How God saved us from becoming part of the parking lot.

Bingely Bobbin Mill Boiler Explosion.. 1869

I remember the first time we ran the heating system in our first old building in Regina in 1999. I had flipped the switch to turn on the natural gas for the massive old boiler (converted from coal to natural gas). Later I came into the Mission after being out for coffee with Michelle and noticed that it was extremely hot in the building.  I checked the thermostat and saw that it was reading  way over where it was set,  over 85 degrees Fahrenheit . Condensation was running down the walls.    Suspicious that something was very amiss, I ran down the stairs in to the dingy basement, picked my way through the piles of clutter and garbage that clogged the hallway from years of castoff junk in this notorious rooming house,  and made  my way to the boiler room.  It was getting hotter with every step i took.

 As i neared the boiler room door the heat was incredible  and there were loud creaking and groaning noises emanating from the roaring hot furnace. I said a quick prayer for protection as i entered the steaming hot room.  When i looked at the gauges I found that the temperature of the water was over two hundred and sixty degrees, well beyond the red zone indicated for safety.  The boiler pressure was also past the very top of the dial and the whole massive old boiler was groaning under the strain, ready to explode any moment.

 I rushed out to turn off the switch that controlled the natural gas.  The roaring  furnace fell silent but the creaking and groaning from the boiler seemed even louder than before, like a submarine that has gone too deep and was about to burst . (anybody seen the classic sub movie Das Boot?) I turned a tap to let out some of the water pressure and scalding hot water and steam shot out, the release of pressure caused the pipes to rattle and bang with horrific volume. I went upstairs and warned the mission guys that they might want to step outside till the danger was past. It took  a good three hours for the pressure and the temperature to come back to normal operating levels.  Needless to say I called the boiler man to come and work on it as quick as possible.

I've heard reports (see above picture) that boilers like these can and do explode and take out whole buildings, if their safety and backup safety systems malfunction. It turned out NONE of the safety systems on this boiler were in working order so it just kept heating hotter and hotter and 7 times hotter! I guess this wasn't too surprising from a slum type building where one of the main exits had a working "EXIT" lamp by a door that was nailed shut from the outside!! Thank you Lord for protecting us. By the way, that building is gone. I guess the song is true, they paved paradise and put up a parking lot. :)

God was in it! Prayer Journal from Regina Rescue Mission Days.

Dec 16/99

Dear Lord God,

I thank you for answering prayer in a great way yesterday.  We asked that we would be able to use the large building on Scarth St. for our mission, and the owner of it agreed to just that.  Our only payment is to be the rent we collect from the men.  You led us to this building through LLoyd Rogers, Mike Breckneridge, and final Robert G.... the owner.  Now we have a dining hall, lounge, suite, rooms, kitchen and all the space we need to start a mission.  We Praise You our God!

Father, I want to sanctify you in my heart as God, and pray that your presence will sanctify me, as it did the temple when your glory descended into it.    I thank you that I am sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ, who cleansed me from all my sin and iniquity. I now determine to sanctify myself unto You and your service, a clean vessel dedicated to your will.  And yet it must be you that does the sanctifying, as my will is not sufficient against temptation, yet your holy presence is.  I must call on you and remember you at all times in order that I may remain sanctified.  And when I fail, immediately i must sanctify myself by the blood of Christ unto the Lord again.

Now, Lord God, we specially need your help in establishing the mission in that building.  Help us to earn the respect and friendship of the men who live there.  help us to take control of the building and begin ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The official management date is Jan 1/2000 but we will go to familiarize ourselves and befriend the men in small ways.  I pray for a smooth transition, making a den of iniquity into a house of salvation.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Poetic Justice or a Mere Fable?

Happiness is a minute without pain.
It's an hour without sadness and
a day without loneliness.

     It's not so much an abundance of good things as
          it is an absence of bad.

People are swimming in good things but not happy.

But give a man who knows nothing but hardship one good thing, any good thing, and he is truly happy  - and thankful.

Lazarus had no good thing in his life - a beggar, an outcast, a sick and hungry man whose only comfort was the licking of his pores by stray dogs.  When he died he went to Paradise.  Paradise!  What would it mean to be sick and full and free from pain and no longer alone?

The rich man wouldn't have appreciated Heaven even if he had gotten there.  It would be little better than his palace on earth.  And for his lack of compassion on pathetic Lazarus at his gates, he would suffer torments in hades forever.

Poetic justice?  Yes.  A mere fable?  The rich and hard hearted of the world better hope so.  If the rich man had fed and clothed and shared his home with Lazarus he would have made a friend and reserved a place in Paradise, too.

But judgement day will turn the tables on many in this world.  The first shall be last and the last shall be first.  The first can be first too but they must sell what they have and give to the poor - then they'll have treasure in Heaven.

It is not what you earn, but what you give that really counts.