Miracles Happen at Sandal Place

The water is on at Sandal II!!

2012-02-24T12:32:00.000-05:00

Skippy texted me, this week, and said that the water has been finally turned on at Sandal II. Hurray! Small problem though...a couple water lines were not exactly completed in the basement and there was quite a mess because of it. All that aside, We now have electricity and water. Once all water devices are completely connected, Scott will then be conducting his electrical wizardry over the furnaces to get them going.

Now please join us in prayer that God will provide paying residents which can become a part of this community of healing there.

God bless,
Scooter

2/25 Donations arrive

2012-02-24T12:27:00.000-05:00

Saturday will be a big day at Sandal II for donation arrivals. There will be plenty of people to thank once the dust settles, Saturday. I want to thank my step-siblings for their donations from my Dad and Mom's condo which we are emptying and preparing for sale. Aaron and I delivered many items to Sandal II, last evening with more to come Saturday. I love that kid! ;-) Out thanks to Printz Florists for the donation of their van as well for these deliveries. Also, thanks to Paulie (while he was still permitted to drive) as well (from the FCC Connect H.S. community)for hauling stuff as well.

Blessings on you all. It feels good to be in God's service.

Good work day at Sandal II, last Saturday

2012-02-14T17:06:00.001-05:00

We had a good work day at Sandal II, last Saturday. Plaster work was done on the first floor living room, kitchen, and bathroom. We had to let that all dry before we could paint, so work will continue on another day.

The teens left their mark on the property in a very real way by leaving their hand prints in the plaster. I thought it was a great touch. Those using the premisis for recovery will see those prints there and know that there were people that came and made this a reality for them of their own will and with no expectation of reward.

Skippy is sick. If you have any chicken noodle soup or supplies, I am sure he would welcome them along with warm wishes for his recovery. ;-)

God bless,
Scooter

Saturday is a work day at Sandal II

2012-02-09T22:00:00.000-05:00

Hi,
If you want to checkout Sandal II, come on down to 1008- 6th St. NW and check it out. We will have a group working on the floors and painting the walls all day.

God is good...and a little hard work doesn't hurt either. The plumbing is almost all complete, the power is on, and the next issue is to fix the furnaces. However, we happen to know a good electrician that works pretty cheap... (grin).

Scooter

What's happening at Sandal 2? Plumbing, plumbing...and more plumbing...

2012-02-07T12:53:00.001-05:00

Hi,
Just giving the blog an update on what is happening at Sandal 2. Scott (Skippy) has been busy!
He has been aided by people from First Christian Canton (IE. Aaron, Paulie, Bryan), recently, in getting the water lines reconnected in all three floors. Soon the main water will be turned on at the location. Pray for no leaks!!!

Below are some pics of some of the plumbing work that has been done. Water heaters installed, cold and hot water lines run to the various floors.

Scooter

This shows water lines being routed to upper floors from the basement.

This image shows turn-off's that have been installed in the lines in the basement.

...and this is a picture of the connected hot water heaters.

Sandal place transportation issue

2012-01-31T16:13:00.000-05:00

Hello loyal Sandal Place supporters.
Skippy will not like this when he reads it because he hates to ask for help...but if anyone out there knows of a vehicle that we can purchase cheaply (or better yet) or someone is willing to donate to the ministry...Skippy could SURE USE IT.

This poor man has been nursing-along the white van ("Old Bessie). The latest failure was the alternator...which he replaced this last week. The most recent news is that it stalled and the power steering went out on it as it was being used to carry the new water heater over to Sandal 2 for installation.

Please be in prayer that this transportation issue will be solved.
In God's timing...amen.
Thank you,
Scooter

Front windows complete at Sandal 2...

2012-01-25T17:06:00.000-05:00

Hi,
Below is a photo from Skippy showing his completed work. What a great job!
These windows were obtained from a nearby junk yard and fitted into the existing window framing.

Scooter

Happy Birthday, Skip!!

2012-01-24T12:07:00.002-05:00

Today is Scott Grimm's 44th Birthday. Please join me in congratulating him on this accomplishment. It is going to be tough to arrange a celebration since he works midnights at Hostess...but the Gressel family will work something out.

Love ya man...
Scooter

Sandal 2 Work Pictures

2012-01-22T09:19:00.000-05:00

Hi,
Below are some pictures taken of Skip and myself working on Sandal 2 together.
The front window has been replaced with glass and the cold water lines are 99% done. Need to replace lines where copper was in downstairs to complete the job.

Left, is the start of the Sandal 2 front window replacement.

Here is a shot of Skip from the inside working on the front window.

...and left is the finished product. Great job, Skippy!!

Scooter, left, is working on connecting the cold water main line in the basement.

...and another plumbing shot...

1/20- Sandal 2 work update

2012-01-20T07:21:00.000-05:00

Hello all,
I just want to report that Skippy and I have effected repairs on the front window (well...mostly Skippy) and also the downstairs cold water line connections (mostly me). Next is to buy a third hot water heater and complete the rest of the water lines which were ripped-out (copper).

Praise the Lord, we had our electricity turned on yesterday !! So we no longer have to rely on the generator for power. We still need the gas turned on so that we can check-out the furnaces.
We can at least see if the blowers work on them now that we have power.

Today, Friday, is very cold...3 degrees. This is not the temperature to work in when you have no heat in the house. So today may be spent shopping on-line for the third water heater and I also may download the 501c3 form from the IRS and start filling that out. We need to list the ministry as a non-profit organization with the government so that we can receive assistance from organizations such as Habitat for Humanity. Some organizations cannot give to other organizations unless they have this status because of tax laws.

We continue to move forward for the cause of the homeless. Thank you for your prayers.
Please pray that Skippy is hired full-time at Hostess so that he can receive benefits.

Thank you and God bless,
Scooter

Sandal 2 work continuing...

2012-01-17T22:27:00.000-05:00

Hi,
Just an update to let you know that the work continues at Sandal 2 (6th St. house). This week we are working to get the first floor water connected and windows replaced. Beyond this will be the turning on of the electricity once we have placed the utilities into someone's name. The furnaces will be next, then, to get them up and operational.

Once water, electricity, and heat have been restored for the first floor, work will continue on connecting water to the second floor and attic apartment.

I thought those of you in prayer for us and as stake holders (financial contributors) would want to know the status. We have purchased materials with your generous donations and are getting the work done. God continues to put men in front of us needing help. We have to have a place for them to go.

Thank you and God bless,
Scooter

"Im not dead yet...." monty python...

2012-01-14T07:11:00.003-05:00

Its been awhile since anything was posted and I just felt I should put an update out to let folks know we are still here....currently I am working the midnight shift at hostess covering vacations ..in addition to my part time work at trinity...It has left me exhausted and confused most of the time ...lol...I have bought a good portion of the plumbing supplies necessary to get a start on the plumbing and ready it for the new water heaters...also tools necessary (circ saw, 18v battery and smart charger, snake bite crimp tools)they tell me me the snake bite system is idiot proof we ll see ....grin...plumbing arrrghhh...as well as plaster to patch some spots on the wall....this week I will be buying replacement windows for the 4 broken ones and we will be getting the electric turned on...all is well here at sandal 1 for daniel jerry and i...

ADDITIONALLY I would like to introduce our 2 new additions....joining Scott on the board responsible for bridling my enthusiasm....(dont bet against me ...grin) are 2 very special friends who have a passion for Jesus...and a heart for the community of men we seek to bring back to life....they are Dave Kurzen and Keith Gartner....

welcome aboard gentlemen....God bless you ...enjoy the ride ...next stop salvation....grin

When God Shows-Up

2011-12-23T22:36:00.001-05:00

Friends of Sandal,
I just could not end this day without posting this entry as a praise to the Living God who is demonstrating His presence among us, this week. Just an abbreviated list of what has transpired this week with regard to the direction of the Sandal Place ministry, that is under the hospice of AS McGrimm Holmes, Inc.

Just this week, Scott has received money from a long-time friend who wanted to help in some way, a large amount of money from a family member who adopts a family every Christmas. There is another family which has adopted Sandal this Christmas resulting in siblings (and their spouses) from the family donating $200.00 and $750, respectively.
A business in the area (not publicized yet until permission is given) has donated $1,000.00 toward the ministry work! I was on the phone with an owner/operator of an in-home nursing care business when they expressed interest in contributing to the material costs of Sandal 2. She is sending gift cards from Home Depot. So I am not sure how much exactly is coming in just this Christmas week, but it is somewhere around $2600.00!! God is so awesome. A week ago, we were wondering where the money would come from for materials to fix the plumbing, water heaters, the furnace, and the outside spouting. I would say that that is no longer a problem. It is now just a matter of putting the money to good use, purchasing the materials, and getting to work.

So...when God shows up and wants to get something done, He does it in a big way.

The above would have been enough...but I am not done. We have made acquaintances, over the past 2 years, with businesses in the area such as Buxton roofing and Habitat for Humanity. Scott and I, along with Jason Lantz (LoveCanton), sat-down with Beth Lechner and Jeff Weitsell (from Habitat for Humanity) on 12/22 AM to discuss coordinating our future efforts in the Canton community. Habitat has a mission for the Sandal Place neighborhood, as do we. Jason and LoveCanton are pursuing discipleship groups within downtown Canton with an emphasis, through their Men's Village, on the homeless population that is centered around the Refuge of Hope. Scott's long-time relationship with Scott Schneiders (director of the Refuge) and the souls served by the Refuge give us an opportunity to work in their midst...to reach out to them. Mike and Diana Regimbal are also key in the outreach to this community as they and the teens from First Christian Church's Missional Community have logged many hours in assisting at Sandal 1 and now Sandal 2 to assist in getting these properties up and running. They are a great group of kids with hearts of gold. We love them all! God is putting together quite an amazing organization of ministries - of which we are a part. We can't wait to see what 2012 will bring.

Keep praying for these ministries to come together to reach the lost in Canton and that Satan will not prevent us from doing the work that God has ordained.

God is moving. He is showing-up again and embarrassing us with His ability to show-off when He wants something done.

God bless,
Scooter

Sandal 2 Workday, 12/17- Pictures and Update

2011-12-20T12:10:00.003-05:00

Hello all,
Below are some pictures from the work day at Sandal 2. More are scheduled to be uploaded as one of our youth, Abbie, was in charge of the camera.

(above) This is a good shot of the main area, outside which we attacked. We also worked on the other side of the house in the alley and cleared-that-up. Great job by all!!

(above)This picture is of the left side of the house. It was all overgrown with weeds and the corner flower bed was rubble surrounded by railroad ties. Thanks to Aaron and Abbie, this was the result.

(above)Here is a picture of 1008 6th st. NW from the street. You can see that the sidewalk has been cleared and the porch is much better looking.

(above)These are three of our amazing volunteers from the FCC missional community helping that day. They are (left to right) Hope, Casey, and Olivia. They took it upon themselves to bring a touch of Christmas spirit to the second floor apartment after finding an old Christmas tree in the basement.

Accomplishments this day included sanitizing and mopping the upstairs floors, sweeping the second floor, beginning the process of clearing-out and sweeping the basement, and removing undergrowth outside around the house to make it look more presentable.

Our thanks need to go out to the following people who donated supplies and tools to the project:

Penny Fredericks for dontations of cleaning products, buckets, rags, etc.

Habitat for Humanity (c/o Jeff Weitzel) for donating buckets, rags, and a string of commercial grade lamps that lit-up the basement for cleanup work.

Leanne Ott for the donation of dessert (yummie Rice Krispie treats).

The Matt Smith family for loaning us their kerosene heater...boy did we need that!

Trey Corrick for allowing us to use his large fluid container and sprayer...about 80 gallons of water...we really needed that one, guys. I didn't know where I was going to get all the water we needed for cleaning. ;-)

Paul Dickerson for helping-out with his truck and transporting the filled water containers from Trey and for disposing of the garbage from the property...as well as some other unmentionables...

To all who came and donated time, money, and tools, etc. It was a great blessing given by all.

When we fall

2011-12-16T12:41:00.000-05:00

Hi,
During my normal quiet time, this morning, God whispered something to me regarding how important it is to bring our sins to light. He was talking to me...but I will share this here as it may help you as well get to that point of confession and cleansing.

When we fall, we are in the best position for an "Up" relationship with God because we are on our knees.

When we fall, we are in the best relational position for an "In" relationship with others because to confess we have to be transparent and open with others. Others see themselves in us and walls come down.

When we fall, we are in the best relational position for an "Out" relationship with those we want to serve because we have been humbled and are recipients of Grace. We can better relate to others since we too have been on the receiving end of kindness and love. It is then possible to serve without demeaning the other person or diminishing their self respect.

God bless,
Scooter

Faith and Conviction...

2011-12-14T13:13:00.004-05:00

The events of the last 2 months have been taxing upon me...the trials and tribulations have done for me what they always do....forced me to think to pray to meditate ...to converse with God...to take inventory of the theft...the tally stands at 1 washer 1 electric dryer 1 fridge 1 gas stove 1 380 semi auto pistol 150 in cash 1 lawmover husqvana 1 bank card that got swept up in a crack storm that went from +200(the water bill and Chloes Christmas presents) to -522 and counting...

now the human side of me ...satan ...disease ...whatever you choose to put on it...would have me say screw this screw these people ...screw this mission crap...and for all of an hour that sounded real good ...

but (as monk would say) "heres the thing"...God didnt tell me it was supposed to be easy ....He didnt tell me it would make sense ...He just told me to do it...there have been an endless parade of people from all corners of my life ...that told me that ...it couldnt be done ...and that it shouldnt be done....methinks me has a far greater appreciation for and understanding of noah...and like noah ...through the blood the sweat the homicidal rage ...lol..and the tears ...noone has reaped greater rewards than I ...which is why I only indulged that for an hour...

Lewis Black style rant forth coming ...duck...lmjclao...

one thing I am certain of God doesnt test us and anyone who even says that he does is horribly freakin confused!!! ..I am so convicted to this that I heard a dear friend say that he even (Bill Hindman) changed the Lords prayer ...I loved it so I do too...pray it how your faith dictates...I say not "lead us not into temptation" but "leave us not in temptation... My sickness my disease the devil ...leads me into temptation....alone ..God is the dude there patiently waiting for me to ask for his help out...rant over ...sorry...but no Im not...grin..

so you probably get a sense of how faith and conviction play into all of this..I stand by the belief as a fundamental truth that the bigger the risk the bigger reward ...that if you do a thing anything GO BIG...I got a call ...and I decided that not only should I do it but I decided to go BIG....I always ask the aether what is your call...what is your call....etc..this one is mine ....one I wouldnt recommend to friend or foe....(laughs hysterically)

as a result I have risked everything...my comfort ...my finances ...even my life ...the risks are pretty big ...and I have been burned ...recently more than ...most...but again heres the thing I have learned they can take my money...my property.. they can even take my life...THEY CANNOT !!!!!! take my smile ...my peace of mind ...or most importantly my FAITH...I can only give those away...I havent and I will not...not today baby ...not today...

here is what I have learned... here is what I FEEL inside now in the past and as long as I choose ...and I wish I could reach in and give it to all of you...anyone can experience the benefits of a life in Christ ...and it feels good ...to experience agape ...but when things are going horribly wrong when things are frustrating and hopeless and everything about us tells us to protect ourselves and abandon our faith ...our path...and we charge ahead anyway...most cannot know or understand that level of joy ...having been blessed with this I am here to tell it FEELS better than anything on this earth...and few have spent more time pleasure seeking than me...lol...ANYTHING...

unfortunately, that is impossible....we each NEED to find our call...once having found it ...go as big as you can ..,beyond comfort beyond reason and even beyond common sense ...youll get a taste of something MAGICAL>>>

finally ...finally ...lol..another fundamental truth that I have found to be absolute ..the Law Of Divine Providence ...this is where God take the evil that we or others do and turn it into a positive ...i assure you this is fact and absolutely without question true...I am livin it ....

LOVE one another without ABANDON...someone important said something similar...once or twice...smirk

scott James Earl and Lewis ...OUT!...ta da lol

Sandal 2 Workday, 12/17

2011-12-13T12:21:00.000-05:00

Saturday, December 17, 2011
Time10:00am until 4:00pm
Where
108- 6th. St. NW, Canton, OH.
Description
We will be meeting at the above address this Saturday at 10AM for the first, official, cleanup day at Sandal 2. Dress accordingly and bring work gloves if you have them. We have three floors to wash (floors, counters, walls). The following materials are needed if you can donate/bring them for use during our day:

Rubber gloves, coleman lamps, battery lamps, heaters, containers of water for cleaning (no running water at location), mops, rags, buckets, Pinesol, bleach, Leaf bags, snacks (donuts, coffee).

We want to conclude before dark.
Thank you for your time and donations for this great event!

The Youth from First Christian Canton will be making this an "Out" event as part of their missional community. We hope to have a large turn-out so work can go quickly before dark.

Bringing hope to hurting people...
Scooter

Hank and Rita.....

2011-12-09T03:17:00.008-05:00

many have heard me share my "Hank and Rita" stories and I thoughts that my closest friends ought meet them they like the rest of us were not perfect...they were perfect for me ...I would not be the man I am today twere it not for Ritas heart and social irreverence ...I would not be the man I am twere it not for Hanks wisdom....and most importantly I would not have survived this life I am living ifHank had not FORCED me to understand that you never quit ...you never give up....evevr ....no matter what ...you buckle down ...YOU DO IT...period...I so wanted to quit life as most of you know I tried to quit...attempting suicide ...when God awoke me ...and the disappointment was overcome by reality ...I did as I was taught...I got back up...I grinded ..I fought...Hank I DID NOT QUIT...NOR WILL I...thank you for that ...I love and I miss you...

I am trying to share with you who that I am ...what I feel compelled to do ....me bare bones transparent warts and all me ...sin loves the dark...I must bring the darkest corners of me where the bad stuff grows ...to the light....Cause HE told me it was my only way out of the spiritual death I was in....honestly I dont do all this that I do for ANY other reason...than HE told me to ...and I WANT TO LIVE...if someone else is touched or aided by my crazy life ...thats merely a blessing...an extra ....half measures avail me nothing I am in a fight for my life ...here and there everyday...and the good Lord willing I am pressing it to the floor ...because I not only want to live I want to live well...I want my children to be proud of their name...to be proud to have me be there Dad .....

any discussion of who I am begins with Hank and Rita (mom) and Ralph and Katie(Dad).....

gonna have to tell you about them later its going on 4...I am tired its been a long long day ...

folks they took my money ...my property...my whatever ....but THEY did not get my smile... they did not get my peace....they did not get my purpose ... and they did not get my love....thank you Jesus for that....

tomorrow I get back up and grind it out some more

Thank you Jesus
December 9, 2011 3:43 AM

Sandal West.....what I/we are in for ...

2011-12-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

God says he's in with or without us ....lol Im catching that train...

The purchase agreement with Mr Gliatta is land contract ....he simply wants to protect the money generated by his other 21 properties ....he wishes to simply cover the expenses (doesnt want to make a dime)

The terms $1000 down 33k on an 8 year note = $433 month + $300 per year for taxes he is good enough to cover the $200 annual insurance bill...I offered to pay him an extra $15 a month to cover it he said "dont worry about it" plus we have been given 3 months grace to make the repairs and start moving people in even before the mortgage is due...

The property... a huge 3 unit brick home -first 2nd 3 floor 3 2 1 on the bedrooms for 6 bedrooms total ....After talking with the city and the utility companies there are very few barriers to opening the place 2 years vacant....Sandal Place required 2 roll offs to get the garbage out Sandal West needs 8 to 10 leaf bags ....Sandal 1 was facing the bulldozer SW isnt on the list.... Sandal 1 had a list of 23 repairs required by the city including replacing all electrical and plumbing to code and a new roof ....SW has 9 items on the list ...which includes replacing 3 broken windows and things like repairing a portion of gutter that leaks ...

The needs ....short term....the $1000 down payment was borrowed from a man who really couldnt afford to ...I am working toward paying him back quick as possible....materials for repair $1000 to $1200 includes water heater, drywall, locks,windows,arrgh thankfully very few plumbing supplies, plywood, ceramic tile, and deposits for utilities, or sponsors for them,cleaning supplies and etc.

The people there are already 3 bedrooms spoken for by men who both meet our criteria and have proven over a period of time to be worthy of our efforts and quite possibly a 4th that Pastor Lance has made me aware of...

If all 6 bedrooms are occupied and the current rate the $1200 income(at the current rate) would be more than sufficient to cover expenses...3 is break even... self sufficiency should be far simpler....than the current financial demands...

These items represents about 1/8 the cost of the up and running cost of Sandal Place...

I will do all the work....I already know I wont be alone in doing so...the rest is up to the Father....and I am do not fear...for " If God is for us, who can stand against us...."

NEWS FLASH....

2011-11-23T14:05:00.002-05:00

Ive struggled since the summer to find a new place .....more and more people come to me looking for assistance it has pained me greatly to have to regularly tell them no...or squeeze them in temporarily onto my couch or Dougies bed ....hardly...ideal...

after being consistently frustrated I asked God why....It was revealed to me that a second property would not appear until the problems at sandal 1 were addressed ....Ray Charles could see what needed fixed so Scooter Geno and I set about addressing them....some were dismissed for various reasons others were sent away for a time ....the mission statement revised ....whom we seek to help ....rules and expectations .....discharge planning......goals and etc.

lo and behold SandalWest has presented....in another area of great need the newton zone .....I have accepeted a landcontract arrangement with very favourable terms....it is a 3 unit brick apartment building with 6 bedrooms .....with no major stumbling blocks to opening and very few necessary repairs.....needed.....

more details to come.....

the hard cold facts....

2011-11-23T13:27:00.003-05:00

reality can be an unpleasant thing sometimes....of late Ive been wrestling with the issue....in near constant prayer and meditation....Gods take has consistently been "suck it up you ninny" my responses back have been varied....as you might suspect....if you know me ....you have an idea of the range and colour of my responses ....fortunately for me God is a loving and FORGIVING father....

the flock that Ive have accepted the challenge of nurturing...has been engaged in one colossal failure after another.....at first I was angered ...then realized the world does not revolve around me...lol.....then I was hurt.....Jesus told me to come down off of his cross....to get my own....if I insisted upon being hyper sensitive.....grin.....I also spent a few afternoons like a failure ....then realized I WAS still clean heart intact.....I was told to stop personalizing the struggles of others .....to step back and look at what was really happening......so I did......James Earl Jones can be eminently convincing.....

turns out that we have settled into one of the most depressed parts of one of the most depressed cities (Forbes magazine #7) in the whole of the US....and we have chosen to work with the most difficult of cases......drug addicted 95% recidivism rate.....mentally ill....felons 85% recidivism rate ....chronically homeless....80% return rate ...and that through these men we should show the area hope......long odds to say the least....but we do not yield we keep going down in the muck with them....loving them until they can love themselves .....my problem of late with that I was foolishly thinking .....that you can do something like that AND NOT get dirty....

DUH...fortunately God is eternally patient....thank God

A homeless man in Buffalo

2011-11-21T19:27:00.001-05:00

So I'm walking back from supper, to my hotel, and a homeless man approaches me with a sob story.
He was not asking for money, he was asking for a room for the night and we walked to the YMCA (they opened at 7:30 it was 7:00. He wanted me to wait there until then). We went to another location a couple blocks away for him to stay...had to have cash...bla bla bla. So ( I know) maybe not the wisest choice but I gave him $20. He said it was $15 to stay at either the YMCA or this other place. Does the YMCA charge you to stay there? Don't know. Anyway...the point of this story is not to highlight how gullible I am...but to highlight a thought that went through my mind.

Clearly, he was homeless. To live on the street obviously is not easy. I had to ask myself, is this man's life worth $20. What if he was lying to me? Well...that's on him. To not help another human being...well...that's on me. I answered the question of his life being worth $20 with a "Yes". I took a gamble. I told him, when I gave him the money, that I wasn't stupid. I told him that I was going to trust him to use it for a place to stay for the night and not to spend it all on alcohol. I saw him tell his friends (gathered in the entrance of a grocery store) that he got $20 of some guy. Maybe they all will have a place for the night now. I don't know. I just felt like I needed to do this. The cynical side of me said "no"...but the human side of me said "yes". God only knows which was wiser.

Scooter

Faith, Hope, and Love- 1Corinthians 13

2011-11-20T12:09:00.001-05:00

I was asking God for a Word, today, during my quiet time. He pointed me to the same place where I had been considering before in the Word. It is in 1Corinthians 13 and in Hebrews 11:1.

1Cor 13:13
13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I was drawn here due to recent events in the lives of the men at Sandal Place. They are going through very trying times in their addictions. Skip and I have both asked God, "What are you doing here, God? What is happening? Is this what you had in mind?"

What is it that we are to be doing with this mission work in downtown Canton? Then these three words came to me..."Faith, Hope, and Love". God's voice just said "You are bringing Faith, Hope, and Love to these people...that's it." Pretty simple...not very easy...but a pretty simple concept.

So I began, thinking more deeply about this in my quiet time today and have the following observations to offer for your consideration.

Faith is best experienced in memories of God's past interventions for us. His faithfulness increases our Faith. We can then draw on those memories/experiences when new challenges arrive. They remind us of God's care for us and His love.

So, as the scripture states, these past experiences of God's interventions are "evidence" of His ability to deliver what we had "hoped for" and prayed for. This bolstered Faith also provides "substance" in our lives- something to cling to; we know that He exists, hears our prayers, and answers them.

Those of us who have this Faith are then commissioned to share it with others. Doing this brings "hope" to their lives. Our involvement in their lives brings love, compassion, and caring. At least, for the moment, they know they are not alone since we are there. The intent then is for them to eventually exercise more of a spiritual reliance on God. Their reliance on us grows less and less as their reliance on God grows more and more. We cannot always be there for them, but God is.

God bless you Skippy, Rusty, and Gino. May God strengthen your reliance on Him through this time.

Faith, Hope, and Love to you,
Scooter

Service- an Epiphany

2011-11-04T12:33:00.000-04:00

Hi,
I have been reviewing the following words, this week, and asking myself what they mean to me...
Humanity
Understanding
Service

Today was "Service". I started thinking about this and my mind went to what I believe to be our finest example of that...that of the life of Jesus Christ. Specifically what came to mind was the story of the Passover meal that Jesus was to share with His disciples the night He was to be betrayed into the hands of the Romans, tried, and then put to death on the cross. First of all, He was God and knew this was to be. He also knew who would be His betrayer...it was Judas Iscariot...one of his disciples. Not a total stranger...not an acquaintance...this was one of Jesus's trusted disciples that followed Him and lived with Him day after day.

So...back to the topic of Service...

In the room where Jesus and His disciples gathered for the Passover "Cedar", they assembled themselves as they trudged-in from the night. It was customary for the servant assigned to the party (a lowly person of stature in the community...usually a slave or a foreigner of lower status) to wash the feet of the men before they reclined to eat. This was a dirty job and was not something that Jews would do themselves- especially before a holy, ceremonial meal like the Cedar. However, before the servant could assume their role, Jesus took the towel and draped it over his arm. Jesus took the wash basin and filled it with water. Jesus then bent down on his knees and began washing the disciples feet...to their amazement and horrification.

Now...I have always stopped there with this story. That is an amazing enough lesson on Service and of the servant's heart; but today it occurred to me (probably not by accident) that within that group of men that were having their feet washed was...Judas Iscariot. Jesus knew that already. Judas already planned on betraying Jesus that night. Jesus indicated this because after they had sat down at the table and began eating, Jesus indicated that whomever dipped their bread into the meat bowl with Him was the one. Just then, Judas dipped his bread into the bowl with Jesus and Jesus turned to him and said, "Whatever you must do , go and do it quickly", and Judas left. So Jesus not only was washing the feet of His disciples, He was washing the feet of the man that would turn Him over to the Temple guards. They would eventually take Him to Pilot who would relent and have Him crucified. Whoa!!

Today, I am struck by those that have wronged me or disappointed me. I am reminded of those who have stabbed me in the back...or in the heart. Those wounds hurt more because they come from those whom we have trusted. The pain is still there, but now it is tempered with the realization of Jesus' example of Service. He placed himself lower than his accuser, attacker, abuser and gave himself to die in their place. I don't understand a love like that...don't even know if I could imitate it...but it remains a shining example of what we are to aspire to.

God bless,
Scooter

so I wake up from a dream.....

2011-10-30T23:22:00.002-04:00

guys It was really weird .....I crawled into a bottle for 10 years ....I end up in a homeless shelter...now this is where it gets weird ...I buy a crack house ...in a really bad area of Canton of all places ...but it gets better serious ...so I become a Christian...lol...weird huh? serious ...OK then .....so I fix this place up...move in ....get my son back for my visits....it gets kinda scary from here...I move in homeless dudes felons drug addicts nut cases ...and turn me and Dougie's house into a clubhouse ...phhheeewwwwww....

and baby Chloe is 5 foot 7 inches tall....

damn I'm glad it was just a dream....

Actually I just now realized the magnitude of what Ive done ...I'm kinda floored ....Ill definitely get back to ya when I get my coffee in me ....

God bless you all..

Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Goals, and Stategies for Sandal

2011-10-25T12:19:00.001-04:00

Below are elements being reviewed for God's mission at Sandal Place. Please be in prayer that the board of directors (BOD's) will be in-tune with what God wants done at Sandal. Because (just like Skippy says all the time) "There is a God...and it ain't me."

Currently the BOD's consists of Scott Grimm (aka Skippy, resident), Scott Gressel (aka Scooter), and Gino(resident).

(Ref. "Management", Ed.8, ISBN 0-538-87672-7, Chapter 7)

Guidelines for Mission Statement:

A mission statement is an organization's purpose or reason for existing. A mission statement answers questions like: (1) what business are we in?; (2) Who are we?; (3) What are we about?

Guidelines for Vision Statement:

A vision statement casts an organization's aspiration and vision for the future. It is the soul of the mission statement.

Guidelines for Goals:

Goals are what an organization is committed to achieving. They answer questions such as What, How much, and by When. Goals are divided into "qualitative" and "quantitative" goals.
Qualitative goals explain what is to be achieved and by when. Quantitative goals give more specific guidelines and answer the question of How.

Example of a qualitative goal:
We want to establish house rules within 30 days.

Example of a quantitative goal:
We want to establish the house rules of drug use, theft, truth and transparency, 12-Step program adherence, and cleanliness within the next 30 days. Each of these rules will have a way to be measured and a frequency for how often they are reviewed.

Strategies:

Strategies are major courses of action that an organization takes to achieve its goals.

Primary on the agenda for the next BOD's meeting will be the brainstorming of the mission and the vision statements. Goals are already being discussed as well.

God bless,
Scooter

Winds of change

2011-10-24T12:33:00.000-04:00

Dear friends,
Please be praying for God's ministry at Sandal. The "winds of change" are blowing through the house. Please pray for every soul represented there and that God will have His way with them and bring them Peace. Also, pray that God will reinstate His intended ministry on the property and that His Kingdom will again take root and again begin to bless the community.
Thank you.
Scooter

Beneath the surface

2011-10-03T12:40:00.001-04:00

This time of year can be so depressing. It's a downer to not see the sun anymore or feel its warmth. I was reminded, recently in a prayer time, that it is during the dark,hard times that we grow the most. When our Faith is tested and times are tough, that is when we are actually developing "spiritual muscle". It's definitely not easy and very depressing at times.
We have to rely on our friends and family to get us through and to focus inward more.

It is analogous to Winter. On the outside, the weather is cold and bleak. The sun is hidden by thick clouds and the wind blows cold. However, if you were to look beneath the snow and ice, into the soil below you would find plant bulbs, insects, and other living things developing. Plants that look dead on the surface actually are developing roots in the ground below the frost line.
When the sun finally does find its way back and the skies open up, the growth and the food stored over the winter is used to cause the plant to burst into life again.

Use this time of year to develop something in your life. Remember that new life can begin again in you. Fall is a time of shedding the old and Winter is a time of starting something new deep inside. Spring always follows Winter. Invest in your spiritual life this Fall and Winter.

I offer this Haiku as a reminder...

Winter comes.
Beneath the surface
Grows new life.

May the same be said of you.
God bless,
Scooter

The Revelation(s) to skippy......

2011-09-27T22:37:00.002-04:00

So these are the things revealed to me ...and me alone...my path...

The only thing wrong with Christianity.....is the Christian....Christ came .....lived among us ....not above us .....Died.... was buried on the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures....when he died ....he took Death and Mosaic law with him......honest Im not speculating...its in the book.....no need for interpretation .....He did not stutter.....He was not confused by this ...

He left us with the gift of the Holy spirit....which allowed the FULLNESS of deity to enter us ....The temple or Church is within us ....and ONLY...within us....a building ....a dogma ....a theology....is not how the body is assembled ...in fact it is counter productive ....it is assembled ONLY through individuals emulating Christ....NOT talking about Christ....if there is but ONE scripture ...Why then are there 1000 variations on the Christian faith....it wasnt the sinner that brought this about ....it was the "Holy"......I get the whole protestant thing ....as a former catholic....the catholic church was wrong....just like every theology that has come since....Each teaches a path to God that makes you worthy....I remember reading that Grace cannot be earned ...wink....serious it in there....and not only have we been blessed with Grace ....but Grace UPON grace...so where the hell did we come up with the idea that because I use 4 letter words more often than you or less often that either lowers me or raises me in God eyes ....the Holy....

Quick question ....if Christ were among us again.....whos He gonna hang with.... whos Hes gonna eat with.....the "holy" or the sinner.....probably the same people he did the last time ....read the book ...its in black and white....like prego...its in thar.....thats a hard thing to swallow at first being raised by dogma and not in the spirit....

many simply dont know dont realize dont understand ....that like most of the Word it has more than one meaning ....the virgin birth refers not only to The physical purity of Mary .....but another kinda as well....any guesses... any if you were gonna say freedom from religious dogma.....youve obviously been paying attention to what youre reading....smile...

One of the many bottom lines is that my spiritual health is my responsibilty and mine alone ....the fullness of diety lies within me .....that is where I worship....and while in there I heard that I should worship Him and Him alone ....and pay little or no attention to those that tell me what I Should do....

by the same token I should not tell you how you should be ....to presume to know the path is to say I understand God ...puts me in a position of JUDGEMENT.....to problems with that

1 We will never understand God its huberous to think we have a clue....

2 Christ did not Judge ....and He had the authority to do so ...I swear its in there...and if he ran into a crowd and they were about to stone the same lady again....What would He do turn his back and say bummer I told ya so....or would He rinse wash and repeat ... would he give the same speech.....and how many times would he give the same speech...5 10 1,000,000 or infinty + infinity times ....if you have to think about that even for a second wash the slate clean and start all over ....cause ya missed something IMPORTANT

am I called to share my testimony.... to share the Good news absolutely....I am called to share that my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has made a dead man (Skippy) live ....and to share the peace and contentment....that I have been granted through Him and only Him....and continue to muttle on imperfectly trying to emulate him....He tells me that is enough....

one last thing.............
I have several pastors whom I love dearly ....whose opinion I respect....who I utilize to bounce things off of he is an absolutely beautiful man....I respect his opinions and carefully consider every word from his mouth I read I pray I meditate ...I listen...

He shared with me some verses that God put on his heart to share with me ....and also sharing with me that I have a unique opportunity/ability to reach people that most others cant....that I should always move forward ...agreed ....

The move forward ....ended up being .....that Im already reaching them...Im a tiller... the harvest is anothers job

Come harvest time dont trample the yield....

these were the revelations to me...and me alone....find your own way church is within you....and you alone...

A special sandal place thank you....to the Gressels...

2011-09-27T22:31:00.002-04:00

This month was another feed the hood cookout( labour day) so there was more food than month the Gressels provided us with with an entire turkey dinner .....today was thanksgiving at sandal....christopher slaved over the meal....it was/is fabulous.....megas thankyas ....the boys

Sorry Ive been away ...but Ive been busy with here....

2011-09-27T18:45:00.002-04:00

God has been doing great things within me ...and around me .....He is truly everywhere....Ive been watching him move ....listening quietly and conversing....

Ive been talking alot to my my brothers and sisters in Christ....listening to thier words ....reading scripture ...and going deep within His temple....I talked to Pastor Lance ...a month or so ago....talking about feeling a great change on the horizon...not sure of what it would be ...not caring what or when ....just eagerly anticipating....

But before we get into that ...on the lovecanton website Id like to direct you to the agape tab...A story was well written by a young lady there,,,its about our journey here....the story is written from my perspective....but as always its really not about me ....I wouldnt have picked this ...couldnt have dreamed this up...its His story ....to paraphrase Christ "its not about me but He who sent me....." anyway its a good read

http://lovecanton.com/agape/ click on the stories link.....

Thanks Kierston....job well done

Ill be back on .....this evening......to write The revelation to Scott....duty calls land Lords property got broken into.....next door need to secure it for him...before I head off to my home group....

more to follow

Wake up, Church!

2011-09-09T23:23:00.005-04:00

I have been frustrated with the Church, lately. Basically it's because of the general malaise that seems to have covered us. We have bought-into the idea that God's work has to be done within the four walls of a building. If we are going to reach people they have to come to our building first. So much money is spent on keeping the lights on and paying for programming and people to staff the programming and to keep things going. That's the way it has always been done. Right?

God has been speaking to me recently about my attitude. I have been so quick to judgement about people who just don't get the idea that evangelism is not changing people...making them conform to some dogma or strain of religion which says that they have to jump through a certain series of hoops for God to love them and save their soul.

That's just not so. He loves them now...loves us now. Jesus already jumped through the hoops. We are called to love people. That's it.

So God has been reminding me that I once was one of those blind people, walking in darkness. This was true until on a mini-mission as a Youth sponsor I was struck through the heart with what breaks God's heart...the plight of homeless people. Until I got to know them, share in their lives a bit and try to understand them, I had no idea who they were. I was sleeping like so many of the Church is sleeping. I was spiritually unconscience until God shook me and I awoke to what true Faith was for me.

Now, my frustration is morphing into more of a prayer for people that have not been awakened to the truth...awakened to a real Faith...to seeing what God sees...to having my heart broken by what breaks God's heart. My prayer is for the Church to wake up...to wake up from the nap of business as usual to the reality of people's needs and being part of God's solution for them, individually. We are not called to change people. We are called to love people; and the world will know we are Christians by our love...not because we beat them over the head with the Bible every chance we get.

Peace,

Scott

Gene passes driving test and gets his license

2011-08-27T16:40:00.000-04:00

Congratulations are in order for a Sandal resident. Eugene ('Gino') passed his driving exam, today, and received his driver's license. Way to go Gino!!

So that adds another driver to Sandal Place. Did you also know that Mark, Russ, and I think Roger are going back to college. Russ just picked-up his books today. Mark is pursuing auto mechanics and Russ is pursuing a degree in massage therapy. They are receiving govt. assistance for education. What a blessing to have gone from homelessness, to a place to call theirs, and then to become college students all within a year. God is good.

Sandal feeds the hungry at Trinity 8/19

2011-08-19T21:29:00.002-04:00

6PM 8/19 the residents of Sandal Place (Scott, Russ, Davie, Mark, Eugene, Chris, and Roger), neighbor/friend Miss Twyler cooked and served a spaghetti dinner complete with noodles, home-made meat sauce, home-made garlic bread, a tossed salad, and chocolate brownies with drink. As Scott put it, it was "the poor feeding the poor". All the supplies were purchased, prepared, and served by these great folks.

It was great to see the turnout and to share a meal with our brothers and sisters from the streets. It was my privilege to contribute to the meal and to assist in serving it. I had a plate of it too...it was good.

I guess this may be one of the last ones served at Trinity as the building has been sold. It is uncertain whether its benevolence services will continue. I hope we can anticipate doing the same at LoveCanton's new location.

It continues to be a blessing to see how this type of outreach ministers to people. Yes I saw people eat...but I also saw conversations, fellowship, and people pulling Scott aside for advice and a listening ear. The meal was preceded by a Word from Scott upstairs from the Bible.

I am sure God was glorified and very pleased at how those who have little shared it with those who had even less. What a great lesson to us all. Most of us have to think twice about giving out of our abundance. These have given out of their necessity. I seem to remember a story in the Bible about Jesus pointing-out a widow to his disciples as she gave an offering to the church out of her need. Jesus pointed to the wealthy who gave a lot of money and then to her who gave all she had and indicated that she had given the most. Others had given out of their abundance but she gave what she couldn't afford to lose.

prayers needed for the family of dellas sponsor

2011-07-29T12:08:00.002-04:00

Just heard from my lil sis ....

her sponsors 78 yr old mother ,who still works full time to provide for her husband who suffers from vascular dementia has been diagnosed with liver cancer,...to make matters worse her sponsor...will be under going a biopsy for probs with her own liver....needless to say alot of difficulties ahead ...God cast a healing light unto your most faithful servants ....not just for thier bodies ....but thier minds ....free them thier anxiety....the need the extra energy...to heal ...

amen

the power of prayer and the gift of peace...

2011-07-25T22:02:00.002-04:00

The last 2 weeks have been quite a challenge....record heat wave ....cranky baby no water ...cable company up the pole about 2 take his greatest pleasures.....cartoons.....lol....231.86 water 186.25 cable....cell phone our only phone 40.00.... bank account at 6.26''' rough weeks....

Now I am just the type of crafty guy who knows how to make a tool to turn the water back on and to be able to by-pass a meter....and get free water forever....the only real barrier....a Christian conscience...a year ago when I released my 26 year resentment with the Catholic church....and became sacremental again ....I confessed to acts of theft....and dishonesty....it was my first honest confession...ever....I love the act of contrition,,,,,ends with "furthermore I resolve to sin no more and to avoid the near occassion of sin"......That would have been a pretty easy one to justify....right?....baby ....rash....heat ....laundry piling up....dishes piling up...pretty easy one....ummm no not so much,,,to have faith in those times when all that "seems" reasonable points in another direction...how much was my peace of mind worth...how much was a clean conscience worth.....thats when faith becomes the toughest and the reward ....in turn is the greatest....so I prayed....direction.... strength....patience....means....I listened ...prayed some more and communed ,,,,and prayed some more....this was a great test of my mettle...how much...did I believe...how much did I trust....We all face these little tests some large some small...I was blessed with this most recent one....when was your last one ?....so I prayed some more.....oddly enough despite the frustration ...I remained pretty calm.....I always tell scooter and the fellas that the solution has already happened ( God sees from the alpha to the omega n all) we just havent arrived there yet....

then I got a paycheck from trinity....+150....2 front brake jobs +40 ......60 from marcus +60 ....paycheck from manpower +40 .....Scooter ignoring my request....lol and posting the need ....+250....our friends and partners keith n holly continues to amaze ....I feel very undeserving then I remember the words of my brothers elwood and joliet jake....(mission from God and all...reminded he makes me worthy)...my new friend bob from fcc (who for reasons I cant remember though Im sure it was a good story) I refer to as no nothing bob ...lol... sliding me a handful of something as I was paying for dougies sprinkle donut n choco milk before service...get home change clothes go to work at trinity...comes home throw clothes in the laundry and find 50.....all the above bills get paid in a 5 day stretch...and I had enough money to buy dougie chinese which he loves...

I dont write this to say look at me...I always open with ..."I am the worst example of christianity"....Im am hardly saintly ...too rough around the edges ...to bold bordering on crass...I write this to say I wish I could give you a piece of the peace that I feel.....what strength is gained by not taking the easy way out...and the cofidence gained with each blessed new opportunity to grow spiritually....

embrace these opportunities ...thank God for the blessing of these challenges large and small...

"Human renewal"

2011-07-22T12:50:00.002-04:00

Jesus was in the "human renewal" business. He took people who were "dead" (both figuratively and literally) and breathed life into them again. He said He came to "seek and to save the lost". I was thinking about Sandal Place, today, and a phrase came to mind..."urban renewal". The City of Canton has a program which they think is going to solve the problem of the depressed downtown area. They call it "urban renewal". Their solution is to bulldoze all the houses and replace them with government housing or with housing which can then be sold to more well-to-do citizens; thereby raising the living standards of downtown living. However, what that actually does is misplace human beings, their families, their friends and make them homeless. We are actually adding to the homeless population by putting these houses on the demolition list. I then thought of what we believe God wants to do in downtown Canton. He has started a program of "human renewal" whereby He changes the individual's heart and mind. Once God gets ahold of a heart, everything changes. Their outlook on life, how they treat others, how they take care of themselves and their property, how they view themselves and their ability to seek employment.

This is what (I think) Sandal Place is about..."Human Renewal". He wants to be about giving hope to the hopeless, love to the unlovable, food, shelter, and clothing to the poor. But moreso than benevolence, He wants us to live life with our fellow man- whatever state they are in. He wants us to laugh with them, cry with them, help them carry their burdens. I have learnt that we are not called to be the solution to every problem they have. We are just called to be a friend...a brother or sister in the family of humanity. If we have the opportunity and the means to help, then to not do so (according to the scriptures, I believe) is sin for you (Gal.6:10). Human renewal is about the "exchanged life" whereby we become something different than what the world says we should be. We live our lives with purpose and in love for our fellow man.

May God start a renewal within your heart as well. We are all part of one human family and God is the Father of all. God bless, "Scooter"

Rules

2011-07-11T12:14:00.000-04:00

Rules. Yes, they point out our sin. Did Christ point His finger at people and tell them they were breaking the rules? No. When you were in His presence you felt love and acceptance. No words had to be said. You were convicted of your shortcomings just by being in His presence. Yet He chose to speak with love. Be careful Church. If we are to be Christ to people, how can we be that by making our contact with others only to reprimand them when they break a "rule"? This is not God's work. This is the oppression of man. Rules are necessary for safety and security...yes. But let's enforce them with love and respect of others.

Most everyone knows John 3:16, but how many know John 3:17?

17 For God sent His son not into the world to condemn the world but that through Him it might be saved.

How did we ever get the idea that rules are going to get people into Heaven? "Come to our church and worship with us. We love you. You are one of us. We are for you" we say. But then they come and bring their cigarettes and smoke them on the property (clean up their cigarette butts afterward mind you...are respectful) and we are quick to reprimand them for bringing their habit to our property. How dare they! Hypocrites!! We are no better than the Pharisees that Jesus loathed. It's at times like this that I am ashamed to be called a church-goer. I am part of Christ's body...but to be called part of the church that does those things to others...I can't stomach it. If Christ himself chose to not condemn people for their sin and their shortcomings, who are we to do so?

Freedom Fest 2011- July 4th.

2011-07-04T23:03:00.001-04:00

It was a great blessing to be part of Freedom Fest at Sandal. Scott, Russ, Mark, and I welcomed probably about 15-20 homeless men and women to Sandal for a 4th. of July cookout. Burgers, hot dogs, salads, soft drinks, beans, homemade broccoli cheese soup. The food was good and the company was even better. Terry and Jody Dillon joined us as well and brought some food. A picture or two to follow.

It just struck me as a celebration of freedom at another level. All there were at some stage of realizing their "freedom" from some form or another of "slavery". Slavery maybe to drugs, alcohol, or fill-in-the-blank...because none of us are perfect...including this guy. My prayer is for each to find their freedom and their peace as God fills them from the inside out with his love.

God bless you on this day of freedom celebration. May we find peace both for our country and for the yet to be fully examined territory in our hearts and minds.

"Scooter"

A friend.....

2011-06-28T17:49:00.003-04:00

I have always been around lots of people...loosely calling many freinds....truth is at 43 I am just learning about true friendship....I thought I knew a bunch about it....but like most things I am learning how little I truly know....I thought a friend was someone I liked and who liked me ....I thought a friend was someone to be there for you when times were tough...and someone who you would be there for when things were tough on them.....I thought a friend was someone who you trusted and who trusted you....etc etc etc .....

some of those are true, partially true, or just plain wrong....

Ive always heard and parroted the phrase " gotta be a freind to have a friend " ...unimpeachable but It had been left unexamined....

now when I found myself with NO FRIENDS....all by myself with 1.79 in my pocket...and NO keys ...( most folks probably havent really thought 2 deeply about that ....a challenge ) only the ROH to take me in...I began to really really examine friendship....

the first thing i learned was that love is required...a Christ like LOVE ...since I could not love myself I had no LOVE to give....cosequently I wasnt really able to give patience tolerance or acceptance either...what I had to offer was conditional ....certainly not Agape...though Ive been a christian all my life I didnt really know Christ....so I dug into scripture trying to know His mind and heart( note; pay real close attention to the RED....its kinda important...lol)...and I began to see commonalities ...

Ive never been an evangelist ...dont aspire to preach at Jacobs field...grin Russ...I learned that It was more important to follow his example ...name dropping is as always ...gauche....It is far more important to act like Christ ...than to talk about Christ...as this course of study went on I began to feel better I am Gods....ya know THE BIG GUY....I am his kid ...I owned it and began to FEEL it....and the people started to come ....since that time Ive been able to practice friendship....God has sent me alot of really neat people to practice on and upon...like anything else I succeed and I fail...I simply keep plugging away....and ofcourse studying....

For my college level courses on the subject...I was sent ....a guy I hate...a guy who annoys me to death .....and a guy whose company I didnt think Id enjoy so much...we are rather different....

the greatest of these is the former...we met when he brought a mini mission down to my house ....a week or so later he comes to me and says lets do life ...Im thinkin...Ohhh-kay...but I say yes ...I am a bit of a rascal he is pretty straigtlaced...both understatements.....but ya know what hes done exactally that for about a year now....man crush he completes me ...he is the yin to my yang....he is calm when I am fired up...we talk through things ...I am a better person for knowing him and and his wonderful family....

guy I hate....Ive known him for 20 years...bottom line....how dare he act JUST LIKE ME...arrogant self righteous....we are on opposite ends of the teeter totter....we balance one another out....

and the big guy....he is a big imp like I was at his age ...damn I was a pain in the ass.....grin...he has grown more than anyone at sandal has in the time there has been a Sandalplace most notably me....I love him...Id walk through a wall for him and he for me .....

so back to the top...I dont always like them nor they me....but we have that Agape for one another....A real freind loves you more than your opinion of them....

sometimes a friend needs to love you enough to give you the space to screw things up ....but checks in regularly...

trust is not an "earned thing its a given thing".....sometimes It gets bent broken is an individuals choice......

Look forward to seeing you around the hood ......btw we are cooking for the neighborhood again on July 4th serving from 1130 to 130.......feel free to stop by and hang out with us any donations greatly appreciated ....time food whatever.....memorial day was SUCH a blessing we couldnt help but do it again.......

Just when you think things have gone wrong...God shows -up and shows-off

2011-06-27T12:34:00.002-04:00

So, this last Saturday was Sandal's first pickup day for Angel Food ministries.
I don't know if you have experienced Angel Food, but it is a wonderful idea. They get food (good food) and sell it at amazing prices. A food package can feed a family of 3-4 for about the extent of a bi-weekly paycheck at the cost of $40.

So Scott placed an on-line order and then we went to pick it up this last Saturday at Perry Christian Church. They are a local church that is participating in the Angel Food Ministry program as a host location. We went in and went up to the check-in desk for Scott to present his order number. When they checked, they said that the order was not processed in time for the June pickup. The order would be available...NEXT month. (Our hearts sank)
Angel Food pickups only include those orders which have been processed for that location based on orders for the month. There are no additional items around that can be provided. So there was a "momentary lapse of Faith", as Scott put it.

He then began to explain his situation with Dougie in town (an extra mouth to feed) and two other men in the house needed food that day. One thing lead to another then the volunteers shared that there just happened to be one donated order for the day. It was done by an anonymous individual that was intended to be used in such a situation, where someone was in immediate need of food. Thank you, God! Yes, God had a plan for Sandal. He had already anticipated and had provided.

That's why I say, just when you think that things have gone wrong and hope is gone...God shows up. He takes care of His people. I am reminded of Romans 8:28 where it says "God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose". Amen. We have certainly found that scripture to be true- even when we are looking at cold reality in the face...God is there and says (as Scott has heard many times in his journey) "Don't worry. I got this."

God bless,
Church

from our friends at stark/carroll habitat for humanity

2011-06-24T14:44:00.002-04:00

Not only have they supported us in donation (supplies for the roof) but emotionally and spiritually as well .....its not easy to start a grass roots movement....to grow something from nothing....their support means a great deal to this miracles happen program...to have such a fine organization cast their lot with us....means more than mere words can say....

Jeff Whytsell wrote this ....which I felt honoured to do ....next hes gonna speak with russel...

http://www.hfhstark.wordpress.com/

God's Promises last forever

2011-06-24T11:41:00.000-04:00

The rainbow. I snapped a picture of this rainbow last night as I was walking out of the Massillon K-Mart. It is very rare that you get to see these so I didn't want to miss it. Everytime I see one, I am reminded of God's promise to Noah in Genesis. He put the rainbow in the sky to remind mankind that never again would the Earth be destroyed by water. It was his seal of promise. A reminder of His promise to mankind.

When God makes a promise He keeps it. Can the same be said of you?
When you read of His promises in the Bible, do you claim them and believe them...or do you think that He is just up there on his big rocking chair just passing the time until the end? God keeps His promises and He gives us reminders that He is still there and still sovereign. If you every forget that about Him, just look at the rainbow. And when you look at it, remember the other promises He has made in His Word and in the "word that became flesh"...Jesus.

Food for Thought on Pain and Suffering from Don Henley...

2011-06-15T17:07:00.002-04:00

"You long to be delivered from this world of pain and strife.
That's a sorry substitution for a spiritual life."
-Don Henley, From "Inside Job"- "They're not here, they're not coming"

Sandal Place Bible Study 6/9/11 welcomes the Piggott/Gressel Life Group

2011-06-10T12:32:00.000-04:00

We had a good Bible study 6/9 at 6:30PM. Our text for the night was out of Phillipians 4:12 where Paul says (NKJV) "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

The direction that I went with this verse was that I had always thought about this referring to our bellies and to our riches. But God instructed me that, in a spiritual sense, if we are full of the world and of ourselves we are not hungering after the things of God. If we feel that we already abound in riches our spirits no longer need God. These are dangers we must avoid in our walk.
This is why the Bible cautions us of "What profiteth a main to gain the whole world but to lose his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36, Luke 9:25)

It was a rich discussion and it was our pleasure to have Paul, Troy, Brian Piggott, Aaron Gressel, myself, "Skippy" and Mark in attendance. For those of you who remember Kayla and Christian from the FCC Mini-Mission, they stopped-by after all had gone and said hi (Christian took an offered hot dog and some pop).
Very cool.

Sandal Place conducts a bi-weekly Bible Study for the neighborhood and our Christian community. All are welcome. Our next one is on 6/23 at 6:30PM.

Peace and Love,
"Scooter"

The Awesome Power of Love, by Della

2011-06-08T12:20:00.000-04:00

To my incredible family at Sandal Place (Scott, Mark, Russ, Davey, Cousin Al, "God's" Will, Scott and Jody G. and all of the incredible souls that God has led there that I have had the honor of being in their presence, oh and I can't forget Dog),
I want to share how the power of their Love has transformed me from a homeless, helpless, alcoholic, addict who was full of guilt, shame, self-pity, selfishness, self-centeredness and fear, a trembling wreck and mere shell of a human being to the woman I am today. I was deep in my addiction and really was only surviving to muster up the courage to commit suicide. I found myself homeless and through a series of events was introduced to Scott(Grimm). From the moment I got to Sandal Place, he told me "you are a part of us and we are going to love you until you can love yourself- and hopefully through your experience here, you will grow to care more about others than you do for yourself". In that moment I started to feel just the slightest glimmer of hope. I just could not figure out why anyone would want someone like me around. I stayed and I can tell you it truly was against my own will. I have always run from life when it became too uncomfortable for me. I heard God whispering to me "be still and let it be". Over the next four weeks, I did just that- but nothing more. As the days went on I began to meet these incredible people that did nothing more than simply loved me. They asked nothing in return. They began to impart to me through their actions and completely selfless motives the POWER of God's LOVE. I believe with my heart and soul that they were the catalyst that helped me to a powerful spiritual awakening. This past Sunday(6/5/11), I (as Scott puts it) gave my life back to God. I have truly started to love and care more for others than I do for myself. Today I am free as a butterfly. I was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. I love you my brothers and sisters at Sandal Place. Through your LOVE and example I am no longer in bondage to "self". Exodus 3:5 God said "Take off your SANDALS, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Thank God for Sandal Place. LOVE and LIGHT to you all...Della

Walking a mile in our shoes ....a challenge to YOU, The Muggzwics Experiment

2011-06-05T23:22:00.004-04:00

I conducted this study about a month ago. I've been praying and thinking on its meaning. Here is what I understand today.
First a little background. In the late 70s or early 80s, I read a book called "Black Like Me". It was written by a white person who wore makeup to appear black. The bottom line was their treatment was very, very different- as you might suspect. The depth of the treatment even shocked the author.

I have, through the very bad choices I was making, found myself homeless, penniless, and with no one to turn to. My upper-middle class, former 911 driving, Rolex- wearing butt ended up being reborn at the Refuge of Hope. I had donated to the Salvation Army but thought I didn't need their services. I was wrong. Getting out, and staying out of the homeless shelter is far harder than you might think. The homeless are full of shame and lack self-esteem. Most people think that people end up there because of an addiction or mental illness; in actuality, this is only true of 50% of the population. So I conducted an experiment about homelessness.

THE MUGGZWICS EXPERIMENT

The coffee house sat half way between my job and Sandal Pl. It was a light industry job, filling billing boxes for AEP. I was on my feet all night and they hurt. I was in my work clothes, so I was dressed as I always am, in stained clothes with holes in them. I looked like a homeless person. I sat down on the chairs outside for the patrons (of which I am one). I sat around for about 45 minutes the first day and everyone that passed looked away, above, over and under. They did anything but make eye contact save one person who made eye contact and QUICKLY snapped their neck. I was worried about them giving themselves whiplash (grin). The experiment was on!
I went back the following day. The tables and chairs were gone...hmmm. Keep in mind I was on my way HOME from work. I begged from no one. I said nothing. I asked for nothing. I just sat there having a smoke and drinking the 5 bean. I simply looked into the faces of the passers-by - this time on a stoop so I had the homeless pose going on. The lady from Muggzwics came out each morning to sweep and put out the sign; she looked out the corner of her eye disdainfully. I was a counselor for 12 years. I'm good about reading expressions. "Was sweeping that unpleasant?" I thought (grin). Keep in mind this was a lady who has waited on me several times. That day, same 45 minutes, no eye-contact.
The next day still no tables or chairs, back to the stoop. I ogled no one. I simply looked into their faces with a pleasant countenance. That day I had 1 neck snap and 1 pleasant black lady smile and say "Good Morning" to which I responded in kind. 15 people did the stare into the ether thing. Another thing I did was keep money on me. I figured if I were offered money I would pay THEM (laughing). This never happened by the way. Different sweeper that day-same expression. Keep in mind I was picking up my cigarette butts and those left by others.
This went on for 4 more days. Different sweeper everyday same looks....hmmm. The 1st day the tables and chairs returned they were right up against the entrance....hmmm. The finally tally; 110 stares into the aether, 4 neck snaps, 2 smiles, and 2 good mornings.

The 8th day I went in golf attire (Polo shirt.. patent leather shoes ...pressed pants). I went in and bought 30 dollars of beans and a paper. I sought a cup to use and paid with a Huntington card. One of the "sweepers" waited on me and recognized my bag. It is very distinctive. I was told that they didn't have anymore of my blend. I asked the lady if she could use some that I had purchased. Grudgingly she did. That day I saw 9 people; 2 ether, 2 smiles, 2 " Good Mornings" ...and 3 conversations!
From my own experience, I know that people tend to stare into the ether when confronted face –to- face with homelessness. People can't handle the pain on my people's faces. They need to separate themselves from the homeless. " That can never happen to me " they think. My warning to you… yes it can.
I can tell you with certainty that we are wasting 100s of millions of dollars of federal, state, and local tax dollars on our current approach to homelessness. It's not working when the best of shelters are little more than warehouses for society's cast offs. They are, by their necessity, de-humanizing. They tell you when to wake up, when to go to bed, what you can watch. There is no individuality afforded. It perpetuates the belief in the minds of the homeless that they/we have no inherent value. Our wives have cast us off; our families have cast us off; our friends have cast us off; society has cast us off; and if we are lucky, we get a bed in a warehouse. It’s hard to value yourself if that is your situation… almost impossible.
Rather than complain about the situation. I chose to do something about it. On a vision, a "pipe dream" many said, I bought an abandoned crack house. I put myself in God’s hands and followed his path. I prayed for the strength to work many 16 hour days in the oppressive heat and gagging stench to get this house off the condemned list. God has sent me many, many angels along the way and continues to do so . It wouldn't be a story worth telling if we didn't get that letter on April 4th removing our property from the condemned list. We managed to save this hopeless home and restore me right along with it. I, in turn, have been blessed to watch all the men (7), except one, and one lady blossom spiritually. This was accomplished accepting them as they are, teaching them things, going all- in with them, accepting their individuality, giving them a place, and a purpose, value. Quite simply, I've allowed the agape generated from my relationship with God to flow over them. It's a recipe that works.
The really beautiful thing is that Gods peace extends beyond these walls. I sit here writing this with the doors wide open at 2 am and hear only the crickets outside. This was not the case just one year ago. God used a hopeless man, to save a condemned home, saved his soul, blessed him with fertile minds, and transformed a block, giving hope where none existed. Miracles Do Happen at Sandal PL. Time to move forward. Time for Sandal 2.

OK, now for the challenge to you. I've found that you cannot be a part of the solution if you are unwilling or unable to understand the problem. Get the dirtiest clothes you have, don't shower, or brush your teeth, muss your hair, go downtown, pick a spot to sit, and stay there for JUST 6 hours. It would also be helpful if you went to a soup kitchen, the schedule is in the paper.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to start saying hello to the "down on the luck" people you run across. They usually won't look back up, they are ashamed. That small gesture means allot whether you think so or not.

"What you have done to the least of my brothers so you have done unto me"
God bless..................

wow

2011-06-05T23:00:00.002-04:00

what another miraculous day......
my brother russ and my sister della were baptised today at fcc....pastor hammond gave them back to God...must confess...russ and I have a man crush on brad...I was asked to join in with them that makes 3 now that God has allowed me to be a part of......beautiful....miraculous....amazing ...fulfilling....humbling....MIRACLES CONTINUE TO HAPPEN at sandalplace...afterward scott and jody took the house to celebrate with a family lunch....thank you so very much...scott and I continue to do life ....and it is wonderful...man the way my boys eat (and girl)...I know that was a pretty big check....following that we went to cousin al's place he is going through the early part of a divorce he needed help boxing stuff ...and cleaning house...there was a need ....and sandalplace responded.....without question...its just what we do...and particularly cuz al...he is my best friend...been that since he was born...bond is only closer today he is the a and the mc in...... as mcgrim....he has donated thousands in cash tools...and hundreds of hours here working here,,,prayers for he and his children...and Marks grandmother who continues to mourn the death of her husband...her church in e canton donates a large quantity of food 1x per month...helps fill in the gap in the month,,,

just feeling overwhelmed and grateful....to be a cog in Gods plan....

Habitat for Humanity, Jeff Whytsell, is interviewing Scott Grimm today...more later

2011-05-31T08:38:00.000-04:00

Hi all,
It is a great honor to be connected with what God is doing at Sandal Place. Today, Jeff Whytsell (Habitat for Humanity) will be interviewing Scott Grimm for an article in the next Habitat newletter. As you know, Habitat donated the shingles for the Sandal roof this year. More on this interview once permissions is granted.
God bless,
Scott

Coming soon....

2011-05-16T10:24:00.001-04:00

We are going to have a bicycle repair day....the mission kids put that Idea in my head...and the poor quality of bikes the kids are riding...

needed...men with tools...supplies;(rims, inner tubes, basic parts,brake parts, repair items, paint, sandpaper, locks)

Ive got my tools a garage and plenty of need down here....

ALSO...

I was also thinking about the pain of homelessness.....I compare it to the plight of the biblical lepers...I dont know what it felt like to suffer from that now let alone back then...but I do know the pain of homelessness...so I did an experiment and am writing a story about it.....

look for...." A mile in our shoes....a challenge to you" The Muggzwicz experiment...

Thoughts about Mothers... Mothers Day...My Mom....my childrens mothers...Gods perfection...

2011-05-16T08:05:00.003-04:00

Become to be...

I like this man
Ive come to be
God has prepared
so perfectly
patiently
passionately
precisely
prepared me to be
a beam of hope
in this worlds
dark corners
a ray of light
in these
dark souls
a PERFECT plan
now unfolds
hatched in
a dark corner
of my own soul
once a spark
now
a roaring flame
I then pondered
'bout His plan
'n quickly realized
that I'd not be
the man I am
were it not for
MY Mother
being Precisely
as she was
for me to be
the man I am

4/29 - 5/1 FCC Mini Mission- AMAZING...

2011-05-07T09:10:00.007-04:00

Hi,
I just wanted to post some pictures about Sandal's part in the FCC Mini Mission with Childreach and LoveCanton ministries. We were fortunate to be part of the mission at Sandal Place. Rachel Porter and Corey Hunka lead a group of FCC youth and FCC youth leaders (of which I had the privilege of being counted among) on a project at Sandal 5/1. Our job was to assist Scott Grimm in finishing the painting in Dougie's room, clearing-off the porch, sanding some of the floor in the kitchen, clearing the garage and painting some garage chairs for a community area. It was a great time of reunion with everyone. Scott also shared his testimony with those who may not have heard it before. I am always humbled and blessed when I listen to it.

caption: Christian painting Cole's chair at Sandal for the garage.

caption: Here is the finished product for the garage. Great job, everyone!

caption: This is Dougie's bed- painted to be a fire truck with a real steering wheel and a DVD player/VCR/TV!!

caption:(left) Abbey Merolla and Ben Seger all painted-up-having fun...

caption:(right) Chancey and Molly displaying their face painting skills.

caption: (left) Any this...this is my Braveheart face. I wore this with pride all the way back to the church and during the time when parents were picking-up their teens from the weekend. Awesome!

caption: Here is the majority of the youth team. Great group of teens! Love em all...

caption: This is Christian(left) and Kayla(below). The cool thing about Christian and his sister, Kayla, is that they just joined our group as part of the neighborhood! they were hungry and we invited them to join our cookout. Then they hung around to have fun with the kids. It was God at work among us.

2 Cor. 5:17- If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.

2011-04-23T20:36:00.002-04:00

I dedicate this thought to my friend, Will. He has a big heart but he wouldn't want you to know it. He is a Marine...one who has seen more than his share of action...more than his share of pain and death. He has done things that, to this day, haunt him. His country commanded him to do things that most of us would run from...but not him; but there is a price to pay for obedience in war. You may return alive...but there is a large part of you that is dead...but a Marine moves forward...never quits.

My thoughts go out to Will during this Easter season of rebirth and newness of life. It is a message for all of us that have done things in our life that we can't seem to shake. He was the incarnation of God in human form, come to Earth to reconcile the world and pay the price for sin. Those who believe that God has forgiven them based on Jesus' actions can start over. If God can forgive us of our past...why not accept His forgiveness and start a new life? Is the life we have that great that we don't want to turn-it-in for something better? What are we hanging-on to? When we accept what He did for us, and that our old man can be buried forever while our new man can rise up and live, life is new. It is our past...it is our old man that we have buried with Christ. Our new man rises from death just as Christ rose from death. It is only done by the power of God in us...not of ourselves.

2 Cor. 5:14 - 6:10.
Our pain and suffering are tools that God can use to help others because no one knows the pain and suffering that others have unless they have lived it themselves. I know of no other group of people that can most be used by God than those that have once found themselves homeless, incarcerated, afflicted, addicted, and alone. Read the below passage from 2 Corinthians and ask yourself if this has been you or if this is you. Then look at the contrast between what you were or now are...and how you can be. It is a picture of how God can use us as a new creation that has empathy for those who are where we use to be.

2Cor. 6:4 - But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses.
6:5- In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6:6- By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
6:7- By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness, of the right hand and on the left,
6:8- By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
6:9- As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
6:10- As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

May these things be said true of us as we endeavor to reach out to the homeless community and bring reconciliation.

John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

There may be parts of us that are dead...or we feel lifeless inside. But if Christ has forgiven us and we ask Him to come inside us, He can turn death into life. A paraphrase from John 11:25, "He that believes in me, even though he is dead, will live again." I love what pastor Rosen says about this. "Jesus didn't come into the world to make bad people good...he came to make dead people alive."

AMEN. Christ is risen. May Christ rise-up inside of us.
God bless you, Will, and give you Peace.

Congrats to Scott Grimm and Russ Luntz for 1 Year Sobriety Milestone

2011-04-21T17:05:00.002-04:00

I just wanted to say "Congratulations!" to Scott and Russ for one year's sobriety.
That is quite a milestone guys. Scott has his coin and ...Russ' is on its way...
-Brother Scott

Restoration- Being Open to God's Miracles

2011-04-17T18:33:00.000-04:00

I am so blessed. Words cannot describe the blessing that I have received by knowing the souls at Sandal. Scott, Russ, Mark, Davey, Will, and Christy are a part of my life. How else can I state that...I don't know. I was reading the devotion for 4/17, this morning, and it says it very well. So first, let me give credit where it is due (no plagerism here): from Touchstones, Hazelden Meditations
"When we hear of a person's life being restored, we are witnesses to miracles. Our friends are heroes and so are we. As a man describes his passage from insanity to recovery, we are moved. Whenever we are truly open to knowing the people around us, whether at a meeting or getting to know a neighbor, we will see heroism. It is amazing that when we get to know most people, and hear what their lives have been like, we find so much to admire and respect. It is a privilege to have such friends. It is amazing that they are so abundant when we open ourselves to them. God truly does speak to us through others."
I can't tell you how much their friendship means to me. Friendship, hell...their brother and sisterhood is more accurate. I both admire and respect them for their grit, determination, and seeing the true spirit of God coming out of them with child-like enthusiasm. As the book said, "it is a privilege to have such friends".

Thanks continued....

2011-04-17T07:02:00.003-04:00

Scott McCully and Harvey Blough for braving the horror of the basement with me....Frank and Cathy Niezgoda for the 500 hd gift card for materials.....Larry for helping me scavenge for materials....Ken and Marguerite from new to me in canal fulton for the gift of furniture dishware that we still use today...and for believing in me before I believed in myself....scott schaeffer again for helping me transport..goods from U Junk It...furniture and appliances...Niki Green ...my mom...for countless gifts of appliances furniture lamps and food...Davey Hall...and Will Neal...for the gift of friendship,,when there werent a whole lot of people in my corner.. labor and understanding...food.. supplies....Bill W and Dr Bob...for adapting Christian principles that still guide my life.....Jimmy K for improving them...Greg for writing the book....Dog for the constant companionship....Miss Twiller...for being a friend and making me feel better about me...state of ohio for making sure I didnt starve the 1st 6 months I was here...Cuzin Al for jumping on board....the one member of my family who has always accepted me for me ....Attorney Ginella for buying me the time to make this dream a reality...LoveCanton for accepting me and going to bat for me...love canton for gifts of food furniture and labor....Love Canton Mens village (Dave Kurzen)...donations of materials Close as I can figure nearly 1000...labor and furniture...jason Lantz ...counsel support and for challenging me...Rachel Porter and the kids mini mission...laughter and labour...LoveCanton sending village...labour days ....Stewie...friendship...counsel...scripture studies...this is of course when he is not in a relationship(gotcha again)...First Christian ....Pastor Rosen and Brad Hammond .,..for being ...Awwwe...SUM...Mike Regimbaugh...and youth village...labour days ...labour and laughter...Jane Kilmer gift of 50 ...Cuz Al gifts of tools labour and Cash toally around 1000...Will again for the gift of 100 for floor paint...Al and Will 150 for the gift of a fridge and stove for Sandal 2...Light of Christ...and Pastor Nick...spiritual cousel...friendship...Light of Christ gift of 425 in HD cards...church for food donations that still overwhelm our cupboards...The Duketch family gift of furniture house 2 and here and appliances...The Ribbey family...a couch and dishes that are way too good for the likes of us heathens...lol..and a TV way way to good for Russ...Brian Piggot and the youth group for saving me from some of the plumbing....Dave Hallet for the gift of a washer and dryer for house 2...the XXXX Family for the gift of a washer and dryer way to good for the likes of us heathens.....Terry Dillon and yes you too Jody...grin... for the gift of vegetables ...friendship and scriptural guidance...Marks mom and Grandma repeated gifts of food and kindness...Pastor Rosens mens group gift of 600 for materials... Pastors Lance and Barger and the lovecanton body for the matching gift of 1000...Ken from Buxton roofing.....and Larrys crew ...for doing such an awesome job on the tear off and shingling on this ole house(1896)...wow...Habitat for Humanity...for the donation of all the shingles felt and dripedge ...another wow.. xxxxxx from HEAP....10 a month 2 years ...covering the 500 deposit...and nothing on the backend....amen...Crystal Grimm for believing enough in me to give me a chance and getting me a job...hallelujah...and for paving the way for me back into the life of my most precious and 1st born...my original road dog Chloe...(hallelujah)(10^3) and 2nd to last and most certainly least...my brothers my family....Mark and Russ...sharing this walk with me...joyfully and honestly sharing warts and all....lololololl...naked before the Lord and not ashamed...reaching for the stars...driving me to be a better version of myself...mere words cannot describe how much I love you... And finally...Scott Gressel...who around 10 months ago came to me and said lets do life....and has done positively that....he has put a great deal of money and labour into this home...but his greatest gift...has been that of a friend... foxhole kinda friend ....going down into the slime and ooze...with me....on the outside...and more importanly the inside...and not shrieking and walking away....doing life and going big at it.....words cannot describe...... Jody Gressel....for letting Scott come out to play and supporting him in this endeavor....for opening your home to us...for introducing me to your ma and sisters...way cool chicks one and all..... even Aaron Gressel...is pretty cool ...if he werent such a lil girl....hahahahahaha open letter....section reserved for my oversights All Gods Blessings, Scott

faith can move a mountain...but best ye bring a shovel

2011-04-16T08:57:00.003-04:00

if its a big mountain you best have LOTS of shovels.... an open thank you to the sandal shovel brigade....lol.. sorry I havent posted lately...had dougie...computer down started a midnight job....blessings all but occupied lots of time....thank you for picking up my slack scooter.... half a league, half a league half a league onward into the valley of death walked the 600 forward the shovel brigade "charge toward the issues" commanded THE LORD into the valley of death rolled the 600 adapted from Tennyson by authority of Christ.... It took a lot to get us to this point..God knows when you take on a mass thank you ...you leave things out apologies in advance... In may of 2010 god put it on my heart to buy this place ..for reasons not totally known to me....I complied despite much criticism...cant be done ...shouldnt be done ...not possible ...waste of time ...waste of time...fortunately I had more faith than reason...lol... I am not sure if it has be 600 but close...... Mike Kell for letting the property fall into disrepair ..the cottrill and powe family for doing so....heather for throwing me out...Scott Schnieder and The refuge staff ...for giving me a place to stay and time to heal....(no jest at all everything happens for a reason...divine providence is a beautiful thing) It is not for me to question why ...but to do and die ( Tennyson again) list to come after our mission work ....Sandal Place is going to pack a full trailer of food bound for Haiti ...thank you terry dillon for keepin this need in the fore of our minds A bed rock principle of our meager mission here is to be of service its a huge part of the healing process....thank you for the opportunity to serve..... more later...God bless

4/15 Update- Pictures of the roof coming

2011-04-15T11:55:00.001-04:00

Hey,
The roof is on and it looks beautiful. Scott was walking home from work Wednesday and he called me just as he rounded the corner onto Dill. He said he just wanted to cry. He had not seen the finished product since he was at work during the job's finishing stages.

God bless,
Scott

4/13- The roof is going on at Sandal...

2011-04-13T16:03:00.001-04:00

Today, Ken Henderson's roofing team (from Buxton Roofing) is putting on the roof. There was a lot of bad wood that had to be replaced (donated by Buxton roofing), new felt for the roof (donated by Buxton roofing), 15-square of new shingles (donated by Jeff Whytsell- Habitat for Humanity), and drip edge (donated by Buxton roofing). The labor was provided by a professional team at a reduced cost per square. Thank you, Larry (on-site roofing manager) and the rest of your roofing team (whom I hope to have a chance to thank individually).

Our thanks to all of you who have made this possible with your donations. This would include a big thank you to LoveCanton for the $1000 match.

Below are some pictures from today's work.

4/11 Update on what's happening at Sandal Place

2011-04-11T12:29:00.001-04:00

The shingles have been delivered for the roof. The dumpster is in place next to the house to received the old shingles as they are removed. All Ken Henderson (from Buxton roofing) needs is a day of good weather for his crew to show up and do the job.

The house is off the demo list...so that threat has been removed by God. Amazing!
God is amazing. Scott is a "home owner" so the list of grievances the city gave him was for a rental property (which is what the house use to be before he purchased it). The city had their lines crossed on that one!! Now, however, we have an official letter stating that it has been removed from the demo list. Scott has that puppy framed on his wall!

All is good and the residents of Sandal continue one-day-at-a-time as they walk their journey together ...and no longer alone.

If you want to continue to give toward the work at Sandal, please checkout our link on this blog for that purpose or contact one of us personally. Thank you.

4/7 Buxton Roofing(Ken Henderson) and Habitat for Humanity (Jeff Whytsell) put a roof on Sandal

2011-04-06T13:00:00.003-04:00

Hi,
God continues to bless us at Sandal.
1. Donations to the effort at Sandal have exceeded collections of $1000.00. Jason Lantz will be presenting the check for LoveCanton's matching contribution of $1000.00 at our next LoveCanton Celebration, 4/10- 6PM. Thank you to all of you who have contributed and for your prayers. This is an example of the Church in action...the real Church.

2. Jeff Whytsell, from Habitat for Humanity, is donating all of shingles for the roof! Their vendor, All Side, is delivering them to the house 4/7. 4/7 is a scheduled work day. The roofers from Buxton roofing will be putting them on, weather permitting. What a blessing!!

3. Our thanks to Buxton roofing for letting Ken Henderson and their roofers to participate in this effort! Ken Henderson, from Buxton roofing, is overseeing the roofing job. He is donating his time, free of charge, and also some materials for completing the job. He has arranged a dumpster and a team of roofers to put on the roof with all the required tools, etc. So not only will there be a new roof on 613 Sandal Place but it will be done professionally.

Please pray for good weather and safety for all that will be volunteering this Friday and working on the roofing. To you have any idea what this will look like to the residents on Sandal Place? Can you imagine the wave of emotions that will go through the people there to see such hope and change coming to the neighborhood? This is a beginning. This is a place of Hope and Joy that is being planted on the corner of hopelessness and despair.

It is all just so amazing to me...I am still processing it all.
God bless,
Scott Gressel

4/4 Update for Sandal Place

2011-04-04T20:48:00.001-04:00

Tonight, 613 Sandal Place sleeps easier because the threat of demolition has been lifted. Ken Henderson (our roofer from Buxton Roofing) and I went down to the city offices, this afternoon, to file a permit for the roofing work to be done. While there, I also asked for the letter from the city declaring that the house was no longer on the demolition list. After about 10 minutes of waiting for it to be typed-up, it was given to me. There is no inspection this Friday. To God be the glory. He has orchestrated all of this and is putting the pieces of this ministry together one-person-at-a-time.

Thank you for your prayers and for your donations.

Those of you who have donated, to-date, have given $800.00 toward the $1000.00 LoveCanton match. So I believe we will see that additional $200.00. Rachel Porter, acting as the liason on this effort with LoveCanton, discussed the matter of the match with me and we both agreed that she should write the check for $1000.00 once we received that final $200.00. That would take us to $2000.00 in total collections toward the repairs at Sandal Place. Ken Henderson and the Sandal Team will be meeting to discuss the next steps in repairing the roof. More on that as it develops this week.

Scott Gressel

4/3- Update on activities at Sandal Place

2011-04-03T18:24:00.000-04:00

Hi,
It's been another incredible day for God's Kingdom coming down at Sandal Place. It started when Scott Grimm, myself, Mark, and Russ met with Ken Henderson this morning in the FCC Cafe to discuss the plan for tomorrow. Ken is our licensed roofer that is a God-send for us in getting us through "the Red Sea" of "red tape" in downtown Canton. Tomorrow will be a banner day for the Kingdom as Ken and I will be filing paperwork with the city on the house at Sandal. Stay tuned for more on that as it develops. I will devote an entire post to that. So that is exciting because it has the potential of removing the threat of demolition from the property completely. Be praying about that, please. That is the desired goal, at the end of the day.

THEN...I was seated up front, this morning, (before the morning began)and Scott Rosen came over to me and said that he wanted to give me the money that had been collected so far from a men's Bible study that he leads and others. It was a wad of cash that added-up to $600.00!! Praise the Lord! Needless to say, I had a difficult time the rest of the morning. I had something in my eye that just made me tear-up a lot... ;-)

$600 is a large amount of money by itself, but LoveCanton has agreed to match whatever is donated up to $1000.00...SO...that means we are at $1200.00 plus donations given.

4/2 Sandal Update

2011-04-02T08:47:00.000-04:00

Hi,
God's blessings and Peace upon you.
Donations are starting to come in on the effort for roofing repairs at Sandal. Thank you...you know who you are. We are now working with a licensed roofing contractor, Ken Henderson. What a blessing we have in him! He has created a scope of work for what he will be formally documenting for the City of Canton. Monday, we will be going down to the city offices to file some paperwork. Please be praying that, after Monday, the burden of the 4/8 deadline will be lifted and that we will have further time to conform to the city ordinances that are being enforced.

God is doing so much on our behalf. Jason Lantz is arranging a meeting with a highly respected home building organization in Canton, this next week. The lead person from this organization had read our blog and was inspired by the vision that was expressed there. Scott Grimm, Alan Grimm(Scott's cousin and co-owner), myself, Jason, and this individual will be sitting-down to discuss what could be done to assist with the current dilemma at Sandal and what can be done together with them in the future to fulfill the vision of AS McGrimm Homes Inc. Please be in prayer about this as this next week begins.

God is moving, 3/31

2011-03-31T12:38:00.004-04:00

Hi,
Just an update of what has happened since yesterday, when I put the event up on Facebook for a fund raiser for Sandal.

Last night, a plea was made by Michael Regimbal about the need for a licensed roofer for Sandal at the Youth Connect Worship - Edgewood. One student spoke-up about his Dad being a licensed roofer. So we had a candidate.

I received a call from Brent Barger (LoveCanton) requesting an update on what the current status was of the house and how it stood with the city. Love you, man.
Through most of the day and into the night, I was joined by many people praying about this situation. We have been crying-out to God to bring us the roofer and the means to get this house in shape...the roof and the gutters.

Today (3/31 AM), I received a call from Rachel Porter (LoveCanton, ChildReach) and she indicated that the LoveCanton board of directors met today and decided, that since Sandal Place represents everything that LoveCanton wants to live-out, they decided they are going to match up to $1000 of whatever is collected for Sandal Place towards the roofing effort. Wow!! I was speechless.

Then I called Scott Rosen to ask if this could be announced from the stage, Sunday at First Christian. Scott indicated he was already working on getting a roofer that he knew (possibly labor and materials...not sure) and would be asking his Bible Study group to contribute towards the match! God is so awesome. So we are currently waiting to see where we are at the end of today with regard to a solution for the roofing problem.

I also received word from a special person (who shall remain nameless) that indicated they were going to give money towards this effort and that they had a refrigerator that they wanted to donate to Scott. Scott's refrigerator has not been working even though it just received a new part about a month ago to repair it then. It's time for a replacement...and God has provided that too.

Please pray that Satan will not be able to come against all the good that is happening and that this house and ministry will be saved from the demolition list.
Too many lives are being changed for the kingdom to stop now.

I feel like the Israelites when they were against the Sea with Pharaoh and his army rushing down on them to demolish them. It seemed hopeless until God showed-up. It's in times like this where you find out that God's Church is alive and well and God has ownership of what goes on. May ONLY His name be praised in all of this.

Keep prayin...and put your money where your mouth is. :-) God bless.

3/27 AM FCC check-in for Dougie goes seriously wrong.

2011-03-28T20:21:00.000-04:00

3/26 Saturday workday at Sandal with youth from FCC

2011-03-28T20:09:00.000-04:00

We had a work day at Sandal and we were joined by Bryan, Paul, Kishan, Michael, and Aaron. Kishan, Paul, Mark, and I painted the kitchen and the bath downstairs while Bryan, Michael, and Aaron worked on a plumbing problem downstairs. Scott was working on dressing-up the wall in his bedroom to hide the plumbing repairs.

It got a little bit rowdy, at times (Mark!), and paint didn't always get where it was suppose to go. Kishan took it upon himself to try-out a new look...

3/27 Staff/Student Basketball - 3 point contest

2011-03-28T19:51:00.002-04:00

Mark went to the Staff/Student basketball game at Edgewood on 3/27. He entered the 3 point contest after the first half and ended-up in the shoot-off between himself and two others. He then proceeded to win the shoot-off with 4 baskets.

Congrats, Mark.

Standing

2011-03-27T21:46:00.000-04:00

To those of you that are friends of Sandal Place, I ask for your action and prayers.
Whether or not Sandal Place will stand or whether the house will remain on the demolition list is in God's hands. It certainly is a test of faith for us all.
I am fraught with mixed emotions, having gotten to know these guys and their dreams for this house, this street, this neighborhood. It already has become a starting place for them...a home...a place to call their own.

April 8th. is the final inspection day. We still need roofing supplies, and a roofer.
We all believe that God will supply these...but we don't know how yet.

I will not add my worries for them here. God knows them. I just know that regardless, they will remain my friends and my brothers in Christ. God will provide for them and He has a plan for them. It is just very stressful seeing the circumstances from this side of eternity.

God bless.

3/27- No Wall

2011-03-27T21:26:00.001-04:00

I am posting this for Scott Grimm while he is experiencing temporary Internet connection problems...

"I woke up, this A.M., Early :-) (Hank) feeling Powerful...like I could gently walk through a Wall. I still feel powerful but have realized there is no wall."

3/19 In review

2011-03-20T08:55:00.002-04:00

As it turned out, we had a nice day. There was a chill in the air, but the paint went on anyway. Aaron and Paul, from FCC, came down to assist and meet the guys. It was cool for them to get to know them. We painted as loud rock and roll filled the Spring air.
Scott cooked us a later lunch on his charcoal grill. Cheeseburgers and backed onion and potatoes...his recipe. All were really good. Russ, Davie, Scott, "Scooter"(that would be me...my alias at Sandal, since there are two Scott G's down there when I am there), Aaron, Paul, Scott's cousin Al, and Will all chipped-in to work. Things are looking much better as the outside of the house is almost completely painted. The garage needs finished.

The next major things that need addressed are the roof to be done by a licensed roofer and vinyl spouting to be put up. Metal spouting disappears down here. People tear it off houses to collect money for it. If you know anyone willing to donate time and materials to this cause, please contact either Scott or myself asap.

Thank you and God bless. Please be praying for us to meet the 4/8 deadline that the city has issued for completing the list of repairs given to us. This house is still scheduled for demolition. We need to get all of these items checked-off their list to save it and the ministry started here. But God will provide. AMEN.

We all like sheep have gone astray

2011-03-19T11:13:00.000-04:00

"We all like sheep have gone astray- each one to his own way."
How much like sheep are we? We are drawn away by our own desires in a direction we should not go...and then we realize where we are and ask ourselves over and over again "How do I keep getting here?" Jesus, thank God, is that faithful shepherd that comes after us and gets us back into the fold. He is our savior...He saves us from ourselves.
Why? I don't know.

In the 11th chapter of John, the story of Lazarus unfolds. Jesus talks to Mary and Martha about the fact that Lazarus is in the grave and both of them blame Jesus for not coming sooner. But Jesus purposely waited until Lazarus was dead before he went to them so that He could show them the power over death that God had given him.
Jesus is responding to Martha when she says that Lazarus would be alive if Jesus had come earlier. Jesus told her that he would rise again and she said she knew that in the resurrection, we all will rise again...on the last day. Jesus then replied with the following...

John 11:25,26- "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die (or be dead in his sin-dead inside), yet he shall live."

In so many words (not that I am taking on myself the responsibility of translating the scriptures...God forbid), to me Jesus is saying "In me is resurrection. In me is life. though you may feel dead inside, believe in me and you will find life again." "I am that Good shepherd that will come and find you. I am that Good Shepherd that will fight for you, that will pull you out of the rocks every time you go off and get yourself in a bad situation. I do this, because it's my job. The Father has given you to me to guard until the day that He will bring you home."

Work day Saturday, 3/19

2011-03-15T08:06:00.000-04:00

Hi, I think we should plan on an outside work day, this Saturday. I am available until 2PM again. I checked the weather and it is forecast to be 50 degrees, partly cloudy, and only 20% chance of rain.

I will contact Brian Piggott today and have Aaron mention it at his Bible study tonight.

We need to talk about supplies for Saturday. Maybe we can get those Friday so that we can just dig in Saturday morning.

do you ever have those blue periods you cant shake?

2011-03-12T09:13:00.002-05:00

my life includes these periods...I take medication for it but sometimes I still cant shake it..it usually hits oddly enough after a period of great joy....I am good at times of great crisis...cause thats where I lean on the Lord without question....periods of great joy are tougher....

This past week I recieved a GREAT blessing from Light of Christ church in Waynesburg I was so overwhelmed I couldnt even cry...its a struggle to have a semblence of a normal home and a family atmosphere...last month the last 10 days the pantry was getting pretty thin...but we survived ...heck...Mark still managed to get fatter...lol...he'll be due in october...and they brought so much food that we had to redo the cabinets..at first I worried about the cabinets falling of the wall....Praise the Lord....and we still give thanks....our saying around here is miracles just keep happening...we giggle shake our heads...and thank Him....there goes another one of them...thank you for that...for me for the guys and for the neighborhood...and thanks for DOUGIE...hes coming ...Heather is sick...she called to make sure I had food for him...I laughed and told her that Ive got enough for her to take some back for my step kids if she needed it...lol...

I was so overwhelmed by my baptism...I couldnt put it into words....but we'll give it a try....
Ive been baptised 2x before and been saved 2x in addition....but those were baptisms of forgiveness....I went into this one with the Idea that this was not to welcome the Spirit but to marry It...I tried but couldnt find the scripture...THAT was truly ovberwhelming...Ive been blessed to spend a fair portion of my days walking in the spirit...its electrifying...and when I said I do..it was overwhelming...more than overwhelming....

and when Mark asked me to baptise him...I did cry...see Mark is more than just a guy living upstairs or a guy that ties up my computer playing poker...lol..more than just a homeless guy with a criminal record ...more than just a guy stunted emotionally by a lack of love and a guiding hand in his first 32 years...HE IS PROOF that I did not hear God wrong...He said gather my people...and use the hopeless to do so...Today he walks in Christ ....mostly....doesnt shovel the side walk or driveway...he shovels the neighborhood...honest...he works hard and is eager to learn...a blessing...and he asked me to baptise him(crying now)...wow...got nothin

Ive lived in Massillon all but 2 years of my life....but Ive got deep roots in those hills...Russ' moms song touches my soul...his connection to it(its all he has left from her)....his beautiful blue grass voice ....it touches me in my soul I cry...

and Satansfolks went on the attack...Do you really think they wont tear this place down...I am still FIGHTING to get it off the demo list...Do you really think you can save a hopeless neighborhood....thats a big order and nobody individual public or private has been able to do it...What makes you think you can....I began to question....I began to lose faith....I was weighted down....Thursday at Bible Study my faith was not only restored but strengthened....along with my resolve....God was there and had me reaching for them slippers and that shovel.....

miracles continue to happen

2011-03-07T16:46:00.002-05:00

blessings abound thanks to the Lord and the messengers he uses...

Friday Jason and Dave drop off an anonymous donation beautiful couch...tv....and enough dishes for up and downstairs ...that match exactally....Dougie would say they are PERFECTTTT

Saturday...Mens village and Will Neal for the Donations that rented the sander and bought the paper and paint...40 bucks a gallon...ouch...and dave Kurzen for picking up the overrun.....Dave Kurzen for use of his truck,,,,and most importantly....Scott Mark Della Dave and most especially...my nephew Daniel Mcginnis he put in the 2nd most hours....we pollacks dont cut slack for anyone...family code and all...Daniel was integral ....and oh btw the floors look awesome ...ready to schedule a meet with the ward councilman...

Life:Pain :: Art: Chaos

2011-03-07T13:16:00.000-05:00

If you are familiar with the W:X::Y:Z notation...(W is to X as Y is to Z)...you will understand better my shorthand in the above title. It comes from a devotion that I read out of Touchstones, this morning. I like the quote that came from Rita Mae Brown which read...

"...there is no life without pain just as there is no art without submitting to chaos."

Life is to pain as Art is to chaos. Wow...there is a lot to contemplate there.

Let's start with the definition of chaos. It actually was used to refer to the formless state of the universe before anything existed.

It comes from the Greek word χάος or KEIOS.
Chaos (Greek: χάος ; in English pronounced /ˈkeɪ.ɒs/[1]) in Greek mythology and cosmology referred to a gap or abyss at the beginning of the world, or more generally the initial, formless state of the universe.[2]

So if we look at pain and chaos as being similar to each other, we suddenly realize our role. Chaos and pain are what we perceive. Art without formlessness, or chaos, does not allow us a medium from which to create a masterpiece. A new artist looks at a piece of granite and wonders how this will ever become a statue. A master, looks at the granite and sees the statue within. All they have to do is free it from the rubble that surrounds it. To us it is chaos...formlessness...but not to them.

Think of pain as the rubble...the rock we chip away at. Buddhist thought would say that pain and suffering have cause and effect relationships. It is necessary to think about what has caused this pain to eliminate it from our lives. Mentally, it is their way of chipping away at the rock which encases the desired life, freeing us from the pain. Life is within. Pain is what we work through to get to that life...the final artwork.

As Christians, we realize that we are that new artist who is looking at the chaos of our lives and wondering how we are ever going to get to that masterpiece within. But God, the master, looks into our chaos and already sees the masterpiece...and if we let Him, he will work with us daily to free our lives from the rubble. Amen.

2011-03-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

Daniel helping-out in the flooring effort. He was a hard worker!!

Dave Kurzen assisting by using the floor sander.

The past is a foreign country.

2011-03-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

You know how you sometimes get very deep ideas, and meaningful ideas, from the most unexpected places? Today, as I was planning my day in my planner, I looked at today's quote. It was from L.P. Hartley. Is said the following...

"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there."

That started me thinking of what things we associate as different in foreign countries that could be associated with "living in the past".

* the language we used * the mental state we were in * the technology maybe we used * the customs we followed or habits we had (ouch) * Art * our philosophy * paradigms that were held * religious viewpoints or lack of them * our political views.

Think on these items and ask yourself if you are still living in these...still living in the past, or have you moved on?

There was a man in the Bible that was looking for a country...Abraham. He left the old and set his face to finding the new.

Genesis 12
Promises to Abram
1 Now the LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.

God bless your journey, today.

02/27 Sherrick Road Love Canton Baptism Service - Scott Grimm and Mark are baptized

2011-03-01T22:41:00.001-05:00

In the above picture, Scott Grimm is giving his profession of faith before those assembled at the Sherrick Road Church of God. Jason Lantz was the one who baptized him.

But wait ...there's more...

This handsome gentleman, Mark, came that night with myself, Scott, and Russ, and Jason Lantz issued the invitation for anyone else that wanted to be baptized. Mark said he wanted to as well and wanted Scott Grimm to baptize him. He did and it was suddenly and even more amazing night!

...and yes...there's more...

Russ Lunce (one of our brothers staying at Sandal Place), above, blessed us all with an accappella song written by his mother. It was a touching moment for him and all of us. Thanks for sharing this with us all, Russ.

wow what a glorious day yesterday...

2011-02-28T12:21:00.002-05:00

It was absolutely overwhelming...so much so I cannot accurately describe it as of yet.....Im still letting it wash over.... me more later...

an open call....911

2011-02-28T12:01:00.002-05:00

as the weather breaks....and my next city inspection looms(april 8)

we are desperately seeking help with the following....

roofing...need to tear off and reshingle roof on house and garage

need a city liscensed contractor...and materials.......

guttering....contractor and materials...house and garage

siding......fascia and soffits ...house and garage .5 sq white siding eaves of garage...

exterior painting.... help and materials

Thank you for keeping this in your prayers...

also....if anyone has an old wood/coal burning stove any condition this would greatly help reduce our electric bill

Scott

Jesus came to set the prisoner free.

2011-02-25T00:27:00.000-05:00

Jesus has taken the place of our unworthiness, our evilness, and has become sin for us.
He who had no sin has become sin that He might save us from the very thing that sought to enslave us. He has come to set the "prisoners"...free.

Perhaps there is no better story of this than the story of Barabbas. The scriptures tell us, in Mark 15:6 and beyond, that it was a custom during the time of the Feasts of the Passover that a prisoner be released to the Jews. So Pilate, unsure what to do with Jesus because He had been turned over to him by the chief priest and that he had found no grounds to put Him to death, let the crowd settle the matter. He allowed them to choose between Jesus (the King of the Jews) and Barabbas (an insurrectionist to the Romans and a well-known murderer). The crowd chose Barabbas...one of the most vile criminals of his day. And as the story goes, Jesus was scourged almost to death and then lead to the place of crucifixion where he took the place of all sinners on the cross.

"And while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8

Jesus, in effect, set a prisoner free from the death that his sin had earned him. How do we respond to such an act as this?

What prison have I fashioned for myself? Be careful of the "prison" that you fashion in your alleged "freedom". Freedom is very misunderstood in our culture. We think freedom is a "blank check" to do whatever we want with our lives and our bodies. This can lead to sin; and when it does, sin becomes the master and you and your body become its slave- doing its bidding. Therein lies the creation of the prison. It is not one that you can walk away from. It is one for which you will need assistance to escape.
Some need a 12-step program with accountability partners or a sponsor. Some try and try for years using shear will power...but end up failing miserably.

But Jesus has broken the power of sin and death because He faced them both and rose from the dead on the third day after his burial. He alone has the power to free us.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:8,9

We cannot free ourselves from our prisons. We need Jesus's Holy Spirit to lead us and to heal us from within. This is real. Give it a try by surrendering it all ...as did He...at the cross.

Painting Event Saturday morning at Sandal

2011-02-24T23:52:00.000-05:00

Hello all,
I have gotten Scott's approval to open-up the painting of the upstairs apt. to the Teens from First Christian Church. I have included an event on Facebook and have asked Michael Regimbal to send out a bulk text to the Teens from Wed. Night Connect Worship inviting whomever can show-up Saturday.

I set the time of the event officially from 9AM until 2PM, mainly because that was the time that I was looking at being there as a co-sponsor of the event. I will contact Bryan Piggott as well, if he is available. I have another commitment Saturday afternoon. It's my Dad's 87th. birthday Friday. So Saturday we are going to celebrate it.

We'll see how it turns out. I don't know how many will respond, but painting will be done regardless.

See ya then...put the Turkish on...

Waz up guys?

2011-02-23T12:37:00.003-05:00

Hello Scott, Russ, and Mark,
What is up with you all? I am just thinking that maybe we should create a list of items that could be contributed to the ministry there and post them on this blog for our readers.

Scott, you gave me something about that already, so I will review that, below.
Questions to answer on this are:
1. What capital purchases are needed?
2. Give some examples of what you mean by "material purchases", please.
3. Give some examples, please, of what you mean by "operational purchases".
4. Discretionary purchases have been indicated as the following:
a. restaurant gift cards,
b.wireless modem,
c. small stipends for labor for resident participation in renovations,
d. VCR with remote
e. Also, if our readers feel lead to write a check or send money, how should they accomplish that (until we get PayPal satisfied with the necessary documentation for AS McGrim Homes Inc. and the open their side of the exchange)?

What's the latest on the renovations? Anything new happening? What can I help with?

See ya later this week. Exciting Thursday and Sunday nights coming up!
Scott

We are His workmanship

2011-02-22T09:18:00.003-05:00

I am in Ephesians 2:1-10, today. Below are the thoughts that came to me as I was studying this passage. I hope it brings as much joy to you as it did for me when I realized what it was saying.

Bible Gateway link to scripture text (NKJ)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202&version=NKJV

After I read this passage, I realized that we should be "dead" because of our sin.
In a very real sense, left to our own vices...that is usually the end of things.
We who live in the mire every day know what death to our souls feels like. It is a dark place. But Jesus calls us out of the mire onto a higher plain. We fulfill our lusts, and left to our own vices, we could never get there.

But then the passage switches to hope and salvation with two little but powerful words...
"But God...". We are hopeless, BUT GOD brings hope. We are sinful, BUT GOD is not. We are powerless, BUT GOD is all powerful. Amen?

Verse 7- The passage speaks in future tense about what He is still going to do in our lives. "He will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus." Wow! I don't deserve that...but then that's what grace IS.

Verse 10- This is the good part...we are a work in-progress. We are not there yet. Thank God! I'm glad I am not staying this way forever!
"We are His workmanship...".

God is changing us. Not us...Him. God changes people. For the purposes of His name, He changes us and has work for us to do. Remember what the psalmist said in Psalm 23?
"...He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His namesake."

Isn't it a beautiful plan that God can use the broken, humbled men that we are to reach other broken and humbled men? We of all people know the life God is saving us from...and He has purposed that we should join HIm in the work of reconciliation and restoration, from which we have and are benefitting. God is changing us and He himself gives us purpose. AMEN.

ZO AE- From Mystafixit

2011-02-21T18:33:00.002-05:00

Blogger mystafixit said...

Some thoughts from today.....

God put a verse on my heart last week ....Ive been thinking about it...praying about it...meditating about it....originally I didn't feel worthy to post it ...worrying that Id be calling attention to myself...then I remembered I was a dead guy in a cheap motel...lol....

I thought this would be as good a place as any to testify...

I bring this up not to say look at me ...but to tell you about the untethered joy I feel or the peace that I possess in this now....I heard it described at church this week as Zoe (ZO AE)...and it clicked...

Matthew 25 41-46

I am finding that there is a huge gulf between the spiritual blessings I received when I was on top of the world and donating time money and clothing to the salvation army and what I am receiving today...

The gulf is as wide as the difference between serving food and giving away your last burger.... while you're still hungry....giving away a drink and giving away your coke while you're still parched....helping at a shelter and opening your home to a troubled soul and allowing them access to your family....giving away clothing and giving away your most comfortable pair of shoes...

Now I am not saying that the only path to Zoe is to kidnap the nearest bum...lol... What I am saying... is that if God puts something on your heart to not question the sanity of it... to just do it and TO GO BIG...to do anything less would be simply cheating yourself....

Question for the day...lol...everybody contributes a verse ...whats yours...

February 21, 2011 4:16 PM

What is a miracle?

2011-02-21T07:18:00.001-05:00

I read the title of the blog, this morning, and was immediately thrown into the view point of what a reader may gather from that title because we immediately associate miracles with those done by Jesus. An example of which would be healing a blind man, making the lame to walk, etc. Yes, these are certainly recorded miracles in the New Testament. What is common though in Jesus's miracles is that (1) people were changed when He showed-up, (2) the person who was receiving the miracle participated in it with Jesus(it wasn't an "arm chair" event), (3) and it was evident that He caused the healing...not someone outside of the situation (man could not do this on his own in other words...).

So when we say that miracles are taking place at Sandal Place, all the above points apply.
1. People are changed when He shows-up.
Daily devotions and Bible study occur there. Scott, Mark, and Russ can certainly agree that they are not the same people they were when they arrived at Sandal Place.
God is working in their lives. Jesus is present there as they invite Him into their circle.

2. "the person who was receiving the miracle participated in it with Jesus"
Those living at Sandal Place are part of a miracle that is developing inside of them every day they lend themselves to His care. Work, fellowship, living life together is a part of worship now for them. This is not some fluffy, super spiritual walk we are talking about...this is a "today is in your face; your addiction is still there" kind of existence; but they choose to walk it with Jesus.
They are working "the steps" and seeking His will in their lives, trusting in Him.
They are active participants in this miracle that is their day-to-day life.

3. "and it was evident that He caused the healing...not someone outside of the situation (man could not do this on his own in other words...)."
The first step in AA is realizing that you have a disease and that you are helpless to overcome it on your own. Isn't that true of all of us (some of us with addictions of our own) that we are all helpless against Sin. We think we can beat it and end up returning to it again and again. We ARE helpless against our sinful nature. Without Jesus, we are hopeless...but thank God we are not without Jesus.
If we ask Him to help us and live life with us, He is there and that is very evident when the healing begins. We have acknowledged that we are helpless to do anything to better our situation. Anything that happens must be His work...His miracle in us.

God bless Scott, Russ, Mark and all who need Jesus to do a miracle in their life (me).

The Second Man

2011-02-20T20:13:00.000-05:00

As a man on a journey, I offer views from where I sit to readers of this blog. That's all...just observations.

Our small unit of brothers (Russ, Scott Gressel, Mark, Scott Grimm) was joined by a sister, today...Della. It was great to add another to our attendance today. As God adds to our community at Sandal Place, may He also add to those who come to His Kingdom. Scott Grimm said today that he had a vision where we were part of God filling the section in church at the foot of the cross with those from the neighborhood in and near Sandal. What a great vision. Not that filling a section in church is the goal. That's just geography. It's the oneness we share in the body there. It is the listening to God's calling that draws us together. It is the following of what has been laid on our hearts that unites us in love.
There is a song called "24", by Switchfoot, that explains how we all have 24 hours in every day to right wrongs...but somehow we mess it up most times. In the chorus it concludes with all the failures by saying ... "So take me up in arms with you. You are raising the dead in me. Oh, I am the second man. Oh, I am the second man, now. oh, I am the second man now, and you're raising the dead in me". Christ died first to be the first born of the dead. We are the second man raised from the dead. We also put our first man (our sinful nature) to death every day that we rise in newness with Him as He transforms us into "the second man" that He wants us to be.

I pray the same for you as I pray for myself, that God will raise the dead in me as I rise each day and walk as the second man. Amen.

But wait...there's more...

2011-02-20T07:51:00.001-05:00

(above) On a previous post, I showed you the before pictures of the upstairs bathroom. Above are those pictures.

Now look at the bathroom as of 02/19/11. WOW! You know, it's great to see this take shape physically, but there is a WHOLE lot more that has taken place in the hearts of the residents at 613 Sandal Place. God resides there. He is changing lives and I am truly blessed to be a part of it. If a picture can be an analogy of what has happened in the spiritual/emotional realm, this is it...

2011-02-20T07:43:00.001-05:00

(above) 02/19/11 was a busy day for Scott. How many hours did you work on this, Scott? All of the old drain pipe in the basement had to come out and ABS put in its place. Thanks to Bryan Piggott, Mark, and Scott Grimm's determination (last but certainly not least!) All of that was accomplished. See below pictures of the new ABS piping...

2011-02-20T07:38:00.000-05:00

(above) This is 613 Sandal Place on 02/19/11 after some outside labor of yard work, white paint, and a lot of love.

(above) This is a picture of the front porch on Sandal Place... NICE!!

(above) Mark does wonders with railroad ties. He made this flower bed all himself.
You are amazing, Mark! ;-)

"Other dog" sleeping in the scrap pile while the master works...

2011-02-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

Mark does yard work

2011-02-17T22:00:00.000-05:00

Bo does football, but Mark does yard work...

Russ is trying his hand at plumbing...better you than me, buddy...

2011-02-14T19:19:00.000-05:00

Mark is holding O.D. (or "other dog"...since there is already a dog named "dog" in the house). O.D. is a young doberman and is looking for a good home.

2011-02-14T14:53:00.001-05:00

Below is the "Before" shot of the upstairs bathroom at Scott's place.

...and the following is the "After" shot of the same bathroom. Lookin' Good!!!

2/11- More pics

2011-02-13T08:04:00.000-05:00

Scott Grimm doing a little bit of mentoring with Mark on the drywall.

"Dog" (her real name) stopped for a photo Op upstairs. She's quite a celebrity around these parts...takes on pit bulls and steals their bones...really.

Dry wall in upstairs bathroom- 2/11

2011-02-11T20:18:00.001-05:00

(left) Mark and Scott worked together to get theDrywall around the tub done today.
Mark (a.k.a. Marcus) measured, cut, and placed these pieces beautifully.

Here is a picure of another wall of the bathroom once Mark had gotten done placing the drywall. He does good work...yes? Oh...and "Dog" is in the foreground. She was helping-out with the upstairs work too.

Dougie Grimm and Daddy Grimm

2011-02-11T19:55:00.000-05:00

Now THIS is a great picture. Scott and son, Dougie, are sitting on the toilet talking about what should happen there.

Mark

2011-02-11T12:59:00.002-05:00

Here is a close-up of Mark. Dude, you look so serious here!

Mark and his new room

2011-02-11T12:58:00.000-05:00

This is Mark, another resident of Sandal Place. He is becoming quite the dry-waller and cook! This is the fruit of his labor ...his own room. We will read more about his testimony in a later post.