On Mission and Race Fuel

For as long as I can remember I’ve had this need to know how things work. This need is irrevocably linked with an aptitude for knowing how things work. Software, hardware, gears, pistons, whatever, its all the same. Moving parts that do things. If you know what those things are supposed to do you can fix the machine they live in or maybe even make the machine work better than it already does.

Hi, my name is Doug and I’m an addict. I have to fix things.

Complexity doesn’t really matter. My father taught me two things that govern every other lesson.

1. Fear the Lord. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” Proverbs 9:10

2. You can do anything you put your mind do. Anything.

I was talking with a coworker the other day about the last batmobile. He would say something about how cool a feature was and I’d explain how it worked. After a bit it occurred to him I knew an awful lot about this odd little subject so he asked “how do you know so much about this?”

Oh that one’s easy. I thought about building one. For a split second his jaw dropped then without missing a beat he says something I’ll never forget “you know, knowing you I have no doubt in my mind that is the case”.

I’m not special, this is just a gift from my Dad in heaven. It doesn’t really fit in neatly with our culture, though. Some have a heart for going to Africa to feed orphans. Some have desire to move to Utah to witness to Mormons. I simply cannot escape this passion for all things automotive. Its literally taken years for me to figure out what to do with this. I mean, it’s an inherently expensive hobby and on the surface it doesn’t really seem to benefit the kingdom. Couple that with the negatives often associated with it and you’ve got a pickle of a problem on the surface.

So how can I use this passion and interest for the benefit of the kingdom?

The first step in solving a problem is admitting you have one so we’ve crossed that bridge. I’ve tried to escape it and be the normal non car guy. It’s in my blood. My son even loves car noises. He’s not even a year old. I think maybe it is just in us. With that settled we need to find an outlet for this thing.

Roll the tape back and look at what our mission is.

We are here to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.

So… what if we can take these skills and passions to a meaningful place?

Here’s the plan: 

I’m going to fix up my garage, install a lift, and help single moms, widows, orphans, and people just generally down on their luck.

Free of charge. Basically it’s like this, if you absolutely cannot afford to hire a mechanic to fix your car bring me the part and I’ll install it. We’ll start with simple jobs and if it grows it grows. If it doesn’t it doesn’t. I’d like to get to where we could actually donate parts as well as labor but we’ll see how the Lord provides.

I also want to use this as an outreach to people who just are interested in being self sufficient. Car guys or just your office guy who doesn’t really know how to change his starter. Think of it like a mentorship program… that may or may not be working on race cars.

I won’t be asking for donations or support. I think God wants me to do this so I think if that’s true He’ll provide. That’s not to say we won’t accept donations, I just won’t be going around with my hand out. It really bothers me when people say they think God wants them to do something then they turn right around and ask for money or help to go do it. If God is really behind it He will provide. I believe that.

Once we move in I hope to have the garage finished and lift installed before the summer.

I’m thinking of calling it Shepherd's Wrench. Has a ring to it.

All I ask for is prayer. If its prayer or financial support I would prefer prayer.

Stay tuned.