Over the years as a service advisor, I found it best to ask many
questions to help qualify a diagnosis. For instance, when a customer would come
in, complaining of a loud noise from the engine, the following interchange.
Service advisor-when does it do it? Customer-all the time. SA-will it do it
now? C-no. SA-well then it doesn’t do it all the time. Do you notice it more
when just starting the car? C-yes. SA-and does it stop after awhile, when the
engine is warmed up? C-yes. SA-if it makes a loud whirring noise, it is
probably a secondary air pump, and is normal. And some new ones are even
louder. You’re fine. And they would leave, car not making the the noise, and
feel confident until it did it again, and we would repeat the conversation.And
so it goes...pay attention please, we are here to help!
But not all problems are solved so simply, some require testing,
lots of diagnostic time, and still finally sometimes it is solved by eliminating
what you know it isn’t, and fixing what is left. Reverse engineering of sorts,
if it ain’t that, it has to be this, that is the only thing left. And recently
I had to help diagnose my own problem with our truck. Sometimes after going to
the beach, and stopping at Costco, it would crank, but not start. Until I
arrived, then it would every time. Until one time it wouldn’t, and AAA came
out. And by the time they arrived, it would start. Which told me it could be
two things, camshaft position sensor, a known weak point on Rangers, or my
suggestion, crankshaft position sensor, which it turned out to be. A crank
position sensor finds top dead center of cylinder number one, and then tells the
truck to start as all is well and in proper order. I am over simplifying, but
that essentially is what it does. They get hot, short out, and car wil not
start, until it cools off, then it starts. Simple...or so you would think. Pay
your bill, your truck is ready. Cranks sensor it is.
God has known all about these things from the start. Even
before computers, and timing and sensors. He was there at the beginning, and is
still around today. One reason He sent Jesus, so we could hook up with Him.
Think of Jesus as top dead center in your life, the rest is easy. If you don’t
recognize Him as Lord, how will you know where to start? Yet so many like to
skip this step, and their lives never really run right. God laid it out for us,
simply enough for all to obey. Jesus is head of the church, then the husband is
head of the family. If out of order, you cannot function right, nor will your
family. Wife stronger in the Lord, man is called the stronger one to rule over
her, and protect her. Kids run the house, you really have problems. Ever seen a
tail wagging the dog? So men...take the lead that God tells you to take, find
top dead center in Jesus. Protect her, guard her, and love her like Jesus loved
the church, dying for her if necessary. This is not a power trip, unless Jesus
is the head, and she will become a better wife as you become a better husband.
The kids will then fall into place. Sadly this simple procedure is not
followed, as too many stronger women dictate to their husbands, then wonder why
their marriage and families are a mess. Too many times it is all about the
kids-soccer, Little League, PTA, and the list goes on. Not bad things, but when
out of order, so is your life. And just like a bad crank sensor, your car won’t
start. So you sit waiting for the tow truck...when all it takes is locating
Jesus in your life-TDC!
And often we know the situation, but it takes a humbling to
correct it. And I have found humbling is far better than humiliation. So
humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Giving you a
new start.. and helping you get your life in order. But it must start with Him,
you must have that starting point so all other functions know when and where to
line up. In engines it is called timing, and no one has a better sense of time
than God.
So not stopping at Costco after the beach was not the answer, or
was eliminating the beach altogether. Or taking another car. The problem is
still there. Just like in life, so don’t wait until the next sunny day to get
right with God. Maintenance has always been cheaper than repairs. And to those
who would tell me they broke at the wrong time, I ask, when is the right time?
If you have time to fix it later, why not avoid it now, by getting right with
God? Today is the day of salvation, from sin, and to lead your family
correctly. With Jesus as your head, your TDC. Works in cars, shouldn’t it work
in life? Or are cars just so simple you get it all? If so, maybe you can
answer this question. Which cylinder is the master cylinder? Hint-top dead
center don’t matter here. Go with Jesus, and as the saying goes-fire on all
eight. On six or four. Perfect timing right now. Now about that noise you
make..do you do it all the time or just when you don’t get your way?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com