Seek And You Will Find, Part 2
What Do You See?
Proverbs 16:26 - “The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.”
You simply have to be here to really understand the peace and tranquility that our office location provides. From the very first day, it has been here.
But it is not scheduled to always be this way. The owner’s current plan is to have it demolished simply for the land value. As I thought about the potentially limited lifespan of this building with its unique, modern architecture, I was reminded of how the world looks upon those who on the outside appear to be worn and frazzled from life. We may refer to people as homeless, down on their luck or social outcasts. But God -- our loving and holy God – sees us for who we really are. He loves each one of us and desires the very best for us. He knows who we really are on the inside because He knew us even before we were a thought in our parents' minds.
Micah and I recently discussed what the architect on this landmark building would think if he/she could see it today. When you are standing on the property, it is as if you have gone back in time to the mid-1950's. I often try to imagine some late 50's cars sitting in the parking lot. I think I see one now. Sleek black tailfins, chrome glistening in the sun -- huge, white sidewall tires. Absolutely beautiful… something special...just like the building...and just like God sees every one of us.
Today, as you drive in, you can hear the crunch of acorns and a few leaves under your tires. Early in the morning, a rooster crows in the background (reminds me of the Scripture where Peter denied Jesus three times). Throughout the day, squirrels and chipmunks run across the deck just outside our office. We work in a place that was designed to allow nature to spill over to the inside. It is as if you are almost actually outside. Interior walls with wall length windows connect you with the outdoors as if the interior and exterior are one.
We enjoy this view today, but it wasn’t always this way. When we first looked at the building, we stood in the parking lot trying to catch a glimpse of what was behind these windows -- all covered with mini-blinds and draperies. Then, when we received not only the key, and the freedom to take as long as we desired to check out the interior, we were overwhelmed.
When we stepped through the door for the very first time, it was obvious that we were in a building that had been empty for quite a while. A musty odor greeted us as we entered the front room. Our eyes widened with excitement as we saw how spacious the rooms really were. The building had far more room than we had hoped for -- and for half the price of any other space we had visited over the past two weeks. Incredible!
It was obvious that it would take many hours to make the building presentable, but we were willing to give it everything we had. We found ourselves looking past the surface to imagine what could be. We made the commitment to roll up our sleeves and do some hard work to give this old place a new life.
Sounds like Someone else I know. Sounds just like what God did for me when He gave His only Son for me, when He reached out to me to draw me to Himself, to cleanse me of my filthiness and to give me new life. Has He done that for you?
James Gunter
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Seek And You Will Find, Part 1
Have you ever stumbled onto something that was there all along? I mean, really there all along -- and you didn't even know it? That is how God's truth is. As we read the Bible, we find something new and exciting. At times, it simply takes our breath away, and at other times, it leaves us stunned in silence. We often ask, “How did I ever miss that?”
That has become a common response when we tell people where our new offices are located. We know of people who have driven past this location for over 50 years who never noticed that the building even existed. You really have to see it to believe it.
But, let's just think for a moment. How many people come to know Christ in their golden years? Many. Some have passed by church after church for over 50 years without ever knowing the opportunity that awaited them beyond the front door. Satan does an excellent job of keeping people away from churches. He causes confusion by pointing out that there are so many, and telling people the lie that they can always pick one “another day.” Unfortunately, every day, people who never experienced “another day” are placed into a grave.
It may seem strange to you that I am using these analogies for an article about our office location, but I want to show you some parallels that I feel the Holy Spirit has revealed to me as we have been refurbishing our office building.
Almost a full year after Micah and I sat down to discuss our Internet venture, we found ourselves developing a ministry with a main focus on training lay leaders in the local church by providing relative, modern-day Bible study materials. Just recently, we felt that it was time to move it from the spare rooms in our homes and into an actual business environment in order for people to see that it was real. We set out to find a building with some unique character, but after looking at approximately 25-30 office spaces, we were at a loss. Our choices were to buy a shell of a building and have it “up-fitted” for our particular purpose, or we would simply have to settle for a “plain vanilla box.”
We didn't know it at the time, but God was about to enable Micah, his dad and me to literally live out one of my favorite verses of Scripture:
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourselves in the ways of the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
The solution God would provide for us would surpass all our expectations and would provide things we hadn’t even dreamed we would be able to have. His plan was to provide more than just an office for Center Cross Creative.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story...
Have you ever stumbled onto something that was there all along? I mean, really there all along -- and you didn't even know it? That is how God's truth is. As we read the Bible, we find something new and exciting. At times, it simply takes our breath away, and at other times, it leaves us stunned in silence. We often ask, “How did I ever miss that?”
That has become a common response when we tell people where our new offices are located. We know of people who have driven past this location for over 50 years who never noticed that the building even existed. You really have to see it to believe it.
But, let's just think for a moment. How many people come to know Christ in their golden years? Many. Some have passed by church after church for over 50 years without ever knowing the opportunity that awaited them beyond the front door. Satan does an excellent job of keeping people away from churches. He causes confusion by pointing out that there are so many, and telling people the lie that they can always pick one “another day.” Unfortunately, every day, people who never experienced “another day” are placed into a grave.
It may seem strange to you that I am using these analogies for an article about our office location, but I want to show you some parallels that I feel the Holy Spirit has revealed to me as we have been refurbishing our office building.
Almost a full year after Micah and I sat down to discuss our Internet venture, we found ourselves developing a ministry with a main focus on training lay leaders in the local church by providing relative, modern-day Bible study materials. Just recently, we felt that it was time to move it from the spare rooms in our homes and into an actual business environment in order for people to see that it was real. We set out to find a building with some unique character, but after looking at approximately 25-30 office spaces, we were at a loss. Our choices were to buy a shell of a building and have it “up-fitted” for our particular purpose, or we would simply have to settle for a “plain vanilla box.”
We didn't know it at the time, but God was about to enable Micah, his dad and me to literally live out one of my favorite verses of Scripture:
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourselves in the ways of the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
The solution God would provide for us would surpass all our expectations and would provide things we hadn’t even dreamed we would be able to have. His plan was to provide more than just an office for Center Cross Creative.
Stay tuned for the rest of the story...
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Just Thinking
Isaiah 55:8 - “My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways.”
These words ring more true to me now than ever before, simply because of a recent storm that occurred in my life. I'm not talking about an emotional storm, but a real, physical storm. You know, rain from the heavens.......and I mean a lot of rain!
Before I can make my point about what I learned about storms, I have to share a little bit about what led up to the storm. I had owned a small delivery business with a partner since 2002, and upon sensing God calling me into a field of ministry in the early summer of 2005, I attempted to surrender my half of the business to my partner. Due to the volatile nature of the delivery business, he declined the offer and we decided to sell the truck and close the business. Sounds simple enough. Right?
“My thoughts are not your thoughts....”
Now, back to my storm. In the few weeks that we had been in our office, we had seen little rain activity. Perhaps a sprinkle here and there, but nothing like this day! The trees were swaying back and forth as if they were trying to get my attention – perhaps a cry for help! I watched in amazement as the lower portion of our property took on the appearance of a small lake. And then it hit me! All of the water was coming from the direction of my truck. All I could think about was the truck getting stuck or sliding off the small bank that I had parked it on. I had no choice but to check on it, so I began frantically looking for an umbrella. Nothing! Then, my eye spotted a large Rubbermaid lid for one of our trashcans. I laugh as I re-think how silly I must have looked as I headed towards the truck. I remember being keenly aware of my surroundings as I approached the truck, and being concerned about causing an accident by what people may see, I quickly threw the lid aside under some nearby trees and darted for the truck.
Just as I thought! There really was a river of water running right underneath my truck! I had to rescue it before it was too late! As I hopped into the truck and tried to move it, I suddenly realized what the term “too late” really means.
“.....and my ways are not your ways.”
I'm not sure what sank first.....or quicker – my heart or my truck. I honestly think my heart won that competition. It was obvious that I had waited too late by the sound of the engine, the transmission indicator being in the “D” position, and the lack of movement ..... except for “down.”
The squishing of mud and the rushing of cool water over the tops of my feet were quick reminders of just how bad my situation had become as I exited the cab of the truck for my return to the office. I retrieved my Rubbermaid lid and headed back to the office, wondering just how long and how bad my truck would be stuck.
James
Isaiah 55:8 - “My thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways.”
These words ring more true to me now than ever before, simply because of a recent storm that occurred in my life. I'm not talking about an emotional storm, but a real, physical storm. You know, rain from the heavens.......and I mean a lot of rain!
Before I can make my point about what I learned about storms, I have to share a little bit about what led up to the storm. I had owned a small delivery business with a partner since 2002, and upon sensing God calling me into a field of ministry in the early summer of 2005, I attempted to surrender my half of the business to my partner. Due to the volatile nature of the delivery business, he declined the offer and we decided to sell the truck and close the business. Sounds simple enough. Right?
“My thoughts are not your thoughts....”
Now, back to my storm. In the few weeks that we had been in our office, we had seen little rain activity. Perhaps a sprinkle here and there, but nothing like this day! The trees were swaying back and forth as if they were trying to get my attention – perhaps a cry for help! I watched in amazement as the lower portion of our property took on the appearance of a small lake. And then it hit me! All of the water was coming from the direction of my truck. All I could think about was the truck getting stuck or sliding off the small bank that I had parked it on. I had no choice but to check on it, so I began frantically looking for an umbrella. Nothing! Then, my eye spotted a large Rubbermaid lid for one of our trashcans. I laugh as I re-think how silly I must have looked as I headed towards the truck. I remember being keenly aware of my surroundings as I approached the truck, and being concerned about causing an accident by what people may see, I quickly threw the lid aside under some nearby trees and darted for the truck.
Just as I thought! There really was a river of water running right underneath my truck! I had to rescue it before it was too late! As I hopped into the truck and tried to move it, I suddenly realized what the term “too late” really means.
“.....and my ways are not your ways.”
I'm not sure what sank first.....or quicker – my heart or my truck. I honestly think my heart won that competition. It was obvious that I had waited too late by the sound of the engine, the transmission indicator being in the “D” position, and the lack of movement ..... except for “down.”
The squishing of mud and the rushing of cool water over the tops of my feet were quick reminders of just how bad my situation had become as I exited the cab of the truck for my return to the office. I retrieved my Rubbermaid lid and headed back to the office, wondering just how long and how bad my truck would be stuck.
James
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