Wonder if I was ever coming back? Me too. What a six months. Working for a temp service at my old employer, getting used to this new house, having what may be our best Christmas ever.

It’s too much to delve into tonight but I’ll try to pick out the lessons we’ve learned and share them over the next few weeks.

Publisher’s Clearing House didn’t show up. Ed McMahon has enough housing troubles of his own. Haven’t seen Santa or the Easter Bunny, and I haven’t played the Lottery in almost 20 years.

God showed up.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^[1]

I know that this is taking this verse slightly out of context, but God has provided for us in a way that I didn’t even dare ask or think.

We have until August 26 to redeem our house. We’re only short of what we need by about $112,000 (Only!). Of course we have been looking for places to live and a couple of months ago we found one. It’s only two bedrooms (we have four), but the rent was relatively inexpensive, it has a full basement, and other than we don’t know where our two college kids would sleep when they are home, it seemed like a good place to go until we can qualify for another mortgage. So we were resigned to the fact that we were downsizing.

About a week and a half ago, I received a call from a deacon’s wife. She wanted to know if we were still looking for a house. Her sister was looking for someone for her in-laws house. She thought it was inexpensive, but thought that I should talk to her brother-in-law right away. Living in a small town, of course I was familiar with the house. I graduated with the brother-in-law. I’ve known his parents all my life.

Then I called and heard the terms of the arrangement. Mom and Dad are in an assisted living facility. They don’t want to sell their home. Basically, we are house-sitting indefinitely at the cost of the utilities and taxes. Think about it. For the same cost of utilities and approximately the same amount per month in property taxes that we paid here we are paying everything but a house payment. It’s basically free.

Oh, did I mention it was a five bedroom house? On the same street my wife grew up on? The house of her best friend growing up?

I’m still pinching myself. I don’t know why I’m surprised. We pray for rain and then leave our umbrella at home. We asked the Lord for a place to live that we could afford and that would hold all of us and He did it far more abundantly than we would ever have dared to ask or think. Hallelujah!

Who needs Ed McMahon?

When I was a kid growing up in the sports rich Pleasant Street neighborhood, a favorite argument-ender was the do-over. Couldn’t decide safe or out? Do-over. Foul or fair? Do-over. In-bounds or out of bounds? Do-over.

It didn’t always end the anger, but it usually ended the argument.

Ever wish you could have a do-over for something you said?

If you are ever tempted to answer the phone in Meijer by saying; “If you’re here already, why am I here?”, don’t. Make a practice of always saying,”Hello, this is ________, how can I help you?”

I caused a terrible conflagration up at the place (thanks Ray Bradbury, I always wanted to write that in a sentence) with my smart-aleck answer.

She wasn’t at Meijer, her feelings were hurt that she wasn’t at Meijer and I dumped salt in the wound by suggesting she was at Meijer.

I’m sorry Honey, can I have a do-over?

I thought it would be good to give you the lyrics of the song the blog is named after. John Newton, of “Amazing Grace” fame wrote this song.

I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

’Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favored hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

John Newton, Public Domain

That about sums it up. More another day.

Don

That was the advice I received yesterday and I was very grateful for it.

In a month and a half we have to move out of the house we’ve lived in since 1988. Three of our six children have spent their entire life living in this house. One moved in at 2 ½ months. The older two were four and six years old.

Through no fault of my children we have been foreclosed and have a redemption date of August 26. That means that if we can raise $112,000 and give it to the attorneys by that date we can stay here. Of course when I see pigs fly, I’ll be more likely to believe it.

It sucks.

It sucks because we have grown attached to this place.

It sucks because it was self inflicted. I can’t blame the evil bankers or the rotten government or even the bad economy. None of them made us extend our credit so far. None of them made me overestimate income and underestimate expenses. No we did it to ourselves. Of course if it only included me it wouldn’t suck nearly as bad. Guilt isn’t much fun either.

It sucks because it is a loss. There is grief involved. It’s as if someone died. The stages of grief have all been there. Sorrow, anger, denial, disbelief, numbness, they are all there.

Maybe it was the American dream that died. Maybe it was my dreams of success. Maybe it was the dream of giving back. Maybe it was all a pipe dream. It has become a gut wrenching nightmare.

What doesn’t suck is the grace God has given us. God is in control. In the past I have not trusted Him in situations like this. Maybe He appointed this to us so that I would learn to trust Him. If indeed we do move, we know that He will plant us in our new mission field. Besides, this world is not our home and neither is this house. Maybe our roots are too deep and this is a part of the pruning.

What earned the free advice I got yesterday was when I told a friend about our situation and told him it was no big deal. He pointed out that it was a big deal. It sucks. And it’s OK to say so.

You know, I think the Lord will allow my honesty and agree with me, although He just might use different words to express it.

Don.

Bonus question: Anyone know how to spell suck in Hebrew? I think it would be sucketh in the KJV.

I was born in 1958 and born again in 1991. I am married to the most beautiful and incredible person I have ever met. I was hooked the first time I saw her. We have been married almost 29 years and have six children. They are all boys except five of them. People say, “Don, how did you get such good looking children?” I’ll let you in on the secret. If you want the best looking children, marry the best looking sister!

I worked almost 25 years at Amway Corporation, running their Mailvan service. I left four years ago to go into sales. This blog will explore the carnage that ensued. From business failure to bankruptcy to foreclosure, we’ve seen it all.

The title of my blog comes from the title of a hymn by John Newton. Go ahead and Google “blasted my gourds” to find interesting reading about the song. This song has been a real description of my life, it is my testimony, and as we go on it will be obvious why I feel that way.

It will become evident to those of you that are true theologians that I am a rank amateur when it comes to some of that stuff. I probably know just enough to get into real trouble. I will look forward to your comments. We may get into some deep discussions, but that will be fun, won’t it?

Later I will give you some detail on a lot of things that I’ve been asked to share. I will talk about my walk with Christ, how I’ve fallen in my walk, and been brought back. My successes in business (both days-jk) as well as my failures. I may post pictures of my grand kids, I’m sure to bore you with their stories. I might even steal my son’s book idea, “How to Live With Six Women”

I will eventually share with you my theology and I will pray for you. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I will eventually include links to explain how you can explore what that even means.

My blog has started. Enjoy, and may you be blessed and challenged.