June 2006
Greetings to all from the great American desert called Nebraska. As I am pondering this article, I decided to go to the E Co. website and read past postings. I have read them before, but this morning’s time spent gave me an even deeper appreciation to have served with men of your caliber. Thanks for the privilege of being allowed to call you all brother. We are an extremely diverse group, with talents abounding and it never ceases to challenge me when reading of your accomplishments, or articles. Thanks one and all.
I am in the final stages of completing my tactical rifle. It has been almost totally fabricated with the barrel, trigger and stock primarily the only purchased parts. As I have been spending a few hours a week on it, the project has dragged on for far too long, but as I mentioned I can see the end. All that remains is some minor machine work on the bolt, and then tie the handle on. I am applying bondo on the stock, and then will paint the stock and barrel. If anyone is interested I would be excited to give more details, but what does that have to do with the ‘Corner’?
When one begins with a piece of 7075 aluminum and fashions it into a receiver it takes many operations. Many pieces are cut away as the bore is drilled and reamed. The picattiny rail with 20 minutes of angel is machined into the top. The ejection port and magazine well is machined and after many hours it becomes recognizable as a receiver. Howbeit this receiver may be very non traditional in some eyes. What has this to do with the ‘Corner’?
Well, I am glad you asked! When one is saved by the Lord Jesus Christ a new work begins. You become that piece of aluminum in the hands of the master craftsman. But let’s take a look first at what God is seeing. One who is lost is destined for a Christ less eternity in hell. We are dead in our trespasses and sins, separated from a holy God. The bible says the only way we can worship God is in spirit and truth. If you have never been born again, John 3:3, then your spirit is dead. How can we then worship if our spirit is dead? Perhaps I will digress for just a minute and explain why our spirit is dead.
If you look at the Genesis account of when God created Adam, he created he him in God’s image. He created him a three part being. He had a body, soul and spirit. When Adam sinned in the garden, his spirit entered a death chamber. It no longer had communion with God. Therefore he was destined to be ruled by the remaining two parts, the body and soul. We inherited our sin nature from our father Adam and the only way we can fellowship with God the Father, is through our receiving the finished work of Calvary done by the Lord Jesus Christ. When one accepts Christ, your spirit is quickened, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence with your spirit. The journey is a journey that will last until Christ decides to take you to heaven to be with him for eternity. It is a journey that will parallel the removal of material to fabricate the receiver I was discussing earlier. It is at times painful, at times somewhat frightening, but God is fashioning that rough piece of clay into something beautiful. And the Holy Spirit always works from the inside out. I am on such a journey, and so is everyone who is truly saved. Many have made a false profession and still hang in the balance. If you have accepted the tenants of easy beliefism, your spirit has never been quickened. If you are not sure if you fall into this category, ask yourself right now. Has my life changed since I accepted Christ, or do I still wallow in the mud like I always did?
I realize this is much to digest. But the bottom line is this. God loves you so much that he gave his only son to die a substitutionary death for all men. The bible says, “You must be born again”. When you accept this truth, you become a new creature, behold all things become new. Then the fashioning begins. God is preparing us for a more symmetrical place. We have all been damaged by life, the world, war, sin and on and on and on. When one is triggered, we revert back to only thing we know, survival. We established defenses along life’s journey. The bible calls them strongholds. God desires that we do not have to be continually plagued by these hurts, so he sets out to clean us up. Fashion us if you will and just like the machinist who fashions the block of aluminum into something useful, God is doing that for those of us who believe.
Well, time to shut this down. Thanks again for all who are represented here. If I can be of any assistance to anyone, please let me know.
In Christ’s bonds,
Norm