Chicago Great Western Railroad
1 of my interests is trains & railroading. I grew up only 2-3 blocks away from the Chicago Great Western yards in Oelwein. As a kid I would go to sleep to the sound of switch engines at work. & to this day 1 of the most relaxing sounds for me is that of a train going by in the distance, Its horn blowing at a crossing. Each locomotive seems to have a personality of its own. Trains are probably the most underappreciated form of transportation in the USA.
Many of the Fallen Flags had lyrical names. Some even lent themselves to songs. Most of us remember songs like The Rock Island Line, The Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe, the prime examples. Other times it was a specific route of a passenger train like The City of New Orleans that provided the inspiration. John Denver's last album before his death was All Aboard, a collection of train songs. Fom me, that was the perfect swan song to his career (althought I would have been happier if he had lived). & yes, I am listenning to it as I write this.
Most people aren't aware of how a modern train engine works. They think that the diesel engine runs a locomotive just like car engine runs an automobile. But, it doesn't. The engine generates electricity, AC or DC, which runs the traction motors that then put the wheels in motion. (Simplified explanation) That may make it a little clearer to those who wonder why General Electric makes locomotives http://www.getransportation.com/ & GM's are made by its Electro-Motive Division (EMD) www.gmemd.com/ .
This little bit of technological info has a purpose. It sets the background for what I am about to share. It is a spiritual lesson God taught me using trains.
Without its source of power, deisel fuel, a locomotive is just a 400,000 + pounds pile of useless junk. But, when it has the fuel it needs then it can be used to move huge amounts of materials accross the country.
Each of us has been created by God for a purpose. We all are called to serve Him. & like a locomotive we need power to accomplish this. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us. Jesus said: "But you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:8) Every christian has received the Holy Spirit. But, for most of us that is as far as it goes. We don't let the Holy Spirit empower us. The Bible talks about the gifts of the Spirit. Some gifts (fortitude, courage fear of the Lord, etc.) are given to enable us to live the life God wants us to. Others, usually called charisms ( healing, word of knowledge, prophecy, etc.) are given to enable us to serve. As a person spends time in prayer, reading/studying Scripture you open yourself to discovering what God has called you to do.
But, if you stop there you fall short. You have to then act, go out & serve. A locomotive, fully fueled is useless if it is just sitting in the rail yard. It needs to be hooked up to a train & used to move that train. We need to go out & let ourselves be used by God. That service starts in your local church, but it also includes the greater community arround you. There is plenty you can do. God, has given you the power, use it.
Many of the Fallen Flags had lyrical names. Some even lent themselves to songs. Most of us remember songs like The Rock Island Line, The Atchison, Topeka & the Santa Fe, the prime examples. Other times it was a specific route of a passenger train like The City of New Orleans that provided the inspiration. John Denver's last album before his death was All Aboard, a collection of train songs. Fom me, that was the perfect swan song to his career (althought I would have been happier if he had lived). & yes, I am listenning to it as I write this.
Most people aren't aware of how a modern train engine works. They think that the diesel engine runs a locomotive just like car engine runs an automobile. But, it doesn't. The engine generates electricity, AC or DC, which runs the traction motors that then put the wheels in motion. (Simplified explanation) That may make it a little clearer to those who wonder why General Electric makes locomotives http://www.getransportation.com/ & GM's are made by its Electro-Motive Division (EMD) www.gmemd.com/ .
This little bit of technological info has a purpose. It sets the background for what I am about to share. It is a spiritual lesson God taught me using trains.
Without its source of power, deisel fuel, a locomotive is just a 400,000 + pounds pile of useless junk. But, when it has the fuel it needs then it can be used to move huge amounts of materials accross the country.
Each of us has been created by God for a purpose. We all are called to serve Him. & like a locomotive we need power to accomplish this. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us. Jesus said: "But you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:8) Every christian has received the Holy Spirit. But, for most of us that is as far as it goes. We don't let the Holy Spirit empower us. The Bible talks about the gifts of the Spirit. Some gifts (fortitude, courage fear of the Lord, etc.) are given to enable us to live the life God wants us to. Others, usually called charisms ( healing, word of knowledge, prophecy, etc.) are given to enable us to serve. As a person spends time in prayer, reading/studying Scripture you open yourself to discovering what God has called you to do.
But, if you stop there you fall short. You have to then act, go out & serve. A locomotive, fully fueled is useless if it is just sitting in the rail yard. It needs to be hooked up to a train & used to move that train. We need to go out & let ourselves be used by God. That service starts in your local church, but it also includes the greater community arround you. There is plenty you can do. God, has given you the power, use it.
posted by Al @ 4:29 AM
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