Kastle - Outside

This house project (not yet quite done) has taken almost a year - I'd have never thought it possible.  I had really been down about the house and it literally falling apart! I'd hoped to do something one day...when, if, etc.  Then a close family friend stepped in and assisted with getting the roof replaced and that lit a fire. Getting the roof done was the catalyst for the whole house, inside and out.  I started on the inside, praying about the siding.  Then an offer came in the mail.  

I had the big name company come by and give me a quote on the siding - they'd offered 2 years same as cash - and when the sales person came out they were more interested in selling the company than the work - and wanted me to pay dearly for it too!  Their lowest figure put me in tears.

Fortunately my oldest son had begun working with several contractors and was learning how to do a myriad of home repairs.  He's now in business for himself (A360 Repair) and obviously does a stellar job!

Here are a few shots prior to the outside renovation:

This is in the front - a shot through the spindles.

This is what the deck looked like prior.

Another view in the front.

 One end side of the house.

 Backside - notice the steps outside the back door.

One more shot of the back before the work began.

The other end of the house - it was in bad shape.

And the last lap around the house for another front shot.

One more full shot of the deck. Notice the dangling porch light.

First, let me say, I did NONE of this work!  My oldest son, his wife and her family came to my house and worked - almost non-stop!  We were blessed with men from our church who came and helped one day - ALL DAY LONG!  They helped tear down the rest of the skirting, level out the ground, dig a trench to put in a cement footer, place 2x4s in place to hold the Durock, help hang the insulation and begin the siding installation.

I ought to have taken more in between pictures, but didn't!

This is the south end - notice the ramp 'peeking' out to the right.

Around back - remember the steps?  Steps to the right, easy access to my NEW clothesline! and ramp to the left.

The backside of the house - clothesline arms awaiting a new line.  Durock skirting almost done! 

 Front of the house.

A better view of the ramp!

Completed backside.

And...I forgot to get a picture of our church men who helped - but here's a shot of my daughter-in-love, son and her family.  Even the little people worked!  The Brodock family is Teaching Good Things (literally!)  I am extremely blessed by these folks.  God has been extremely good to all of us!

I'll have the rest of the photos from the inside up later...dining room, living room, 2nd bedroom, master and then finally the master bathroom!  Slowly its coming together.  Now to save up for the a/c and heat unit!

A Little Dress Up

A little dress up...I've pondered upon that title for a bit.  When I think (or hear) that phrase it throws me back to my childhood...those idyllic days which the haze of years softens and makes poignant.  I think about my grandmother and the shoes and clothes which she allowed me to use to play dress up.

I began percolating on the idea for this blog a few weeks back...someone asked me about attending an event which would be on October 31st - and dressing up.  "Don't you want to let your counter-self come out?"

Counter self?  Or alternate?  Or pretend to be someone I'm not?  I'm having a hard enough time trying to be Christ like!

I've posted in the past about the paganism of halloween - I could list a plethora of sites which are either for or against or, God help us, complacent about the issue.  However, as I researched, I believe the Lord took me in this direction.  To challenge myself and others about how much we are (or sadly, are not) reflecting Him to a lost and dying world.

The real question becomes, as Christians, and as those who are seeking to set an example of Christ, to follow in the footsteps of the disciples, are we giving a proper example of Him?

Some try to pooh-pooh the 'wickedness' of the day/night, stating we are to 'claim' or 'reclaim' and 'Christianize' and use every opportunity to present the gospel.

I agree with using every opportunity to present the gospel, calling people to repentance and belief in the Lord; however, looking like, mimicking the world to 'win' souls isn't what the early church folks did...they were set apart.  They were, are you ready?  Persecuted for being different.

Not just persecuted (you know, loose your family, home, work, etc.), but they gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel.  They didn't join in on the pagan holy days, they were set apart.  If they had participated previously, they renounced and repented and forsook their previous ways.

So...how different does the 'church' look today?  The bride is hosting trick or trunk days, dress up as your favorite Bible character, have a fall festival.  We aren't being very set apart or different.

We all are works in progress and God works dross out at different levels, speeds in each vessel He's chosen...the question becomes, are we truly seeking to reflect Him?  To pray about what we're doing?  Whether or not our actions, behavior, words, etc. really represent Him?

Or are we rather, white washing practices, behavior, etc. in an attempt to make ourselves 'feel' better so we can participate?  Does the 'world' really see much difference in us?  How salty are we?

As a note...pagans, and yes there really are folks out there who claim 'pagan' as their religion (the military now recognizes halloween as a 'holy day' for them), not to mention witches, etc. which claim 10/31 as a high holy day.  There is a lot, and I mean a LOT of wickedness which is perpetrated during those 'special days.'

I exhort you brethren, search out the Scriptures, test, check and see if He has given you liberty to look like the world, to masquerade about during particular times of the year looking no different from those who are lost and dying.

Lord, open our eyes and ears to see and hear where we compromise with the world, the times and places, where we, in an attempt to gratify our flesh (or others) capitulate and join in.  Lord, you've called us to be set apart and holy unto You...chosen vessels, fit for heaven.  O' Lord, cleanse us, Your bride, help us to turn from our complacency, our willful disobedience, our lazy ignorance of You and Your Word.  Cleanse us O Lord, help us to be Your light set on a hill, reflecting You in truth, honesty and integrity in every area of our lives.

Crash and Burn

This morning:  The thought which ran through my mind, "Lord, I 'feel' like I am crashing and burning in my relationship with you.  I 'feel' like I've lost my first love."

I had received a new issue of Leben magazine and while reading the article on Robinson Crusoe, (with a look at the author Daniel Defoe) came across this:

"In time, a pattern of spiritual progress or decline thought to be common to all Christians became the template (talking about autobiographies). That template organized a man's spiritual life along these lines:

1. The work of God's providence in the man's life before he came to Christ.

2. The steps by which God's providence prepared the man for conversion.

3. The time and manner of the man's conversion and the things that immediately followed.

4. The predictable, but sad and long spiritual decline that would follow.

5. The man's recovery from that decline and the renewal of his commitment to Christ.

6. An account of some of the things that followed in the next few years.

7. A description of the man's current spiritual condition with accompanying observations and thanksgivings."

Where am I on that scale?  Number 4 'jumped' out at me.  The really sad thing?  I've been here before.  Is this process circular?  I feel dry, parched, distant.  I know God didn't move.  He's right where He's always been.  Its me...what's wrong with me?  Why do I have these ebbs and flows in my relationship with Him?

I do not believe in coincidence, rather divine appointments.  This video came up in my inbox:

This is War, Paul Washer

What's he saying right out the gate?  One great love, to love the Lord our God with all our spirit, soul, strength and mind.

Mar_12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Next exhortation - one great passion and he quotes:

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

While he is evidently speaking to men, these admonitions are applicable to all, regardless of gender, age, marital status, etc.

How often do I keep these words before me?  Really meditate upon them?  Do them?

Separation from that which displeases God - do I even inquire as to what will please and glorify Him?

Next?  A great commission - Go Tell.  Fight for the faith.  How equipped am I?  If I were in a battle (and we all are, all the time) what would I have to defend/offend?  I'm feeling pretty bare in the weapons department right now.  Where is my passion for knowing Him, for reading His word, for studying Him?  O' Lord, renew me, give me a passion for You, Your Word, Your righteousness.  Cleanse me, wash me fresh, renew a right spirit within me.

Help me Lord to love You, to desire You, to thirst after You.  Let this be my cry:

Psa_42:1  As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.