I may be dating myself (would be a rather boring date if the truth be told), but I remember using carbon paper while working in offices. When someone invented the pressure sensitive form (produced a copy WITHOUT carbon paper), I was very grateful for the improvement.

My first computer was a TRS-80 (known as the Trash 80 by many). It came with an Okidata printer. This was a very fast, but extremely noisy printer. Before long someone introduced me to the very first Macintosh computers. I’ve been a rather serious MacHead ‘til this very day.

I’ve still got my original Imagewriter. It is a dot matrix printer and not too noisy if the noise shield is left in place. Leaving this plastic contraption in place, however, pretty much precludes threading pin-feed labels through the machine.

As my needs grew, I added other printers. I have an Epson color printer which I use to print my very special greeting cards. The ink cartridges are far too expensive for general black and white printing needs. I also have a laser printer. This is the workhorse of my printer staff. I have a local firm that supplies reconditioned, refilled cartridges for about half price. BTW, I still use the Imagewriter for mailing labels for our Purple Paper. It’s on its last legs and about to be permanently retired. Maybe, E-Bay is the answer! (g)

Well, panic of all panics, a couple of weeks ago, my laser printer started acting pretty strange and weird. For one thing, long black and gray streaks began showing up on the printed sheets. For another, the toner danced all over the paper and refused to hold hands with each other or the sheet of paper.

I cleaned everything I knew to clean, but with no success. I even called my computerator son, Mark. Even though he’s a PC’er, he helps me a lot with my Mac questions and problems. He said, “Dad, your fuser drum has probably gone bad.” He might as well have been explaining quantum mechanics to a stump! I know how to change toner cartridges. I know how to clear paper jams. I just grab whatever bit of paper I can find and pull it backwards. But…..

Next, we discussed what to do about it. He didn’t think I’d find anyone locally to work on the printer. (I fooled him. Ultimately, I found a half dozen firms who advertised their expertise.) He quickly searched the Net and found places that would fix the problem. Two way shipping was prohibitive. He also found some places that would sell me the parts. I can’t tell you how much damage I could have inflicted on the poor machine by “fixing” it myself.

I called the company that provides me with toner cartridges. I looked pretty knowledgable (thanks to Mark) when I used the term “fuser drum”. Keep in mind, I’d never seen a fuser drum and wouldn’t recognize one if it bit me on the bunion! The tech said that it would cost $216 to replace the drum. Considering that a new printer was nearly $900, it seemed like a really wise choice to drop the machine at his shop.

Well, he fixed it up; it’s back working hard and without complaining. I can hardly believe how lost I was with my main printer down. I am the only “office” worker in our family ministry. PTL for skilled techs and laser printers! When I picked it up, I asked him what caused the fuser drum to go bad. He said, “Well, have you had a paper jam lately?” I told him that, indeed, I’d had a bad one the day before everything quit working properly. He kindly suggested that I consider paying him for a service call if that happens again. Turns out that I’D messed up the drum by pulling TWO sheets backwards. Never again, I promise you.

A long time ago, I changed my approach with “Inside Out”. Instead of wracking my brain and giving my readers all the possible “Life Lessons” I could imagine, I began asking them to think and meditate about my presentation and feed back to me their conclusions and thoughts. Well, this time, I’m asking you to find the applications in this story AFTER considering these questions:

1. What does the toner dust represent in our walk with the Lord?
2. What spiritual truth might be illustrated by the inability of the toner dust to stick to the paper?
3. What is the agent in our spiritual lives that causes the toner to stick?

Please send your response by clicking on the “Contact Us” Tab at the top or by using the “Leave a Reply” box below!  I look forward to your e-mails.

RESPONSES TO “LET JOE DO IT…”

 (Hopefully, I will include a couple of much longer responses next week.)

 – I used to live in Fruitland Park, Florida. The street I lived on had wires that the squirrels really liked. They liked them so much they electrocuted themselves and knocked out our electricity. There used to be a man who was the first to call in. He was a Snow Bird. When we moved there I found out in a hurry that everyone expected him to call. How could he call when he wasn’t there? So I started to call if the cable or electricity went out. I still do. I do not have to call very often, but my call was still either the first or one of the first. This proves “Let Joe Do It.”

– I believe you could make a story out of just about nothing and still get a laugh out of me or a grin! On a serious note, glad you called 911 and didn’t “let Joe do it”. If you had not called, no one may have ever called. Scary, huh? Glad you and Sparky were there. Well, you take care, keep those eyes open. You might see some more interesting happenings to write about, can’t wait!

– Enjoyed it. Pretty hot stuff:) (G)

– Glad you were there and had the phone, so you could call and did! I bought and sent some cards the other day to people I had been praying for because I decided they needed to be encouraged. So often I think of good stuff to do, but don’t have or make the time to do it. But my examples are not or couldn’t be called life saving (or house saving) like yours.

– This is a really good article and pretty well describes most of us. It is a shame that we tend to “let Joe do it” more often than not. There are many times that I could have helped in this area or that and did not. Your article will keep me thinking and, hopefully, responding the way Christ wants me to. Thanks again for stirring my “grey matter” and causing me to take stock of what I am doing in this life.

     Well, I guess I have bent your ear enough for one day!! LOL Again, let me say that this was an excellent article and example of how we should live our Christian lives.

– And just think — it was only a few short months ago that you were wondering whether or not you were right to keep sticking your nose in and involving yourself in situations that most people would judge as being “not my business, buddy!” (I’m thinking of the “U-Turn Culprit” who chewed you out for offering a friendly warning.) Now — same willingness to obey the impulses God sends you and to serve Him by serving your fellow humans — and you are a hero! Makes me think you were one before, too – just an unsung one! (VBG)

– I especially get a kick out of hearing from you in person and then reading about it in your piece. You are too humble in person. I should add that I didn’t sense pride in your writing, though, either. The point that we too often assume that someone else will “do it” is an excellent one! Another point could be made about your changed attitude toward cell phones and their users. Often our judgments are made on incomplete information. It is perfectly okay for me to choose not to use a cell phone. To make judgments about those who do, though, might be wrong. I read today that a big lesson in martial arts is that it is in keeping the larger perspective that we actually see the details being worked out.

     When fighting a number of people at one time, it is this attitude/perspective that allows someone skilled in these arts to function effectively. I, too, often get caught up in the details, forgetting the larger picture. The result can be stress or frustration or a combination of both. Perspective is such a help! To come full circle, it is probable that you would have never heard the “still, small Voice” if you didn’t have a healthy perspective on life. Instead of feeling rushed to complete whatever, you were able to remain relaxed, quiet enough to hear Him. Many are grateful, even though they have no idea who you are! God is truly good!

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