God loves a good mechanic

God loves a good mechanic. God loves a good mechanic.

Key points

• News Seung Min Kim, Associated Press, Jesse Bedayne, Associated Press August 21, 2026.
• Case Chair of Evangelism and Discipleship at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Ridgeland, Mississippi.
• Douglas Hyde, in his masterful volume Dedication and Leadership, describes attending a Mass in a little church in the Southeast Asian jungle.
• State Board of Education hears update on Okolona School District's financial woes, latest statewide MAAP scores.
• Look afresh at Jesus, who applied His authority and perfections willingly to take our place and bear our punishment in His body so we could be restored.

God loves a good mechanic. God loves a good mechanic. By: Matt Friedeman – August 24, 2026.

Work is good and godly, and a state and nation that honors honest labor and take sweat and dirty hands seriously will know God's prosperity.

When you need someone to lift your hood and tell you what to do regarding your transmission, a philosophy major probably won't do the trick.

Governor Tate Reeves confirmed Thursday that he had appointed Dr. Daniel "Deano" Harrison as Director of the Mississippi Office of Apprenticeship, additionally known as ApprenticeshipMS, according to the Magnolia Tribune.

Harrison's new role means bringing together industry leaders, training partners, workforce development experts and others to strengthen Mississippi's apprenticeship system. I don't know much regarding administration being the answer, and I don't know Harrison, but the outcome seems like a hugely significant task.

Here's why: for too long, we have perpetuated the myth that real success in life requires getting a college education – bachelor's, master's and even a Ph.D., finding a high-paying desk job, and waiting out the next few decades until it's time for a cushy retirement.

Meanwhile, what our state really needs is plumbers, welders, mechanics, builders, and technicians. Personal confession here – I have one of those Ph.D.s, my wife has her masters, and every one of our six children graduated from a private Christian liberal arts college. Five of them have completed master's degrees, and three of them either have or shortly will have a doctorate. But.

While college is a great decision for some, this state and nation need plenty of more high school graduates who choose another path to prosperity by working with their hands providing both goods and services that are essential to our society.

Douglas Hyde, in his masterful volume Dedication and Leadership, describes attending a Mass in a little church in the Southeast Asian jungle. An Indian priest was addressing his impoverished congregation regarding Resurrection Sunday. He informed them of the women looking for Jesus at the tomb. But the priest remarked, "You do not have to look around a garden to find the risen Lord. He is in your hands."

Sitting near Hyde was an old man whose legs were gnarled and wrapped with varicose veins. He lifted up his hands – calloused, bruised, with broken nails – and stared at them in awe. As the sermon continued, the old man kept looking down since his hands had gained entirely new meaning. His labor – nevertheless menial and degrading it might seem to others – had become purposeful. In the shop, or the drainage ditch, or struggling down the road in front of a trishaw, his work now had Kingdom worth.

In practice, the Bible is clear – work is a blessing, and all the better if it involves our hands. The first thing we know regarding God is that He was a worker (In the beginning, God created.then He rested from that "work" of creating). Adam was a gardener, Noah was a builder, Abraham and his family were herdsmen, Rebekah was a water-carrier. Exodus begins with two midwives whose faithful labor had eternal consequences. Bezalel and Oholiab were called by God to create and led spinners, weavers, embroiderers, metalworkers, woodworkers, and other artisans in crafting the tabernacle. While Boaz owned land and employed workers, ruth labored in the field. David was a shepherd; Abigail, a household manager. A whole host rebuilt Jerusalem's dilapidated walls. For context, the excellent wife of Proverbs 31 was a producer, merchant, manager and businesswoman. Amos was a herdsman, Jesus called fishermen, Lydia – a businesswoman, Priscilla and Aquila were tentmakers alongside Paul, Tabitha – a seamstress.

This is just a smattering of a much longer biblical list.

My hunch? God is calling more individuals into working apprenticeships today than ever before, and we should do all we can as a culture to appreciate that calling. Regarding the Author(s).

Dr. Matt Friedeman holds the John M. Case Chair of Evangelism and Discipleship at Wesley Biblical Seminary in Ridgeland, Mississippi. He is the husband of Mary, the dad of six kids and the author of a number of books. Faith Alistair Begg August 21, 2026.

Look afresh at Jesus, who applied His authority and perfections willingly to take our place and bear our punishment in His body so we could be restored. More From This Author. Faith Matt Friedeman August 17, 2026. A study of abortion contrasts – Massachusetts vs. Mississippi. Faith Matt Friedeman August 3, 2026. Faith Matt Friedeman July 26, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg August 24, 2026. Faith Alistair Begg August 20, 2026.

Be sure to live as a citizen of a better country and a subject of a greater King. Faith Alistair Begg August 19, 2026. Secure on solid ground.

As with David, it is God's steadfast love that secures our souls and gives us reason to delight in His salvation, each trial we face is an opportunity to remind ourselves that. News Magnolia Tribune August 24, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: August 24, 2026. News Jeremy Pittari August 21, 2026.

President Donald Trump announces plan to lower beef rates, but some Republicans are already balking. Business Cass Rutledge August 20, 2026. Solero Technologies announces $14 million expansion in Water Valley. Business Frank Corder August 18, 2026. New Director coming to Port Pascagoula. Business Frank Corder August 18, 2026. Marathon Cheese expanding in Booneville, creating 39 jobs. Culture Robert St. John August 24, 2026. Diary of a bakery owner. Culture Brett Martel, Associated Press August 21, 2026.

Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby is confident in roster upgrades, but the SEC schedule is tough. Culture Meredith Biesinger August 21, 2026.

Where 2, 000 years of Mississippi history still rises from the ground. Opinion Roger Wicker August 21, 2026. Amtrak's Mardi Gras line boosts jobs, tourism. Opinion Sid Salter August 19, 2026.

Shades of Skynet? State's measured approach to AI policy development was wise plan. Opinion Shaun Yurtkuran August 17, 2026. The Mississippi that welcomed my family.

Taken together, the developments around god loves a good mechanic point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.