Down but not out!

Deb and I have been pretty wasted when it comes to the emotional roller coaster with this housing situation. Just when you think you've got it figured out, wham your whole life gets turned around.
We seriously contemplated whether this was the final answer. It was a huge door slamming in our face. We still feel the call to Benton Harbor. Deb woke up that evening we got the news and said she prayed to get Satan away from us. I am so amazed at her desire. When I remember her attitude towards this adventure at first it's truly a transformation.
We joined a team from Allendale Wesleyan on Saturday. We had set up a Valentines party for the kids at Benton Harbor Street Ministries. everyone had a great time and I can remember stepping back at one time and said to myself this is where we belong.
I remeber feeling really depressed at the thought of stayimg in Allendale. So we are now relisted with a realtor and awaiting more showings. I have to admit it's been hard to see the house we were to call home has now had another offer and they are awaiting all the inspections etc. I knew it wouldn't last long.
So we are starting to look for homes again and trying to move foward. It will be cool to see where this journey ends. I'm hoping God is using us to be an example for others. I'm hoping that we are not messing it up!
Continuing the journey!
Randy and Deb

Lamentations

Today Deb and I recieved terrible news. The home we have been excited about buying is now out of our reach. The couple that was to buy our home cannot afford the mortgage due to the woman losing her job.
I feel sorry forthem also. This was to be there first home. Losing a job has got to be devastating as well.
So the domino effect starts. We had to let the realtors know that our offer has to be cancelled also. We are both pretty bewildered, shocked, and frankly I'm a little pissed off. I can't help but wonder why this happened. Everything was coming together so nicely. I was praising the big guy for his wonderful blessings. I still praise him but I shake my fist at him at the same time.
So what does this all mean? Like Deb said tonight "this was a pretty big door that slammed shut". I have been so excited about the opportunity to serve in Benton Harbor. I have been getting to know the area and where I will be working. There is much work to be done and I was gearing up to get busy when we moved there.
We have some real processing to do here.
This just sucks on so many different levels. The first person that gets super spiritual and says some corny Christian saying wil probably get an ear full. I think I need to stay far away from most of those types right now. I'd rather go hang out with guys from the mission right now.
I know I'm rambling.
I'm willing to do what he wants I just wish he'd make up my mind!

Movement

This week seemed to be full of messages that there is a movement happening among us. I have noticed ever sinc the election that there has been a restored hope in America. This week I watched a great segment on Extreme Home Makeover. A lady from Lansing who had lost her husband and how his friends came back and shared all his acts of kindness. I watched a show where Millonares went to live with the poor for a week. Their lives were changed when they realized there were actually nice people that were poor.
I was reading in John 1 last week and I was struck by the thought that Jesus says I am the light of the world. Then I let my mind wander into the idea of what he meant by that. I couldn't help but think he was saying I have come to shed some light on the way your life should be. Our lives can be lived to the fullest if we put away this constant feeling that we need to hoard our money so we can protect our happiness. As the millionares in the show found out, true happiness is helping our fellow man and giving of ourselves as a servant. Just like Jesus modeled.
Anyways is it my iamgination or are people actually starting to get it? I am encouraged by examples of people I have had the privelege to meet. They are willing to give up the material things to be with, and minister to, the least of these.
Live it to the full!
Randy

Rachels Ripplle Effect

I got home late tonight from shooting Arena racing. It's an indoor racing league that a friend of mine has the contract for. Heinvited me along to have some fun shooting a sport I've never shot before. It was fun, and I'm glad I got to hang out with him and some other friends.
I thought before I went to bed I'd check e-mail. I found I had a care pages update on Rachel. (the young woman I wrote about in the previous blog)Care pages is this really nice site put on by the hospital where family can update about a patients status.
Tonight Rachels husband wrote the update and it was very well done. He spoke of what Rachel meant to him and how he was crying out to God to fully heal her. He thanksed and begged the City Life community and family to have a day of prayer and fasting on Monday. He acknowledged the power in numbers crying out to God.
I never knew Rachel and Pete on a personal level. I've said Hi to them when I attended there but never had an opportunity to talk or share their story with them. What I did notice was their ability to love and be loved by their friends. That is why people were buying them Angel food when Pete had lost his job. Those kinds of stories I have shared with others about what the Kingdom of heaven looks like.
Rachel alsways had this pleasent smile on her face as she sang and worshipped on the praise team. I remember those kinds of things about her. Now as she lays struggling to stay alive in the ICU I will join Pete in praying for her and her extended City Life family.
I have had other people around my life that I never knew but they have had an impact on my life. Just like Rachel.
I guess we really don't know what kind of effect we are having on people that we don't even know. I'ts kinda scary when I think about it.
Although tonight after racing we went to a bar to get some snacks and watch the racing video that was shot. I purposely ordered and drank a beer in front of my friend who is not a follower of Jesus. He full well knows that I am. I want him to know that I do not judge him and that I am not some prude that has to abide by some set of man made rules. I want to establish a friendship with him that some day he feels comfortable with sharing his story with me. Who knows maybe I can have a ripple effect on his life!
Well need to get to bed! Have to drive to BH for church in the morining.
I need to sell a house!
Grace and Peace,
Randy

Strange Thanksgiving

Well it's Friday night after Thanksgiving. I am kicked back watching a Deadliest Catch Marathon and deciding it's about time I blogged. It's been quite a while since I blogged. But here goes.
It's been a strange Thanksgiving. Our family has been through alot of junk lately and it gets tiring after a while. I'de sure like a ciggarrette! Heck we didn't even have turkey for lunch. We had Lasagna per Michaels request.
Here is a list of what's been on our plate lately.
1. Deb had her Gullbladder out. (hopefully the soource of her pain) (besides me :)
2. My mom was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gerrigs) nasty disease.
3. Debs sister just had brain surgery. ( everything went well)
4. Good friend callled and asked for prayer for his daughter who fell out of a moving car and fractured her skull. In ICU praying for a miracle.
5. Recieved a prayer letter from our former church letting us know of a young woman in the church that had complications after surgery and is hanging on for life.

This is the short list. Funny thing is....I'm really still thankful for so much. I'm most thankful for Jesus coming to earth. I'm thankful that I finally learned to put skin on Jesus and realize that he was the perfect example to us. He was fully human but still able to have an impact on our world.(That's encouraging!)

I think I'll top this weekend off by executing a new Idea I had tonight. I'm going to take twenty one dollar bills and find all the Salvation Army bell ringers. Give them a buck and let them tell me their stories. I'm just kinda wierd like that. Anything for a good story.
Live the adventure!
Randy

Rich Young Ruler

As Deb and I sat on the park bench Sunday we enjoyed the beauty of the day and the view of the St. Joe beach front. Deb turns to me and says "lets hurry up and move here". If you know anything about our journey you will know what an incredible statement that was.

As we rode home both our minds were churning. Deb finally says what we were both thinking. We have now dropped the price on the house to the rock bottom price that we have agreed on. The price we sell for will not leave us much cushion. We will have enough for a downpayment and that's about it. Of course that depends on price of the new house.

When Jesus talked to the rich young ruler he told him to give everything to the poor and follow him. Deb and I are not giving everthing away to follow him. If the house doesn't sell at this price then we will not be moving. Now most will probably say it's a wise decision. Part of me wonders if it's the true test and he is wanting us to give it all away.(or be willing?)
I have struggled discerning the true call and how you can know for certain you are truly called. Some say they have a sense of peace, some say that scripture shows them the way. I have tried to figure this all out but have not been given these gifts. I however have always been driven by the circumstances that come my way and following them. the circumstances to this point have been clear to me. This next step in the journey seems to hitting a wall.
More thoughts....but theyre random.....maybe later.

Psalms 78

I did something the other day that I have very seldom ever done. I was sitting in the driveway of my new pastors house and I decided to randomly pick a passage out of the Bible and begin reading. I opened and started reading Psalm 78. The chapter seemed to be talking about how God would show his miracles and they (Isreal) would forget and have to be reassured with more miracles. God would get angry and then remember they were stupid humans.
Background Story:

Last weekend Deb and I had to spend the whole weekend in Benton Harbor. We enjoy spending our weekends there, but financially it's getting pretty rough. Even with discount coupons we had to get creative to afford the hotel for two nights.
Sunday I told Cindy (pastors wife) that I wouldn't be able to help out with a kids event in a couple of Friday nights. I had mentioned that we were going to have to watch our spending and I had promised to shoot fooball on Friday nights. She understood and said no problem. She asked me to buy her some popcorn before service and she would pay me back.
After service she gave me some money and said thanks for the popcorn. When I looked at the bill it was a $100 dollar bill. When I tried to give it back she would have no part of it and said God laid it on her heart to give it to me.
Sunday night I lay in bed feeling guilty knowing they couldn't afford a gift like that. They haven't sold their house yet and will have take a loss when they do sell it. I prayed for the sale of there home and the sale of our home. I have been trying to understand the delay in allowing our houses to sell.
Monday morning I arrived at work to find out that I needed to do some work in Battle Creek. One of the generators was a rooftop unit and I needed to bring a ladder. As I started for Battle Creek I remembered that this is where Brain and Cindy's house was located. I later called Brian and asked him for the address. I intended to pray there.
As I pulled into the driveway I noticed a couple of things right away. It was a cute little house and I saw a model airplane on the roof and some mold above the side door roof. I pulled into the driveway and that's when I pulled out my Bible. I read and then realized that I was being used by God for some reason. I got the idea to bless them and pull down the airplane and clean the mold off the siding. (hopefully to help sell!) As I was cleaning I was on the roof on my hands and knees. I remember looking at my knees and realizing I could be on my knees praying and no one will think I'm a nut case. So that's what I did. On the roof, On my knees, Praying for the sale of their home.
Here is the cool part that got me smiling. We were willing to spend the weekend even though we couldn't afford it, we were blessed with a gift.That caused me to pray Sunday night, got assinged to Battle Creek Monday. Needed a ladder for the job, needed a ladder to clean siding. (don't usually carry a ladder) Got on my knees and prayed and nobody knew it!
Psalm 78....God shows up and we keep forgetting!
Blessings
Randy