Randy Wray's Blog

Christmas came early at Casa Wray with the addition of Mocha our new dog.

I find it curious and interesting that the two things we seem to struggle understanding the most (Salvation and Holy Spirit) are given and received in the exact same way.

Both Salvation and the Holy Spirit are GIFTS given graciously by God and received by FAITH.

Anyone else find that to be an interesting connection? 

I’m just as shocked as you are.

I received a call yesterday and in the course of the conversation the caller said, "is everything ok, you haven’t blogged since last Thursday?"

It wasn’t until that moment that I realized it was true.

So what have I been up to the last several days?  Trying to get back on track with the house remodel for starters (and finishers).

Because of the skilled work of a new sheetrock guy (five days worth of work) he delivered the house completely textured Sunday afternoon.

The paint crew (la esposa y mi vecino) began Monday and even as I type these words the kitchen cabinets are being installed.

Can you believe that?  I thought we’d never get to that point!

The end is near – I’m imagining that we will get the house done just in time for a ute to steal a car and drive right through our newly remodeled house.

Sounds about right doesn’t it Steve?

[NOTE:  THE FOLLOWING BLOG CONTAINS A GRATUITOUS SHOT AT MY DEAR FRIEND GREG.  THE COMMENTS EXPRESSED WITHIN DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE ADMINISTRATION THEY ARE SIMPLY INCLUDED FOR THEIR COMEDIC VALUE]

One of the great things about cooking for people who have grown accustomed to eating in the garage (as they still have no kitchen) is that anything cooked (and hot) is viewed as a 5 star offering.

Which is why in ministry you should always follow someone who was not as skilled as you.

Which is why people lined up to follow Greg. (And of course I mean that in the nicest way possible)

One of our members offered to cook for us and last night was our only available night.

We ate on real plates, with real silverware and cloth napkins.

Our poor "Appalachian" kids had thought they’d died and gone to Missouri!

Squash soup with sour cream

Asparagus and new potatoes

Dinner rolls (with butter of course)

Chicken with mushrooms, cheese, and mandarin oranges.

Three layer chocolate, peppermint cheesecake

It was a feast.

We drove home from church and the kids said:  "that was cool, it felt like we were celebrity eaters on Top Chef." 

We came back from the NOC determined to reshape our community of faith into an outreach oriented body.

We determined no big announcements would be made.  No banners and streamers declaring our new "program".

We simply identified people who were already reaching into the community and asked them how we could come alongside and support their work.

From that meeting we chose three specific outreach opportunities that we could launch into immediately.

Last night 18 of us when down and helped pack boxes for our troops overseas.

Packed with Pride is a local, homegrown effort that started with very humble beginnings.

Our local organizer lost her son in Iraq.  She’s running a great outreach ministry out of an empty office building.

She told us newbies:  "the goal tonight is not to see how many boxes you can pack.  The goal tonight is to see how much you can squeeze into 1 box."

Armed with that knowledge we summoned all of our packing skills and got to work. 

She only has her current space until it rents.  We’re praying it will rent quickly and she’ll have to move the entire organization to our facility. 

The category is food establishments with a rapid delivery system.

In the burger category the winner is In-N-Out.

In the chicken category the winner is Chick-Fil-A.

They excel at rapid delivery of quality food and customer service.

You have to like a company that prints bible verses on the bottom of their cups (In-N-Out).

You have to respect a company (especially a food company) that does not open on Sunday (Chick-Fil-A).

After some intense negotiations the work at our house should continue tomorrow with a different person.

I’m not sure I’ve ever been more stressed and conflicted at the same time.

Of course I want to do the right thing and exemplify my calling.

It doesn’t make it any easier.

Especially when I just delivered a message on centering our lives on the disposition of Christ and not the doctrine of our church.

I need to start preaching from something easier like Leviticus 19 – 20. 

I don’t buy the phrase "it’s just business" for it’s often an excuse to act void of character and ethics.

Today our marriage turns sixteen. 

I guess this means our marriage is old enough to drive but still young enough to be spontaneous and care free.

It’s a milestone for a variety of reasons.

Once you pass 15 years there is no longer a suggestion for the gift you are to buy to commemorate an anniversary.

At first glance it might appear you’re off the hook until year 20.

But 16 years of marriage has prepared me for this type of moment.

I see through the potentially dangerous pitfall and will still present a gift, some expression that says "I remember." 

I’m just trying to figure out how to fit some new sheetrockers in a box! 

We left In And Out last night around 6:15 headed for the church building.

It was dark outside but not so dark that we couldn’t see two figures dresses as bananas waving signs trying to urge people to come to their store and buy a smoothie.

Has the sign waving fad made it to your city yet?

The following is the real conversation that occurred in our vehicle:

M – (shocked) What is that?

Me – What is what?

M – Those people dressed as something.

Me – They look like bananas. 

M – (appalled) They are bananas!

Me – They’re just trying to get people to come in and buy a smoothie.

M – (mortified) Dressed like that?  How embarrassing!  What if someone sees them.

Me – Honey, it’s dark, no one will ever know.

M – (Conviction & Passionate Resolve)  -  Dad, THEY know!

Thus proving, of course, that no matter the time or place banana costumes are not fashionable.

The people who are the most excited about banana clad employees are those who work or worked for Hot Dog on A Stick.

"Sure our hats our silly and our colors extravagant.  At least we’re not dressed like bananas!"

We’ve hit our first official bump in the road on the remodel.

The texturing is not turning out the way we expected because of the taping job.

The principle involved here is that the base coat must be sound before the texture coat is applied or it won’t turn out.

Love may cover a multitude of sins but texture has limitations.

We have some difficult steps to take today and desire to reflect Christ in the process.

I didn’t sleep much last night and tried to remind myself over and over . . .

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)