model Railroad Manual" in 1979, it was a Paperback Swap find that has been a great read. All the basics are there except for DCC, and it brings the hobby back to what it is---a hobby.

Too much of what is written today turns model trains into an obsession that can easily rob attention and time from family and friends. I look at all these basement empires and cannot but ponder...not the monetary costs...but how much was and has been given up in relationships with people and with God. In the Grand Play of Eternity, it just isn't that important that the Pennsy never used that shade of black or that no manufacturer has put out a model of a GE U18B.

Southern Pacific Daylight #4449 under steam...

...shot by carman over at 2Guyz.

Samy Deluxe "Stumm" (Mute)...

Model railroading makes MTV...in Germany anyway. I just love those street pan shots...



There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Es hat euch noch keine denn menschliche Versuchung betreten; aber Gott ist getreu, der euch nicht läßt versuchen über euer Vermögen, sondern macht, daß die Versuchung so ein Ende gewinne, daß ihr's könnet ertragen.

Wednesday's Word, Job 38..

Lest I forget...


The Doctrine of Revelation Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 26 April '47---A.W. Pink

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

You would rightly consider me a fool if I told you that my model of a Union Pacific "Big Boy" in the blog header was a product of millions of years of evolutionary crafting...starting with base minerals on a mountain top that came together over time and chance, ultimately being fashioned into wheels, gears, motors plastic shells and such that came together randomly over time until it washed up onto a flea market table next to the Black Water River.

Now...watch my eyes rightly glaze over when told that a hermit crab, sold for a $1.98 at the same flea market---an entity infinitely more complex that our nation's space shuttle, much less a model train locomotive---is a product of the same forces of time and chance I described above.

On wobbly rolling stock and bad track...

...'nuff said...



This was an intriguing short video...



...wonder if USFidelis covers blown turbochargers?

Psalms 37

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Miller Model #2000 air compressor...

Given to me some time back by a former modeler, I'm slowly working my way towards doing some airbrush painting. Since Millers are a non-bleeder type setup and moisture is the number one enemy of a good paint job, I've installed an air regulator purchased from Global Auto Accessories.



Now to find a good, inexpensive airbrush...

JMC/Con-Cor N scale N&W 2-8-8-2 Y6b circa 1977...

...still runs great after almost 35 years. The mechanisms were built by Rivarossi for Con-Cor...a solid, reliable crawler for old school N scale steam. My example has been hand decaled and had its roof and firebox brush painted in its past but is in otherwise very good condition. It was found at a swap meet in a dusty tray of long forgotten N scale rolling stock for next to nothing.

Wednesday's Word, Revelation 22...

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.

And let him that heareth say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come.

And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Amen.

Original Model Railroader Trade Topic Review, Atlas GP9...

...February 1975.

Just goes to show you how far N scale has come in 35 years(Yikes, I was in 10th grade...sigh). This was state of the art...

2 Timothy 3:1-5

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be:

--lovers of their own selves,

--covetous,

--boasters,

--proud,

--blasphemers,

--disobedient to parents,

--unthankful,

--unholy,

--without natural affection,

--trucebreakers,

--false accusers,

--incontinent,

--fierce,

--despisers of those that are good,

--traitors,

--heady,

--highminded,

--lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

--having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:



...from such turn away.

Just playing with the macro settings...

My other camera couldn't do room lighting very well...this one gives me hope for better pictures with a bit of experimenting.


I always get a kick out of matching a model to its prototype...

The secret to my model work?

NOTE TO NEWCOMERS: It took almost 35 years to put that together...one tool at a time and at yard sales, train shows, auctions and flea markets. You don't need them all yesterday...

AAR wheel bearing, flange and journal condemning gauges

...circa 1956, a gift from a resident who is a retired Frisco wreck train supervisor. They are used to check the wear on flanges, wheel surfaces, axle bearings...even journal box lids. They haven't been in use since the AAR banned wrought iron wheels and friction bearing trucks.



Now...if the railroads---from the shiniest brass hat to the lowest gandy dancer---understood they needed a transcending standard that all were held to, regardless of where they were in the country...what's up with the Church in this country today?

Wednesday's Word, Genesis 47:13-26..

And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.

When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.

...Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's.---v. 22 edited out for emphasis

Switching at the Bronx Terminal...

...outstanding work...



You can follow it here...

"Till heaven and earth pass...

...one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Note to world:

When the cross bucks are flashing and the gate is down, take it for granted that it includes you.

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

Athearn N scale SD70M, epilogue...

...now sporting clothes from the Norfolk Southern railroad, a generous treat from the same person who gave me the parts lot that started it all.



The N scale equipment of the last 15 years is light years beyond anything we could have dreamed of when I first modeled in it back in 1974 on a friend's layout...gap toothed pilots and handrails that looked like they were fashioned from scale 4x6s were the rule of the day. These are real jewels that will be cherished members of my roster, both as the fine state-of-the-art machines they are and the testament of one's generosity to another modeler they've never even met.

My beloved tries her hand at kitbashing...

...don't ask me what's in there...my dining room table looks like the computer aisle at Best Buy threw up on it.



Actually, she's quite handy with computers. When it came time to buy a new one for our homeschooling, she figured she'd try her hand at building one herself. I still get to impress her with my power tool prowess though.

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life...She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Wednesday's Word, Titus 1:15-16...

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Athearn N scale SD70M, part 2...

...got the little booger running, just gotta find some clothes for it. It actually runs quite nicely, I'm just testing it on a short piece of track with a battery touching the rails.



FYI for you online sellers, yard salers and such...just take a 9v battery and put its posts up to the wheels on those trains you're trying to sell...or even touch them to the rails on a piece of track if they'll reach. It'll either work or it won't, and you'll be able to say you tested it.

Digitrax DZ125 digital decoder...

25 years ago, Model Railroader magazine put out a landmarks series of articles on building the CTC 16e command control system, one of the earliest systems that didn't require hiding all the electronics in a permanently couple dummy diesel or large steam tender in HO scale to operate. Alas, DCC was still all but impossible for small HO steam, N scale decoders were 10 years away and DCC for Z scale was a laughable pipe dream.

Because the motor is in the tender of this PFM/United HOn3 C&S Mogul, DCC was limited to all but the most creative and knowledgeable electronics people, requiring the boards to be carefully split apart, fitted where they could and wired back together. Now you can fit them behind the tool box lid, and with more functions than ever imagined 25 years ago.

Lamentations 5

Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows. We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us. Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest. We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread. Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities. Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand. We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah. Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured. They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood. The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick. The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim. Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it. Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation. Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time? Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.

Independance Day, 2009...

...a picture I took at a Blue Angels fly-in last year.



Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

Tornado vs. train...guess who wins...

Athearn N scale SD70M...

...or at least the bits and pieces of one, lurk on my surgical table tonight...



You all have a happy and safe holiday weekend...

Wednesday's Word, Isaiah 66:1-5..

Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit, full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you, as against many of the damned in hell. You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it, and ready every moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourself, nothing to keep off the flames of wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one moment. ---Jonathan Edwards, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God