Desert Pete

I was travellin' West a buckskin on my way to a cattle run
Cross a little cactus desert under a hot blisterin' sun
I was thirsty down to my toenails, stopped to rest me on a stump
But I tell ya I just couldn't believe it when I saw that water pump
I took it to be a mirage at first, it'll fool a thirsty man
Then I saw a note stuck in a bakin' powder can
“This pump is old”, the note began, “but she works so give'r a try”
“I put a new sucker washer in ‘er, you may find the leather dry”

“You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe”
“You've got to give of yourself ‘fore you're worthy to receive”
“Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet”
“Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete”

“Yeah, you'll have to prime the pump, work that handle like there's a fire”
“Under that rock you'll find some water I left in a bitters jar”
“Now there's just enough to prime it with so dontcha go drinkin' first”
“You just pour it in and pump like mad, buddy, you'll quench your thirst”

“You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe”
“You've got to give of yourself ‘fore you're worthy to receive”
“Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet”
“Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete”

Well I found that jar and I tell ya nothin' was ever prettier to my eye
And I was tempted strong to drink it, cuz that pump looked mighty dry
But the note went on “have faith my friend, there's water down below”
“You got to give until you get—I'm the one who ought to know”
So I poured in the jar and I started pumpin' and I heard a beautiful sound
Of water bubblin' and splashin' up outta that hole in the ground
I took off my shoes and I drunk my fill of that cool refreshing treat
I thank the Lord and thank the pump and I thank old Desert Pete

“You've got to prime the pump, you must have faith and believe”
“You've got to give of yourself ‘fore you're worthy to receive”
“Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet”
“Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete”

“Drink all the water you can hold, wash your face, cool your feet”
“Leave the bottle full for others, Thank You kindly, Desert Pete”

:::::::

I heard a guy make a reference to this song in light of how we live our lives. Just as there was temptation from the thirsty man to drink the bottle of water he found burried by the pump instead of using it to prime the pump and gain vast quantities of water (and also the temptation to take the priming water bottle and screw everyone else), there is the temptation in each person's life to spend our lives for our own desires, pleasure, amusements, etc... On the contrary, Jesus says that if we want a truly satisfied life, then we should empty ourselves to Him (which would be to serve and love others as we love ourselves).

As Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose." (meaning his life)

Blessings,

nick

you need a laugh

if you need a break from work, or studying, or whatever, check out this video of the best laugh ever! Click here!

subject to frustration

"For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by it's own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."

- - Romans 8: 20-21

I wrote this verse down the other day. It really caught me, and got me thinking. It made me think a lot about King Solomon, in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. He held back nothing in the pursuit of pleasure, in the pursuit of knowledge & wisdom, and the pursuit of stuff/projects. And to each he found that it was just a 'chasing after the wind.'

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind: nothing was gained under the sun." (Ecc. 1:10-11)

And so with the Romans verse, it seems that with creation, it was made 'frustrated'... that by itself, that this world, this reality we see day to day, if left to itself, cannot bring about any meaningful purpose...any meaningful answer as to "Why." And being frustrated - - not as some cruel joke, but ultimately to be as a guide for those on quest for the purpose, for the "why." It's almost cliche a reference, but the anecdote about the wealthy person, guy or girl, who's got everything they need, and yet they don't feel satisfied-- it's that great after school special! But however many times it's been on when we got home from school, the world's system is still fully engaged in this pursuit. And maybe that's what it means by 'bondage to decay.' This system ultimately will lead to nothing, to our possessions/success/pride being rotted away, since we have no way of taking them w/ us when we die (a truth too many of us ignore until it's too late...).

And yet for those searching, and asking, and thinking, there's a freedom from this system, a welcoming into a new reality, that's not based upon power, or influence, or status. But rather, a system that's based upon Love, Redemption, and real satisfaction. It says that the creation wasn't frustrated by itself, rather by the one who made it. Could it be that God set all this up, giving us the choice, giving us the freedom to love him in return, to step out of this system, out of the death, and into something...well, that's life giving?

It makes me think.

long time gone

Coming up on almost a year since my last post. Lots has happened since then. I started married life. A whole new season in my life. New friends. Babies being born (not ours, though!). Babies growing into toddlers. New classes at school. New sod in my yard. I've been noticing sunsets a whole lot more lately. They're just beautiful. Even last night as I was at work, power washing the concrete near a gas pump, I stopped and enjoyed it for just a moment, a pretty sweet view of creation overlooking 58 highway. I guess it's the small things.