Every morning at 4 AM, while most preachers are still sleeping, I'm starting my route in rural North Dakota. Let me tell you something - you learn more about God's truth from behind a garbage truck wheel than you ever could in seminary.
I'm not your typical preacher. No fancy degree hanging on my wall. Just a worn Bible in my truck and 22 years of hauling trash while teaching God's Word. And you know what? That's exactly how God planned it.
1. God's Truth Is Simple, We Make It Complicated
Every morning, my route is simple - pick up the trash, move to the next house. No fancy strategy needed. God's Word works the same way.
2 cor 11:3
I don't need to break down Greek words or quote theologians. Scripture explains Scripture. Period. When someone asks me about a verse, I show them another verse. God's Word is a perfect circle - it all fits together if you just let it speak for itself.
2. Real Ministry Happens in the Trenches
At -30°, with frozen handles and icy bins, you learn real quick what matters. It's not about polished sermons or perfect presentations. It's about showing up, doing the work, and living the truth.
1 cor 1:23
My church sees their Sunday School teacher coming home covered in honest work. My kids see their dad reading his Bible at 4 AM before hitting the route. That preaches louder than any sermon.
3. Everyone's Trash Tells a Story
Every bin I pick up has a story. Some are overflowing, some are barely used, some are packed with things folks hope nobody sees. Kind of like the people in church on Sunday.
Rom 3:23
But here's the thing - I pick up everyone's trash the same way. Rich house or poor house, big bin or small bin. God's grace works the same way. We're all just sinners in need of a Savior.
4. The Route Never Changes, Neither Does Truth
My route is the same every week. Skip a house, and you'll hear about it. Change the schedule, you create chaos. God's Word is like that.
Heb 13:8
Modern churches try to change God's truth to fit the times. They water it down, dress it up, make it "relevant." But truth doesn't need updating. It needs believing and applying.
5. Early Mornings Build Character
Nobody sees me at 4 AM. Nobody's applauding when I'm scraping ice off the windshield. But that's where character is built.
Matt 6:6
Your walk with God is built in those quiet moments nobody sees. Not in the spotlight, not on social media, but in the dark morning hours with just you and His Word.
6. Every Stop Matters
Some houses have one small bag. Others have four overflowing bins. But every stop matters to complete the route.
James 2:10
In God's Word, every command matters. Every verse counts. You can't pick and choose what parts of Scripture you'll follow. It's all or nothing.
7. The Job Isn't Done Until It's All Picked Up
I can't go home until every bin is empty. Can't skip the difficult stops or the houses way out on the back roads.
Matt 5:48
Living God's Word isn't about doing the easy parts. It's about following all of it, even the hard parts that nobody else sees.
The View from the Driver's Seat
Up here in rural North Dakota, things are simpler. No fancy theology needed. Just honest work and God's honest truth.
My oldest son gets it. He's in Bible school now, not because his dad's some great preacher, but because he saw something real - a father who:
- Wakes up early to read God's Word
- Works hard with his hands
- Teaches truth without compromise
- Lives what he preaches
You want to know what real Christianity looks like? It's not complicated:
- Read your Bible
- Believe what it says
- Do what it tells you
- Repeat daily
Some days I smell like yesterday's trash. But God's Word? It stays clean, pure, and true. Just like it has for thousands of years.
Because at the end of the day, it's not about being a good Christian. It's about being faithful to God's Word, one route, one day, one stop at a time.
No comments:
Post a Comment