The Smell of Money

We got the house we've been trying to buy yesterday and today I spent the day trying to get the carpet out. Which, by the way, was no easy task. The main section of the house is a manufactured home and when they make manufactured homes they make the floor then lay all the carpet then build the walls on top of that. It makes it easier and quicker to lay the carpet that way. Unfortunately, that makes it extremely difficult to get the carpet out since you have to cut it all out along the edges. If that weren't difficult enough in two of the bedrooms there is a shelving unit that goes all the way down to about 6 inches above the floor. In order to cut that edge of the carpet I had to lay on my stomach and reach under there with a blade. Oh, did I mention that the previous owners owned at least one dog and most likely several and I'm not real sure they were potty trained real well. Yeah, that's how my day went. The carpet guy that I had come out said that "was the smell of money" since a house like that was ripe for a rehab to make money on because not too many people will buy a house that smells like that because they can't get beyond the smell to see the true value of the house. With a little clean up, paint, new carpet and lots of bleach to get rid of the smell a house like that will begin to shine and sell for thousands more than we paid for it. This all got me thinking tonight that isn't that what it's like for many people in our world. They smell bad, they look bad, they are beat up and because of it, many many people pass them by because they can't see the true value in those people. If we could only take the time to help people who are in these situations then we could truly see the value that God places on them. It's amazing what a little paint can do for a house, but that's nothing for what a little love can do for a person.
Blessings

Be Still and Know That I Am God

I haven't posted in a while simply because I didn't have any "theological" thoughts as of late. I told Dawn that and she said she didn't realize I had a standard of which to write about. I didn't realize it either until the other day and felt like I was only telling about my life. I guess I do though. I'm not sure that this post is all that theological either, but I felt I could write something today. My life has truly been flexible as of late. I've stayed busy, but have had lots of time to sit back and reflect on God. My attitude has ebbed and flowed with the changing days and weather. One moment I'm resting in God's prescence, the next I'm anxious about what He's leading me to and when He's going to do it. I fight the tendency to feel inadequate as a provider for my family and have to be reminded that I'm trying to follow God's call and that He's been, and is, our provider. I received a call from my mom last night that kind of spurred some new thoughts for me to bounce around in this space between my ears. She simply asked if we were alright and if we were doing what God wanted for us. (not exactly, but in that line). I had to reassure her that we were absolutely confident that we were doing what God wanted for us to do at this moment in our lives. We feel very secure in His prescence and His guidance. What we are doing doesn't look anything like what the current church model looks like and I know that it makes a lot of people who love us worry. One of the greatest concerns is that we have "left the church" to pursue money, jobs or whatever and are we being faithful to our (my) "Call". I told mom that I didn't ever believe that my call was to be a "preacher" in the typical sense nor do I believe that my call is specifically to teenagers anymore, but rather than to something different and possibly unexplainable. Something that isn't typical nor comfortable, but rather to a participation with Christ in His workings with mankind. I find it difficult to describe to others in the church what it is that we are doing, because it's not what they are used to. Yet, we feel compelled to move forward in this endevor. Is everything moving the way that I thought it would, not even close, but what I'm realizing is that God is moving exactly the way He wants and I'm ok with that. I titled this post what I did simply because that is what I need to do. I need to continue to realize who He is and know he is who he says he is. Isn't that enough? I'm still learning, but I belive that it is. His faithfulness continues to carry us, as well as, your prayers for us. Please continue to pray for us as we will continue them for you.