Rent a Holy Wreck - no more

I discovered this week that Ichthus Motor Mission are closing down! Oh no, what will the mission community do? We enjoyed a long furlough with an Ichthus car that was great - a 'well loved' (by all its previous omners, no doubt) and very reliable car - started every time without hesitation. And there's always at least one Ichthus car in the car park at Redcliffe at any one time.

Anyway, I made the announcement at Redcliffe on Wednesday and one worried looking student came up to me and said 'I've got an Ichthus car, what should I do?' Which brings me to the interesting point of this long and rambling tale ... Ichthus's website says that they plan to give away all of their cars to missionaries or their 'sponsoring organisations'! So I told this student and she got in touch with Ichthus. Turns out that there's a good chance she'll get to keep the car.

Anyone else need a motor?

Technical Support Examples

True Stories from Technical Support (honest!)

Tech support: What kind of computer do you have?
Customer: A white one...

Tech support: Click on the 'my computer' icon on to the left of the screen.
Customer: Your left or my left?

Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try, it says 'Can't find printer'. I've even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find it...

Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore.
Tech support: Are you sure it's plugged into the computer?
Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer.
Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back.
Customer: OK
Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you?
Customer: Yes
Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard?
Customer: Yes, there's another one here. Ah...that one does work...

Tech support: How may I help you?
Customer: I'm writing my first e-mail.
Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem?
Customer: Well, I have the letter 'a' in the address, but how do I get the circle around it?

A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer.
Tech support: Are you running it under windows?
Customer: No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine.

Thanks to www.grovebooks.co.uk for these gems.

Prevailing Whinge

OSCAR had a visit yesterday from someone trying to set up a UK side of a small African based mission. This is initially for recruitment of volunteers and mobilisation but eventually for some fundraising too. The trouble is that they had been met with alot of negativity and opposition and were struggling to get established ... until they discovered OSCAR, of course!

Now you might have reservations about 'yet another mission' starting up, but I think we're sometimes too quick to judge and too selfishly protective of our position and status in our little world. In fact, it reminded me of OSCAR's early days. I had people who were quite vocal about their negative opinions, all stemming from the fact that they either didn't think it was going to happen or, if it did, it might encroach on their territory. When you're small and relatively insignificant, some others seek to use their standing to see that you serve their purposes and fail to see the situation through God's eyes.

I took the time to listen to her and think that their work is very good ... I also think that it would be very appealing to many young gappers and potential short-termers - so who are we to stand in their way? More than that, I often feel challenged to help in any way I can and allow God to work through me rather than have me as a barrier to His purposes. OSCAR has had it's day of reckoning with those early sceptics but I feel a responsibility to help others who are where I was.

It's always good to hear how people have found OSCAR an encouragement ... just a shame that a negative attitude still often prevails in our part of the Christian community.

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