Encouragement

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Cup Of Joy
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Sergeant (E-5) Damon Stassen became of member of the United States Army immediately out of high school five years before. How glad Private First Class Albert Theiman was when Sergeant Stassen came along and took an interest in his welfare and showed him the ropes in the Company’s motor pool.

Private Theiman was rattled when every 2 ton vehicle he worked on came back with the same problem—an oil leak. Sergeant Stassen took the Private aside: “Private Theiman did you make sure you really tightened the filters?” he said with great patience. “I can tell you have never changed oil. Have you?”

“No, Sarge. I learned how to change oil in AIT after Basic Training.”

“I thought so. Here’s what you do. Hand tighten the filter then run a cloth around the outside of the filter. This is one way to check for leaks. Turn on the engine and observe the filter. If there is a leak, turn off the engine and tighten the filter a little more. It means the filter has not sealed. Also you need to check your manuals to make certain you are using the correct filter. Don’t guess! Check and make sure! You got that Private Theiman?”

Private Theiman thought about his troubles with the vehicles. He hadn’t checked his manuals nor did he follow the instructions. He was more interested in getting the job done using shortcuts. When the shortcuts did not work, problems came almost costing him his job and potentially his military career.

Likewise, humanity is given an instruction manual—the Bible. Not looking at the manual for guidance and directions will eventually result in problems that cannot be fixed by going one’s own without principles and directions. When humanity follows God’s spiritual formulae, one will find he/she will have fewer leaks and a great deal more cups of joy!

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