a house and a home

Today I signed a whole lot of papers to take residency in a house my wife and I have just purchased. In a matter of just a few weeks, God has allowed us to find it, figure out if the negotiations to get in paid off, and finally see my name signed in all the documents that matter. We pack all next week (after Christmas, of course) and move next Saturday.

We're in... fully committed, stepped over the line, and no turning back. The direction of our finances will include a lot of care and responsibility in honoring this commitment and being sure we invest into it. It is a house that we hope Jesus will turn into a home... an environment where we can see and do life with our friends and family.

Oh... did I mention that I did all of this without seeing the house?

That's right. I signed my life away today without ever laying eyes on the actual house. I didn't tour it, couldn't tell you much about the square feet (even though I have some papers that describe it), and am not even sure how it will all feel once I'm in.

Seriously... I'm not making any of this up.

I have for the past several months been working 4-5 jobs... 30 hours at the Boys and Girls Club, interim teaching and coaching a local church, developing curriculum and paradigms for All For One/Christian Endeavor, freelance newspaper work, reviewing products for Youthworker Journal, and trying to find a potential full-time ministry (which is a job in itself). Throw being a husband and dad on top of that, and it's been busy.

When my wife and I found out that God was leading us from Michigan to Ohio where I would serve Connection Church in Medina (pronounced "Ma-Dye-Na"), we knew we'd need to figure out housing. Since my schedule is what it is, she took on the weight of this search and did amazing things online, including finding 30 houses or so that she personally visited via a two day visit two weeks ago. She took pictures and a lot of notes, then tried to tell me about the things she'd seen that I hadn't.

Here's the deal... I trust her. I mean, I really trust her.

Her heart is good and is turned toward God and our family. Not only that, she knew the values we were looking for in a home... something that would expose us to people (so that we weren't hermits) and yet would allow us to feel like we could Sabbath there. My oldest son wanted a two-car garage because "that way Daddy's car will stay dry, too." My youngest son like to move, and so we kept an eye out for lots of space. Finally, Katie is homeschooling and looking for space to do that in a way that honors the investment into our boys.

By God's grace, she found it... she showed me pictures... she explained notes... she asked for my thoughts... and we collaborated about it with God and each other. Our mutual sense was that this was the way to go, so we did... and took on a mortgage today.

All without me seeing the house yet....

because someone I love and someone who loves me is good and trustworthy.

Oh... there's another "House" I've signed my life away on without ever seeing.

That's right. I signed my life away without ever laying eyes on the actual House. I didn't tour it, couldn't tell you much about the square feet (even though I have some papers that describe it), and am not even sure how it will all feel once I'm in.

In a matter of time, God will allow me to find it, figure out if the negotiations to get in paid off, and finally see my name signed in all the documents that matter. I pack for it every day (because of Christmas, of course) whenever I move the next step he is leading me.

I'm in... fully committed, stepped over the line, and no turning back. The direction of my life will include a lot of care and responsibility in honoring this commitment and being sure I invest into it. It is a house that I hope Jesus will turn into a home... an environment where I can see and do life with our friends and family.

All without me seeing the house yet....

because Someone I love and someone who loves me is good and trustworthy.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philipiians 3:20)