Who's In The Caboose? 6/24/2015

Good Morning,

Let's start this day on the right foot so to speak. Thank you Lord for giving us this day and all that may happen. We love You and want to say it this morning. You lead us and push us all at the same time.

This old mug of mine is filled with Door County Cinnamon Sugar Biscotti Coffee. It woke me up as the coffee boiler started to rumble.

 

In keeping with my train theme for a few days we will have a look at the caboose. The last car in the train.

The caboose served several functions, one of which was as an office for the conductor. A printed "waybill" followed every freight car from its origin to destination, and the conductor kept the paperwork in the caboose.
The caboose also carried a brakeman and a flagman. In the days before automatic air brakes, the engineer signaled the caboose with his whistle when he wanted to slow down or stop. The brakeman then would climb out and make his way forward, twisting the brakewheels atop the cars with a stout club. Another brakeman riding the engine would work his way toward the rear. Once the train was stopped, the flagman would descend from the caboose and walk back to a safe distance with lanterns, flags and other warning devices to stop any approaching trains.
Once under way, the trainmen would sit up in the cupola and watch for smoke or other signs of trouble from overheated wheel journals (called hotboxes).

The Cupola

The addition of the cupola – the lookout post atop the car – is attributed to a conductor who discovered in 1863 that he could see his train much better if he sat atop boxes and peered through the hole in the roof of his boxcar         

Rolling Home?

It was common for railroads to assign a caboose to a conductor for his exclusive use. Conductors took great pride in their cars, despite the caboose's many derogatory nicknames, including crummy, doghouse, bone-breaker, snake wagon and hearse.
The men decorated their car interiors with many homey touches, including curtains and family photos. Some of the most important additions were ingredients for cooking meals that became a part of American folklore. Augmented with such comforting features, the caboose served as a home away from the trainmen's home terminals.

Earlier this week we looked at how God needs to be the engineer of the train. The engineer is in the lead locomotive of the train. But what about the last car?

The caboose reminds me that we have a whole lot of heavenly hosts at God's disposal that are at the ready to assist us as He commands. Our train has angels.
The Bible clearly teaches, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7). Psalm 91:11 tells us, “For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. And Hebrews 1:14 says of angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Also in Hebrews, we read that “some have unwittingly entertained angels” (13:2). That is an interesting thought, isn’t it? Maybe you have met an angel. If you have, you probably wouldn’t know it. I doubt that an angel would tell you he is an angel.

Wow, nothing can stop the God train!

Have a great day.

Marty