I've been helping a friend the last few weekends on part of his house. He has bought a house that is partially unfinished, and we've been having a good time hanging a little drywall and wiring up lights and sockets. He doesn't know a lot about construction work in general, but I'm unabashedly afraid of heights, so we did a little trade. He came over and kept me from falling off the roof by helping me put up a chimney. I have been going over there keeping him from electrocuting himself. The important part of all this is that we are becoming better friends, which is very precious in this world.

Since I have been spending time with him, we have been talking about all kinds of things. We talk about work, we talk about the future, we talk about being kids. As you would suspect, we also talk about God. Now, I am not all that pushy about most things, in particular about the word. I don't think you can hammer people into being Christians, nor can you trick them. But! There are a lot of ways to work religion into conversations, and anyone who knows me, knows that I slip it in all over the place. Today while we were putting in a pair of 3-way switches is a good example.

First off, you have to respect electricity. It is very useful stuff, and very powerful stuff. It is not dangerous at all -IF you understand it. It's when you play fast and loose with it that you are in trouble. I have always heard that workplace safety is no accident, and I believe that. Now a 3-way switch is where you have two switches that control one light. Most people have this in a hallway or garage. You probably never gave much thought to this, but the devices are a bit more complicated than you might know. In any case, I have wired up many of them in my lifetime, and every time it seems I can't remember which wire goes where. So, I called an expert - my dad! My friend seemed to think that was kind of funny, but I believe when you don't understand something that can bite you, maybe you should call in someone who does.

I mentioned to my friend that electricity is also a bit like God. Maybe right away you think to yourself "sure, cross a wrong wire and God will zap you" but I don't think that way at all. God is very useful in our lives, and very powerful stuff. He is certainly not one to fear, but just as certainly IS someone to respect! You start playing fast and loose with the scriptures, adding a bit here or leaving something out there, and yes, you are going to have an injury. But it will be NO ACCIDENT. It is, just like electricity, the consequence of being ignorant or careless. And there are some things in the word of God that are more complicated to understand. So what to do? Call an expert! And happily, I can call the same expert, my dad! But you don't have to call him, we have great elders here that can help us in this same way. I don't know about you, but there are times when I study something, and I "get it", but then a couple years go by and I study it again and I am a little confused. Like a 3-way switch, it always makes sense - when my dad explains it to me (yet again!)

The devil, of course, is a lot like water. Electricity is fine stuff, but not mixed with water! Try to put them together you're dead. Water tries to short out an electrical current, to keep it from getting where it is intended. The devil tries to keep the word from reaching our hearts, from powering us up, from energizing us. You can't stand in a bucket of water and play with electricity. Nor can you keep your feet in the devil's world and play with the power of God. We need to be a "resistor" of the devil, and keep out "conduct" pure, our "conduit" of prayer open, and our souls "grounded" in the word, the "transformer" of our lives! (grin!)

Acts 17:15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.

I Corinthians 16:11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

II Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

James 4:6-7 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Luke 17:22 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Matthew 28:2-4 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.