I’ve started to read R.G. LeTourneau’s book “Mover of Men and Mountains” and I’m struck by his wit and wisdom. A hard combination to match sometimes.

He talks about joining the missionary society and the church choir and says “In both I was an asset of doubtful value”.

It was funny to me that things change and yet they stay the same. Some wise man said that because I’ve heard Doug Wead and others quote him in it. I can’t for the life of me remember who it was. In our modern Christian churches we hear about feuds over music. Heck even whole denominations have split over this issue. I have never totally understood these disputes, probably because of my lack of musical skill and thus disinterest.

LeTourneau says ” A lot of old timers resented the changes being made after the turn of the century. They had been doing things the same way for so long that change made them feel insecure.” He’s speaking of 1901 not 2001. He goes on to say “I was one of the lucky ones trained to accept change as routine”.

He later speaks about lessons he got when building his first big piece of machinery. He was told better a poor steam engine that runs than a good one never finished. He said that was true in so far as it went but later said he would add this clause to it- because until the good one is finished, its development can’t begin.

Wow that’s powerful perspective.

A few other tid bits of wisdom so far from R.G. LeTourneau

One advantage of education is that it gives a young man a broad look at many vocations before he determines on his own.

Twelve years later I was to learn how smug I had been in thinking God was on my side. Ever since then, with His help, I have tried hard to be on His side.

Two more funny nuggets from this morning. When describing a major accident that knocked out his front teeth.

I was beginning to get the idea that on hazardous jobs in the wilderness, a man ought to have a partner. Somebody to tell the others how you had been killed and maybe save them from the same mistake.

Right there began my feud with doctors and dentists that I have carried on ever since. I number many doctors and dentists among my friends, as long as they are not working on me.