Twice Owned

On January 3rd of this New Year, as I returned from lunch, I received a message on my phone. The sender was a man named Charles, whom I had recently corresponded with concerning a collection of original 1970’s Star Wars toys that I had bought and resold to him.

The 20-year Army veteran wrote: Hi, I wanted to give you a major update on these items…The reason I asked about the rudimentary of the stands is because these are my original figures. The stands were made by me with card board, dum-dum lollipop sticks, black thin foam pad, and electrical tape. The clear cases are cases that had girl’s decorative bracelets in them collected by my sister. I was 12 years old when my Mom was struggling from a divorce…We had just moved to a new place and my Mom was having a garage sale. Later in the day she was crying because she was nowhere near the money she needed, so I pulled out my whole Star Wars toys…I sold them to an older man who was traveling through Memphis, TN, who said that he was a major collector from up North…and that was the last I saw of them until I came across your post – I had chills. Once the package arrived in person, I opened it and started to cry. I knew these were mine that I sold, and you allowed them to come back home to me after 30 plus years. Thank you so much. You do not know what you really have done for me.

My eyes teared up, and I recalled the Sunday School story book: Little Boat Twice Owned. As a young boy, a teacher had told that account to me. The clear truth of that story is that God made us, then sin separated us from Him, but He bought us back when He paid for us by shedding His blood and dying on the cross.

I couldn’t help but sing…Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb!

Classes Resume on January 22, 2020

Second semester classes begin on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. There is still time for those interested in taking classes to sign up for the Spring term. A full listing of both day and evening classes, along with a special student registration form is available on our website, or by contacting the office.

We look forward to a fine schedule of chapel preachers and other special events planned for this year. The speaker for our first chapel on January 22nd at 11:30 a.m. is Dr. Tommy Trammel from Cincinnati, OH. You are invited to attend.

Passing on the Truths

On January 15, 1953 occurred one of the greatest “runaway train” accidents in history. The wreck could have been averted with simple communication.

The Federal Express was a passenger and mail train that ran overnight from Boston to Washington D.C. Shortly after the trip began, the train experienced a problem with car #3’s angle cock. The simple shutoff valve had been bumped closed not allowing the air brakes to work for the following cars. After a delay of nearly an hour, the crew located the problem and opened the valve.

When the Boston train crew changed in New Haven, CT, they failed to pass on the information about the problem valve. Later that morning, as the next crew took over at Penn Station in New York City, they had no reason for concern.

Hours later, as Engineer Henry Bower left Baltimore station for the final leg to Union Station in Washington, he had no idea of the danger. The train, working to make up lost time, hit 80 mph as the powerful GG-1 engine #4876 pulled 16 cars with 400 passengers on board.

Two miles out from the station, Engineer Bower began to apply brakes to slow down the train. He quickly realized that although some front brakes were working, the back 13 cars were pushing the train down the track. Bower called ahead, but it was too late to switch them off of track 16. A tower man radioed the Union Station that a runaway train was coming. Meanwhile, the engineer wailed warning blasts on his air horn. People had less than a minute to heed and evacuate.

At 8:38 a.m. the 150-ton locomotive with 16 cars slammed into Union station at between 35-50 mph. The train tore through the end bumper, took out the station master’s office, and demolished a newsstand, as it twisted along the concourse. The weight of the engine then broke through the floor, dragging two cars along to the basement. Amazingly, there were no fatalities, and only 43 were hospitalized, none critically.

In the later ICC report on the accident, one of the causes for the wreck was not passing on the information. If the last crew had known of the questionable brake valve on car #3, they would have been alerted how to respond.

Passing on the Truths of God’s Word to each succeeding generation is equally important. Ignorance can cause disaster.

Prayer and Preaching

We have noticed that a number of our local pastors and friends love to occasionally visit chapel and stay for lunch.

So, for the second semester, we are scheduling each month a special day and a special speaker - calling it Prayer and Preaching. (Feb. 26, March 25, & April 22)

We will meet at 11:00 a.m. to share requests and hear a message, followed by food and fellowship. What a wonderful way to be recharged during lunchtime. Please mark February 26, 2020 on your calendar.

Have a blessed new year!