Can New Rubber Equal New Life?

This past summer I introduced myself to Jay and Andrea, a new family on our street that has a young daughter in Riley's kindergarten class. Jay is in construction and trying to get his mudding and taping business off the ground while working another construction job, and Andrea is a stay at home mom who is expecting another little one in December.

I walk to Tim Horton's about 3 times per day. It's about a five minute walk and I have to walk past Jay and Andrea's house to get there. About three weeks ago, I was walking home with my large double double, and Leigh's ice cap when I had a great conversation with Jay and Andrea. That conversation turned into a Gospel presentation. Andrea asked a great question and that was, "Can you ever do anything so bad that God will never forgive you?" I quoted Scripture to her from Romans 8:38-39 and that seemed to help her very much. For the next few weeks we didn't talk much. I saw Andrea at school when I would pick up Riley, we would have small talk, but nothing much.

Now this is where the story gets interesting. Last year somebody gave us a minivan. The CNBC (at that time CCSB) put brand new all season tires on it for us as a gift, and two weeks after we moved to Medicine Hat, the van gave up her last breath and died. Two weeks after that we bought our Jeep; however that van has stayed in our front driveway to this day. It has brand new tires, and I just can't bear sending the van to salvage with brand new tires. I wanted to give somebody the tires, but have not seen anybody in need.

Yesterday I was walking to Tim Horton's and spoke with Andrea and Jay and noticed that all four tires on their car were almost bald, and the snow is going to start flying in about 2 weeks. I told them about my predicament with the van and told them if the tires fit, they can have them for free. After I grabbed my double double, Jay came down to my place to check out the tires, and they will fit his rims on his car.

On my way back from Tim Horton's tonight Jay came running out of his house to meet me and after talking about Alberta Beef for five minutes he brought up the subject about God. He said, "Andrea didn't tell you this because it seemed a little too weird, but the night before you offered us the tires she prayed and asked God how we are going to pay for new tires." So here is two grown bald men, one with tattoos from his neck down and the other in a black hoodie, under a street light talking about the goodness of God. Both Jay and Andrea have not yet started a relationship with Jesus, but I invited them to go to Bible Study with us tomorrow night. He said, "I'm not sure if Andrea would go, but I really want to."

So can new rubber equal new life? I don't know, but when we give ourselves and our possessions away for the Kingdom of God, He has a way of using that to make Jesus more attractive to those He died for.