You know when they start to squeal that it’s probably time to think about maybe someday possibly checking out how much is left on your brake pads? When the squealing turns to occasional rubbing metal sounds when you turn corners, you know that the time is getting closer.  When the occasional rubbing metal turns to constant head-turning, metal-on-metal grinding…well…you know it’s time.  

So, my truck is grounded…for a few more days.  

When I finally admitted that the brakes had reached the point of no return, I began the internet search for new ones. Now, who would have thought that the whole supply chain fiasco would have put truck brake parts on the backorder list? Long story short, after much searching, several phone calls and stops at local dealerships, I finally was able to order the parts from 3 different places, then anxiously waited for their arrival. They were probably sitting on a boat somewhere in the Pacific for several weeks before finally making it to American soil. Now, I’m feeling a little bit guilty. For, I have probably deprived other truck owners of the last 2 remaining front brake rotors in all the northern hemisphere.  

I know. I should have checked the brakes a long time ago. It’s routine maintenance. Brakes and oil changes are the last 2 things I can do on any of my vehicles…with my son, Colin’s, help of course (Actually, he does most of the work. I just do what he tells me to do.)

Routine maintenance.  

Isn’t our faith kind of like that? In need of regular maintenance. We are in need of coming together, supporting one another and building each other up…lest our brakes start to squeal a little bit.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:25)

Don’t neglect brakes. Don’t neglect meeting together as Christians. (I know…that’s the first thing you thought of when I started talking about brakes.) Neglecting the brakes is like neglecting our faith. Routine maintenance helps keep things rolling along (and stopping when necessary). Even the Apostle Paul warned us:  

But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together (brakes are beginning to squeal). First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it (starting to grind a little now). (Corinthians 11:17-18)

Meeting together, building up one another…it’s how we maintain our faith. It’s how God helps us keep our faith alive, rolling along, functioning properly.  

This weekend a little routine maintenance will happen on my truck—brakes and oil, both get changed. It’s probably a good idea for me to also do a little maintenance on my faith life—a little time alone with God, some time in community, some time in the Bible, and some time helping others with routine maintenance.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Are you with me?

Pastor Tenny

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