Workday Wednesday!!!

Workday at the barn where my friends are staying at the moment!!! Well I loaded the truck with a ladder, chainsaw, machete, axe, and a trusty hoe. I try not to do any yard or outside work without a trusty hoe as I told my buddies they got a laugh out of that. First project of the day fix the door that had collapsed inside the barn due to grape vines and junk pushing it in. I am no carpenter, but guess what all my buddies here did alot of that work and all have a background in construction. Well we not only got to repair that barn, but got to talk about another carpenter we happened to read about somewhere. I tell you what these guys helped out alot, we were fixing their place and they did alot of the work. I came prepared to work hard and we did, these guys are a blast. They were mighty proud of there place when we got done Phillip jumped up on the rooftop and we plugged and cleaned it off, leaks fixed now they are set. Full day yesterday. Thank you God for the strength to help out these folks out.

Our Fun Filled Wednesday!!

Our Morning started with a family cuddle. Then dressed and off to the Love of Christ for some grocery loading. The kids are enjoying this weekly trip knowing that it helps those in need. It is a blast when you leave the house and you get asked over and over if we can go help some of our friends around town in need. Well we cooked some supper for the group downtown  deer spaghetti and Brenna's homeade brownies. The kids get a kick out of taking food to these folks. I had a warm feeling in my heart tonight we made this food in my Gran's pan. I couldn't help but know she was watching me from heaven saying "oh J you really aren't going to leave my pan with those homeless folks are you?" Yes Gran you know I am but Brenna will get it tomorrow!!! The house is getting ready to be put on the market walls are bare and boxes a plenty have been packed. God still has to show us exactly where he wants but if we listen I have no doubt he will. Goodnight and God Bless

Clothes Washing Aint for Sissies!!

Well we had our new normal Thursday well kinda. Wake up smile at the world go pick up three friends take them to the Love Of Christ food pantry to get some food and my boy Cole and me helped out others as they waited in line for groceries. I took them back to their barn/shed they are staying in and finished out doing some chores around at the LOC. Cole wanted to stop by and grab their clothes before we went home so we did and off we went to grab the rest of the family to do some laundry. Brenna and I got to enjoy some smells we have never smelled before rough stuff, but I told her its the aroma of life and we smiled and happily started washing. This time we had alot more clothes to wash the word is out and more folks are coming around for help. I have always disliked laundry mats but now I cannot stop smiling your life transforms when you are doing for others.

We took their clothes back and Brenna and the kids took a lady to see about getting help in the way of govt. assistance or food stamps. I got to stay at camp and hang out with the rest of the group. Stories aplenty and just good times all around. My friend David where's a hat that says President Of the United States Barrack Obama. I thought not my favorite message but I ought to ask him about that hat. Come to find out there is a good story behind that hat. He told me it his panhandler hat and what he does is when someone comments on his hat he smiles and sticks his hand out and says that he said I am gonna get some change so how about it. I laughed pretty hard on that one.
I got to try burn barrel chicken and to have been cooked over a barrel whew it was good. Little while later Brenna got back and the lady with her kinda looked upset she was denied assistance. I guess her luxurious accomedations disqualified her for food stamps. If she wants help she has to volunteer 20 hours a week somewhere, really I know that would be just what I wanted to do when I have no shower or vehicle or running water or electricity. The sad part is if she did not have a social security number she would have got assistance. Day ended with hugs and prayers I love my new life.

Top Seven Things I Never Dreamed of Doing!!

7.  Sharing a pizza with a group of homeless folks!

Now you have to realize I come from a very germ concious job. I did not say pizzas like I had mine they had theirs we shared the same pie. I got my piece last and guess what it was the best piece of pizza I ever had!

6.  Hanging out in an alley by a dumpster talking about Jesus, Right after I bought a round of beers for the folks I was talking too.

Yes you read that right Jesus and beer in the same sentence. The morning in question, everyday of my life before that I had given a little bit of money to a panhandler and everytime resented it. I just knew in my heart they were going to buy drugs or alcohol with it. When I bought the alcohol for them, knowing where the money went I realized Jesus never said in the good book that it was my place to care about where the money went to begin with. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Jesus Matt 25 35-36

5.  Break bread with the Homeless

I know what your thinking already said that but their idea of breaking bread is a little bit different than ours. Their definition is actually having a beer with them (shh don't tell anyone I drank a beer). Luckily for me this was not a one cup group and I had my own beer!!! LOL no really it is ok to laugh out loud at that.

4. Share my story and share the glory of God with whoever will stand still long enough to listen.

Those who know me, know that I will talk to a fence post. I have no fear to speak to folks but when you would get around the big R (religion), I would clam up or worry that I do not understand enough Bible to talk about it. No more is that a problem for me! I just do and God gives me the knowledge he wants me to have.

3. Found my passion.

We all have something, God has made us to do. I feel like he has shown me what that is. I have been taught how to love my neighbor and I feel elated every morning I wake up and can brighten someones day. I have made it a mission not just to swoop in help for a minute or two and fly out with a S on my chest or in christian terms a J. I am building relationships and sharing in the everyday struggle and needs. Props where props are do I have a couple of guys who shoved me towards looking for said passion, through many of our discussions, (they don't read my blog lucky them) Craig and Randy thanks fellas.

2. Writing a blog

A friend of mine who I discussed what was going on in my life and how my family and I are reacting to it told me to blog it and share with others. So you can blame Scott M. for these poor excuses for literary content you have been reading.  I truly believe that when he told me to write this he figured that I could at least put together a post above a first grade level. Fooled him!!! He is a great minister at Western Hills Church of Christ and if you haven't heard him speak he brings it every Sunday.



1.  Hug a homeless person and truly outpour love for that person.

You can hug your parents, children, wife, and friends and feel loved and transfer love. These folks I have met I am proud to say are friends, and I pray and worry for their well being and I love them.

Now you may be wondering why seven well Letterman has the Top Ten and five was too short, Plus I hold the crayons on this post! Have a great day God Bless You!
Do at least one act of kindness today remember Matt 25 35-36 You never know who you might be doing it for!!!!!!

Keeping it Real

We want to change over night, it is for sure a process. The beauty is we are just allowing God to work through us and not trying to do things on our own. In my mind it feels like we are at a turtle's pace, but when we stopped to think about it, we are moving along pretty good we are packing our things up. We have already set up ways to serve on two full days of the week. My incredibly awesome son Cole has decided on a mission that he can help the homeless members of this community out in a big way. I don't want to spoil his news so that will still be under the hat. Life is not easy in no way shape or form but trying to live like Jesus you wake up with a smile knowing that God is going to use you today. Tomorrow is going to be a big day for us we are getting rid of the TV in the play room and the playstation and WII will be moved to the living room to start the weaning of my children's desire to play them all the time. I have some ideas for the extra rooms we have. If we are going to move to less, why can we not live in less of what we have first.

Are the Wheels Starting to Roll Forward?

The last week has been great God has been working hard through the Clark family. Brenna and the kids helped out at the Love of Christ center midweek, Thursday Cole and myself helped out there again. Then our kids got to meet someone new his name is David and we stopped what we were doing and decided to help him out and give him a ride across town. A little act of kindness in my thought, not nearly as big as what else we had been doing, but that little ride changed my childrens thinking. Cole my oldest now has a burning desire. He wants to try and start up a ministry of his own to the homeless. He wants to find them transportation in the form of buying a bus and driving them where they need to go. Cailin and Collin my other two kids want to ride on the bus and give out snacks to everyone. I feel this is what God wants in our children to find new ways to love and help others. We started washing clothes for the homeless on Thursdays boy laundry mats have decided to raise their prices, but God provides us with plenty to take care of that. On the house front we have started boxing things up and getting ready to start fixing those sheetrock dings around the house. I could do that myself. My friends downtown have told me that they can do this work, but they are not ever given the chance. Well they will be working with me in my house to get it ready to sell. I am starting to get a clearer picture on alot of stuff Jesus taught, this outreach has helped my friends downtown,  not near as much as it is helping my family and me. Some have stressed fear for my family and the influences that they come around. I want everyone to know we are of sound mind and that I feel it would be more dangerous for my family to ignore hardships and differences in people and cultures by sitting in our comfortable world and not loving God with all our heart and soul, and loving thy neighbor. We on average will be in this world for about 80 or so years! What we do with that time given here determines where we will be for eternity.

Positive Change Keeps You Going

I thought that this whole blogging thing was just gonna be once a week but I can't not share Gods work daily! This morning I spoke with a friend of mine he told me that he has been reading the blog and it inspired him. He stopped and helped a man in need riding his bike and looked worn out. He gave him a ride took him through the rest of his errands and fed him. This guy has a heart of gold and I appreciate him sharing this with me. In case you were wondering he shared all this with me when he was dropping off some blankets and jackets for me to give to the friends my family and I made yesterday morning. Together one day at a time God can use us to change the world!!!!

Eye opening experience

Well the kids got to meet some of the homeless around Temple this morning. They enjoyed the time they got to spend making breakfast tacos and handing them out. They got to meet a whole group of really good folks and a nice little beagle. They did a great job not being shy and talking with everyone. We have some great children it was not a warm morning it was damp and cool. When we got in the truck the kids were talking about how they were cold. Teaching moment what do we do when we get cold? Go in the house! they don't have that luxury remember. We are planning on a weekly ministry for the homeless around here they have plenty of access to clothes, but blankets are hard to come by so they hold onto them and they get dirty,wet and a little musty. We are going to start every Thursday picking up their blankets and taking them and washing them and drying them, then bring them back all fresh ready for another week. Tomorrow I have to work but Brenna and the kids are going to help at the Love of Christ Center!! Nobody should go a day without feeling loved our goal is to share love with others daily.

God gives us strength

I am so glad that God is working in my life. I was able to have the strength through him to talk to the person who I had gotten upset with and apologize to him for me making him upset with me and is there anything I can do to right this wrong between us that I don't want him to leave angry with me and I will do whatever it takes to fix the situation. Crazy thing is after that we were able to repair and let it go.

Devil doesn't like change

Today was rough for me! I had a situation that cause me to get pretty upset. A month ago I would have lashed out with my tongue and most likely a fist. Today I knew who was behind everything so I know we are headed in the right direction as mad as I was all I could hear is love your neighbor love your neighbor. Did I handle it all right no I let someone push my buttons and get me to an upset state. I still love and care for him just not so much want to be around him. The good book says to love him and if I anger my brother to fix it and make it right with him. I want to get to the root and do whatever I can to fix this with him. I will not rest until I at least let him understand that I care and not going to let this end like this.

Question for me to dwell on today!!

If someone was to ask me if I am a Christian could I do as Jesus did to John's guys and ask what do you see and hear from me. See and act through the lenses of Christ!

First meal with the Homeless

First off this blog is not to boast of things my family and I do. It's simply following a journey of this year of living a new way. Yesterday I got off shift with the intention to eat with folks that I don't know but I want to know. I went to the golden arches and grabbed alot of sausage and biscuits and coffee. The funniest part is they actually asked if I wanted it for here or to go in which I smiled and got them to go. I drove downtown where I know some homeless tend to hang out and nervously parked. This is it can I do it? No but God can, He moved my arm over, opened the door, and I got out and walked over and introduced myself and shared my gifts of food and warmth to them. I have done this before but never like this. I asked if they minded me hanging out and eating breakfast and talking with them. That seemed to be the turning point in alot of their minds, sure they said. They told me about their families and how long they have been out there. We talked and I noticed one of the men there started getting the shakes pretty bad, in my profession I know what that meant and he was looking rough about that time. I saw him digging in his pocket for money and he pulls out a dollar or so. I am talking with someone else and he says hey Jason I really thank you for this food and coffee but can you spare a $1.37? He said I have a $1.03 but I need $2.40 the shakes are setting in and I am hurting bad. What would you have done? I smiled at him helped him up off the ground and bought a round for everyone, he walked in with me after getting everyones order. Once we made it back out I got goosebumps!! I have given to the homeless and the pan handlers before everytime thinking to myself they do not need food they are gonna buy beer and drugs with the money!! Who cares what they do with it that is not my worry I am to love them and give period unconditionally. I knew exactly where my money was going today because I bought it.  I have been with them for about 2 hours and a couple of them took me to where they sleep they showed me pictures of their families and asked me to come back anytime. This journey is about change for us, in this brief two hours the change has already begun did you know people with nothing share unconditionally what they have. We cannot even do that with our neighbors. Till next time Matt 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." 

The Yogurt House

Slowly we talk to the children we carefully prepare them for change. A couple of nights ago we went to a local yogurt house here in town after Cole's practice I took all three kids with me and Brenna stayed home. I knew that tonight mom and me were gonna let them in on our plans so we went and spent the 12 dollars on yogurt then we came home read some bible verses and watched a YouTube video did you know families live on less than 2 dollars a day for all their food how much did those yogurts cost??? Light bulbs came on kids are ready to love those in need also!!! So proud of them

The Beginning of Our New Lives

So the question was asked whats the big news?

Well Brenna and I have decided that we are tired of being comfortable. All throughout the Bible God calls on us to be uncomfortable never once does it say just do until it feels right and your ok with it. We live in our comfortable house with our central heat and AC, we have  nice vehicles, our children have Ipods, playstations, thousands of toys and a Wii. We go to church on Sunday and Wednsday and study christianity everybody is happy!! We are tired of studying christianity and are ready to be christians and follow Jesus. No I am not quitting my job yes we are going to sell most of everything we own and look to move into a smaller home in a area of town that you don't frequent. We are going to befriend those that need friendship, love the unloved, care for ones in need, feed the hungry and help the homeless. The plan is for the next year we are going to get uncomfortable!!! We plan on sharing this experience the whole way through this blog, this is totally new to us and we are just figuring things out but one thing we know God is in control and there will be more to come!!!! I plan on videotaping and taking lots of pictures to keep this blog up to date thanks for sharing in the journey!!!