Religion Today: But the Lord said, “I don’t do tune-ups”
Guest Writer Spotlight: But the Lord said, “I don’t do tune-ups” – By Richard Lewis
I saw a cute 1956 BMW Isetta Microcar on eBay. These are the cute little bubble cars from the 1950’s & 1960’s that have a door that opens in front much like a refrigerator. I purchased the “barn find” car sight unseen and waited for the day it would arrive in California from Boston.
The giant transporter arrived and lowered its huge lift gate. The truck was loaded with a number of beautiful collector cars that had been purchased at a classic car auction and were being taken to their new homes. There was lots of shiny chrome, beautiful paint jobs and the smell of the luxurious leather interiors.
Then I noticed a very faded and sad looking little blue car which I recognized as mine. The pictures on eBay didn’t look this bad. What foolish person would pay good money for such a rusty hulk of a car? Yep, it was all mine.
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I had forgotten that the seller said the car would not roll because one of the drum brakes was rusted solid. The truck driver and I dragged the car out of the back of the transporter and on to my utility trailer. The trailer was not a good fit and the car’s tires almost hung off the outside. My first thought was I really didn’t want it to fall off the trailer on the short drive home. My second thought was if falling off the trailer could actually make it look any worse than how it looked already.
When I brought the car home my very patient wife Sue came outside to survey the wonderful purchase I had made. I extolled to her all the virtues of the car and how rare it was. Her evaluation of the car was very short and sweet. She asked, “How long am I going to have to look at this rust bucket?” Then she quickly retreated back inside the house.
I had originally planned to just do enough work to be able to drive the car around before attempting a more complete restoration. I would learn later this is the same flawed idea that many inexperienced car restorers have.
Before and after restoration photos show the little BMW’s dramatic, years-long transformation. The second, after restoration photo shows the vehicle winning the Club Choice Award at the John Force car show in Orange County. Richard Lewis photo
In the first two weeks it seemed each day brought a new discovery of a serious problem that would require remediation. The engine had a hole in the block, a mouse had made its home inside the engine, the fuel tank leaked and the wiring harness was frayed. The final straw was when we discovered the car’s frame was cracked.
The body had to come off the frame and the engine had to be removed to get access to weld up the crack. The quick fixes I hoped for were not meant to be. It made me understand how many restoration projects become abandoned and the cars are eventually hauled off to a junkyard. The restoration to follow would take me over three years.
It once again reminded me so much of my own life. Like most of us, I would like to have the Lord work in my life but a complete restoration sounds too intrusive, too painful and too messy. I really wanted the Lord to maybe just do a quick tune-up, install some new tires and clean out the rust in the fuel tank. I had hoped that He could finish up in a few hours or at most a few days, so it wouldn’t inconvenience me too much.
But the Lord said, “No I have something a bit more special in mind for you. I don’t do tune-ups, tire changes or fuel tank cleanings but only complete restorations. I’m going to grind off the rust, old paint and filler that has built up on some areas in your life that have long been ignored and are not fruitful. I’m going to tear apart your life and clean out all the clutter of sin that has kept you far from me. I’m going to weld up your broken heart and heal the hurt and secret places that you have not told anyone about but Me. I’m going to buff the scratches out of the windows of your life and remove the years of built-up dirt to let in the light of new life in.
Others will be able to see the work that I’m doing and marvel. I’m going to rewire your entire life so it all makes sense and if you will trust me, I’m going to continue to do a good work in you until you come to reside with me. The beginning point is for us to embrace Him in faith as our Savior and Lord. That is the starting line for the restoration we so desperately need.
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The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 1:3-6
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Oh, what a great Savior who is not content to just give us a quick tune-up but instead wants to do a great restoration work from the inside out. Let’s remember His great work on the cross for us…
Note: My BMW Isetta went on to win awards at a number of local car shows and was sold at the 2010 Barrett Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. (See video below.)
Richard Lewis is a graduate of Arizona State University (Advertising) and California Baptist University (Computer Information Systems). Richard and his wife Sue met while they served as staff members at Campus Crusade for Christ for 8 years in the 1970’s. Richard served in the Campus Ministry at University of Texas at El Paso, Louisiana Tech and at the International Headquarters in San Bernardino, California.
Following their ministry in Campus Crusade Richard was the owner and manager of a bicycle shop in Riverside California for 19 years. After retraining in the computer field at California Baptist University, Richard worked as a Information Systems contractor and employee at Boeing for 17 years. Richard has written over 150 published articles in Information Systems and Computing publications including Windows Magazine and Windows Scripting Solutions. Richard has served in a leadership role as a Deacon and Elder in several churches as well as being a meditation presenter and Men’s Ministry coordinator.
Richard has written hundreds of meditations and devotionals that have been used in church and small group meetings. Many of these have been published in The Upper Room and Racers For Christ publications and on their web sites.
In 2021 Richard published a collection of his devotionals. These are available in a Kindle and paperback format on Amazon (ISBN 979-8705738878) “Life Stories to Uplift and Encourage”.
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Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.
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