So this blog post is a little different. It is something I have been thinking about lately, and even though it involves a topic many people are uncomfortable with, I believe it to be something that could be of value to many of you. George Washington Carver, Matt McPherson, and Barry and Julie Schaffer have/had something in common. These four individuals have discovered something in their profession that changed whole concepts in what they do. George Washington Carver was a very successful scientist who is credited with 108 ways to utilize what the peanut has to offer. Matt McPherson is an engineer/musician who discovered a new way to create a bow for bow hunting/recreation. Finally, Barry and Julie Shaffer spent years trying to discover a new product for stripping/polishing/finishing wood products that is non-toxic while still as high quality as the more toxic versions. They did succeed in this. The commonality with these three individuals is they give credit to God for the discovery, and each has a very interesting story as to how they came to their successes.
Mr. Carver was said to go on walks “with” God, and while on these walks he would ask God questions. He started with very big questions like “God, why did you create the Universe?” and “God, why did you create mankind?”. God responded with telling Mr. Carver he was thinking too big. So then while on one of his “walks”, Mr. Carver asked him a very small question: “Why did you create the peanut?” With that question God responded with teaching him 108 ways to utilize the peanut.
Matt McPherson, likewise, asked God questions. His first question was much simpler than Mr. Carver’s. Matt had a love for bow hunting, and simply asked God how to build a better bow. God responded by showing Matt a new concept for a bow. I am not a hunter or archer, so I don’t know much about this, but until God showed Matt this concept, bows had two cams that must synchronize perfectly together. Matt's design however, was a single cam bow. Matt ‘s company now sells more bows and charges more for their bows than any other company in the world.
Barry and Julie Schaffer again have a similar story. They tried for years to create a new kind of polish/stripper/finisher that would be non-toxic, but they did not succeed. It wasn’t until one day they decided they would ask God. It was sometime later God gave Julie a random group of numbers and letters. She told Barry what they were, and he thought it sounded like a formula. He went to the shop and put it together, and it turned out to be the perfect formula for a polish/stripper/finishing product for wood without involving harsh toxic chemicals.
What is your peanut? Do you have a “design” problem that you just cannot get your mind wrapped around? Ask God. My hope is this is encouraging to you, it is encouraging to me.
Mr. Carver was said to go on walks “with” God, and while on these walks he would ask God questions. He started with very big questions like “God, why did you create the Universe?” and “God, why did you create mankind?”. God responded with telling Mr. Carver he was thinking too big. So then while on one of his “walks”, Mr. Carver asked him a very small question: “Why did you create the peanut?” With that question God responded with teaching him 108 ways to utilize the peanut.
Matt McPherson, likewise, asked God questions. His first question was much simpler than Mr. Carver’s. Matt had a love for bow hunting, and simply asked God how to build a better bow. God responded by showing Matt a new concept for a bow. I am not a hunter or archer, so I don’t know much about this, but until God showed Matt this concept, bows had two cams that must synchronize perfectly together. Matt's design however, was a single cam bow. Matt ‘s company now sells more bows and charges more for their bows than any other company in the world.
Barry and Julie Schaffer again have a similar story. They tried for years to create a new kind of polish/stripper/finisher that would be non-toxic, but they did not succeed. It wasn’t until one day they decided they would ask God. It was sometime later God gave Julie a random group of numbers and letters. She told Barry what they were, and he thought it sounded like a formula. He went to the shop and put it together, and it turned out to be the perfect formula for a polish/stripper/finishing product for wood without involving harsh toxic chemicals.
What is your peanut? Do you have a “design” problem that you just cannot get your mind wrapped around? Ask God. My hope is this is encouraging to you, it is encouraging to me.
