- Human Error
A “human error train accident” refers to a train crash caused by a mistake made by a train operator, such as a conductor or engineer, which could include failing to follow safety protocols, distractions, fatigue, impaired judgment, inadequate training or misinterpreting signals, leading to a collision or derailment; essentially, human error is considered one of the most common causes of train accidents.
Making mistakes is inevitable. We are all imperfect humans who sometimes fumble around every day tasks. No matter how hard we try, we will never be able to prevent every accident that comes our way. (That is why it is called an accident.) But, when these “accidents” happen that is when we can learn how to prevent that from happening again in the future.
Now, when someone makes a mistake on a train, the consequences may be more than simply learning from their mistakes; lives could possibly be affected or changed forever. They would probably lose their job and even be held accountable by law enforcement for what happened if they survived the accident. That is why train workers are usually put through intense training before being allowed to work on or run a train.
For most of us when we make a mistake, we can simply analyze the situation and make simple adjustments to help prevent the accident from happening again.
In the Christian life, we will also have some human error. We will make choices that may have hard consequences that may affect us physically, mentally, or spiritually for a long time. They may even stick with us for the rest of our lives, creating a stumbling block that the devil will try to destroy you with when you least expect it.
The key is to learn from our mistakes and simply keep going. With every accident, we learn a little bit more and become wiser in our decision making. The more we grow in wisdom, the easier it will be to withstand against making foolish decisions that cause human error moments.
Let’s learn from our past human error moments, and become the wise Christians that can go through life with confidence, knowing that God is by our side ready to help us through the Holy Spirit to make good decisions. - Rot in out Lives
So, the topic that I am discussing today is very personal and probably not one everyone wants to discuss. I am talking about an addiction that really causes a lot of rot in one’s life. It creates a barrier between you and God, and between you and any other relationship.
Yes, it is the topic of pornography.
Now, I know that I probably already lost a lot of you, but please try to stick with me.
This topic is not often spoken of because no one wants to admit that it has a hold in their lives or that they have been affected by it because of someone else. But it is something that as Christians we need to be aware of.
I am a Christian. I have been saved since I was 4 years old and well… I allowed myself to accept this rot into my life. For years, I justified it by saying that it filled a hole in my life that was left by my parents arguing and lack of love. But what I didn’t understand at the time was, with every minute that I allowed it into my life, it took a stronger hold of me and started to rot away my relationship with God and my friends.
When someone is looking at porn, they are literally allowing themselves to be consumed in a fantasy. A fantasy they can’t share with others, because they know down deep that it is wrong, but they like the feeling they get from it so much so that they can’t let it go. It slowly becomes a physical and mental need. That is why it is so hard for someone to stop.
When a railroad track starts to rot. It takes quite a bit of work to repair it. The most effective and long-lasting solution is to replace the rotting tie entirely as there is no true fix for significantly rotted wood, especially when it comes to structural elements like the ties. Attempting to repair them, instead of removing the bad, could compromise their integrity and safety.
It is the same with the rotting addiction of porn. People have tried to patch fix it by doing it less until they can finally let it go 100%, but reality shows that eventually it will only continue to rot away and affect every area of a life. The only effective and long-lasting solution is to replace it entirely, and that is with the love and completeness that is only found in God.
I am not proud of the rot I allowed into my life in my late teens and early 20s through porn, because it is something that continues to give me heartache many years after letting it go. That is something I need you all to understand. Even if someone has given this rot over to God, it can still try to creep back into their lives. One of the consequences of this type of rot, is that it is something we will have to battle with for the rest of our life. But because our desire has changed from wanting the images and videos we used to watch to wanting a relationship with God, He can give us the power to withstand the temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
So, if there is someone that you know, whether that is you or someone else, that has had this rot in their lives, don’t give up on them when they slip. This rot is devious in every way. They are probably in constant fear of giving back into it. Help them. Love them. Because the only way to not let it back into our lives, is through the love and support of God and his children. Help us to keep the rot from entering our lives again. - A Good Host
“Welcome aboard. Can I help you find your seat or offer a beverage before we depart?”
“Yes, we will be departing on time today. Is there anything that I can help you will or get you?”
“Here or the dinner options today. I do want to remind you that the dinner car closes late tonight, so take your time in ordering.”
“Thank you for being a part of our journey, hope to see you again soon.”
Do any of these things sound familiar? Like something you would hear from someone at the entrance of a plain or train?
That is the hostess. She is responsible for greeting and seating passengers. But her work doesn’t stop there. A train hostess is also required to answer phone calls, take orders or messages, train new food service team members, supervise the closing of the dining room, assist passengers, achieve sales targets, and attend regular meetings. She does all of this for the average pay ranging from $8.17 – $21.15.
Now that seems like a lot of work for very little return, but then I thought about the job in relation to our life train. We want the person that is helping us in our long journey to be someone focused on the passenger’s needs, rather than the return they might receive.
When we are introduced to someone by another, usually we want them to be happy and excited about you meeting someone they know. You wouldn’t want someone to introduce you to a potential future acquaintance with only the negative aspects of a person. That doesn’t ensure promising results from that meeting.
It is the same thing with a hostess. You don’t want to be met with distain or grumpiness as you begin a long journey with them taking care of your needs.
That is why who we allow to introduce or accompany new people into our lives is important. We want someone that not only going to show love to us, but who is also willing to show that same love to those are on our train of life,… or maybe… have to take care of for us.
Who are you a host or hostess for today? Are you meeting and greeting with smile? or Are you simply being a passenger that needs to be catered to?
As life goes on, we all have the opportunity to take part in both roles, but it is up to us how we perform in them. Let’s be good passengers, but also good hosts when the time comes. - Unique and Beautiful
Years have now passed and you have added and removed multiple cars from your train. You have been through many different learning opportunities, lessons, and hardships. But nothing could have completely prepared you for the change that your train was about to endure.
You all of a sudden have twice as many cars to deal with and a whole lot of new passengers that you don’t know. Everything seems to be turned upside down and backwards. There is nothing the same, because your cars are now mingled/mixed with someone else’s. That’s right. Your train has been brought together with another one through marriage.
Marriage is an exciting time for every couple, but what most don’t think about is the different cars that they will bring along. Remember they have a childhood car, a friend’s car, and even their very own baggage car that they just added to your train, and you have added to their train. There are going to be things you don’t like and may want them to remove, and they will have the same for you.
It takes time to figure out how your trains/lives will work together. Marriage is a union, a gift from God, but it takes work for two separate people to come together in harmony. It requires God’s help and your willingness to work together toward a common goal.
Eventually, you will have to leave the wedding car and learn more about the personal interests and needs of your significant other. You will have to explain to them your desires, likes and dislikes. And each of you may need to remove things from your joined train to grow closer together.
For example, when me and my husband got married, I loved hanging out with friends every night. Now there is nothing wrong with going out with friends, but my husband preferred being alone at home in the quiet after work. We had to figure out how to compromise and work with each other on what the other person needed. I still go out to be with friends, but I try to do it when he is at work, so that I can be with him when he is home. Or on the weekends we only go out for part of the day, so that he can relax in the quiet the rest of the day. It took us time and some failed attempts, but ultimately, we found something that worked and we love it. We both get what we need.
Now that example maybe seem insignificant, but it was something that was important to us. It could have caused a bigger issue if not taken care of. There are so many other things that we have had to work through, like the type of foods we eat, the movies we watch, the friends or people we hang out with, where we go on trips, and even how much time we spend with different family members. They are all seemingly small issues, but those little things can cause big problems if not talked about.
You don’t want a break in your train, that only causes disasters. Marriage, or joining trains, can be scary and sometimes frustrating, but in the end, it can turn into something beautiful. Like I already said, you may have to remove a few things or even add a few things, but in the end you both will share a train that is unique and beautiful. You just have to be willing to try. - Security! Security!
We are back on our tracks after exploring the mountain scenery. The temporary stop was nice for a while, but eventually we have to start moving forward once again.
As your passengers prepare for another day of enjoying the passing scenery while sitting in the luxury lounge drinking their favorite coffee, your train security is busy. Something has gone amiss.
Now our train systems today have multiple types of security like Perimeter security, Technology, Security patrols, Cybersecurity, Fire protection, and Ticket machines. All of these are taken care by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). They work with the rail industry to develop security plans and assess the effectiveness of security programs. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the TSA also have a set of rail security directives that must be followed.
So when I say that security is busy, it probably isn’t something good. Whether it is sabotage, terrorism, theft or even a cyber-attack, we need to have a plan on how to protect our train, its passengers and our cargo.
Those in our lives are very important. What we have been give we need to take care of. Having “security” in our lives is something we all need to think about. That child that you are holding, you want to protect. That home you have built, you want to keep safe. Your church family, you want to stand up strong for. But do you have the security needed to do those things?
Psalms 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Job 11:18 – And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
The security we need in our Christian lives is only found in Christ. The world can offer us all different types of gadgets and weapons that they promise will keep us safe. But… if we don’t have Christ and those things fail, which they usually do after a while, then you will be lost forever.
Christ gives us a security manual to follow and obey, the Bible. That is why we need to keep up with reading it and applying it to our tracks of life. It promises to keep you safe and help you know how to do the same for the passengers in your life.
Security in knowing that even when your human security systems fail, you still have the promise that you are secure in the family of Christ. With that security you will one day go to heaven to be with Christ forever, which is the best promise and hope of security we can have during our lives.
So, whenever you feel like you need the security’s help, call on Christ.
Do you hear it?
The gentle rumble, the click-clack of the tracks, the metal gears grinding together, or the piercing whistle that clears the skies. As you watch from a platform full of people, you see it gradually getting closer, and your excitement flares for an unexpected adventure that is about to begin. You’re not thinking about anyone else who is standing near you, where they are going, how long they will be on the train, or even if this is their train. All you can think about is when you are leaving and what exciting things may happen along the way.
Traveling is always great fun, but I want to use this picture of a train and change it slightly.
What if you, or rather, your life was that train, and the rails that you will be running on are time? Makes it a little different right?
When you are born, your train leaves the rail yard. You just spent 9 months being put together and prepared for a lifelong journey. You only have your engine and the coal car as you pull out onto your very own track. It’s all shiny new, ready to be used and experienced. And it is those experiences that point you to your final destination.
Where are you going? What will you see? Will it be fun or dangerous? Who will you meet? When will the track end?
There are so many things that we don’t know when we start life, but as each year goes by and a new car is added to our train, we slowly learn and grow.
I want to take you on this great adventure with me. Each day, we will go through life experiences as we make our way down our track of time. Some will be hard, others will seem insignificant, but all are very important. It’s your choice. All I can say is…